Cities / Bangkok / Raffles American School Bangkok (RAS)
Raffles American School Bangkok (RAS)
Raffles American School Bangkok is an American curriculum school in the Bangna area serving students from pre-K to Grade 12, recently achieving WASC accreditation and IB World School authorization. While teacher discussions reveal recent management improvements and salary increases to…
In brief
Operating from a 2.25-hectare campus shared with Raffles higher education facilities, RAS Bangkok delivers an American curriculum pathway with integrated Chinese language instruction at all levels. The school achieved WASC accreditation three years ago and recently gained IB World School authorization, marking significant institutional development. Modern facilities include digital whiteboards, library, playground, and sports fields designed to support both indoor and outdoor learning experiences.
Teacher feedback reveals a school in transition, with two new principals starting three years ago and salary scales increasing to 80-100k THB for qualified licensed teachers. Recent discussions suggest the high turnover issues of previous years have been addressed, though some critical reviews remain regarding management practices and student experience. The school appears to serve primarily local families rather than the expatriate community that typically drives visibility for Bangkok's established international institutions like ISB or Bangkok Patana.
Strengths
- Recent WASC accreditation and new IB World School authorization
- Salary improvements to competitive 80-100k THB range for qualified teachers
- American curriculum with integrated Chinese language program
- Modern campus facilities including digital learning technology
- Management restructuring appears to have addressed previous turnover issues
- Certified SAT testing center with College Board AP courses
Considerations
- Mixed teacher feedback about past management and operational issues
- Limited visibility and discussion compared to Bangkok's tier-one schools
- Recent institutional changes mean long-term stability remains to be proven
- Some critical reviews regarding student experience and school practices
- Part of Raffles Education group which has faced regulatory challenges elsewhere
- Appears to serve primarily local rather than expatriate families
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery (2-3 years old) | 3 | Annual | THB 198,000 |
| Kindergarten 1-2 (3-5 years old) | 5 | Annual | THB 234,000 |
| Kindergarten 3 (5-6 years old) | 6 | Annual | THB 255,000 |
| Grade 1-4 (6-10 years old) | 10 | Annual | THB 279,000 |
| Grade 5-12 (10-18 years old) | 18 | Annual | THB 297,000 |
| Application Fee | One-time | THB 5,000 |
Reviews
- Teachers describe the package as the main draw, with salaries roughly 60% above the Bangkok teaching average.
- Recurring complaint across staff reviews is leadership and admin culture: bullying, badmouthing, and disconnect from classroom realities.
- Staff turnover is flagged repeatedly. One ex-staffer wrote that "the turnover rate at this school is unreal."
- Teachers also report being expected to build curriculum from scratch with little oversight or resourcing.
- Parent-facing reviews are thinner and more positive, focused on multilingual provision (English, Thai, Mandarin) and communication from class teachers.
- One prospective-teacher Reddit thread flagged a 4.9-star Google profile as suspiciously high, set against more critical Glassdoor commentary.
Head of school
Dr. Paul Wilson
Dr. Paul Wilson is the newly appointed Head of School at Raffles American School Bangkok, succeeding Mr. Kyle who established a strong student-centered foundation with mastery-based learning. He is impressed by the school's holistic philosophy, teachers, and inclusive atmosphere that empowers critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
Academic results
- Result IB DP results not publicly detailed on the official site as of the latest update. The school transition to IB DP as the main academic pathway for Grades 11-12 was recently formalized with authorizatio
Location
No. 15 Moo. 15, Bangna-Trad Rd., Bangkaew, Tambon Bang Kaeo, Amphoe Bang Phli, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand