Greatstart International School Manila

Greatstart International School Manila is located at 187 Dona Soledad Ave. Extension, Better Living Subdivision (BLS), Paranaque City, Metro Manila. The school sits in the Better Living neighborhood and is accessible from the South Luzon Expressway via the Bicutan exit; it is described as being beside Nuat Thai and Alfamart. This location places the campus in southern Metro Manila, convenient for families relocating to or residing in the area.

Classrooms are organized by age: Toddlers (18 months to 2 years), Nursery I (2–3 years), Nursery II (3–4 years), Pre-K (4–5 years), Kindergarten (5–6 years), School Age (up to 12 years), and Summer Camp (2–12 years).

The school operates as an international early-learning program that serves preschool through school-age students; it runs as a day program (no boarding is listed). The daily schedule aligns with a daytime model, with school hours Monday–Friday.

Greatstart International School Manila is described as inclusive; decisions about admitting students with special educational needs are made by Center Directors based on individual assessments. Some students may receive full-time support from a Learning Support Assistant.

The school aligns with American education standards and guidelines, reflecting a United States affiliation.

No religious affiliation is indicated in the available materials.

School days run from 7:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, with programming that covers early childhood through school-age activities.

The school offers bus service through an accredited provider, Iskulbus. Families should contact Iskulbus directly for enrollment and scheduling details.

Greatstart International School Manila uses the GR.A.C.E. Learning Program (Greatstart Academic Curriculum for Excellence), a proprietary, cross‑curricular curriculum based on The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and aligned with state and national early‑learning standards. The program uses ongoing observation and assessment to tailor Learning Foundations, with plans for individuals and groups that emphasize creativity, social development, early literacy and numeracy, with English as an Additional Language (EAL) support available. The curriculum blends Montessori‑inspired elements with structured, explorative activities to prepare children for transition to elementary school and to develop critical thinking. Curriculum provision is organized by age‑based classrooms: Toddlers (16 months–2 years), Nursery I, Nursery II, Pre‑K, Kindergarten, School Age (up to 12 years), and Summer Camp. The Manila site follows an August–May academic year, with a May Summer Camp and a Headstart Preparatory Camp in June–July, and the program is positioned to support readiness for elementary education, with documented performance outcomes reported for the US network.

Greatstart Manila emphasizes social development as part of its GR.A.C.E. curriculum and daily practice, aiming to foster confidence and social skills in students. The program highlights a Western-style approach to social development to help children become confident participants in learning. The International Student Experience Program provides a two-week social immersion at a U.S. location to develop social skills in an international context and support language development. The school describes its environment as warm, supportive and creative, which underpins social and emotional learning. Center Directors and trained teachers guide both academic and social development, and there is emphasis on partnering with parents to support students' social growth.

Greatstart Manila is described as an inclusive school. Decisions about admitting children with special educational needs (SEN) are made by Center Directors based on the extent to which the school can meet the student's needs. Individual assessments are required, and a recent Educational Psychologist's report is often requested to ensure the school can cater for the student. Some students are admitted on the condition that they receive full-time support from a Learning Support Assistant. The SEN information does not specify a named SEN category or a specialist SEN facility, indicating the school is not positioned as a dedicated SEN specialist institution.

The school is an all-English language school and provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support. During evaluation, the prospective student's language ability is assessed to determine EAL needs, ensuring access to the curriculum. EAL support is available through the school, and parents are encouraged to continue using and developing their native language at home to support learning. The program is designed to accommodate students who are not yet fluent in English rather than replacing their home language.

The Manila campus describes learning as taking place in a warm, supportive and creative environment, which underpins students' mental well-being and holistic development. The GR.A.C.E. program and its social-skills focus contribute to resilience and confidence as part of well-being. The International Student Experience Program supports social skills development and cultural exposure, which can positively affect students' social-emotional well-being. The school relies on trained staff, including Center Directors and teachers, to guide academic and social growth within this supportive framework. There is no separately named, publicly disclosed mental health program beyond these social-emotional supports.

The Manila pages do not publicly disclose safeguarding and child protection policies.

1. Schedule a Tour. School Tours are typically 30 minutes to 1 hour long. Families should call the numbers listed to schedule a tour appointment, or inquire online, to arrange a visit. The tour allows families to view the facilities and ask questions about the school and its programs.

2. Register Your Child. Because slots are limited, use the Online Application for Admission form since slots are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The Application for Admission form can be requested during the school tour or by contacting the school administrator.

3. Admissions Evaluation and Interview. Once the Admissions Evaluation and Enrollment Deposit fees have been paid, families will be contacted for Assessment scheduling. The initial assessment helps inform high-quality instruction tailored to the child's learning needs and can be conducted during the school tour.

4. Acceptance. An Enrollment Packet, including information such as parents' and child information and health records, is provided upon acceptance. Families can opt to visit the school or be contacted for orientation prior to their child's start date.

There is no scholarship information published on the admissions pages. The materials describe the admissions steps and age requirements but do not mention any scholarship programs.

The school describes an open admissions policy with applications accepted year-round and spaces reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no published waitlist or pool system. This implies no formal waitlist beyond the standard first-come, first-served approach.