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Sat, 16 May 2026

Cities / Phnom Penh / Paragon International School Cambodia

Paragon International School Cambodia

CIS-accredited Cambridge school established in 1997 with three campuses in Russey Keo and Toul Kork, serving roughly 1,200 students from Nursery through Grade 12. The international programme follows the Cambridge pathway from Primary through IGCSE and A Levels, with 2026-27…


Curriculum
British, American, Cambridge
Fees, annual
USD 5–16k
Ages
2 to 18
Pupils
~1,200
Founded
1997

Paragon ISC is a large Cambridge and AP school in Russey Keo, founded in 1997 by Atilla Yusuf Guleker. Around 1,200 students aged 2 to 18 across bilingual and international tracks. CIS-accredited.

The school runs Cambridge IGCSE and A Level alongside Advanced Placement, with parallel bilingual and international streams from middle school up. Tuition spans roughly USD 5,400 to USD 16,500 depending on year and stream, with separate enrolment and capital fees. The campus sits in Svay Pak in northern Phnom Penh. Head of school Artur Tulepbekov.

Families describe a structured academic environment with active parental involvement through the Paragon Parents Club. The dual bilingual and international pathway is the main draw for Cambodian families who want options to keep both Khmer and international university doors open. Repeat enrolment from siblings comes up consistently. Best fit for families wanting a large, established Cambridge-and-AP school with a credible bilingual track and a more affordable price point than the IB names.


Fee Age Type Amount
Toddler / Nursery (half day) 2 Annual $5,350
Toddler / Nursery (full day) 2 Annual $6,210
Pre-KG 4 Annual $7,620
Kindergarten 5 Annual $8,220
Grade 1 - Grade 3 6 Annual $13,820
Grade 4 - Grade 6 9 Annual $14,630
Grade 7 - Grade 9 12 Annual $15,690
Grade 10 - Grade 12 15 Annual $16,480
Application Fee (KG+) One-time $120
Annual Registration Fee One-time $850
Enrollment Fee (KG+) One-time $1,500

  • A Paragon ISC teacher posting in r/pakistan described the school as Turkish-owned with around 80% of staff drawn from Central Asian countries and the rest a mix of British, South African and French hires, which gives the staffroom an unusual makeup for Phnom Penh.
  • A separate r/Internationalteachers thread asked openly about the package and conditions at Paragon, suggesting the school is on the radar for international hires but without strong word-of-mouth in either direction.
  • A r/cambodia commenter discussing Cambodian schooling routes lists Paragon among private mid-tier schools alongside AIS, PSIS, Beltei and Golden Gate, well below the genuine internationals (Northbridge, ISPP, AISPP).
  • Directory reviews are small in number and uniformly positive, citing CIS accreditation, Cambridge curriculum and a caring environment; the Wikipedia page records the school's earlier identity as Zaman International, run by the Hizmet/Gulen-affiliated network before its 2017 rebrand.

Head of school

Mr. Artur Tulepbekov

Mr. Artur Tulepbekov serves as the Head of School at Paragon International School Cambodia, a position he has held since July 2021. With over a decade of leadership experience in international education, he previously served as a School Principal at Spectrum International School in Kazakhstan and Ekibastuz Multilingual High School. His career includes significant roles as Academic Vice-Principal at Galaxy International School and several Bilim-Innovation schools. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. At Paragon ISC, he leads the institution in providing a holistic education that balances academic excellence with character development and global-mindedness.

Accreditations

  • Council of International Schools 01

  • Cambridge IGCSE Top in the World award (Rubina Heng, 6 A*s) 2023. Further specific school-wide aggregate statistics not published on the official site.

Building 402, Plov Lom, Phum Lor Kombor, Sangkat Svay Pak, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

School website