NIVA American International School vs Raffles American School Bangkok
NIVA American International School and Raffles American School Bangkok are both in Bangkok, about 16 km apart. Both schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and American programmes, and Raffles American School Bangkok also offers IB. Published annual fees are THB 273,000 - 414,000 at NIVA American International School and THB 198,000 - 297,000 at Raffles American School Bangkok, which puts NIVA American International School roughly 39% higher. NIVA American International School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and Raffles American School Bangkok from 2 to 18. Raffles American School Bangkok is the larger school, with around 600 pupils to NIVA American International School's 450. Typical class sizes are 22 at NIVA American International School and 16 at Raffles American School Bangkok.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
450
Pupils
600
Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
16
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1991
Opened
2017
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
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Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
NIVA is located at 18 Soi Phokaew 3, Yeak 11, Ladprao 101 Road in the Bangkapi district of Bangkok. The school is near major roads and residential communities, making it accessible from eastern and central Bangkok.
Location
Raffles American School Bangkok is located in Samut Prakan province, just east of central Bangkok along the Bang Na–Trat frontage road. The school is situated in a suburban area with residential communities and international businesses nearby. It's easily accessible by private car and sits close to major expressways, making school drop-off and pick-up manageable for commuting families. The surrounding area is quiet, with access to amenities such as shopping malls, restaurants, and international housing.
Stages
Stages
The school offers education from Nursery through Grade 12, covering early years, elementary, middle, and high school divisions.
Stages
The school is organized into four main divisions: Early Childhood (Pre-K to Kindergarten), Elementary School (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), and High School (Grades 9–12). This structure provides a continuous educational pathway for children from age 2 up to 18.
School type
School type
NIVA is a co-educational day school with no boarding facilities.
School type
Raffles American School Bangkok is a co-educational school.
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 does not have publicly available information on their additional learning support.
Additional learning support
The school does not publicly list any specialized services or programs for students with Additional Learning Needs. There is no mention of specific facilities or trained staff for learning support on its website.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have any country affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
There is no religious affiliation noted. The school operates in a secular context.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
School day structure
School day structure
School hours are detailed by division: Nursery & Kindergarten: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Elementary and Secondary: 7:45 am to 3:00 pm
School day structure
The website does not publish details on how the school day is structured.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school offers transportation upon request and the fees are dependant on the distance.
Transportation: Available on request; fees vary by distance and are billed by semester.
Payment Methods Single annual payment: 1.5% discount (on tuition only) Two-semester payments: 1.0% discount (on tuition only) Quarterly payments: No discount
Accepted Payment Methods: Visa or MasterCard (no surcharge if paid by deadline)
The school does not have their refund policy publicly available.
Fee details
Application Fees The school’s website does not mention any application or registration fees. Families should confirm directly with the school whether such fees apply during the admissions process.
Tuition Fees (By Age Group)
* Nursery (2–3 years old): THB 198,000 per academic year * Kindergarten 1–2 (3–5 years old): THB 234,000 per academic year * Kindergarten 3 (5–6 years old): THB 255,000 per academic year * Grade 1–4 (6–10 years old): THB 279,000 per academic year * Grade 5–12 (10–18 years old): THB 297,000 per academic year
All amounts are listed as annual tuition.
Lunch Fees A separate lunch fee of THB 30,000 per academic year applies to all grade levels.
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms The school’s website does not currently specify the billing frequency (term-based or annual), deadlines, or late payment penalties.
Payment Methods The school does not disclose payment method options (such as credit card, bank transfer, or online systems) in the fee schedule.
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
NIVA uses a curriculum based on the California Common Core standards and offers instruction from Nursery to Grade 12. The curriculum is divided into four main stages. In early years, children engage in theme-based learning to build basic understanding. At the primary level, the school uses discovery-based instruction to help students explore ideas through activities and projects. Middle school students work within a skills-based structure, while high school students follow a mastery-based approach that emphasizes personal responsibility and deeper subject understanding. NIVA also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses to help students prepare for university.
Curriculum details
Here’s a clear and friendly overview of the curriculum offering at Raffles American School Bangkok, based strictly on information from the school’s official materials:
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Curriculum Overview
Raffles follows a U.S.-based American curriculum aligned with Common Core standards in English and Math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and AERO for Social Studies. In Early Childhood through Elementary, learning is experiential, covering literacy (using frameworks like the 6+1 Trait Writing and Daily 5), numeracy, science, arts, physical education, music, and world languages. In Middle School, students rotate between specialist teachers in subject areas including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, performing and visual arts, PE, health, and technology. High School (Grades 9–12) culminates in the award of a U.S. High School Diploma, with students from Grade 10 onward selecting from a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Starting in the upcoming academic year, the IB Diploma Programme (DP) will be introduced for Grades 11 and 12, while Grade 10 students may sample AP Psychology. The school embeds General Learning Outcomes—such as communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills—at every level.
Submit Application & Documents Begin the online application via the NIVA website and upload all required documents, including academic records, identification, medical reports, and photographs.
Applicant Assessment Once your documents are approved, the school schedules assessment testing and an interview.
For Nursery and K1: Application fee THB 2,000, plus interview.
For K2–K3: THB 2,000 with assessments in English handwriting and math.
For Grades 1–12: THB 5,000 with assessments covering reading, writing, listening, and math.
Pay School Fees After acceptance, families are required to pay tuition and related fees. Supported payment methods include bank transfer or credit card; cash is not accepted.
Register & Complete Enrollment Upon payment, the student’s place is secured often involving registration, uniform fitting, and orientation through the school's internal systems.
Admissions
1. Initial Visit & Inquiry Begin by visiting the school or contacting the Admissions Office. You can arrange to meet the Head of School or Director in person—or connect online via email, phone, or the Line app if visiting isn’t possible. An open-door policy is offered for visits by appointment.
2. Submit Application Materials Complete and submit the Application Form, Admission Requirement Checklist, Authorization to Release School Records form, and Informed Consent from the previous school. Include two passport-sized photos, a copy of the student’s passport or Thai ID, up to three years of academic records (translated into English if needed), standardized test results or evaluations, and a confidential recommendation from the current school. These can be submitted online or via mail, email, or in person.
3. Evaluation & Interview Once your application is complete, the school typically processes it within five working days. Then, the student will undergo evaluation, screening, and an interview designed to assess English and math proficiency. Pre‑K and Kindergarten applicants have a parent interview and child engagement activity. Interviews can be held in person or via Skype; if remote applicants can't participate, offers may be conditional on in‑person evaluation later.
4. Application Outcome If accepted, the school will send a formal Offer of Admission by email, followed by a tuition invoice and a welcome letter from the Head of School outlining next steps.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.
Scholarships
The school’s official website does not mention any scholarships or financial aid programs.
Waitlist
Waitlist
NIVA offers seat reservation for up to two years in advance through a non‑refundable deposit. However, they don't have a formal waitlist.
Waitlist
When an applicant meets the admissions requirements but the requested grade level or program is already full, that applicant is placed in a wait pool.
