Golden Gate American School vs The Giving Tree International School

	G Golden Gate American School Phnom Penh, Cambodia	T The Giving Tree International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 13,200,000 - 24,800,000	Fees / year KHR 13,480,000 - 26,980,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 19 years	Age range 1 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum IB (PYP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Khmer, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Head office and main campuses are in Phnom Penh (Sen Sok / Street 1003) with additional campuses in Tuol Kork and Phnom Penh Thmei; the site lists three campus locations and a head‑office address (No. 846, St 1003). The campuses are in built‑up Phnom Penh neighbourhoods and the site notes locations close to main roads, parks and sports facilities — useful if you plan daily driving or rides with city transport.	Location The Giving Tree International School is located at House #17, Street 71 in BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang I), a central residential and expat neighbourhood of Phnom Penh. The school's contact and office details (including opening hours) are listed on its website; BKK1 is well served by taxis and motorbike taxis and is a short drive from central Phnom Penh amenities.
Stages	Stages GGAS describes provision from early years through Grade 12: Early Years / Nursery (from age 2), Primary (PYP) for ages about 3–12, Middle Years (MYP) for about 11–16, and Diploma Programme (DP) for 16–19; the site also lists USA curriculum tracks for primary and high school.	Stages The school offers Early Years programmes starting with accompanied Baby Playgroups (12 months+) and continues through Primary up to Primary 6. The school publishes a grade-level entry guide and operates the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB‑PYP).
School type	School type The school is an independent, nonsectarian private international school offering American curriculum options and IB programmes (MYP and DP authorised). The website and external school directories list GGAS as co‑educational; some sources and the school's development plans also reference sleeping/dormitory facilities at a new campus (check with admissions if you need formal boarding).	School type The school is an international, mixed‑gender (boys and girls) day school; its enrolment form requests gender and other standard student details. There are no boarding facilities shown on the school website.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The site discusses support in its PYP/MYP pages (small class sizes, language support within bilingual delivery and a focus on individual learners) but does not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy or specific specialist‑staff list. If your child has diagnosed additional needs, contact Admissions to request the school's SEN/inclusion policy and any assessment or support plans.	Additional learning support The school lists named Learning Assistants and several SEN Assistant roles on its staff pages and includes questions about Additional Educational Needs on its enrolment form, and it publishes an Admissions & Inclusion policy in the school policies section. Families should discuss specific needs with admissions to see available arrangements.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation GGAS identifies itself as an American school offering a USA‑certified high‑school diploma in partnership with a US provider (Busche Academy) while also being accredited by Cambodia's Ministry of Education; it therefore operates as an independent private school with American curriculum links rather than as an official agent of a foreign government.	Country affiliation The Giving Tree is an independent international school based in Phnom Penh and does not advertise affiliation to a particular foreign government or national system on its website.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school is described on its site as nonsectarian (no religious affiliation).	Religious affiliation The school site does not list a religious affiliation; its materials describe an IB, child‑centred curriculum without religious designation.
School day structure	School day structure The website and published calendar do not set out a daily start/end time or a standard break/lunch schedule for all year groups; the Admissions page does show office contact hours for enquiries (phones answered Mon–Fri 7:00–17:00 and Saturday 7:00–16:00). For exact daily timings by campus or year group, ask Admissions during your enquiry or campus visit.	School day structure The school office hours are published as 7:30 am–4:00 pm (Monday–Friday); Early Years enrolment materials show both full‑day and half‑day options for young children and the school calendar sets term dates and events. For exact classroom start/finish times and break/lunch arrangements (which can differ by year group) contact admissions.
