KCE International School vs TIA International School of Phnom Penh

	K KCE International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia	T TIA International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 11,600,000 - 18,000,000	Fees / year KHR 16,895,936 - 23,332,484
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 1½ - 17 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language Khmer, English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location KCE's main campus is in Toul Kork (Phsar Depo II), Phnom Penh — address listed as Building 21AB, Street 146, Sangkat Phsar Depo II, Khan Toul Kork. The site is in a mixed residential/commercial area and is reachable by car, taxi or motorbike from other parts of the city; the school lists local contact details on its website.	Location TIA is located in Khan MeanChey, Phnom Penh — Lot No 25, 60m Street, Prek Tarong Village, Sangkat Chak Angrae Krom (Phnom Penh 120602). The school website also notes a shuttle pick‑up point on St. Preah Monivong Boulevard (Master Gold), which provides a direct link for families coming from central Chamkarmon areas.
Stages	Stages KCE accepts children from Kindergarten (age 3) through Grade 12; its published fee pages show fee bands for Kindergarten, Grades 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–9 and 10–12. The school's High School section specifically refers to Grades 10–12.	Stages TIA accepts children from about 2.5 years old up to Grade 12. The school groups pupils into Kindergarten (pre‑school / pre‑K / K), Elementary (Grades 1–6), Middle (Grades 7–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).
School type	School type KCE is a private, co-educational day school offering a combined national and international programme; the school describes a trilingual approach (Khmer, English and Chinese). The school's public information does not mention boarding facilities.	School type TIA is presented as an international day school offering an international curriculum; its materials show a partnership with North Texas Academy (Plano, Texas) and Cambodian Ministry of Education accreditation. The school's public materials do not describe any boarding provision.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support KCE's public web pages and listings do not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or additional-learning-support policy. If your child may need learning support, contact the school admissions office directly to ask about assessments, in-class support, or external specialist arrangements.	Additional learning support Admission materials state the school considers students with special educational needs case‑by‑case: individual interviews are required and the school requests a recent Educational Psychologist's report; the admissions page also notes the school's small class sizes and ability to provide extra support as needed.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation KCE is a Cambodian private international school (operating in Phnom Penh) and is presented as a local private institution offering international programmes rather than being affiliated to another country's school system.	Country affiliation TIA lists a partnership with North Texas Academy (an accredited U.S. homeschool in Plano, Texas) and is also accredited by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school's public information does not indicate any religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation The school's official materials and handbook do not indicate any religious affiliation; its mission and values are presented in secular terms.
School day structure	School day structure The site lists general opening hours around 07:30–17:00; the High School page shows a typical school day of about 08:00–16:00 (Monday–Friday). Published school-day summaries in directories also list an 8:00–16:00 school day.	School day structure The parents' handbook gives a class schedule: Morning session 08:00–11:00, Afternoon session 12:00–16:00, Full‑time 08:00–16:00. Gate times are specified (e.g. gates open 07:15 and close 08:15 for arrival; morning pickup 11:00–11:30; afternoon pickup gate 16:00–16:30); students arriving after 08:00 are recorded as late and the handbook sets a latest pick‑up expectation (by 17:00) with a late‑pickup charge.
Bus service details	Bus service details KCE offers a school bus service; its tuition/fees page notes a bus fee that is charged based on the student's location. External school listings also record that a bus service is available. For route details, stops and exact pricing subscribe to or enquire with the school — these are normally arranged per family/location.	Bus service details The school provides a shuttle service; the contact/enrollment page lists a pickup on St. Preah Monivong Blvd (Master Gold) with the bus leaving at 07:30 and a note that parents must collect children at Master Gold by 17:00. The page also gives local contact numbers for shuttle enquiries.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and one-time admission fees - Application fee: USD 100 (charged annually / at application). - Administrator fee: USD 100 (charged annually). - Material fee: USD 250 (annual; described as covering notebook, course books, study materials and two sets of uniforms). Tuition fees by year group (published billing options shown as semesterly or yearly) - Kindergarten (ages 3–5) - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,525. - Annual (single payment): USD 2,900. - Grade 1–2 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,575. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,000. - Grade 3–4 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,625. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,100. - Grade 5–6 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,680. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,200. - Grade 7–9 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,890. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,600. - Grade 10–12 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 2,363. - Annual (single payment): USD 4,500. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is published with two billing options: semesterly (two payments per academic year) or a single annual payment at the published annual rate. One‑time or annual fees (application, administration, material) are charged at admission/annually as indicated. Specific due dates or late‑payment penalties are not published on the fee page. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed; the school's published fees and fee page do not include boarding charges, indicating that boarding is not offered or not charged. Other costs and recurring charges - Student / sports uniform: USD 25 per set (optional / itemized). - Lunch: USD 60 per month (published as a monthly charge). - School bus / transportation: charged based on location (amount varies; published as location‑based). - Material fee (annual, see above) described as covering stationery, course books, study materials and two sets of uniforms. - Any additional optional activities, exam fees or extracurricular charges are not itemized on the published fee page. Refund information - A specific refund or cancellation policy for fees is not published on the school's tuition/fees page. No public fee‑refund terms are listed in the same published fee materials. Fee payment options - The school's published fee page lists amounts and billing frequencies but does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, cheque or bank transfer) on that page. Payment method details are not itemized with the fee schedule. Notes on currency and presentation - Fees on the published fee page are shown in USD. A separate independent school listing provides converted values in Cambodian Riels for overview purposes.	Fee details Application / first‑time enrolment fees - Enrolment (one‑time) fee: KHR 1,993,159. - Administration (annual) fee: KHR 1,195,896. - Example total for a first‑year Nursery 1 enrolment (enrolment + admin + first year tuition): KHR 18,735,699. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term estimate) - Nursery 1 (age 1): Annual KHR 16,742,540 — Per term (annual ÷ 3) KHR 5,580,847 (calculated). - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual KHR 16,742,540 — Per term KHR 5,580,847 (calculated). - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual KHR 17,141,171 — Per term KHR 5,713,724 (calculated). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual KHR 17,938,435 — Per term KHR 5,979,478 (calculated). - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual KHR 18,735,699 — Per term KHR 6,245,233 (calculated). - Grade 1: Annual KHR 19,134,331 — Per term KHR 6,378,110 (calculated). - Grade 2: Annual KHR 19,134,331 — Per term KHR 6,378,110 (calculated). - Grade 3: Annual KHR 20,330,227 — Per term KHR 6,776,742 (calculated). - Grade 4: Annual KHR 20,330,227 — Per term KHR 6,776,742 (calculated). - Grade 5: Annual KHR 21,924,754 — Per term KHR 7,308,251 (calculated). - Grade 6: Annual KHR 21,924,754 — Per term KHR 7,308,251 (calculated). - Grades 7–12: Annual KHR 23,120,650 — Per term KHR 7,706,883 (calculated). All annual figures and the one‑time fees above are published values; the per‑term figures shown are simple calculations (annual ÷ 3) to provide an estimated per‑term amount where parents prefer a term comparison. Chinese class surcharge - Chinese language classes for full‑time programmes (Bilingual and International) incur an additional charge: USD 150 per term. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that all payments must be settled before the first day of school. Late payments are subject to a penalty of USD 5.00 per day. All fees are described as non‑transferable and non‑refundable. These terms are published on the school's fees information. Boarding fees - No boarding fees or boarding programme are published for TIA International School of Phnom Penh; no boarding charges appear in the school's fee information. Other costs / additional fees - The school's published fee items list the one‑time enrolment and annual administration charges and tuition; no detailed public line items for uniform, bus, meals, learning‑support surcharges or examination fees are shown on the published schedule. Separate optional or incidental charges (for example for extra curricular programmes) may apply but are not itemised in the published fee schedule. Refund information - The school's published statement is that all fees are non‑transferable and non‑refundable. Fee payment options - The school's public fees page does not list specific accepted payment methods. For payments and invoicing parents should contact the school's admissions/finance office (contact details published on the school site).
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 KCE International School runs a trilingual programme (Khmer, English and Chinese) and states it delivers both national and international pathways from Early Years through Grade 12. Its Kindergarten accepts children aged about 2–5, operates roughly 30 hours per week, and focuses on play‑based early skills (pre‑writing, pre‑maths, storytelling, singing), English exposure, arts, PE and swimming. Primary and lower‑secondary are organised in grade bands (Grade 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–9) and cover core subjects—mathematics, science, ICT and social studies—alongside Khmer and English language, arts and extracurricular activities. The High School programme (Grades 10–12) is described as a 40‑hour week offering English, Khmer literature, maths, social sciences, laboratory work, ICT, home economics, arts and regular sports (including swimming). The school website outlines national and international tracks but does not list specific external examination awards (e.g., Cambridge or IB) for particular year groups, so contact the school directly to confirm formal qualifications or leaving certificates.	Curriculum details TIA International School of Phnom Penh delivers bilingual/international education from early years through Grade 12, with admissions listing programmes from 18 months (nursery) up to Grade 12. Early years include Nursery/Pre‑school/Pre‑kindergarten and Kindergarten; Primary covers Grades 1–6, Middle School Grades 7–8, and High School Grades 9–12 as shown on the school's overview. Instruction combines English‑medium core teaching with Khmer language provision and an added Chinese class offered across full‑time programmes. Third‑party listings and the school's materials describe the upper secondary pathway as Cambridge‑aligned, preparing students for Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS/A‑Level style qualifications in the senior years. The full scope of the curriculum includes academic subjects (English, maths, science, social studies), Khmer and Chinese language programmes, and campus facilities supporting arts, labs, sports and extracurricular activities.
