The common themes of enquiry-based learning and student-centered learning and planning underpin the American curriculum. A typical American international school starts with entry to Kindergarten at age 5 (or a nursery programme for younger children), usually with an age cut-off in the fall, around August to September. Students study through to Grade 12; upon completion, they earn a High School Diploma, which is accepted criteria for entrance by American universities and colleges as well as institutions of higher learning across the world.
This education system encompasses core subject matter standards and learning indicators recognised by one of six education accreditation departments in the US, including the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). To gain accreditation, the school’s curriculum must be in line with the standards determined by the organisation. This course of study is bolstered by a wide range of co-curricular and after school activities, from music to sports, volunteering in the community and more, with the goal of equipping students with the skills they need for the 21st century.
Standardised tests are used as evidence of learning for students enrolled in American international schools around the world. Many universities internationally require students to take the SAT or ACT for consideration during the university admissions process.
High school students may enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are offered by several schools in Bangkok. A programme created by the College Board over 60 years ago, AP courses offer college-level curricula and examinations to high school students in a wide variety of content areas. The benefits are to challenge students in a rigorous curriculum, strengthen their university applications, and offer the flexibility for students to select a variety of courses or focus on a specific subject in greater depth. Many American and international colleges and universities (including in the UK and Canada) may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the AP examinations.
Here in Bangkok we are fortunate enough to have many exceptional American Schools and the following schools are listed only in alphabetical order not in order of ranking.
- American School of Bangkok Sukhumvit
- The American School of Bangkok Green Valley Campus
- Bangkok Christian International School
- BASIS International School Bangkok
- Berkeley International School
- International School Bangkok (ISB)
- International Community School (ICS)
- Keaes Academics (Language & Tutorial School)
- KPIS International School
- Precious Learners World
- Seeh Phinong International Kindergarten
- Storytime Preschool Bangkok
- Thai International School (TIS)
- Thai-Chinese International School (TCIS)
- Wells International School (WIS)
- VERSO International School
