The American Curriculum is divided into three stages: Elementary School, Middle School and High School. In Elementary School, students aged 4 to 11 enter Kindergarten to Grade 5. Students aged 11 to 14 progress to Middle School which covers Grade 6 to Grade 8. They then move on to High School until the age of 18 to complete Grade 9 to Grade 12.
The American Curriculum is a standards-based curriculum that is governed by six accreditation authorities including the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS), and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). All subject content must abide by the Common Core State Standards or the AERO Common Core Plus Standards. American international schools have the flexibility to design their curriculum based on standards that are relevant to their host country.
Students need to complete a certain number of credits from Grade 9 to Grade 12 to be granted the American High School Diploma. In addition, students have the opportunity to sit for standardised tests such as the SAT, PSAT and ACT to measure their knowledge in certain subject areas.
Here are the schools in Thailand that offer the American Curriculum:
1. The American School of Bangkok
The American School of Bangkok (ASB) is a private school which offers an exceptional American curriculum from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12. The school is an accredited US College Board provider of the Advanced Placement (AP) programme and ASB provides one of the widest selections of courses under the international school category in the world.
2. Berkeley International School
Berkeley International School is an American college-preparatory school offering a high-quality educational programme from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 and is known for its sporting standards. The school is proud of its students from various backgrounds and students of all nationalities are welcome to enrol at the school. Healthy lunch options and nutritious snacks of both Thai and international cuisines are available for students.
3. Mahidol University International Demonstration School
Owned and operated by Mahidol University, Mahidol University International Demonstration School (MUIDS) is designed to focus on hands-on learning activities alongside traditional learning methods, which encourage students to take their knowledge outside of the classroom and prepare them for real-world settings. This makes learning more fun and interactive as students can gain more exposure among their peers, especially those from other countries.
4. Chiang Mai International School
Located in the heart of Chiang Mai since 1954, Chiang Mai International School provides high-quality education in an ideal social and cultural environment. Although the school is known for their core values of being a Christian faith-based school, Chiang Mai International School takes pride in their ethnically and culturally diverse student community. The school offers educational opportunities for students from preschool through Grade 12.
5. International School Bangkok
Being one of the top international schools in Thailand and Asia, International School Bangkok is incorporated into the North American and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) frameworks. They run an accredited and challenging international curriculum driven by leading educational research and global best practice. The school offers pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 levels and aims to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to become leaders and caring global citizens.
6. NIVA American International School
Since its inception in 1991, NIVA American International School has provided a challenging education in a supportive, student-centred atmosphere that uses the California Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as its primary framework for grades nursery through 12. NIVA also offers AP course and SAT and TOEFL training to empower their graduates to enrol and be successful with their studies in any major universities around the world.
7. Pan-Asia International School
The Pan Asia International School (PAIS) is situated in Bangkok, Thailand’s Prawet area. PAIS is a member of the International Schools Association of Thailand and is certified by the Thai Ministry of Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) (ISAT). The school is a reputable and prosperous school that serves students aged 3 through 18. It is a recognised Middle Years Program (MYP) and IBDP school that uses an American curriculum.
8. Ruamrudee International School
The core curriculum at Ruamrudee International School is based on the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards, which include the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for science, the National Council for the Arts Standards (NCAS) for the arts, the SHAPE Standards for Physical Education (PE), and the ACTFL Standards for Languages. It is created to ensure curriculum consistency from kindergarten through Grade 12, providing authentic and demanding learning experiences for each grade level.
The primary, middle, and high school divisions of Wells International School aim to not only meet but also exceed international educational standards. Throughout their academic careers, Wells students follow a carefully planned curriculum and skill path that builds on the US Common Core Standards and expands them to provide a broad foundation in literacy, mathematics, technology, and the arts. Using the tenth and most recent Standardised Application Test (SAT 10), comprehension and application of the standards are evaluated twice annually. This allows the school to compare its performance to that of other institutions throughout the world. Wells pupils often perform on par with or better than their peers compared to global scores.