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 information gathering. Contact the school to request the current application form, published fees and the academic calendar; KCE publishes tuition and fee amounts on its website but some pages are blocked for direct viewing, so confirm the latest figures with the admissions office. (Source: KCE website contact and fees summary). 2. Complete the application and pay the application fee. KCE's fee page lists an application fee (USD 100) and an administration fee (USD 100); parents should confirm whether these are payable at submission or only after an offer is made, and whether these fees are refundable if a place is not offered. Provide accurate identity documents (birth certificate/passport), previous school reports (if applicable) and the completed application form — the school may require originals at enrolment so bring certified copies and originals for verification. Ask in advance what proof of residence, visa or health records (vaccination) the school needs for international students. 3. Assessment and/or interview. For nursery/preschool the school typically uses informal interactions; for primary and secondary grades prospective students are often assessed academically and may have an interview with admissions or the Head of School to determine placement. Parents should prepare recent school reports and, for older children, samples of school work and any results from external examinations; confirm whether the assessment is in English or another language so you can prepare the child. Be clear about the timing of assessments — ask whether there are placement tests for English, maths or other subjects and whether remote/online assessment is possible. 4. Offer, contract and payment of fees. If the child is offered a place the school will issue an offer/acceptance form and a fee schedule; KCE's published schedule shows options to pay tuition yearly or by semester and lists tuition by grade (examples: Kindergarten yearly USD 2,900; Grade 1–2 yearly USD 3,000; Grade 10–12 yearly USD 4,500). Parents should read the contract for refund and withdrawal terms, note payment deadlines (annual vs semester billing), and confirm which one-time fees are due on acceptance (application fee, administration fee, material/uniform fees). Keep receipts for all payments and ask for a written statement of what is included in tuition (books, tests, activities) and what is optional (lunch, bus). 5. Materials, uniforms, transport and meal arrangements. KCE's published fees list a material fee (the school page lists USD 250 for materials such as notebooks, course books and two uniform sets, and the page also shows a $300 figure in the same section — parents should confirm the exact amount and what it covers). The site lists optional items such as monthly lunch (USD 60) and bus fees charged by route; parents should confirm bus availability for their address, exact route cost, and whether lunch menus meet any dietary requirements. Before the child's start date, complete any medical forms and sign permission forms for activities; confirm start-of-term orientation dates and drop-off/pick-up procedures. 6. First day, orientation and ongoing communication. Attend the school's orientation (if provided) so you understand daily schedules, communication channels (who to contact for academic, pastoral or billing questions), and school policies (attendance, behaviour, homework). Keep the admissions and accounts office contact details and request the parent handbook or school policies in writing so you can refer to procedures for absence, illness, or fee disputes. If anything in the published information seems inconsistent (for example fee-line items), request written confirmation from admissions before making major payments.	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and tour — contact admissions and request a meeting. The school says an admission consultant will respond within 24 hours after you submit the online form, so keep a copy of your submission and the meeting date you requested. (Source: TIA enrolment/online-application page). 2. Confirm age/grade eligibility and programme. Check the age cut-off for the programme you want: the school's pages show early-years entry (one page lists “2.5 years old” while another page refers to acceptances from “18 months”); because the site has slightly different phrasing on different pages, confirm the exact cut-off for the cohort and academic year with admissions before applying. Also tell admissions whether you want the bilingual or international programme and whether you expect full-time Chinese classes (there is an extra Chinese-class charge noted on the fees page). 3. Complete the online application and upload basic documents. Fill in the Student Online Application on the school website (the form asks for names, contact details, number of students applying, academic year and a meeting request date) and upload the items requested by the school. For new transfer students (elementary through Grade 12) the school specifically requests previous school report cards—have those recent transcripts/reports ready and translated if they are not in English. The enrolment portal and the downloadable “Recommendation for Admission” (available from the site) may list any additional forms; keep copies of everything you submit. 4. Assessment and entrance testing (where required). For students transferring into elementary and up through Grade 12, the school requires an entrance test to assess placement and curriculum needs; prepare your child for a short placement/diagnostic test in core areas (usually English and maths). The school also says it can accommodate a range of educational backgrounds and will provide extra support where possible, but placement testing helps the school determine required support and class placement. If your child will be assessed, ask admissions what form the test will take (paper, online, timed) and whether you should bring pencil-and-paper originals of recent work. 5. Interview with school leaders and teachers. After preliminary assessment the school schedules an interview with the Vice Principal and the relevant teacher(s) to discuss the student's academic history, learning needs and social adjustment; parents should expect to discuss previous schools, specific strengths/weaknesses and any routine or medical information that affects school life. For students with identified special educational needs, the school requires an individual interview and requests a recent Educational Psychologist's report so the Director and pedagogical team can assess whether the school can meet those needs. Bring original or certified copies of any assessments, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or specialist reports to this meeting. 