New Gateway International School vs Paragon International School
New Gateway International School and Paragon International School are both in Phnom Penh, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary) and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. New Gateway International School also offers IEYC, and Paragon International School also offers Cambridge International AS Levels, British and Bespoke. Published annual fees are KHR 13,179,041 - 23,907,101 at New Gateway International School and KHR 22,077,001 - 42,929,731 at Paragon International School, which puts Paragon International School roughly 75% higher. New Gateway International School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Paragon International School from 2 to 17.
IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Curriculum
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, British Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
1,100
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
12
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Mandarin, Khmer
Instruction language
English, Khmer
Opened
Opened
2011
Opened
1997
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
NGIS has campuses in Phnom Penh: Campus 1 is near the Olympic Stadium (No. 2, corner of St. 156 & 211, Sangkat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara) and Campus 2 is in the Sen Sok area near Phnom Penh International Airport (Lot 360, Oknha Try Heng, Sangkat Phnom Penh Themy, Khan Sen Sok). Both campuses are in urban Phnom Penh with road access to central neighbourhoods; parents typically travel by car or motorbike-taxi and public transport is available nearby.
Location
Paragon International School is located in the Svay Pak / Russey Keo area of Phnom Penh (Building No. 402, Plov Lom, Phum Lor Kombor, Sangkat Svay Pak, Khan Russey Keo). The campus is accessible from major parts of the city and the school lists a single consolidated campus address on its website.
Stages
Stages
NGIS runs Early Years (Nursery/Preschool/Kindergarten), Primary (P1–P6) and Secondary (Forms/Years up to upper secondary) and prepares students for Cambodian high‑school certification alongside UK/Cambridge and Oxford/A‑level–style qualifications. The school describes an Early Years programme (IEYC) and Cambridge/UK pathways in primary and secondary.
Stages
The school runs Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary programmes (age bands shown as Kindergarten 2–5, Primary 6–11, Secondary 12–17). Age-level details and grade distribution are published on the school site.
School type
School type
NGIS is a tri‑lingual day school (instruction in Khmer, English and Chinese) that accepts both boys and girls; the school's public materials describe day programmes and do not list any boarding provision.
School type
Paragon ISC is an independent international day school offering programmes from early years through Grade 12; the school operates multiple campus sections (Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary). The school website and campus pages do not advertise 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
The school lists general facilities such as a nursing service, library, laboratories and extra‑curricular activities but does not publish a dedicated learning‑support/SEN policy on its public pages. If your child needs formal additional learning support, contact the school admissions office with reports and assessment information so they can describe available in‑school or external support.
Additional learning support
Paragon publishes a Learning Support page describing a dedicated Learning Support department that works with teachers, teaching assistants and parents, runs awareness events (for example on dyslexia and ADHD), and participates in local SEN networks. The school uses in‑school interventions and refers to external specialists when needed.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
NGIS is based in Cambodia and is not presented as being affiliated to another country; its curriculum information shows delivery of the Cambodian national programme alongside Cambridge/UK and approved Chinese language programmes.
Country affiliation
The school is registered in Cambodia and is authorised/recognised by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports; it also delivers Cambridge (CAIE) qualifications and holds international accreditation (CIS).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school's public information does not indicate any religious affiliation; programmes and materials describe secular academic and language programmes.
Religious affiliation
Paragon ISC does not list any religious affiliation on its public ‘About' and accreditation pages; the provision is presented as secular/international.
School day structure
School day structure
Timings differ by level. Preschool/Kindergarten sessions run roughly 08:00–11:00 (morning English), lunch 11:00–13:00, afternoon sessions in Chinese and Khmer through about 16:30. Primary (P1–P6) and Secondary (Form 1–6) typically run 07:30–11:45, lunch 11:45–12:20 and afternoon classes 12:20–16:30. Check current term timetables with the school as exact times can vary.
