You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Bahamas with fee information. It includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools and you will find the right school to prepare for International Baccalaureate, and other diploma in Bahamas. Some schools may follow the American or British curriculums with English speaking programs while others are regulated under the French education system.
International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Bahamas. There may be some local population, but the schools are geared for an international student body. Schools usually follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, Canada or Australia/New Zealand. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English, French, Spanish, German, or Japanese. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. Schools often provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.
Admission and enrollment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.
Education in the Bahamas is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. English is the official language. Literacy rate is generally high at around 95.5% with a selection of private schools. The Ministry of Education operates 158 English schools, while private schools account for 52 of the country's schools. The Bahamas generally follow the British educational system. The national exam is the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education - based on the British equivalent. All Bahamian schools require students to wear a uniform.
The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools. The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary School (BAISS) is an accrediting body for the island.
St Andrew's School
Address: PO Box EE 17340
Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
Tel: 1 (242) 324 2621/2
Tuition Rates: $5,580 - 13,635 Bahamian dollar per year
St. Andrew's offers different levels of study from pre-School to upper School (Years 10 to 13). The school offers the IB program, as well as administering the PSAT, SAT and ACT examinations.
Lyford Cay International School (LCIS)
Address: Lyford Cay Drive
PO Box N-7776
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: 242 362 4774
Tuition Rates: $14,040 - 21,510 Bahamian dollar per year
LCIS offers three programs of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). LCIS is a non-profit day school governed by a Board of Governors and Directors and managed by the Principal. The facility is situated in the beautiful western part of the island of New Providence in the gated community of Lyford Cay.
Tambearly School
Address: P.O. Box N-4284
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 327-5965
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
Founded in 1985, this is an independent preparatory school for students ranging from Pre-K (Montessori) to 9th Grade. Located on the West side of the island in Sandy Port, the school features small classes with qualified teachers from Canada, USA, Britain and the Bahamas. Tambearly follows a U.S. curriculum supplemented with British, Canadian, and Bahamian material.
Queen's College
Address: P.O. Box N-7127
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 393-1666
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
Queen's College operates under the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church and is the oldest private school in the Bahamas. Classes are offered from pre-school to primary to High School in English instruction. Full services are available, such as health center, clubs, spiritual learning, and counseling. As a government grant-aided private school, Queen's College adheres to the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) and Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) curriculums. We offer BJC courses in English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Religious Education, General Science, Health Science, Art and Home Economics.
Kingsway Academy
Address: Bernard RD, P O Box N 4378
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242)-324-6887
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
A leading interdenominational Christian school with elementary school and high school. It is an incorporated, non-profit company, recognized by the Ministry of Education of The Bahamas and is a member of the (BAISS). The motto for the school is "Training Children in the King's Way" taken from Proverbs 22:6.
Summit Academy
Address: East Bay Street (Waterloo Compound)
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 394-4781
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
Summit Academy is a co-educational, independent school offering a program of academic excellence to both Bahamian and international students. It serves students pre-school through grade seven. The school offers extracurriculars like music programs, physical education, and intellectual development.
Bahamas Academy of Seventh-day Adventists
Address: #73 Marshall Road & Old Trail Road
P O Box N-356
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: 1(242) 676-0500
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
Following the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventists, this school is approved by the Bahamas Ministry of Education and accredited by the Board of Regents of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Bahamas Academy has three divisions: The Early Learning Center (Grades K2 - K5), the Elementary Division (Grades 1 - 6), and the Secondary Division (Grades 7 - 12). At the Secondary Division students must obtain 5 or more BGCSE passes with C and above, inclusive of English Language and Mathematics in the 11th Grade. This enables students to start College/University Courses and still graduate with their Senior Class.
No French school unfortunately but French students can follow the International Baccalaureat curriculum with St Andrew's School in Nassau (education in English).
Lucaya International School (LIS)
Address: Chesapeake Drive
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 373-4004
Tuition Rates: $5,425 - 13,435 Bahamian dollar per year
LIS is an accredited, college preparatory, non-profit, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational day school governed by a Board of Directors. The school serves the local and international community living on Grand Bahama. All classes are offered in English, with the exception of modern language courses. The educational program is modeled along North American, British and International Baccalaureate Organization guidelines. The school year runs from mid-August to mid-June and has a minimum instructional period of 175 days divided into two semesters.
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