Best International Schools in Chiang Mai

Reviewed 2026-10-31. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.

Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team Chiang Mai's smoke season, which IQAir places from January to April with the worst air usually in March, falls squarely inside the school year. That makes indoor air a real selection criterion here. On every school visit, ask what filtration the classrooms use, whether it covers gyms and dorms, and at what air-quality level outdoor sport moves inside.

Chiang Mai has a small, varied international school scene: IB, American and British options, two schools with boarding, and fees well below Bangkok's top tier. This page gives relocating families a short list to start visits from.

The main trade-off is geography. The best-known campuses sit on opposite edges of the city, Mae Rim in the north and Hang Dong in the south, so your school choice largely decides where you should rent. Pick the school first, then the neighborhood.

At a glance

How we chose

• Recognized accreditation or authorization (CIS, WASC, IB) confirmed on the school's own documents or a reliable reference.
• Published fees we could read, or a clear route to get them.
• Curriculum range, so the list covers IB, American and British families.
• Practical fit: location, boarding, smoke-season air.

Sources: school fee schedules and profiles, Wikipedia for founding and accreditation history, and IQAir. We do not rank on exam results, which schools report inconsistently. Checked on 31 October 2026.

1. Prem Tinsulanonda International School — best for a full IB pathway

Prem sits on a 100-acre campus in Mae Rim, about 25 km north of the city, and takes both day students and boarders. It is authorized for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and also offers the IB Career-related Programme, and it is accredited by CIS and NEASC.

For 2026/27, the International Schools Database lists annual day tuition from THB 416,000 in kindergarten to THB 814,000 from Grade 9, plus a THB 130,000 foundation fee in the first year. This is third-party data; confirm with admissions. Its community handbook describes a positive-pressure air system and purifiers for smoky months.

2. Chiang Mai International School — best for a central US-curriculum option

CMIS was founded in 1954 and runs an American, standards-based program with about two dozen AP subjects and AP Capstone, according to its 2025-26 high school profile. It holds WASC accreditation for 2023 to 2029. The campus is on Chetupun Road, close to the center, which suits families who want to live in town.

The school's 2025-26 fee page lists tuition from THB 325,400 for preschool to THB 552,600 for Grades 9 to 12. New students in KG to Grade 12 also pay a one-time THB 100,000 enrollment fee. It is a Christian school, so ask how that shapes daily life.

3. Lanna International School — best for a British curriculum

Lanna, in Baan Waen, Hang Dong, teaches children from 2 to 18 using the National Curriculum of England and the Cambridge pathway, with the International Primary Curriculum in the junior years. Its 2026-27 fee sheet runs from THB 413,400 a year in Early Years to THB 803,400 in Years 12 and 13. New families pay a THB 90,000 non-refundable registration fee plus assessment and deposit charges.

4. American Pacific International School — best for IB Diploma with boarding

APIS, on the Hang Dong–Samoeng road, opened in 1997, has been WASC accredited since 2002 and has offered the IB Diploma since 2020. Students choose an APIS diploma, selected IB courses or the full Diploma. The 2026-27 main campus fee sheet shows day tuition from THB 330,750 (Grade 5) to THB 524,800 (Grade 12). Weekly or full boarding costs extra, and new students pay a THB 100,000 entrance fee.

5. Nakornpayap International School — best for American curriculum on the north-east side

NIS, founded in 1993, sits in San Phi Suea, north-east of the center. The school describes a US standards-based curriculum with AP options and reports WASC accreditation running through 2032. Fees are not posted on its site, so request the current schedule from admissions.

What to check before you decide

• Total first-year cost. Enrollment, entrance or foundation fees of THB 90,000 to 130,000 sit on top of tuition at the schools above.
• Which year the fee sheet covers. CMIS still showed 2025-26 rates when we checked.
• Smoke-season protocol. Ask about classroom filtration and indoor-play thresholds.
• Commute. Test the morning school run before signing a lease.
• Extra charges. Lunch, buses, language support and trips are often billed separately.

FAQ

How much do international schools in Chiang Mai cost?

Among the schools above, published annual tuition ranges from about THB 325,400 (CMIS preschool, 2025-26) to THB 814,000 (Prem upper grades, 2026/27 per a third-party database), before one-time fees.

Which Chiang Mai schools offer the IB Diploma?

Prem and APIS both offer the IB Diploma. Prem also runs the IB programs for younger years and the Career-related Programme.

Are there boarding options in Chiang Mai?

Yes. Prem offers boarding; APIS offers weekly and full boarding.

Related guides

• Chiang Mai city guide
• Best areas to live in Chiang Mai
• Thailand cost of living
• Moving to Thailand
• Budget calculator

Sources

• CMIS Tuition & Fees — CMIS 2025-26 tuition and enrollment fees
• CMIS High School Profile 2025-26 — CMIS founding, WASC dates, AP program, address
• Prem Tinsulanonda International School (Wikipedia) — Prem location, IB programs, CIS/NEASC accreditation, boarding, campus size
• International Schools Database: Prem fees — Prem 2026/27 tuition and foundation fee (third-party)
• Prem community handbook: Smokey season — Prem air-quality measures
• Lanna International School — curriculum, ages, address
• Lanna School Fee 2026-27 — Lanna tuition and one-time fees
• APIS 2026-2027 Main Campus Fee Structure — APIS tuition, boarding and entrance fees
• APIS School Profile 2025-26 — APIS founding, WASC since 2002, IB DP since 2020, location
• Nakornpayap International School — NIS curriculum and WASC accreditation
• Nakornpayap International School (Wikipedia) — NIS founding year and address
• IQAir: Chiang Mai burning season, March 2026 — smoke-season timing