School day structure
Published information from school‑profile sources indicates a typical school day with families able to drop off from about 07:50 and school finishing around 15:30; exact start/finish times can vary by year group and term, so confirm with admissions for your child's year.
Bus service details
Bus service details
NGIS advertises a school bus/transportation service on its public pages but does not publish route maps or a named provider on the website; details (routes, stops, fees and safety arrangements) are handled by the school and should be requested from Admissions. Contact details for the campuses and admissions are available on the school site.
Bus service details
The school coordinates a contracted bus service for student commuting and lists a transport/registration page with contact details for bus enquiries; routes are organised into pickup/drop‑off zones and fees depend on location (term‑ or annual‑based payment options). For route details and registration you should contact the school transport team.
Tuition fees (annual) — detailed by year group - Nursery 2 (age 2): KHR 13,072,600 per year. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): KHR 13,152,800 per year. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): KHR 13,273,100 per year. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): KHR 13,273,100 per year. - Grade 1 (age 6): KHR 14,576,350 per year. - Grade 2 (age 7): KHR 14,616,450 per year. - Grade 3 (age 8): KHR 14,656,550 per year. - Grade 4 (age 9): KHR 15,659,050 per year. - Grade 5 (age 10): KHR 15,699,150 per year. - Grade 6 (age 11): KHR 15,739,250 per year. - Grade 7 (age 12): KHR 16,741,750 per year. - Grade 8 (age 13): KHR 16,741,750 per year. - Grade 9 (age 14): KHR 16,741,750 per year. - Grade 10 (age 15): KHR 19,047,500 per year. - Grade 11 (age 16): KHR 21,613,901 per year. - Grade 12 (age 17): KHR 23,859,501 per year.
Per‑term amounts - The school's public listing provides annual fee amounts; a per‑term breakdown is not published on the public fee page. Where parents require a termly invoice, the school's admissions/accounts office issues billing details directly.
Billing schedule and payment terms - A specific billing schedule (term dates for invoicing, instalment options, late‑payment penalties) is not published in the publicly available fee summary. Invoicing and payment terms are managed by the school's accounts/admissions office.
Boarding fees - No boarding or residential fees are listed in the school's public fee information; the school operates as a day school and does not publish boarding charges.
Other compulsory costs and extras - Book/materials charge example (shown in the first‑year breakdown for Kindergarten 1): KHR 882,200. - The public fee summary lists registration/admin/book fees as separate items; other items commonly billed by schools (uniform, transport, meal plans, exam or activity fees) are not itemised in the published fee table and may be charged separately.
Refund information - The school's public fee summary does not publish a detailed refund policy. Refunds, if any, for deposits or tuition would be governed by the school's internal fee and admissions policy and handled by the accounts office.
Fee payment options - The school's public pages do not list specific accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, etc.). For payment methods and invoicing details, contact the school's accounts or admissions office.
Fee details
Application fees - Toddler–Pre-K: USD 60 (payable once on application). - KG–Grade 12: USD 120 (payable once on application). (These application fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable.)
One‑time enrolment / initial fees - Enrolment (one‑time on acceptance): Toddler–Pre‑K USD 750; KG–Grade 12 USD 1,500. These enrolment fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable.
Annual registration and capital fees - Registration (annual): USD 850 (paid annually; non‑refundable). - Capital fee (annual): Toddler–Pre‑K USD 600; KG–Grade 12 USD 1,200 (payable annually in two instalments; non‑refundable).
Tuition fees — annual amounts by year group (USD, annual) - Kindergarten: Toddler (half day) USD 4,650; Toddler (full day) USD 5,500; Nursery half day USD 4,650; Nursery full day USD 5,500; Pre‑K (full day) USD 6,875; K (full day) USD 6,875. - Primary (Bilingual / International examples): Grade 1 Bilingual USD 7,660 / International USD 11,250; Grades 2–3 Bilingual ~USD 7,660 / International USD 11,250; Grades 4–6 Bilingual ~USD 7,970 / International USD 11,970. - Secondary (Bilingual / International examples): Grades 7–9 Bilingual USD 9,340 / International USD 12,910; Grades 10–12 Bilingual USD 9,720 / International USD 13,620. (Annual tuition varies by programme, campus and transfer status.)
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment options: full payment (early full payment discount: USD 100) or instalments. - Instalment schedules published include a two‑instalment option (1st due 31 August; 2nd due 31 December) or a four‑instalment option (1st due 31 August; 2nd due 31 October; 3rd due 31 December; 4th due 28 February). - Late payment penalties: USD 50 if less than 30 days overdue; USD 100 if over 30 days overdue.
(If paying by instalments, equal splits of the annual tuition across the chosen number of instalments is a common practice — the dates above are the published due dates; instalment amounts will be set on the invoice / enrolment agreement.)
Boarding - No boarding programme is listed for Paragon ISC; the school operates as a day school.
Other costs and optional fees - Transport (school bus), lunch, clubs, external exam fees, extra uniforms and additional textbooks and co‑curricular charges are charged in addition to tuition; amounts vary by service. One set of school uniform and one PE set plus main subject textbooks are provided on registration.
Refund information - The school explicitly states that application, enrolment, registration and capital fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable. Refund rules for tuition or other charges are determined in the enrolment agreement and invoicing (no separate general tuition refund schedule is published on the public fee pages).
Payment methods - Onsite payment at the Finance Office; online payment (enter school ID in payment remarks); bank transfer to ABA Bank (PARAGON EDUCATION CO., LTD.) with campus‑specific account numbers provided by the school. The school publishes bank transfer details on the fee page.
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
New Gateway International School runs a continuous programme from Early Years to Secondary that uses the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) in Early Years and integrates the Cambodian national curriculum with a UK-based curriculum across Primary and Secondary. The school's materials describe the Primary/Secondary programme as Cambridge-based with IELTS preparation and testing, and its homepage also states it has adopted the Oxford (Oxford AQA) curriculum from Early Years through A Level. Instruction is trilingual (Khmer, English and Chinese) with integrated Chinese language and culture taught across stages. Graduating students receive the Cambodian High School Certificate and pursue internationally recognised UK qualifications (Cambridge and, where offered, Oxford AQA IGCSE/A‑Level credentials) in upper secondary. The full curriculum covers core subjects (mathematics, sciences, languages and the arts), project-based learning and extracurricular programmes, supported by laboratories, library and ICT resources, and is delivered in alignment with the Cambodian Ministry of Education.
Curriculum details
Paragon ISC's Kindergarten (ages 3–6) follows the Cambridge Early Years framework, organised into six learning areas: Communication, Creative Expression, Mathematics, Personal, Social & Emotional Development, Physical Development and Understanding the World. Primary (Grades 1–6) integrates the Cambodian National Curriculum with the Cambridge Primary International Curriculum and teaches core programmes such as English, Chinese, Khmer, mathematics, science, ICT, global perspectives, art, music, PE and robotics. Secondary offers both a Bilingual pathway (national curriculum in Khmer with selected Cambridge subjects) and an International pathway based on Cambridge: Cambridge Lower Secondary (ages 11–14), a two‑year IGCSE in Grades 9–10, and Cambridge Advanced (AS/A Levels) for pre‑university study, with subjects organised into Languages, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics and Creative/ICT/PE. Paragon states its International Programme high‑school diploma is submitted to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport for equivalency with the national Grade 12 diploma; International Programme students are exempt from the Grade 6/9/12 national exams, while local students in the International stream must complete Khmer language, history and culture requirements for equivalency. The school also provides Cambridge assessment services (including Young Learners of English), functions as an SAT test centre, and runs extensive co‑curricular clubs, college counselling and awards (e.g., Duke of Edinburgh) to support student development and university progression.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. First contact and information gathering. When you contact the school, note which campus you are enquiring about (NGIS operates multiple campuses) and ask whether the grade you want has current availability; the school's admissions page directs families to arrange a campus tour as the first formal step.
