Light International School vs Nairobi International School

	L Light International School Nairobi, Kenya	N Nairobi International School Nairobi, Kenya
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KES 752,000 - 2,623,000	Fees / year KES 552,000 - 1,140,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum)	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Pupils	Pupils 572	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Light International School Nairobi is located in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. The postal address is P.O. Box 1799-00502 Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. The school can be reached by telephone at +254 703 200 002 or +254 717 998 888 and by email at info@lis.sc.ke. The Karen campus serves students from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds.	Location Three Nairobi campuses: Kindergarten at No. 6 Kanjata Road, off James Gichuru; Preparatory at No. 5, Kanjata Road, off James Gichuru; Senior School at No. 728 Maji Mazuri Road, off James Gichuru, Lavington. These locations are along the James Gichuru corridor in the Nairobi area.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten (Aged 3-5) through A-level (Year 13) as part of the Cambridge International Curriculum.	Stages Kindergarten, Preparatory, Middle School, Senior School.
School type	School type The school is a co-educational day and boarding school.	School type Private international school offering day schooling with boarding options.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 15 nationalities represented	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Kenya
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school provides transport services; transport fees per term depend on distance and whether one-way or two-way transport is chosen. Distances are divided into six zones (A–F) with routes covering Zone A (Muthangari, Gitanga Rd, Rhapta Rd, etc.), Zone B (Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Ngong Rd, etc.), Zone C (Milimani, State House, Parklands, etc.), Zone D (Madaraka, Upper Hill, Ngara, etc.), Zone E (Muthaiga, Gigiri, Karen, etc.), Zone F (Ridgeways, Garden Estate, Embakasi, etc.). Two-way vs one-way transport options are available per term.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Scope and academic year The fees below apply to the 2025/2026 academic year and cover one-time registration amounts, termly tuition and ancillary term charges, boarding charges where applicable, payment terms, and common additional costs. Application / one‑time registration fees - Interview / assessment fee (Primary, Secondary, AS & A‑Level): KES 5,000 (one‑time). - Interview / assessment fee (Kindergarten): KES 2,000 (one‑time). - Admission fee: KES 30,000 (one‑time). - Caution / security deposit: KES 50,000 (refundable subject to school conditions). - Boarding caution deposit (where applicable): KES 30,000 (one‑time). Tuition and term charges (per term) — day students and per‑term ancillary items - Kindergarten (KG 1–3): Tuition KES 188,000 per term; Lunch KES 35,000 per term; Stationery KES 5,000 per term; Club fee KES 11,000 per term; Online subscriptions KES 5,000 per term. Annual tuition (three terms) = KES 564,000 (tuition only). - Years 1–2: Tuition KES 244,000 per term; Lunch (Years 1–6) KES 47,000 per term; Stationery KES 5,000 per term (Term I & II 5,000; Term III sometimes shown as KES 4,000); Club fee KES 11,000 per term; Online subscriptions KES 5,000 per term. - Years 3–4: Tuition KES 297,000 per term; ancillary charges same structure as Years 1–2 (Lunch, stationery, clubs, subscriptions). - Years 5–6: Tuition KES 385,000 per term; Lunch KES 47,000 per term; Stationery and other term charges as above. - Years 7–8: Tuition KES 417,000 per term; Lunch KES 59,000 per term (Years 7–10); Stationery KES 6,000 per term; Club fee KES 11,000 per term; Online subscriptions KES 5,000 per term. - Years 9–10: Tuition KES 442,000 per term; Boarding (where applicable) KES 338,000 per term; Lunch KES 59,000 per term; Stationery KES 6,000 per term; Club fee and subscriptions as above. - Year 11 (IGCSE first year/candidate year): Tuition KES 663,000 per term (fees for Year 11 are charged over two terms only — Term 1 and Term 2); Stationery KES 9,000 per term; Lunch and club charges applicable (see Year 11 items). Annual tuition (two‑term basis) = KES 1,326,000. - Years 12–13 (AS & A Level): Tuition KES 758,000 per term (charged over two terms only — Term 1 and Term 2); Boarding for Years 11–13 KES 445,000 per term (two‑term billing where applicable); Stationery and other term charges specified for senior years. Annual tuition (two‑term basis) = KES 1,516,000. Annual totals (examples / consolidated view) - Typical annual totals (tuition + routine term charges) are published by year group; examples include KES 585,500 for Nursery/Kindergarten levels and higher totals for primary and secondary year groups as shown in the school's published fee breakdown. Use the per‑term numbers above to compute the exact annual amount for each year group (three‑term or two‑term billing as applicable). Boarding fees and rules - Boarding charges by year group (per term): Years 9–10 boarding KES 338,000 per term; Years 11–13 boarding KES 445,000 per term (Years 11–13 billed over two terms only where applicable). Boarding caution deposit: KES 30,000 (one‑time). No reimbursement, refund, or credit note is made if a student drops boarding unless otherwise determined by