Crescendo-HELP International School vs LUCA International School
Crescendo-HELP International School and LUCA International School are both in Johor Bahru, about 14 km apart. Both schools offer British, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary) and Cambridge IGCSE programmes, and Crescendo-HELP International School also offers IPC, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels. Published annual fees are MYR 25,200 - 35,000 at Crescendo-HELP International School and MYR 20,400 - 26,400 at LUCA International School, which puts Crescendo-HELP International School roughly 29% higher. Crescendo-HELP International School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and LUCA International School from 7 to 17. Crescendo-HELP International School is the larger school, with around 1,150 pupils to LUCA International School's 320. Typical class sizes are 25 at Crescendo-HELP International School and 20 at LUCA International School.
IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils
Pupils
1,150
Pupils
320
Typical class size
Typical class size
25
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2018
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Crescendo-HELP International School is located at PTD 204446, Lebuh Cemerlang, Taman Desa Cemerlang, 81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor, Malaysia. The school is strategically positioned in a growing suburb of Johor Bahru and sits adjacent to Crescendo International College, allowing for shared educational and infrastructural benefits.
In terms of public transport, CHIS is accessible via Causeway Link route 6B, which connects the Johor Bahru Sentral railway station to the Ulu Tiram Bus and Taxi Terminal. Taxis and ride-hailing services like Grab are also widely available.
CHIS benefits from its proximity to NSK Trade City, food kiosks, and well-known outlets such as McDonald's. The nearby township of Ulu Tiram also houses a number of small retail stores, clinics, and service providers, offering additional convenience for school families.
Location
LUCA International School is situated in Taman Kempas Utama, a tranquil and residential area of Johor Bahru. It’s accessible via the North-South Expressway and Jalan Kempas Lama, and takes about 30–45 minutes by car from the Singapore border. The surrounding area is developing steadily, with access to key facilities like AEON Mall Bandar Dato' Onn, parks, and medical centers such as Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
Stages
Stages
CHIS provides educational program spanning from:
Early Years: Ages 3–5 Primary School: Years 1–6 Secondary School: Years 7–11 Pre-University: A Levels
Stages
The school offers a structured educational journey for early years, primary and secondary levels.
School type
School type
CHIS is a co-educational day school and does not offer on-campus boarding facilities.
School type
LUCA International School is a co-educational day school. LUCA does not provide boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Crescendo-HELP International School has established The Learning Pathways (TLP) Department to deliver personalised learning support tailored to individual student needs. This department is led by a team of specialists in Inclusion and English as an Additional Language (EAL), and provides a tiered system of support. Students are assessed and placed in short, medium, or long-term instructional pathways based on their specific learning challenges. Teaching takes place in both small-group and larger class settings, and is aligned with the UK’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) framework for children and young people aged 0 to 25, ensuring structured and inclusive educational support.
The TLP Department employs a data-driven approach, starting with baseline assessments that evaluate students’ abilities in spelling, reading, and writing. Based on these diagnostics, students are grouped according to the severity of their learning gaps, and appropriate support measures are implemented. Progress is reassessed after 12 weeks to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. If a student does not demonstrate the expected growth, an additional layer of support is introduced to intensify the learning assistance and improve outcomes through more focused, individualised attention.
CHIS offers several targeted intervention programmes through the TLP team. The Catch-Up Literacy Intervention Programme improves reading fluency and spelling through a kinesthetic, phonics-based approach that has shown remarkable gains up to 24 months of reading progress in just six weeks. The EAL programme supports students with low verbal and vocabulary skills by addressing all core language domains: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Additionally, the school provides 1:1 Specific Learning Disability (SpLD) sessions for students with diagnosed conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, or dyspraxia. These sessions, conducted three times a week, offer tailored tutoring, exam prep support, and structured study guidance to help students overcome specific learning barriers.
Additional learning support
LUCA International School emphasizes the importance of nurturing both the academic and emotional growth of its students through a variety of support systems beyond the standard curriculum. A standout feature is their coaching support program, which provides personalized academic and life guidance through certified coaches. These sessions, offered in both individual and group formats, aim to empower students to take responsibility for their own progress, while also equipping them with emotional resilience and critical thinking skills.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have a country affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school does not have formal affiliation with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
CHIS is a secular institution with no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
LUCA International School is also a non-denominational institution with no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
Primary School:
Monday to Thursday: 7:50 AM – 2:40 PM Friday: 7:50 AM – 12:15 PM
Secondary School:
Monday to Thursday: 7:50 AM – 3:10 PM Friday: 7:50 AM – 1:15 PM
These timings are without Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).
School day structure
Elementary & Primary: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM Secondary: 7:30 AM – 3:15 PM
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school offers a school bus service.
Bus service details
LUCA International School offers a school bus service for its students. This service aims to ensure safe and convenient transportation for students residing in different parts of Johor Bahru. Specific details about the bus routes and timings are typically provided upon enrollment or can be obtained by reaching out to the school's administrative office.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
General Fees (All Levels) -Application Fee: RM 250 (one-time, non-refundable) -Registration Fee: RM 2,000 (one-time, non-refundable; due upon offer acceptance) -Deposit (Refundable): RM2,500 (Primary & Secondary), RM 5,000 (A-Level) -Resource Fee (Primary to Secondary): RM 600 per year -Technology Fee: RM 750 (for Year 3 onwards, spread across 3 years)
Annual Tuition Fees Year 1 & 2: RM 25,200 Year 3 & 4: RM 26,460 Year 5 & 6: RM 27,090 Year 7 & 8: RM 28,350 Year 9 – 11 (IGCSE): RM 31,500
A-Level Programme Fees (Years 12–13) -Tuition Fee for Full Course (2 Years): RM 35,000 Paid across 5 terms: RM 7,000 per term -Lab Fee (Per Science Subject for Entire Course): RM 960 -Resource Fee (Entire 2-Year Course): RM 2,400 Paid across 5 terms: RM 480 per term -Special Bursary for CHIS Students: RM 5,000 discount available
Fee details
Tuition Fees (Annually) Years 1–6: RM 20,400 Years 7–9: RM 24,000 Years 10–11: RM 26,400
Other Fees Application Fee: RM 500 (non-refundable, one-time) Enrolment Fee: RM 1,500 (non-refundable, one-time) Student Support Fees: Includes coaching services (detailed cost not publicly listed)
Refund Policy Application & Enrolment Fees: Both are one-time, non-refundable payments.
Tuition Fees: The refundability of tuition fees is not specified publicly. It's recommended to consult the school's administrative office for detailed information.
The school has not disclosed their payment methods publicly.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Crescendo-HELP International School (CHIS) offers a British-style curriculum anchored in the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) framework. The school provides academic journey beginning from Early Years (Ages 3–5), continuing through Primary (Years 1–6) and Secondary (Years 7–11), and culminating in the Cambridge A-Level Programme (Years 12–13). At the Primary level, CHIS integrates the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), emphasizing thematic, inquiry-based learning to develop key competencies in literacy, numeracy, and personal growth.
As students advance into the Secondary years, they follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE curriculum, where they are offered a broad range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, and Languages. The IGCSE programme culminates in internationally recognized examinations, preparing students for pre-university pathways. In the Sixth Form, CHIS offers Cambridge International AS & A Levels, allowing students to specialize in subjects aligned with their university and career aspirations. Subjects include Further Mathematics, Psychology, Economics, and Computer Science, among others. The curriculum is supported by pastoral care, university guidance, and leadership development, aiming to cultivate academic excellence and personal growth.
Curriculum details
LUCA delivers a fully Cambridge-based curriculum for students from Early Years through Year 11. The academic journey is thoughtfully structured into five developmental stages: Enlightenment, Foundation, Consolidation Basic, Exploration and Development, and Directional. These stages guide students from foundational knowledge to advanced preparation for the Cambridge IGCSE exams. LUCA emphasizes a 21st-century learning model that integrates thematic teaching, entrepreneurial thinking, and personal development across all subjects.
Schedule an assessment date via email or phone at least one day in advance. On the assessment day, submit the application form along with a non-refundable RM250 application fee.
The assessment serves as a baseline to determine the most suitable grade placement for the child.
Upon successful assessment, a Letter of Offer is sent via email. Parents have 10 working days to sign and return the letter.
Submit all required documents, including identification, birth certificate, previous school reports, and medical records.
Pay the registration fee, refundable deposit, one term's school fees, and miscellaneous fees.
Once all steps are completed, the student's enrollment is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Trial Class: LUCA offers trial classes for prospective students to experience the school's environment and teaching approach.
2. Assessment & Interview: Applicants may undergo assessments and interviews to determine their suitability for the school's programs.
3. Document Submission: Required documents
Scholarships
Scholarships
The CHIS Founders' Award recognises students with strong academic ability, leadership potential and a collaborative mindset. The award offers a bursary towards school fees, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards given to the most deserving candidates. It is open to students who are planning to join us in Year 7 or to continue their A Level studies in Year 12 and Year 13.
Crescendo-HELP is also providing a 5% Bursary , which is a reduction from the published Primary and Secondary annual school fees, not only for the first year but for each year that the student remains in school.
