Cities / Nairobi / Rosslyn Academy
Rosslyn Academy
Christian international day school in Gigiri offering a North American curriculum with Advanced Placement for Grades 9-12, serving around 703 students from 50+ nationalities. Fees are not publicly listed; confirm annual costs directly with the school - estimated range is…
In brief
A long-established American-curriculum Christian school in Gigiri, traceable to a 1947 Mennonite mission school in Tanzania and operating in Nairobi since 1967, with around 690 pupils and over 50 nationalities.
Rosslyn is the default choice for many North American diplomatic and NGO families in Nairobi, sitting next to the Rosslyn Ridge residential compound and offering a US college-preparatory pathway from preschool to grade 12. The school is jointly run by Mennonite, Southern Baptist and Assemblies of God missions but presents as non-denominational in hiring and practice. About 40 percent of pupils are North American.
The Christian foundation is real and shapes daily life, which is the main consideration for prospective families. Some parents describe a narrower interpretation that does not always sit easily with Catholic or more progressive Christian families. Younger years tend to draw stronger praise than the high school in expat threads, where families with university-bound seniors sometimes look at ISK as well. Facilities, faculty stability and the international peer mix are consistent strengths.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (half-day) | 4 | Annual | KES 815,850 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5) | 6 | Annual | KES 1,737,000 |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | 12 | Annual | KES 1,995,000 |
| High School (Grades 9-12) | 14 | Annual | KES 2,325,000 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | KES 26,000 | |
| Deposit (refundable upon withdrawal) | One-time | KES 129,000 |
Reviews
- Long-standing American-curriculum Christian school in Gigiri, repeatedly named alongside ISK as the default choice for embassy and UN families in Nairobi. r/Kenya threads place it firmly in the same shortlist.
- Alumni and former parents describe rigorous academics, strong Advanced Placement results and small class sizes. One ex-student said standards were really high, and another said the school was miles above what they returned to in the US.
- The Christian framing is the most consistent caveat. One TalesMag reviewer warned that some embassy families end up there without realising how religious it is, and described an environment that could feel narrow on faith. Others report a wide mix of faiths and no-faith families and call it inclusive.
- Community and tenure are repeated strengths. Parents cite small elementary classes around twelve to twenty pupils and a long roster of nationalities on campus.
- Reviews from the wider international-teacher pool note the school is faith-based in hiring, which is part of why the Christian character is durable rather than incidental.
- No safeguarding, fee-handling or major staff-turnover threads surfaced. Negative signal sits squarely on religious fit.
Head of school
Dr. Phil Dow
Dr. Phil Dow is the Superintendent of Rosslyn Academy, overseeing the educational mission and ensuring the school meets its goals of inspiring and equipping students for Christ-like service in the world community. He has a strong commitment to academic excellence and character development.
Accreditations
- Association of Christian Schools International 01
Academic results
- AP Pass Rate 2019 84% (vs 60% Globally)
- Average SAT Score Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 617
- Average SAT Score Math 599