If you’re a parent, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make before you move to your new country is how you’ll educate your children. Our recent article on homeschooling your children abroad sheds light on that very affordable education option. But for many, especially corporate and government transferees, international schools remain the most popular but expensive choice.
International schools were first established in the late 19th century to provide standardized education for children of expatriates, primarily U.S. government, NGOs and multinational corporations. You can now find an international school, either British or American systems, in most cities of the world where large populations of expatriates live.
Our new article “International Schools Are Expanding Rapidly” takes a look at this expensive but highest quality education option. Besides price – which can easily begin at US$12,000 per student each year – you also will have to consider your new location, since most international schools mainly are located in major cities.
Driven by a rapidly growing expat population and globalization, the number of international schools has tripled in the last 10 years to over 6,600 English-medium schools serving over 3.3 million students worldwide, according to ISC, an international school data market research firm.
International schools generally cater mainly to the education needs of students who are not nationals of the host country and implement a more universal curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the Cambridge IGCSE. But what about schools like the American School of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which is a private, independent school offering a bilingual, bicultural education to both Mexican and international students? Can it also be classified as an international school?
You can find out in our companion article “An American School in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,” which is an international school with a decidedly American twist.
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