the school's formal drop/notice procedure. Other one‑time and recurring costs - Textbook / curriculum materials (annual, by year): KG KES 20,000; Years 1–6 KES 35,000; Years 7–10 & 12 KES 40,000; some candidate year groups (IGCSE / A‑level) have examination‑linked or subject fees additionally. - Graduation fees for certain year groups: KG3 KES 7,000; Year 6 KES 8,500; some senior graduation/certification charges (example: Year 11/13 graduation items) shown separately. - Exam and exam‑related fees (Cambridge IGCSE / AS / A‑Level / BTEC): Candidate exam fees and subject entry fees are charged in addition to tuition; Cambridge examination fees for candidate classes must be paid by the stated school deadline (for example, by 30 January for candidate year groups). Practical/art facilitation and subject‑based exam fees are charged where applicable. - Routine charges that appear termly: student ID KES 1,000 (annual), emergency health services KES 2,000 (annual), yearbook KES 3,000 (annual), career testing/counselling and other optional services where applicable. - School and PE uniform are not included in the fees; uniform costs are billed separately. Lunch is compulsory for day students. Billing schedule, payment terms and penalties - Term billing: For KG–Year 10 and most year groups, termly fees are chargeable and payable over three terms (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3). For Years 11–13 (senior candidate years) fee types are chargeable and payable over two terms (Term 1 and Term 2) as specified. All fee types must be paid in full at least fifteen working days before the start of each term. - Late payment penalty: A surcharge of 5% is levied per month on any outstanding fee balance. - Notice and withdrawal: A full term's written notice to, and acknowledgement by, the Principal is required for withdrawal; otherwise a full term's fees is payable in lieu of notice. In specific year groups with limited vacancies, a non‑refundable advance/commitment payment (50% of tuition) may be required as part of first term fees. Refunds and refundable items - The standard caution deposit (KES 50,000) is refundable subject to the school's refund conditions and account settlement. Certain advance/commitment payments and some other deposits are explicitly non‑refundable in case a placement is forfeited. No reimbursement or credit note is made if a student drops boarding unless the formal drop process and any school conditions provide otherwise. A cleared fees balance is required for exam registration and issuance of official documents. Fee payment methods and instructions - Accepted methods: Bank transfer and bank cash deposit to the school's Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) account using the student's Virtual Bank Account number as the payment reference; parents/guardians are asked to forward payment confirmation to the school's specified WhatsApp numbers or email address for reconciliation. Cheques and direct cash payments to the school are not accepted. International/telegraphic transfers may require the KCB SWIFT code and correct account reference. Use the student's virtual account number on the payment reference to ensure correct posting. Discounts and special billing rules - Sibling discount (applies to tuition only for registered Light Group siblings): 2nd child 5% tuition discount; 3rd child 10%; 4th and subsequent siblings 15% (first born not entitled to discount). When a sibling graduates or transfers the discount allocation is recalculated. In certain year groups a 50% non‑refundable advance may be requested to secure a place. Notes for calculation and use - Use the per‑term figures above together with the billing rules (three‑term or two‑term billing) to compute annual totals for each year group. Boarding, examination, subject‑specific, and one‑time registration charges are additional to term tuition and must be added when estimating total annual cost for admission and enrollment.	Fee details Applicaton / Admission and one-off charges - Admission Fee (one-off): KES 25,000. - Caution Fee / Security Deposit (refundable subject to exit clearance): amounts vary by section of school as listed below; the deposit is refunded without interest and must be claimed within two years of a student leaving. - Boarding Admission Fee (one-off, for boarders): KES 10,000. Tuition fees by year group (per term; annual totals shown where applicable) Note: Tuition fees are charged every academic term; most year groups have three terms. Where a term is listed as NIL, only the two listed terms apply. - Kindergarten - Playgroup: KES 184,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 552,000. - KG 1: KES 202,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 606,000. - KG 2: KES 208,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 624,000. - Year 1: KES 220,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 660,000. - Preparatory (Primary) - Year 2: KES 240,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 720,000. - Year 3: KES 245,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 735,000. - Year 4: KES 262,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 786,000. - Year 5: KES 268,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 804,000. - Year 6: KES 279,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 837,000. - Preparatory caution fee (one-off): KES 20,000. - Middle School - Year 7: KES 319,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 957,000. - Year 8: KES 351,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 1,053,000. - Year 9: KES 360,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 1,080,000. - Middle School caution fee (one-off): KES 40,000. - Junior High School - Year 10: KES 372,000 per term — Annual (3 terms): KES 1,116,000. - Year 11: KES 563,000 for Term 1 and Term 2; Term 3: NIL — Annual (2 terms): KES 1,126,000. - Junior High caution fee (one-off): KES 40,000. - Senior High School - Year 12: KES 570,000 for Term 1 and Term 2; Term 3: NIL — Annual (2 terms): KES 1,140,000. - Year 13: KES 570,000 for Term 1 and Term 2; Term 3: NIL — Annual (2 terms): KES 1,140,000. - Senior High caution fee (one-off): KES 40,000. Boarding and related charges - Full-time Boarding: KES 250,000 per term. - Weekly Boarding: KES 225,000 per term. - Boarding caution fee (one-off): KES 25,000. - Boarding admission fee (one-off): KES 10,000. - Medical insurance cover (yearly, applies to boarders and/or students as stated by the school): KES 7,000 per year. Transport fees (per term by zone) - Zone A: One-way KES 32,000 — Two-way KES 51,000. - Zone B: One-way KES 34,000 — Two-way KES 54,000. - Zone C: One-way KES 36,000 — Two-way KES 58,000. - Zone D: One-way KES 40,000 — Two-way KES 64,000. - Zone E: One-way KES 52,000 — Two-way KES 78,000. - Zone F: One-way KES 56,000 — Two-way KES 84,000. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and other recurring fees are invoiced by term; an invoice (Fee Note) is issued at the end of each academic term indicating fees due for the next term. Fees are expected to be settled by the first day of school reopening for the next term. Students admitted before half term pay the full term; those admitted after half term are charged 50% of the term fee. - Withdrawal: One academic term's written notice to the Head of School is required; if adequate notice is not provided, one full term's fee will be charged in lieu of notice. - Space Retention Deposit: When pausing schooling to retain a place for a following term/year, a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tuition fees is payable; this secures the student's place. Discounts and penalties - Sibling discounts on tuition only: second sibling 10%, third sibling 15%, fourth and subsequent siblings 20% (fixed for subsequent children). - Early payment discount: 4% on tuition if the full invoiced amount is settled one calendar month prior to school reopening (not combinable with other special discounts). - Cheque return (bank dishonour) charge: KES 2,000. Cash payments are not accepted. Refunds and security deposit handling - The caution fee (security deposit) is refundable without interest upon a child's permanent departure, subject to full settlement of all due fees and return of school property in good condition. The caution fee must be claimed within two years of leaving. Deductions from the caution fee may be made for outstanding obligations. Accepted payment methods and practical payment details - Bank transfer (deposit): Account Name: NAIROBI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL — Account Number: 01129650642300 — Bank: The Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd, Branch: Lavington. Receipts are issued upon presentation of deposit slips. - Cheque: Cheques payable to Nairobi International School; receipts issued after cheque clearance. Cheque return charges apply. - M-Pesa / Paybill: Paybill No. 400200 — Account No. 01129650642300. - Cash payments are not accepted. Other costs to consider - Uniforms, personal supplies, any specific course materials or external exam fees where applicable are additional to the tuition and term fees listed above and should be budgeted for by parents. Exam registration and any outstanding fees must be settled before exam registration is processed. (Fee schedule and policy details above are taken from the school's published fee structure and fees policy documents.)
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 The Cambridge International Curriculum is used at Light International School Nairobi. The curriculum is based on Cambridge Assessment International Education programs, starting with Cambridge Primary and moving through to IGCSE and Cambridge AS & A Levels. The school is accredited as a Cambridge International School for Primary, Key Stage 3, IGCSE and A Level Programs. Light International School provides a full Cambridge curriculum for ages 3 to 18. The program emphasizes cross-curricular learning and the use of technology to enhance learning, and prepares students for admission to universities worldwide.	Curriculum details KS3, KS4 & A-Levels of the British National Curriculum.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio 1:67.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results SAT results (2018-2019): Participation 19%; Average Score 1310.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression College and University Acceptances in the past five years include University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London, Simon Fraser University, University of Manitoba, University of Houston, Strathmore University, South China University, University of Texas, Queensland University of Business, Coventry University, Nairobi University, Deakin College, Trent University, Mount Kenya University, and Loughborough University.	Higher education progression Prepare students to sit IGCSE, 'A' Levels from Cambridge and BTEC from Pearson as a stepping stone to universities around the world.