2. Schedule a campus tour and ask about program fit. NGIS specifically invites families to schedule a personalized tour so you can see classes and ask questions about the trilingual program (Khmer, English, Chinese) and facilities; tours are useful for confirming whether the school's day structure and language streams fit your child. While on the tour, ask for written information about tuition, fees and the school calendar for the year you plan to enroll (the site points to a tuition page and a 2025–2026 fee listing). Keep a note of who you spoke with and any deadlines they give you.
3. Check age and program entry requirements. NGIS accepts children from 30 months (2½ years) and older and runs Preschool, Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary programs; confirm the exact minimum birthdate for the intended intake year so you meet the school's age cutoff. For older entrants, confirm whether the student will be placed into the English, Khmer, or Chinese stream and whether any prior curriculum records are required. If your child has special learning needs, mention this early so the school can confirm available support.
4. Complete application / registration forms. After the tour and initial enquiry, the school will ask you to complete an application or registration form (parents should request the form and written list of required documents). Typical required documents to request in advance are the child's birth certificate, passport or ID, recent school reports (if applicable), and immunization/health records; confirm whether originals or certified copies are needed and whether translation is required. Also ask about any one-time registration or administration fees and the deposit policy so you understand the first-year cost schedule.
5. Placement testing and language assessment. NGIS states that all students are given placement tests in English, Mathematics and Chinese to determine correct class placement; these tests are used to match the student to the appropriate level rather than as a pass/fail gate. Arrange the test date with admissions and ask whether the test is paper-based or online, how long it will take, and whether results are shared with parents. If your child is nervous about tests, ask whether the school offers a short orientation or sample materials to help them prepare.
6. Assessment outcome and placement offer. After the placement tests and review of documents, the admissions office will confirm placement or offer an alternative recommendation (for example, remedial support or a different language stream). At this stage ask for a written offer that shows the exact fee schedule, payment deadlines, any refundable deposits, and the date by which you must accept the place. If the school proposes a conditional placement (academic support, probationary period, etc.), request the written conditions and how progress will be monitored.
7. Fees, contract and payment. NGIS posts a tuition page and indicates a full fee listing for the 2025–2026 year is available (request the current fee schedule in writing). Third‑party published fee listings for NGIS (published years may differ) show a range of annual tuition and note one-time registration/admin items — confirm the exact amounts, whether fees are quoted in KHR or USD, whether extras (books, uniforms, transport, lunches, exams) are included, and the school's refund policy for deposits. Ask for a payment schedule (termly vs annual), accepted payment methods, and whether sibling discounts or early-payment discounts apply.
8. Finalise enrolment and orientation. Once you accept the place and complete required payments and paperwork, the school will confirm your child's start date and enrolment details; ask for a parent checklist (uniforms, start‑of‑year meetings, student handbook, school hours, and material lists). Request contact details for your child's homeroom teacher or year-level coordinator and the dates for any orientation sessions so your child's first weeks are clearer. Keep copies of all signed contracts and payment receipts.
Admissions
1. Start an application (online form). Begin by completing the school's online application form; the form saves progress so you can return to it if you need more documents. The admissions page is the official first step and the Admissions Team will confirm receipt and outline next steps.
2. Pay the application fee when you submit. Paragon's published policy requires an application fee that differs by age group (e.g., Toddler–Pre-K and KG–Grade 12 are quoted separately on the school fees page); this fee is payable once at submission and is non‑refundable. Parents should have a USD payment method ready and note the exact amount for the child's level before submission.
3. Admission assessment (test/observation) and parent/student interview. After the application is reviewed, the school schedules the relevant entrance assessment — for younger children this may be an observation, for older children a placement/entrance test — and usually an interview that includes parents and the student. Bring recent school reports (if available), identification and any information about learning support needs; the school uses these to place students at the appropriate level.