Bus service details	Bus service details The Admissions information on the website states there is bus transportation and that registration and charges for the service are published for the 2024–25 year, but the site does not list specific routes, providers or pick‑up/drop‑off times. Practical next steps are to request the current bus routes, stops, fees and safety/insurance details directly from Admissions before relocating.	Bus service details The school website does not advertise a regular school bus service; third‑party school listings also indicate no school‑provided bus. If you need daily transport, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or local transport options.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Registration Fee - The school's admissions pages reference a published fee schedule for new applicants; a specific one‑time application or registration fee amount is not listed on the public admissions page. Parents should expect a standard non‑refundable application/registration charge to be included in the school's full fee schedule. Tuition fees (by year group) — annual amounts (KHR) - Nursery 2 (age 2): KHR 13,200,000 per year. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): KHR 13,200,000 per year. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): KHR 14,000,000 per year. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): KHR 14,000,000 per year. - Grade 1: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 2: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 3: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 4: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 5: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 6: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 7: KHR 19,600,000 per year. - Grade 8: KHR 19,600,000 per year. - Grade 9: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 10: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 11: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 12: KHR 24,800,000 per year. Per‑term figures (inferred) - Where the school operates a three‑term/trimester billing cycle, the per‑term tuition can be estimated by dividing the annual tuition by three; these per‑term figures are inferred from the published annual amounts and should be treated as approximate. (Example: Nursery 2 ≈ KHR 4,400,000 per term = KHR 13,200,000 ÷ 3). Billing schedule & payment terms - The admissions information states that tuition and fees must be arranged by the start of the new school year and that a detailed tuition & fee schedule is published as part of admissions documentation. Expect standard options such as annual, termly or instalment billing as set out in the school's fee schedule. Boarding fees - The school lists boarding as available; specific boarding fee amounts are not published on the public fee pages and are provided on request by the admissions/finance office. Other costs (uniforms, lunches, transport, IB/assessment fees, extracurriculars) - The admissions page references separate documents for Nursery/Kindergarten, IB fee schedule and other fees (uniform, lunches, bus, exam/IB charges). Individual charges for uniform, lunch plans, bus and IB examination/admin fees are set out in those fee documents. Refunds and deposits - A specific, published refund policy and deposit schedule was not shown on the public admissions summary; the school's full fee documents (referenced on the admissions page) contain the detailed refund/withdrawal and deposit terms. Payment methods - The site provides a school payment page/form and instructs parents to contact Finance/Admissions for payment arrangements; parents should expect bank transfer and in‑school card or online payment arrangements to be available via the finance office.	Fee details Enrolment and application fees - Enrolment Fee (new students only): USD 700, one-time payment due upon acceptance of an offer. - Capital Fee: USD 550 per year, payable in full before a child can start school; due date for the capital fee listed as 31 May. Tuition fees (by year group and payment plan) Three payment plans are offered: Full Year (single payment), Semester (two payments), or Term (four payments). The amounts below are shown as USD for the 2025–26 fee schedule. - Early Years 1 & 2 (12 months to 3 years): - Half day — Full year: USD 3,370; Semester: USD 1,797; Per term: USD 920. - Full day — Full year: USD 4,494; Semester: USD 2,367; Per term: USD 1,215. - Early Years 3 & 4 (3–5 years): - Half day — Full year: USD 3,919; Semester: USD 2,038; Per term: USD 1,040. - Full day — Full year: USD 5,121; Semester: USD 2,696; Per term: USD 1,380. - Pre-Primary (5–6 years): Full year: USD 5,671; Semester: USD 2,985; Per term: USD 1,530. - Primary 1 to Primary 6: Full year: USD 6,745; Semester: USD 3,550; Per term: USD 1,810. Billing schedule and payment terms - Due dates (as shown in the fee schedule): - Term 1 / Semester 1 / Annual payment: due 30 June. - Term 2: due 30 September. - Term 3 / Semester 2: due 12 December. - Term 4: due 8 March. - The capital fee due date is shown as 31 May. - Invoices are issued one month prior to the payment deadline. Penalties for late payment apply (5% charged per month on unpaid fees). Up to a 5-day delay may be granted with prior written agreement from the Finance office. If fees remain unpaid for two weeks the school reserves the right to disenrol the student. - Late-enrolment charge: if enrolling after more than 50% of a term has passed, the charge is 50% of one term's tuition. - Family / sibling discount: 10% off tuition for the second child, 15% for the third, and 20% for the fourth (discount applied to the youngest attending siblings). The school also indicates an enrolment-fee waiver for siblings in some cases. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed in the school's programme offerings (the school provides Early Years and Primary programmes only); no boarding fees are included in the published fee schedule. Other costs and optional fees - Lunch (optional): Vegetarian option USD 320 per semester; Protein option USD 350 per semester. - Extended pick-up (3:30–5:00 pm): USD 50 per month. - After-school activities: typically USD 10–15 per one-hour session (per activity). - Learning support: charged according to individual need; fee determined case-by-case. - All other one-off or ancillary fees (application-related, materials, activity fees) are treated as separate from tuition and are described in the fee schedule as non-refundable. Refund information - Tuition refunds are considered only for full quarters (terms) or full semesters not attended; refunds are calculated on a term or semester basis as applicable. Finance charges are applied before refunds: 5% deduction for tuition and 20% deduction for the capital fee (as shown in the refund terms). If you withdraw 30 or more days before a term/semester installment due date a refund is guaranteed; withdrawing less than 30 days before the installment due date generally results in a 50% refund; withdrawal on or after the installment due date makes the parent responsible for that term's fee. The Fee Schedule indicates that other fees (non-tuition) are non-refundable. - The school's Fee Schedule includes additional notes on force majeure and the school's obligations and limitations regarding refunds in exceptional circumstances. Fee payment options - Electronic / Bank transfer: payments must include the invoice number and/or student name. A copy of the bank transfer remittance slip should be scanned and sent to the Finance office to ensure proper credit. - Cash: cash payments may be accepted only in USD. - Cheque: listed as an accepted payment method. Key administrative notes - Invoices are normally issued one month prior to the payment deadline. The school may apply penalties for late payment and reserves the right to disenrol students for non-payment. Parents with unexpected financial hardship may apply in writing to the Finance office for a short-term variation of the payment plan. If you require any specific line-item repeated exactly as shown above, the fee schedule PDF provides the official numeric breakdown for the 2025–26 academic year.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Golden Gate American School delivers education from early years (nursery/kindergarten from age two) through primary, middle and high school across its Phnom Penh campuses. Primary students may follow a USA-based English curriculum (grades 1–8) or a Khmer-language Cambodian curriculum, and the school also operates a Chinese-language program. GGAS is authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and is a candidate for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with PYP authorization targeted for December 2025. For upper secondary students GGAS offers multiple pathways: the IB Diploma (Grades 11–12), a USA High School Diploma pathway (including a college-preparatory USA track), and an arrangement to provide a US transcript/diploma through Busche Academy. The DP follows the standard DP structure (six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS), while the USA tracks cover standard American high‑school subjects (English, mathematics, sciences, etc.) taught in English by native-speaking teachers. Throughout the school the website notes bilingual/tri-lingual provision, small class sizes and a range of co-curricular activities (including after-school programs and swimming), which together describe the full curricular and co‑curricular scope offered.	Curriculum details The Giving Tree International School delivers an inquiry-led curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and is an IB-authorized PYP school serving up to Primary 6. Early Years (12 months–6 years) is play-based (Early Years 1–2 are play-focused; Early Years 3 introduces the IB approach before transition to Grade 1). Primary (ages 6–12, Primary 1–6) follows the PYP with Units of Inquiry organised around the six transdisciplinary themes and teacher planning from scope-and-sequence documents. Specialist provision includes Art, Music, Swimming, Makerspace, ICT, STEM, Physical Education and additional language lessons alongside core literacy, mathematics and science learning within the PYP framework. The school also states a planned expansion to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) from August 2026; Early Years do not lead to an external qualification but Primary students follow the IB PYP curriculum authorised by the IBO.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and campus visit. Start by completing the online “Apply Now”/Inquiry form or calling the Admissions Office to request a campus visit; the school encourages parents to visit their preferred GGAS campus before applying. When you request a visit, you can select which of the GGAS campuses you want to see (Ou Baek Kam, Phnom Penh Thmei, or Tuol Kork) and ask for a time that fits your schedule. Parents should be aware the inquiry form asks for basic family and contact details and gives you the option to request a visit directly. 