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. The school currently accepts admissions for KG1 through Year 13, with some slots limited. The curriculum is based on the British education system (IGCSE). Admission requirements should be reviewed before applying. 2. Prepare the required documents. The list includes: copy of birth certificate; two passport-sized photographs; copies of both parents' IDs; copies of both parents' KRA PIN; transfer letter from former school (if transfer) or latest report form; copy of student's passport; copy of a parent/sponsor's passport (if not Kenyan); fully signed last page of the Parents/Students Handbook; signed Drugs Policy; signed Digital Access to Success (DAS) Program Policy; duly filled subject selection form (Year 10 and 12); copy of a valid health insurance card (if applicable); copy of a pupil's pass (for foreign students); and copies of payment slips showing total amounts paid for registration, annual school fees, and term fees. Non-Kenyan citizens must apply for a pupil's pass after completion of registration. 3. Fill the application form. An application form is available via a Google Form linked for LIS Nairobi admissions. The page notes to view admission requirements before filling the form. 4. Fee terms and conditions. All fee types must be paid fully fifteen working days before the beginning of each term. School fees are payable in Kenya Shillings only. For Kindergarten to Year 10, fees are charged per term (Three Terms); for Years 11 to 13, fees are charged per term (Two Terms). Cambridge examination fees for candidate classes (Year 11, 12 & 13) must be paid by 30 January of the respective year, and Cambridge exam registrations cannot be done until the balance is cleared. The school reserves the right of admission. In Year Groups where vacancies are limited, a 50% advance payment of the tuition fee may be required as part of the First Term's fees, and this advance is nonrefundable if the place is forfeited. Sibling discounts apply: 2nd born child 5%; 3rd born child 10%; 4th born child and any other siblings 15% (the 1st born child is not entitled to a discount). When a sibling graduates or transfers, the discounts are recalculated. A full term's notice in writing and the Principal's acknowledgement in writing is required for withdrawals; otherwise a full term's fees are payable. Payment methods include bank transfer or bank deposit to the LIS bank account; cheques and cash payments are not accepted. 5. Age requirements. The school strictly follows the age groups: Nursery 3; Kindergarten 1 4; Kindergarten 2 5; Year 1 6; Year 2 7; Year 3 8; Year 4 9; Year 5 10; Year 6 11; Year 7 12; Year 8 13; Year 9 14; Year 10 15; Year 11 16; Year 12 17; Year 13 18. 6. Waiting list. If vacancies are not available immediately, students are put on a waiting list.	Admissions 1. Begin by accessing the Enquiry page to start the application. The initial step collects the parent/guardian's name, relationship to the applicant, a valid email address, and a contact number, and records the applicant's name, date of birth, and the year level being applied for. 2. Submit the above information. An Enquiry is created at this stage and can be completed immediately or continued later after login details are emailed to the user. 3. Return to the Enquiry page and complete the admission application. Siblings may be included in the same application. 4. After completing the Enquiry, an email lists the documents required for the admission application. These include photocopies of the applicant's passport (and immigration status page for non-citizens) and copies of the parents' passports. A parent's work permit is required for non-citizens. Also required are the applicant's birth certificate in English, 4 coloured passport photos for non-citizens (2 for citizens), the official report card, and the Transfer Certificate for Year 2 upwards. The applicant must also submit a short essay of about 250 words about themselves. 5. The Admissions Team will contact you for an interview and/or assessment. The student may be referred to the Inclusion Support Team for additional provision determination. If a place is offered, an offer letter will be emailed within 24 hours. 6. To confirm and secure the place, pay the admission fee of 25,000 Ksh within 7 days. 7. Screening and Assessment: The school conducts a pre-entry assessment to ensure the curriculum matches the child's skills and needs. Assessments vary by year level and include English language and Mathematics tests; early years may involve play-based activities; higher grades may require examinations to assess core competencies, with results supported by prior school records. Final admission can be offered at the Principal's discretion if the student is deemed capable of succeeding at Nairobi International School.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Waiting list is used when vacancies are not immediately available.	Waitlist —
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