4. Offer of place and confirmation steps. Successful applicants receive an Acceptance Letter; to finalise enrolment parents must sign the agreement form and pay the one‑time enrolment fee indicated in the school's fee policy. Be aware the enrolment fee is described as non‑refundable and non‑transferable in the school's published fee rules.
5. Registration and capital fees to secure the school year. In addition to the enrolment fee, Paragon publishes an annual registration fee and a capital fee (amounts vary by programme and age); the registration fee secures the child's place for the coming academic year and is also non‑refundable. Confirm which fees apply to your child's campus/programme (Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary and Bilingual vs International programmes can differ).
6. Payment methods, instalments and deadlines. All fees are stated in USD and the school lists bank transfer details and on‑campus payment options; Paragon allows full payment or instalment plans, and publishes discounts for full payment and sibling/alumnus/referral discounts. Ask the Finance Office for the current instalment schedule and any early‑payment discount deadlines before you accept an offer.
7. Final steps before term starts. After fees are paid parents will be advised about uniform and textbook provisioning (the school states one set of uniforms and main subject textbooks are provided on registration), transport, lunch options and optional charges (clubs, trips, external exam fees). The Admissions Team will tell you which original documents they need to see in person and will confirm the student's start date once the registration is complete.
Scholarships
Scholarships
NGIS refers to a “Scholarship Facility” on one of its public pages and external coverage notes that the school has offered educational scholarships (one report mentions scholarships targeted at high-achieving students around Grade 9). However, the school's main admissions and tuition pages do not publish detailed criteria, application deadlines, or the amount/coverage of any scholarships online. For precise eligibility rules (merit vs financial need), application steps, deadlines, and whether scholarships cover tuition only or also include fees/materials, you should request the school's scholarship policy directly from admissions or via the school email (info@ngis.edu.kh). Because public information is limited and sometimes appears only in brief mentions, ask the school for written confirmation about available scholarship types, any required examinations or interviews, and the timeline for decisions.
Scholarships
Paragon publishes several scholarship routes and criteria on its campus pages. A common pathway is a scholarship examination or top public exam performance for students progressing into Secondary: examples on the school site include Grade 6 scholarship arrangements (scholarship examination and/or top Primary Checkpoint results) with awards that may be cash‑value grants or tuition coverage; the school page notes the top three Grade 6 candidates may receive awards (examples include a listed US$2,000 award in one notice and, in other notices, 100%/75%/50% tuition scholarships for the top three scorers) and states that registration and enrolment fees are waived for those winners. Other published scholarship criteria include high achievers at Grade 8, Grade 10 (IGCSE) and Grade 11–12 (AS/A level) with differing award levels, and some schemes are explicitly for Cambodian citizens. Scholarship places are limited and the school runs a specific scholarship examination or selection process — dates, qualifying rules and how many awards are available are set each year, so parents must contact Admissions for the current schedule and application requirements.
Waitlist
Waitlist
Public information on NGIS's website does not describe a formal, published waitlist or pool system for places; the school's admissions page focuses on tours, the minimum age and placement testing but does not detail a waitlist procedure. If a program or grade is full, standard practice at schools in the region is to ask to be placed on an internal waiting list or to register for the next intake — because NGIS does not publish a waitlist policy online, contact the admissions office directly (email info@ngis.edu.kh or call the campus numbers) to ask whether they maintain a waitlist, how they prioritise spots (date of application, siblings, returning families, etc.), and if there is a deposit required to hold a place. If you are placing requests for high‑demand years (early years or exam-year grades), register early, document your contact dates, and ask the school to confirm any waiting-list position in writing.
Waitlist
Paragon's public admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list policy. Instead, their published process instructs families to secure a place by completing the application and paying the registration/enrolment fees once an offer is made; that implies places are confirmed on payment rather than via a publicly described waiting‑list mechanism. If you are concerned about capacity for a particular grade or intake, contact the Admissions Office directly — the school's site lists dedicated admissions contacts for Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary.