Raffles American School Bangkok vs Trinity International School
Raffles American School Bangkok and Trinity International School are both in Bangkok, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and American programmes, and Raffles American School Bangkok also offers IB. Published annual fees are THB 198,000 - 297,000 at Raffles American School Bangkok and THB 154,250 - 220,870 at Trinity International School, which puts Raffles American School Bangkok roughly 32% higher. Raffles American School Bangkok takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Trinity International School from 3 to 18. Raffles American School Bangkok is the larger school, with around 600 pupils to Trinity International School's 450. Typical class sizes are 16 at Raffles American School Bangkok and 25 at Trinity International School.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Curriculum
Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
600
Pupils
450
Typical class size
Typical class size
16
Typical class size
25
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2003
Bus service
Bus service
—
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
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.
Location
Trinity International School is located at 30 Sukhumvit Soi 36, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110. It sits in the Sukhumvit area, a well-connected part of the city, with Thonglor BTS station at the entrance to Soi 36, making it accessible for families using public transport. The neighbourhood is a mix of residential streets and commercial amenities, offering convenience for commuting parents.
Stages
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.
Stages
The school offers education from Kindergarten (ages 3+) through Grade 12. This covers early years, elementary, middle school, and high school levels, with age-appropriate curricula for each stage.
School type
School type
Raffles American School Bangkok is a co-educational school.
School type
TRIS is a co-educational day school. It does not provide boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
—
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.
Additional learning support
The school provides Learning Support for students who require extra help, with teachers and support staff working with parents to meet individual needs. Students with limited English proficiency can join the ESL program until they are ready to join mainstream classes.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Country affiliation
TRIS follows the American (California) curriculum and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a U.S.-based body.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
The school is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and incorporates values education based on Adventist principles.
School day structure
School day structure
The website does not publish details on how the school day is structured.
School day structure
The school day runs from 07:30 to 15:00, with student arrival between 06:45 and 07:25. Students begin the day in homeroom with the national anthem, attendance, and announcements, and have scheduled breaks and a lunch period during the day.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
TRIS operates its own van service for transporting students to and from school.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
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.
Fee details
Application & Placement Test Fee: THB 4,000 (one-time, non-refundable)
Other Fees EAL Fee: THB 30,000 per semester (if applicable)
Re-registration Fee: THB 15,000 annually
Uniforms: THB 1,200 – THB 1,700 per set; Pathfinder and PE uniforms also required
PSAT (G10 & G11): THB 1,200
AP Courses (HS): THB 15,000 per subject
School Bus: THB 25,000 – THB 40,000 per semester
Payment Methods Payments are accepted via bank transfer; confirmation required from the finance office.
Refund Policy Refunds are provided only for refundable deposits under stated conditions.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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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
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.
Curriculum details
Trinity follows an American curriculum based on the California Department of Education’s K‑12 standards, with content adapted to support Math and Science through a partnership with UC Berkeley’s GEMS program. From Kindergarten through Grade 12, students follow this American-based program, integrating values education rooted in Seventh‑day Adventist principles. Early grades (K–5) focus on foundational literacy, numeracy, and values such as honesty and respect, while middle and high school include Advanced Placement (AP)‑level coursework in subjects like Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and more. The curriculum also includes an English as a Second Language (ESL) program to support students not yet fluent in English, including summer school, until they can move into mainstream classrooms. Overall, TRIS provides a structured academic progression from early years to Grade 12 that combines U.S. academic standards with holistic character development and technical enrichment.
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.
Admissions
1. Submit Application and Fee Parents complete the TRIS Application for Admission and pay a non-refundable application fee. The application must be accompanied by required documents, including a recent medical report, immunisation record, and the student’s most recent school report.
2. Take Placement Test Applicants aged six or older take a placement test. Students with low scores in English are required to join the ESL program.
3. Confirm Acceptance and Pay Fees Once accepted, families must pay one-time entry fees and annual fees. Additional costs may apply for ESL, graduation, and parent council membership.
4. Collect Registration Package Families receive a package with key information, school calendar, timetable, request forms (e.g., transport, lockers, online access), and the Student/Parent Handbook. This package also includes teacher contact details and school layout maps.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school’s official website does not mention any scholarships or financial aid programs.
Scholarships
The school does not publicly disclose information about scholarships or financial aid in the provided admissions materials.
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.
Waitlist
The school operates an open admissions policy, meaning students can enrol at any time during the school year if places are available. There is no publicly stated waitlist or pool system.
