You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Sierra Leone with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Sierra Leone. Some schools may follow the American curriculums with English speaking programs while others are regulated under the British language and system.

Education in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone in the bight of Africa, the first 9 years of education are mandatory in law, but impractical owing to the shortage of facilities left over from the ravages of war.

The 6 years of primary education are free (age 6-12), as are the 3 years that follow on at junior secondary school (age 12-15).

At the end of junior secondary school, students take the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which, together with their continuous assessment profiles, determines whether they will continue their education at general or specialist senior secondary schools or proceed to technical and vocational schools of varying course content and duration.

At senior secondary schools (age 15-18), students studying there for 3 years.

At the end of their program, students take the international Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) in competition with other students in English-speaking West Africa. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is responsible for conducting this examination. Students who pass this exam and meet the requirements of the University of Sierra Leone may continue their formal education for four years for a first degree.

They can also chose to shift to vocational education where they learn more practical skills. Despite these opportunities, the literacy rate among 15- to 24-year olds remains below 60%.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Sierra Leone. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. There may be some local population, but the schools are usually geared for an international student body. Schools may follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, etc. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English, French, Spanish, German, or Japanese. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrolment 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.

Accreditation & Membership

• 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.
• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education, complemented by grants and awards.
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is a responsive organisation that serves, supports and represents its member schools.
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association which establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral.
• Agency for French Education Abroad (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger, AEFE) is a national public agency under the administration of the French government that assures the quality of schools teaching the French national curriculum outside France.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) represents over 1100 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad.

International schools in Freetown

American International School of Freetown
DOS/Management Officer 24 Hillcot Brow Hill Station,
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Tel: +232 7662 2453
Email: director@ais-freetown.net / admin@ais-freetown.net
Tuition Rates: From $11,500 to $15,500 [school year 2021/22]

The American International School of Freetown offers an American-style curriculum. It is a non-profit, private, coeducational day school, which offers an educational program from age three through high school to students of all nationalities. All instruction is in English. For grades PK to grade 8, the school year is divided into three trimesters, beginning in September and ending in June. AISF also offers high school education, grades 9 to 12, using an online system for academic courses with onsite electives in PE, Art, and Computer Programming. For the virtual high school experience, AISF offers learners a choice between the Virtual High School or the University of Nebraska High School.

The British International School and Montessori Education
No. 7/8 Hill Cot Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Tel: +232 7656 7509 | +232 7882 4258
Email: info@bisme.org
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The British International School and Montessori provides a quality nursery, preschool through primary school education for all children aged 14 months to 12 years using the Montessori approach as the primary medium and the Cambridge International Examinations curriculum as the secondary medium.

The KidZone Academy Cambridge International School
4 Main Motor Road
Wilberforce, Freetown
Sierra Leone, West Africa  
​Tel: +232 7827 7745​   
​Email: thekidzonesl@gmail.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The KidZone Academy Nursery, Primary and Secondary International School offers Cambridge Examinations accreditation for all students in the Early Childhood Center (Ages 2-5) and Primary Years (Ages 5-13).

International schools in Goderich

DAWN International School
9 First Bango Farm, Off Peninsular Rd.,
Adonkia, Goderich, Sierra Leone
Tel: +232 7920 6256 / +232 3002 0113
Email: admin@dawnintschoolsl.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The school simultaneously runs the Sierra Leone National Education and the British International Curriculum / Cambridge Examinations International Education (CEIE) curriculum. The combination of the two curriculums aim to provide a solid foundation of key skills delivered through active learning and well-structured curriculum.