Cities / Chiang Mai / American Pacific International School
American Pacific International School
Chiang Mai's first internationally accredited boarding school, founded in 1997 and now a full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) running from pre nursery through Grade 12 across two campuses in Hang Dong and Mae Hia.
In brief
Chiang Mai's first internationally accredited boarding school, founded in 1997 and now a full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) running from pre-nursery through Grade 12 across two campuses in Hang Dong and Mae Hia.
Around 400 students from over 20 nationalities, WASC accredited, with a rural main campus surrounded by rice fields and small villages on the road to Samoeng. Four boarding houses and a residential programme that, unusually, accepts boarders from age six. That early-boarding option is the school's distinctive feature in the Chiang Mai market and is what attracts the regional Asian families who make up a meaningful share of the roll.
Families consistently praise the staff warmth, the international mix and the rural setting. The IB delivery is the academic backbone for those targeting English-language universities. Practical considerations are the commute from central Chiang Mai to the main campus and the fee step-up against the bilingual schools in town, with day fees running roughly THB 230,000 to 500,000 depending on grade.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery 1 (age 1-2) | 1 | THB 229,100 |
| Nursery 2 (age 2-3) | 2 | THB 238,700 |
| Kindergarten 1-2 (ages 3-4) | 3 | THB 254,500 |
| Kindergarten 3 (age 5) | 5 | THB 271,800 |
| Grades 1-2 | 6 | THB 280,200 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | THB 299,950 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | THB 306,800 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | THB 315,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | THB 383,400 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | THB 392,200 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | THB 409,300 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | THB 460,800 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | THB 465,300 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | THB 492,200 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | THB 499,800 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | THB 4,000 | |
| Entrance Fee (one-time) | THB 40,000 |
Reviews
- Boarding and day school 45 minutes outside Chiang Mai. Former teachers paint a school known more for setting and lifestyle than academic firepower.
- Former staff describe an isolated rural campus where first-year teachers must live on site, share meals with students, and struggle to switch off. One ex-teacher: "You're always around students, for every meal, so it can feel like you're always working."
- The same teacher said the head of school has been in post 10+ years with the owners' backing, while other admin roles have churned more often.
- Teachers flag low pay relative to other international schools, with starting salaries that one applicant put around USD 21,000 for four years' experience. Former teachers describe it as a stepping-stone first international post rather than a destination school.
- For-profit ownership shows in the facilities. One former teacher: "facilities are old and unlikely to be updated."
- Reports of staff at the dorms and nearby bars informally feeding information back to the owners, which ex-staff describe as uncomfortable.
- Big draws are Chiang Mai itself, the rural campus, IB continuum across PYP, MYP and DP, and the chance to break into international teaching.
Considerations
- Setting and isolation. Rural Chiang Mai campus offers natural beauty but on-campus living blurs work and home for staff.
- Pay and benefits. Teacher posts report low salaries by international-school standards; school positioned as a stepping stone.
- Facilities. Former staff describe ageing infrastructure with little reinvestment by for-profit owners.
- Leadership and culture. Long-tenured head of school; reports of informal monitoring of staff outside hours.
- Curriculum and outcomes. Full IB continuum and Model UN involvement noted; little posted detail on academic outcomes.
Leadership
Ms. Stacey Gailey
Ms. Stacey Gailey is the Head of School at American Pacific International School (APIS). Having joined the institution around 2013, she served as the Primary Campus Principal for three years before transitioning to the role of Head of School. She oversees both the Main and Primary campuses, ensuring the delivery of the IB Continuum across the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes. Ms. Gailey is committed to the International Baccalaureate philosophy, focusing on developing independent, well-rounded global citizens and lifelong learners within a diverse, internationally-minded community.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
Academic results
- IB DP 2025 92% pass rate, 100% Bilingual Diploma pass rate, average score 32, highest score 43.