Best International Schools in Chiang Mai for Expat Families (2026 Guide)

Chiang Mai's lower living costs, cleaner air outside the burning season, and a settled expat community have made it one of northern Thailand's most popular relocation bases for families. Finding the right international schools in Chiang Mai is usually the first practical decision a relocating family makes, well before they start looking at housing. This guide covers 11 verified schools across the city's main curricula, what they actually cost in 2026, and where families tend to live once they've chosen one.

International Education Options in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai's school market is smaller than Bangkok's, with around a dozen established international schools rather than dozens, but it still covers every major curriculum a relocating family is likely to want. Most schools cluster in two areas: the Hang Dong and Saraphi corridor south of the city, and a smaller group closer to the old city and Muang Chiang Mai centre, which shapes where families end up house-hunting once a school is chosen.

• British curriculum schools follow Cambridge Primary, IGCSE and A Levels, the most common track in the city.

• American curriculum schools use Common Core standards with Advanced Placement options in the senior years.

• International Baccalaureate (IB) schools run the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, useful for families who expect to relocate again internationally.

• Singapore curriculum is available at one school, blending Singapore maths and science with a Cambridge exit exam.

• A small number of niche and Montessori schools serve families who want a different pedagogical approach or a bilingual English-Thai environment.

Nationally, the sector has kept expanding even as Thailand's birth rate falls. The number of international schools in the country rose from around 100 in 2014 to 275 by 2025, with total enrolment climbing from under 50,000 to close to 93,000 students, according to Bangkok Post reporting on industry data. Chiang Mai has been one of the beneficiaries of that expansion outside Bangkok.

Accreditation is worth checking before fees. Most established schools in Chiang Mai hold WASC, Cambridge Assessment International Education, or International Baccalaureate Organisation status, which matters for university applications later and for transferring a child mid-programme if your family relocates again.

Best International Schools in Chiang Mai

These 11 schools are the ones foreign families most commonly shortlist, grouped by curriculum and checked against each school's own website or its Ministry of Education-recognised profile.

British Curriculum Schools

1. Lanna International School

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: British curriculum, IGCSE and A-Levels

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, French, Chinese)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 20 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 423,400 THB to 813,400 THB

• Location: 166 Moo 10, Baan Waen, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230

Lanna International School has operated in Hang Dong since 1993 and is one of the largest schools in the city, with more than 800 students from Nursery to Year 13. It follows the British National Curriculum through to Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels and is a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), which gives students access to regional sports and academic competitions most single-city schools cannot offer.

2. Meritton British International School

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: English National Curriculum and Cambridge, IGCSE

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, French, Mandarin)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 18 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Not available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 224,400 THB to 440,000 THB

• Location: 168 Nong Kwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230

Opened in 2018, Meritton is a smaller British curriculum school serving children aged 2 to roughly 16 (Pre-Nursery to Year 11), following Cambridge Primary and IGCSE. Annual fees run from around THB 190,000 to 400,000, among the more affordable British options in the city, with a total roll of around 300 students and small class sizes.

American Curriculum Schools

1. Chiang Mai International School (CMIS)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: American curriculum, US High School Diploma and AP

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, plus French, Mandarin or Spanish from Grade 8)

• Class Sizes: Maximum: 20 (Elementary), 22 (Middle School), 24 (High School)

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Not available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 341,700 THB to 590,200 THB

• Location: 13 Chetupon Road, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50000

CMIS is Chiang Mai's oldest international school, founded in 1954 and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It sits in the Wat Ket area of Muang Chiang Mai and runs an American curriculum with Advanced Placement courses from Pre-School to Grade 12. Annual tuition runs roughly THB 290,000 to 510,000 depending on grade level, with a Christian heritage that today welcomes families of all faiths.

2. Grace International School

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: American Christian curriculum, AP and SAT

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Mandarin, Spanish)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 22 students per class

  • Maximum: 24 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Not available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 349,000 THB to 419,000 THB

• Location: 88 Moo 3, Tambon Harn Kaew, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230

Grace International School sits on a 37-acre campus in Hang Dong and has taught an American Christian curriculum with AP courses since 1999. It has around 600 students from 25 nationalities and is accredited by both WASC and ACSI. Fees start near THB 295,000 and rise to about THB 410,000 including first-year enrolment costs, and the school runs a financial assistance programme for missionary and international Christian-service families.

3. Nakornpayap International School (NIS)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: American curriculum, US High School Diploma

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 15 students per class

  • Maximum: 20 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 304,500 THB to 521,800 THB

• Location: 240 Moo 6, San Phi Sua, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50300

NIS opened in 1993 in San Phi Sua, Muang Chiang Mai, and describes itself as one of the city's two oldest secular international schools. Set on a 17-acre campus, it keeps class sizes to around 15 students and serves roughly 450 pupils from Kindergarten to Grade 12, with WASC accreditation and a strong emphasis on cultural diversity across its more than 30 nationalities.