6. Offer, acceptance and contract steps. If a place is available and the school makes an offer, you will be given an offer letter and details of the fees and payment schedule; the school operates rolling admissions and admits new students throughout the year subject to class availability. The school's tuition page states that all fees are non-transferable and non-refundable, and that all payments must be settled before the first day of school; late payments incur a penalty (the site notes a $5.00 per day late fee). Read the offer and fee schedule closely — ask for a written list of what is included (tuition, admin fees, capital or other charges) and for deadlines for initial and ongoing payments. 7. Payment of fees and optional charges. When you accept a place you will be asked to pay the required enrolment/administration and tuition amounts according to the school's schedule; note that the school's page highlights an additional charge for full-time Chinese classes (USD 150 per term) and reiterates the non-refundable nature of fees. Keep receipts and confirm whether payments may be made in KHR or USD, what payment methods are accepted, and whether sibling discounts or payment plans exist (the public pages do not list discounts or a payment plan). If anything about payment timing is unclear, request written confirmation from admissions before paying. 8. Final placement, orientation and first day. Once payments and paperwork are complete the school will confirm final placement and provide start-date details; because TIA's admissions policy is rolling and places depend on class availability, final confirmation may be time-sensitive—ensure you have the confirmed start date in writing. The school's Parents' Handbook and school policies (available from the site) explain health, safety and arrival procedures—review those ahead of the first day and bring any required medical forms, medications or permissions. If you need to withdraw before the start date, check the written offer for the school's refund/withdrawal policy because fees are marked non-refundable on the school pages.
Scholarships	Scholarships There is no information on KCE's public pages or on the third‑party listings reviewed that describes school-wide scholarships or regular financial-aid programmes. Major published items on the school site cover tuition, application and material fees but do not list merit or need-based scholarship schemes. If a family requires fee assistance or if the school occasionally offers bursaries, those details are typically provided directly by the admissions office, so request written confirmation from KCE about any scholarship opportunities, eligibility criteria, deadlines and required documentation. For transparency and to avoid misunderstandings, ask the school whether any fee reductions are offered, whether they are renewable, and whether there are any application dates or assessment requirements.	Scholarships There is no mention on TIA's publicly available admissions or tuition pages of school-wide scholarships, bursaries or an explicit financial-aid programme. The school's tuition/fees page lists payment policies and an optional Chinese-class charge but does not advertise any scholarships or fee-waiver schemes. Because some international schools handle scholarships off-line or on a case-by-case basis, if you need financial assistance or are seeking merit-based support you should contact the admissions office directly (admin@tsia.edu.kh or the phone/Telegram contacts on the site) and ask whether any limited scholarships, sibling discounts, or hardship concessions are offered and what documentation would be required. If you would like, the admissions team can confirm in writing whether any scholarship or discount options exist for the year you plan to apply.
Waitlist	Waitlist KCE's publicly available pages and third‑party school listings that summarise the school's admissions (site content and fee page) do not mention a formal waiting-list or pool system. Because the school's website and listings do not describe a waitlist, the safest assumption is that any oversubscription or informal hold on places would be managed case-by-case by the admissions office. If you need certainty about whether a waiting list exists, how long it typically is, or how places are allocated from it, contact KCE's admissions office directly (phone/email shown on the school page) and ask for their current policy in writing; this is the most reliable way to confirm local practice.	Waitlist TIA's public admissions information does not describe a formal, published waitlist system; instead the school states it operates rolling admissions and admits students “throughout the year, based on class availability.” That language means places are offered while space exists at each grade, rather than via a clearly documented central waitlist on the website. Parents should therefore assume that if a class is full the school will keep enquiries on file and recommend contacting admissions directly to ask whether they maintain an internal waiting list or can notify families when space opens. For the clearest answer on current availability and any internal waiting/notification process, contact admissions (phone/Telegram/email) and ask whether they will place your child on an internal waiting list and how they prioritise families (date received, siblings, other factors).
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