2. Submission of application / registration. Complete the registration form and submit it along with the required documents as instructed by the Admissions Office; the school's admissions page lists “Submission of Application” / “Registration” as the first formal step. The website does not itemize every required document on that page, so before you submit be sure to confirm the exact list with admissions (for example, some families are asked to provide proof of identity and prior-school records). Also note the school's office hours for phone queries if you need help completing forms. 3. Assessment and interview. Prospective students undergo an assessment whose format “varies by age” (the school notes that evaluations may take place during the campus visit or at a later date). Expect younger children to be assessed through observation or age-appropriate activities, and older students through placement tests or interviews in English and key subjects; confirm exact test content and timing with admissions so you can prepare any previous-school records or work samples they require. If English is not your child's first language, ask the school whether language-support options or adjusted assessments apply. 4. Offer, acceptance and enrolment paperwork. If the assessment and document checks are successful, the school will progress to an offer/enrolment stage and will request completed admissions paperwork and payment arrangements; the site states parents must arrange payment of tuition and fees by the start of the new school year. Before accepting an offer, check the enrolment contract for the payment schedule, any non-refundable deposits or registration fees, and the school's refund/cancellation terms. Use the Admissions Office contact details to request a written copy of all fees and the contract terms before you sign. 5. Tuition, additional charges and where to find the fee schedule. GGAS publishes tuition and related-fee schedules for each academic year (the admissions page links to the school's tuition/fee documents for 2024–25 and lists separate charges for bus transport, lunch plans, after‑school programmes and trips). Third‑party fee listings for 2024–25 show annual tuition figures that range roughly from about 13,200,000 KHR for early years up to approximately 24,800,000 KHR for Grade 12; these figures should be treated as illustrative and you should confirm current prices and currency options with the school. When budgeting, ask specifically about one‑time enrolment charges, activity fees, bus route availability and whether lunches or after‑school clubs are charged separately. 6. Payment options and deadlines. The school's admissions guidance stresses that parents must arrange payment by the start of the academic year; confirm the accepted payment methods (bank transfer, online payment or in‑office), deadlines for instalments, and any discounts for one‑off or advance payments. If you need a payment plan, request written confirmation of the instalment schedule and any administrative fees so there are no misunderstandings at enrolment. Keep receipts and the student ID/payment references the school provides for future invoicing or sibling discounts. 7. Start of term, records and ongoing communication. Before your child's start date, confirm arrival/orientation arrangements, uniform or supplies lists, and how the school manages ongoing reporting and parent contact. If you are transferring schools, ask how GGAS will handle transcript transfers and curriculum placement; the school also highlights partnerships and diploma arrangements that may affect graduation pathways. Keep the Admissions Office contact details handy for follow-up questions and to inform the school of any late paperwork or special needs.	Admissions 1. Learn about the school and book a visit. Read the school's Enrollment Packet pages (programme, grade-level guide and calendar) to confirm the right year level and timetable options before you apply; the site includes a "Book a Tour" function and details on what you will see during a tour. Parents who cannot visit in person are advised to request the Virtual Tour or contact Admissions to arrange a meeting. 2. Check age/grade guidance and decide full-day vs half-day. The school publishes grade-level guidance and the Early Years and Primary age ranges on its programme pages — confirm whether your child should be enrolled as Early Years (12 months–6 years) or Primary (6–12 years) and whether you want the half-day (7:30–11:30) or full-day (7:30–16:00) option. Choosing the correct programme at this stage affects tuition banding and start dates, so review the Grade Level Entry guidance before you complete the application. 3. Complete and submit the Enrolment Form. The school requires a signed Student Enrolment Form that must be returned prior to the student's first day; the form requests passport-style photos, passport or birth certificate details, medical and vaccination information, previous school reports (if applicable), and emergency contacts. Make sure you answer the medical and additional educational needs sections fully and attach supporting documents where requested, because these inform placement and any learning-support planning. 