4. Unity Concord International School (UCIS)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: American curriculum (Common Core), AP, SAT and ACT

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes (majority)

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese)

• Class Sizes: Maximum: 20 (Pre-K to K3), 24 (Grades 1 to 6), 28 (Grades 7 to 12)

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 221,600 THB to 406,400 THB

• Location: 272 Moo 2, Chiang Mai-Lampang Super Highway, Nong Phueng, Saraphi, Chiang Mai 50140

UCIS opened in 2017 along the Chiang Mai-Lampang highway in Saraphi district, just outside the city and a short drive from the airport. It follows an American curriculum built on California State Standards and Common Core, with around 700 students and WASC accreditation. Annual fees range from about THB 190,000 to 370,000, making it one of the larger and more accessible American-curriculum options.

5. American Pacific International School (APIS)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP), IB Diploma, AP and SAT

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Chinese, Japanese)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 14 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available (door-to-door and inter-campus)

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 120,300 THB to 524,800 THB

• Location: Main Campus: 158/1 Moo 3, Hang Dong-Samoeng Road, Ban Pong, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230 | Primary Campus: 288 Moo 2, Mae Hia, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50100

APIS runs two campuses in Hang Dong, a Primary Campus near Mae Hia for ages 3 to 12 and a Main Campus about 25km from the city centre offering boarding for Grades 5 to 12. Founded in 1997, it delivers the full IB continuum, PYP, MYP and DP, to more than 400 students from over 20 nationalities. Fees vary widely by grade and campus, from roughly THB 115,000 to 420,000 a year.

IB and Bilingual Schools

1. Prem Tinsulanonda International School

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: Full IB continuum, IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes (majority)

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Korean, French, Mandarin, Spanish)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: Varies by programme and grade

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 416,000 THB to 814,000 THB

• Location: 234 Moo 3, Huay Sai, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180

Prem Tinsulanonda sits on a 100-acre campus in Mae Rim, about 25km north of the city, and offers day and boarding places for around 500 students aged 3 to 19. It is authorised for the full IB continuum, PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme, and its rural campus and boarding option make it a common choice for families who split time between Chiang Mai and elsewhere in Thailand.

2. Panyaden International School

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: British-aligned (IPC and IMYC), IB Diploma

• Language of Instruction: English and Thai

• Native English Teachers: Yes (plus native Thai teachers)

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Mandarin, Spanish)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 19 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Not currently available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 321,000 THB to 594,000 THB

• Location: 218 Nam Phrae, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230

Panyaden, in Hang Dong about 15 minutes from the city centre, is known for its bamboo-built, eco-focused campus and a genuinely bilingual approach: classes run roughly 50/50 in English and Thai. It blends the British-aligned International Primary and Middle Years Curricula with the IB Diploma Programme in the final two years, alongside Buddhist principles and sustainability practice, serving around 405 students from more than 30 nationalities.

3. Singapore International School Chiang Mai (SISB)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: Singapore and British curriculum, IGCSE and A-Levels

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Yes

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Chinese, Thai)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 15 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Available

• Yearly Fees (2026/2027): 324,300 THB to 564,300 THB

• Location: 10 Hussadhisawee Road, Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200

SISB Chiang Mai, opened in 2017 in the Si Phum area near the old city, is the only school in Chiang Mai running the Singapore curriculum, moving into Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels for older students. It serves a smaller community of around 277 students aged 2 to 18, with annual fees from about THB 324,000 to 564,000 across the primary and secondary years.

A Montessori Alternative

Chiang Mai Montessori International School (CMMIS)

• Curriculum / Leaving Qualifications: AMI Montessori, no external exit qualification

• Language of Instruction: English

• Native English Teachers: Some (English fluency required for all lead teachers)

• Additional Languages Offered: Yes (Thai, Chinese)

• Class Sizes:

  • Average: 13 students per class

  • Maximum: 25 students per class

• Extracurricular Activities: Available

• School Bus: Not available

• Yearly Fees (2025/2026): 300,368 THB to 407,412 THB

• Location: 229/1 Moo 6, Ban Roy Jan, Nong Khwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230

For families who want a different pedagogical model, Chiang Mai Montessori International School in Hang Dong runs a full AMI Montessori programme from Toddler Community through lower secondary. Founded in 2010, it keeps around 250 students in mixed-age classrooms with a strong outdoor, nature-based learning focus, distinct from the mainstream curricula above. Families typically move to a mainstream British, American or IB school for upper secondary, so it is worth asking the school directly which local options its graduates transfer into most often.

School Fees at a Glance

Fees vary by age, campus and curriculum, but the ranges below give a realistic starting budget for 2026. Confirm every figure against the school's current published fee schedule, since tuition is revised annually and add-on costs are rarely listed upfront.

Beyond tuition, budget for a one-time enrolment or capital fee, commonly THB 50,000 to 150,000, an annual registration fee, and extras like transport, lunch and uniforms, which together can add THB 30,000 to 100,000 a year.

Choosing the Right Curriculum for Your Family

If you expect to relocate again internationally, IB or British curricula tend to travel best between countries, which is why Prem Tinsulanonda, American Pacific International School and Panyaden lean heavily on IB pathways. Families anchored to a US college pipeline usually do better with an American, Common Core-based programme such as CMIS, Grace or Unity Concord. Lanna and Meritton suit families who want a straightforward British IGCSE and A Level route, and SISB is the clear pick for families relocating from Singapore or wanting that specific system. If cost is the deciding factor, Meritton, Unity Concord and the entry tiers at Nakornpayap and CMMIS sit at the more affordable end of the market without dropping accreditation.

Class size and campus setting matter as much as curriculum on paper. Nakornpayap and Meritton keep classes noticeably smaller than the city's larger schools, which suits families prioritising individual attention over a wide extracurricular roster. Boarding is only available at Prem Tinsulanonda and the American Pacific International School Main Campus, both useful if you travel frequently for work or want a smoother transition for an older teenager joining mid-programme.

Admissions Timelines and What to Expect

Most Chiang Mai international schools run a main intake in August for the new academic year, with application windows typically opening in October and running through February. Expect an application fee of roughly THB 2,000 to 10,000, an academic or English-language assessment for the child, and an entrance or enrolment fee that can range from THB 50,000 to 150,000 depending on the school. A refundable security deposit equivalent to one term's fees is common.

Mid-year admission is genuinely possible in many cases, particularly into Years 1, 4 and 7, where natural intake gaps occur as families rotate in and out. It is worth contacting shortlisted schools directly rather than assuming a place only opens in August, since Chiang Mai's smaller school market means places can appear with only a term's notice.

Documents to have ready when you apply include the child's last two years of school reports, a passport copy, immunisation records, and any existing learning support or special educational needs assessments. Schools with a Christian affiliation, such as CMIS and Grace, do not require families to share the faith, but every school will want to discuss prior schooling in more detail during the interview stage.

Where Expat Families Choose to Live Near Chiang Mai's Schools

School choice shapes where relocating families end up buying or renting. Six of the eleven schools in this guide, Lanna, Panyaden, Grace, American Pacific, Unity Concord and CMMIS, sit in or around Hang Dong and Saraphi, which has turned the southern ring road corridor into the city's main expat family suburb, with a steady supply of gated houses and townhouses within a 10 to 20-minute drive of a school gate. Families who choose Prem Tinsulanonda tend to look at Mae Rim instead, trading a longer commute for a quieter, more rural setting. Families whose children attend CMIS, SISB or NIS more often stay closer to the city centre and Nimman area, prioritising walkability and city amenities over a larger garden. Commute times from central Chiang Mai to the Hang Dong school corridor typically run 20 to 35 minutes by car outside peak hours, and most families budget for a private driver or a second vehicle rather than relying on shared songthaews for the daily run.

That pattern reflects a broader shift across the country: regional cities including Chiang Mai are increasingly serious relocation choices rather than a Bangkok alternative, as the Thaiger has reported, with the national school count still climbing even as the domestic pipeline of school-age children shrinks.

Before comparing school shortlists against neighbourhoods, it helps to see current and/or browse if you are relocating on a shorter timeline and want to confirm the school corridor works for your family before buying. For a deeper area-by-area breakdown, our guide covers the Hang Dong and Nimman corridors in more detail.

Planning Your Move to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai's school market is smaller than Bangkok's, but the range across British, American, IB, Singapore and Montessori curricula covers most family needs, usually at a lower price point than the capital. Most families narrow their options to two or three schools first, then visit each campus in person, since the feel of a school, the commute and the class sizes rarely come through fully on a website or fee sheet.

School fees are only one part of the budget. Housing near the Hang Dong and Saraphi school corridor, a car or private driver for the daily run, and one-off enrolment and capital fees all add up quickly, especially with more than one child. Once you have a shortlist, cross-check it against our cost of living in Chiang Mai guide to build a realistic relocation budget.

If you are planning to buy rather than rent, keep Thailand's ownership rules in mind. Foreigners can own a condo unit freehold within a building's 49% foreign quota, but cannot own land outright, so the gated houses popular with school families in Hang Dong are usually bought on a leasehold basis or through other legal structures. Many families rent for the first school year to confirm the commute and neighbourhood before committing, and a licensed Thai lawyer can advise on the right structure if you decide to buy.

When you are ready to compare homes, browse current listings on Nestopa to see what a school-adjacent home actually costs this year, from city-centre condos near CMIS and SISB to family houses within a short drive of the Hang Dong campuses.