Cities / Cairo / Metropolitan School
Metropolitan School
An American curriculum school in New Cairo, accredited by Cognia and Middle States, run by the third generation of the Habib family who opened one of Egypt's first private schools in 1954.
In brief
An American curriculum school in New Cairo, accredited by Cognia and Middle States, run by the third generation of the Habib family who opened one of Egypt's first private schools in 1954.
Located on Khaled Ibn Al Waleed Street south of the Police Academy, Metropolitan opened in 2015 and serves around 600 pupils. The programme follows US Common Core, with an entrepreneurship strand integrated from KG1.
Reviews split. Many parents praise the teaching, facilities and the academic progress their children have made. A second group flags management stress that they feel reaches teachers and pupils, with leadership turnover named as the source.
The IB question is unsettled. The school is open about deciding between IB and AP for its high school stage rather than committing now. Worth a visit and a frank conversation about the secondary plan if your child is approaching that age.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-KG | 3 | EGP 102,000 |
| KG 1 | 4 | EGP 157,000 |
| KG 2 | 5 | EGP 165,200 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | EGP 170,000 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | EGP 185,900 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | EGP 201,200 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | EGP 204,000 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | EGP 207,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | EGP 210,000 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | EGP 196,000 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | EGP 201,500 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | EGP 205,000 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | EGP 210,000 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | EGP 215,000 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | EGP 225,000 |
Reviews
A small American-curriculum school in New Cairo, Cognia accredited, with a Common Core spine and AP at the top. The mood from families is generally warm, with affection for the teachers and the family-scale feel of the campus. Where the picture turns is around money and management: fees move quickly year on year, and the way the front office handles payment and parent communication draws sharper comment than the classrooms do.
Positives
- Teachers and atmosphere. Most of the positive talk is about the teachers and the day-to-day feel of the school. Families describe staff as approachable and caring, with kids settling in quickly and enjoying the routine.
- Campus and facilities. The New Cairo site is purpose-built on around 21,000 square metres, with a pool, sports court and library. For a school still building out its upper years, the physical plant is comfortably ahead of the student roll.
- American curriculum with AP. Common Core American programme through to Grade 12 with AP at the senior end, taught in English, Cognia accredited (formerly AdvancED). A clean fit for families pointing at US universities or other American-track schools in the region.
Considerations
- Fees and value. Fees run roughly EGP 85,000 in K1 to EGP 190,000 in Grade 12 for 2025/26, and families talk about steep year-on-year jumps. Several parents say the rate of increase has pushed them to reconsider, even where they rate the teaching.
- Management and parent communication. Where the school takes consistent criticism it is at the office rather than the classroom. Parents describe a tense, top-down style from leadership, and complain about how late fee payments are handled, including names being circulated internally.
Leadership
Ernest Espino Jr
Mr. Espino celebrates 20 years in education and his third year leading Metropolitan School. He began as a bilingual teacher in Texas and progressed through administrative roles including instructional specialist, ESL coordinator, and principal at multiple institutions. He specializes in strategic planning, budget administration, and instructional program development. Known for restoring campus cultures and fostering educational innovation, he prioritizes community building through trust and collaboration. He holds a bachelor's from the University of Jamestown in North Dakota and a master's from Concordia University Texas, and is pursuing his doctorate at Liberty University.
Accreditations
- Cognia 01