4. Gather and upload / deliver the required documents listed on the Enrollment Checklist. The checklist specifies the documents the school needs to complete enrolment: accomplished enrolment, media release/opt-out, parent policy agreement, emergency contact form, two passport-size photos, the student's birth certificate or passport, vaccination record (if applicable), past school reports (if applicable), and signed pick-up cards; the settled enrolment fee (invoice provided upon payment) is also listed as a requirement. Submit scanned copies or the originals as directed by Admissions — missing items will delay start-date confirmation. 5. Review fees, pay the enrolment/capital items and choose a payment plan. New-student enrolment fee is listed at USD 700 (one-time, payable on acceptance) and a Capital Fee of USD 550 per year is required before a child can start; annual tuition bands are published by programme (Early Years bands and Primary bands) and the school offers full-year, semester and term payment options. The fee schedule also details sibling discounts (10% for 2nd child, 15% for 3rd, 20% for 4th), optional lunch and extracurricular charges, late-payment penalties (5% per month) and refund rules — read the Fee Schedule carefully and keep the invoice reference with payments. 6. Ask about learning support, placement and any assessment needs. The enrolment form asks about additional educational needs and requests past reports where relevant; the Fee Schedule notes that learning-support fees, if required, are calculated on individual need. If your child has an IEP, recent assessments or requires accommodations, submit those reports with the enrolment paperwork and speak to the Head of School or Admissions so placement and support can be arranged ahead of the start date. 7. Finalise acceptance and confirm start-date logistics. Once the school issues an acceptance and invoice, pay the enrolment/capital fees and tuition according to the chosen payment plan and provide any outstanding documents; the school states it may cancel an enrolment if applicable fees or documentation are not completed. Note published due dates for term/semester/annual payments and the school's policy on late enrolment (a 50% reduction for one term's tuition if enrolling later than 50% through a term) so you understand charges if you join mid-term. 8. Confirm day-to-day details and keep contact information current. Before your child's first day, confirm campus (Early Years ‘Discovery' campus vs Primary ‘Eureka' campus), pick-up arrangements and signed pick-up cards; the Enrollment Checklist and the Enrolment Form both emphasise keeping contact and medical details current. If anything changes after enrolment (address, medical, emergency contacts), notify the school in writing as required by the terms on the Enrolment Form.
Scholarships	Scholarships GGAS's own “Why Choose GGAS?” page states the school offers scholarship opportunities and flexible payment plans, but the website does not post a detailed public policy (eligibility criteria, application deadlines or the precise amount and duration of scholarships are not listed on that page). Local education news and open‑day coverage have reported specific promotional scholarship offers at times (for example, third‑party reports mentioned enrollment incentives such as multi‑year tuition discounts or a 40% scholarship offered as an open‑day incentive), but those offers are event/time‑limited and should be verified directly with the school. If you are seeking fee assistance or a merit/need scholarship, contact the Admissions Office to request the current scholarship programme, the application form (if any), eligibility criteria and the decision timetable.	Scholarships The school's public materials for 2025–26 do not advertise a formal scholarship programme. The Fee Schedule does list family (sibling) discounts and allows parents experiencing unexpected financial hardship to apply in writing to the Finance office for short-term variation of a payment plan; learning-support fees are charged separately and depend on individual need. If you are seeking fee reductions, bursaries or a bespoke payment arrangement, contact the Finance office or Admissions to ask whether any discretionary assistance is available and what documentation would be required; the Enrollment Packet and Fee Schedule are the primary references for fees, discounts and hardship requests.
Waitlist	Waitlist The GGAS website and admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list or pool policy; the public admissions information focuses on visiting, applying, assessment and payment rather than an administratively detailed waitlist. Because the site does not describe how a waitlist would operate (if one exists), parents who need to know whether places are available or who want to be added to any internal waiting pool should contact the Admissions Office directly by phone or email to request current availability and the school's procedure for holding or offering places. Use the Admissions contact hours listed on the site when you call so you reach the staff who can confirm openings, priority rules (for siblings or returning families) and any deadlines.	Waitlist The school does not publish a separate public “waitlist policy” page, but the Fee Schedule confirms that if there is a waiting list for a class, places are offered to the first child on that list. That wording indicates the school operates a chronological queue when classes are full, rather than a points-based pool. If you need to join a waitlist or confirm your child's position, contact Admissions directly (the enrolment pages provide the Book a Tour/enquiry links and contacts) to ask to be added and to request written confirmation of your child's position and any time limits.
	View full profile →	View full profile →