10. Bangkok Christian International School (BCIS)
Bangkok Christina International School in Suanluang serves the needs of the Christian missionary community. The school provides an integrated, Christian-centred education based on the American curriculum to students in Grades K–12. The school uses textbooks from publishing companies Glencoe/ McGraw-Hill, Pearson, Prentice Hall, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and SRA/ABEKA in teaching their students. Additionally, BCIS offers the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) program to students who are non-native English speakers to ensure a successful transition into their school and to improve their understanding of the language.
11. Buds International School Phuket
Buds International School opened in the 1990s and is Phuket’s oldest bilingual nursery and kindergarten. The school offers Nursery, Kindergarten and Primary School levels. The curriculum at Buds International School combines the University of Minnesota Kindergarten Curriculum, Montessori and Head Start programmes.
The KPIS International School Bangkok curriculum is a customised skill-objective framework modelled after the American Core Standards. Students are encouraged to become global citizens who can effectively communicate, are lifelong learners, and are critical thinkers. Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ICT, Art, Music, Physical Education and Health, and Chinese are among the subjects included in the curriculum.
13. Trinity International School
Established in 2003, the school offers the American Curriculum to students aged three to 18. The school’s curriculum is based on the California Department of Education and is infused with Adventist values. English as a Second Language (ESL) programmes are also offered.
14. American Prep International School (APIS)
APIS offers the California Department of Education (CDE) curriculum to students in pre-k to Grade 6. The CDE curriculum is delivered with contextual adaptations towards the Thai perspective.
15. QSI International School of Phuket
Established in 2000, QSI International School of Phuket offers the American Curriculum. The school is open to students who wish to enter elementary and secondary school levels. AP courses and intensive English instruction are also provided at QSI International School of Phuket.
RAS educates kids from pre-K to 12th grade with an American curriculum that promotes innovation and creativity. Their tough and diverse academic and co-curricular programmes empower kids to thrive through a learning outcome approach that recognises many types of intelligence and learning routes. The school collaborates with parents in providing equal emphasis on academic, emotional, physical, and social development and has a strong confidence that all students can learn.
17. Ramkhangheang Advent International School (RAIS)
RAIS is a private Christian school in Bangkok that serves students from kindergarten to Grade 12. In Grades 9 to 12, RAIS offers five diplomas – College Preparatory Diploma, College Preparatory Diploma (Emphasis in Business, Medicine and Engineering, Communication Arts and Computer Science). AP courses are also provided for high school students. Additionally, the school offers boarding facilities for students ages 12 and above from Thailand and abroad.
Rose Marie Academy is a private, international pre-K-12 school in Pakkret, Nonthaburi, Thailand. It is managed and supervised by Mrs Rose Marie Wanchupela, a certified American teacher with more than 40 years of experience working as a teacher in Thai and international schools. With the Thai Ministry of Education’s registration, Rose Marie Academy offers a Primary through Secondary School Program.
19. Saint John Mary International School (SJMSM)
SJMIS is a fully accredited school by WASC, offering their students from kindergarten to high school an American standard-based curriculum. AP courses are provided to high school students. Additionally, the school offers boarding facilities for Grades 7 and above students.
The curriculum at Siam International School is based on the rigorous, well-respected, and well-known Californian curriculum offered by the State of California. The curriculum has been modified to provide a more international viewpoint and incorporate local language and heritage. The school that is based in Pathum Thani caters to students in reception to Grade 6.
21. Thai-Chineses International School (TCIS)
TCIS is an American curriculum school in Samutprakarn, close to Bangkok, that offers pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 with a focus on trilingual education.
22. Unity Concord International School (UCIS)
UCIS was founded in response to the growing population’s demand and parents’ requests to enrol their children in an American education system. Established in 2017, UCIS offers the American Curriculum. The school welcomes students from to pre-kindergarten to Grade 12.
