The schools expat families on the Eastern Seaboard actually choose, what tuition really costs, where the campuses cluster, which schools offer boarding, how the British, American and IB curricula differ, and how admissions work. Fees are 2026 guide ranges in Thai baht (≈ THB 35–36 = USD 1).
Pattaya and the wider Eastern Seaboard have a solid bench of international schools — British, American and IB campuses serving the city, the Chonburi coast and the Rayong industrial corridor, several with boarding. For relocating families this is a real draw, and fees here generally sit below Bangkok's top tier. But the choice still shapes everything: which curriculum you pick, where you live, and a large slice of your budget. Below: the schools expats choose, typical tuition, where campuses cluster, the curricula explained, and admissions tips. For day-to-day budgeting pair this with the Pattaya cost-of-living guide, and use our Pattaya area guides to match a neighbourhood to your school.
A representative selection of established international schools in and around Pattaya across the British, American and IB systems. This is a starting point, not a ranking — many more options exist, and the right fit depends on curriculum, location and your child.
| School | Area | Curriculum | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regents International School Pattaya | Pong / East Pattaya | British + IB DP | Pattaya's flagship international school (Nord Anglia group) on a large green campus near Mabprachan Lake, with optional boarding and both British and IB Diploma pathways. |
| Rugby School Thailand | Chonburi (south of Pattaya) | British | Thai outpost of England's historic Rugby School; full British curriculum on an expansive campus with day and boarding places. |
| St Andrews International School Green Valley | Bang Lamung (Chonburi) | British + IB DP | Nord Anglia school set in a country-club setting between Pattaya and Sriracha; British curriculum with the IB Diploma in the sixth form. |
| International School of the Eastern Seaboard (ISE) | Bo Win, Sriracha (Chonburi) | American + IB DP | Long-established US-curriculum school serving the Eastern Economic Corridor's industrial expat families, with an IB Diploma option. |
| Tara Pattana International School | East Pattaya / Nongprue (near Jomtien) | British | Central British-curriculum school close to the city, convenient for families living in Naklua, Wong Amat and North Pattaya. |
| Garden International School (GIS) | Map Ta Phut, Rayong | British | Established British school serving the Rayong industrial corridor and families posted to the eastern estates. |
| Mooltripakdee International School | East Pattaya | British (Cambridge) | Smaller, more affordable British-curriculum option popular with long-stay families in the eastern suburbs. |
| The Vines International School | Huai Yai / East Pattaya | British (Cambridge) | Small community school in the green Huai Yai area, focused on a close-knit, family feel. |
Indicative annual tuition for 2026. Flagship British schools and those with boarding sit at the upper end; smaller community schools can be markedly cheaper. These figures are tuition only.
| Stage | Annual tuition (guide) |
|---|---|
| Pre-school / Kindergarten | THB 150,000–350,000 |
| Primary / Junior (Years 1–6) | THB 250,000–550,000 |
| Lower secondary (Years 7–9) | THB 350,000–650,000 |
| Upper secondary / IGCSE (Years 10–11) | THB 450,000–750,000 |
| Sixth form / IB Diploma / Grade 12 | THB 550,000–850,000 |
Budget separately for one-off application and registration fees, a refundable deposit or development levy at some schools, boarding fees where relevant, and ongoing costs for uniforms, the school bus, lunches and trips. Always request each school's full current fee schedule before you commit.
Because Pattaya has no rail system and the school run can be slow, most families pick their neighbourhood around the school. The campuses fall into a few clusters along the coast and inland:
| Area cluster | Example schools | Why families live there |
|---|---|---|
| East Pattaya (Pong / Huai Yai / Mabprachan) | Regents, Mooltripakdee, The Vines | Green, lower-density family suburb of gated villages and pool homes — where most school-age families choose to live. |
| Bang Lamung (between Pattaya & Sriracha) | St Andrews Green Valley, Rugby School Thailand | Spacious country-style campuses with boarding options; suits families wanting room and a calmer setting. |
| East Pattaya / Nongprue (near Jomtien) | Tara Pattana | Convenient, well-connected suburb close to Jomtien for families who want a shorter commute than the deeper East Pattaya villages. |
| Sriracha / Bo Win (Eastern Seaboard) | ISE | Serves the industrial corridor; popular with corporate-relocation families posted to the eastern estates. |
| Rayong / Map Ta Phut | Garden International (GIS) | For families relocating for work in the Rayong petrochemical and manufacturing hubs, an hour-plus south. |
Check the school bus routes, catchment zones and pick-up times before signing a lease — they often matter more than straight-line distance.
The British system runs through IGCSEs at 16 and A-levels at 18 — focused, exam-based and easy to transfer back to the UK and Commonwealth; Regents, Rugby School Thailand, St Andrews, Tara Pattana, GIS and Mooltripakdee follow it. The American system awards a high-school diploma with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a broader, continuous-assessment approach; ISE is the local anchor. The International Baccalaureate (PYP in primary, MYP in middle years, and the IB Diploma at 16–18) is a globally portable, inquiry-led programme offered as a senior pathway at Regents, St Andrews and ISE. If you expect to move countries again, the IB and the larger British schools travel especially well. Choose around where you might go next and how your child learns best.
The most popular schools fill their year groups, so start early — many open applications six to twelve months ahead, and entry into the senior years can be the hardest to secure. Expect to provide recent school reports and records, sit an assessment or entrance test (and often an interview), and show English-language readiness. The academic year usually runs August to June, so aim to apply well before the summer. Gather transcripts, immunisation records and references before you leave home, and where you can, visit shortlisted campuses in person — fit, facilities and the commute are hard to judge from a website. If boarding at Regents or Rugby is on your list, ask about places and the combined fee schedule early. Once a place is confirmed, choose your area and home around the school and its bus network.
Annual tuition on the Pattaya and Eastern Seaboard typically runs from around THB 150,000 for kindergarten to THB 550,000–850,000 for the senior and IB Diploma years, with flagship schools like Regents and Rugby School Thailand at the higher end and boarding adding more. As a rule, fees here sit below Bangkok's top tier. On top of tuition, budget for one-off application and registration fees, sometimes a refundable deposit or development levy, plus uniforms, the school bus and trips — always ask each school for its full current fee schedule.
There is no single best — it depends on curriculum, location and your child. Regents International School Pattaya (British and IB) is the largest and best-known in the city, Rugby School Thailand and St Andrews Green Valley are highly regarded British schools with boarding, and ISE is the established American-curriculum choice on the Eastern Seaboard. The right fit is the school whose curriculum, campus location and community match your family, ideally one you can visit before deciding.
The three main pathways are British (IGCSE leading to A-levels), American (high-school diploma with AP courses) and the International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP and the IB Diploma). The British curriculum dominates locally — Regents, Rugby, St Andrews, Tara Pattana, GIS and Mooltripakdee all follow it — while ISE anchors the American option, and Regents, St Andrews and ISE add the IB Diploma in the senior years. Choose based on where you might move next and which system suits your child.
Yes. Regents International School Pattaya and Rugby School Thailand both offer boarding alongside day places, which makes them an option for families based elsewhere in Thailand or the region, or for parents who travel for work. Boarding carries its own fees on top of tuition, so request the combined schedule when you enquire.
Most school-age families choose East Pattaya — the green suburbs of Pong, Huai Yai and Mabprachan — where the houses, gated villages and the largest campuses cluster, or family-friendly Jomtien for its beach and condos within reach of town. Because there is no rail system and traffic can be slow, check each school's bus routes and pick-up times before signing a lease. See our Pattaya area guides to match a neighbourhood to your school.
This guide is general information for relocation planning, not admissions or financial advice. School fees, curricula, campus locations, boarding and admissions rules change — confirm current details directly with each school.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
School shortlisted — now match a family-friendly area and home to your budget, and line up healthcare and your visa.
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