Notes / Jakarta
The Best American International Schools in Jakarta
Jakarta's American school segment is small: but the options that exist serve very different families.
Comparison table
| School | Curriculum | Ages | Fees range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Jakarta Intercultural School | IB | 3–18 | 4,255–15,905 | North Jakarta |
| ACS Jakarta | IB, Cambridge, IGCSE | 6–18 | 511–18,424 | East Jakarta |
| British School Jakarta | IB, British | 2–18 | 8,919–31,564 | Greater Jakarta |
| The Independent School of Jakarta | British, IGCSE | 2-18 | 8,827–30,011 | South Jakarta |
| Australian Independent School Jakarta | IB, Australian | 3–18 | 5,975–26,308 | South Jakarta |
| ACG School Jakarta | IB, IGCSE | 3–17 | 9,391–22,326 | South Jakarta |
| Jakarta Intercultural School | IB, AP | 3–18 | 18,119–54,755 | South Jakarta |
Fees converted to USD at indicative 2026 rates. Verify current figures with each school.
TL;DR
- Jakarta has few schools running an American curriculum, JIS is the dominant name, with NJIS as a smaller alternative in North Jakarta
- ACS Jakarta sounds American but uses Cambridge IGCSEs and the IB Diploma, not AP or a US-style transcript
- JIS is the only Jakarta school offering AP (Advanced Placement) alongside the IB Diploma
- Fees range from ~$14,400 at ACS to ~$31,000 at JIS
- If your child needs a US-style transcript for American university admissions, JIS is the only straightforward option
How to tell a real American school
The label "American school" gets used loosely. Three markers separate the genuine article from one using the label as branding:
Curriculum structure. An American-style school organises learning around the US K–12 grade system, uses American pedagogical approaches (standards-based, often inquiry-driven), and offers exit qualifications recognised by US universities, either AP (Advanced Placement) exams, an American high school diploma, or both.
Accreditation. American accreditation comes from bodies like WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or Cognia (formerly AdvancED). These carry weight with US universities and signal alignment with American educational standards.
Transcript compatibility. For families planning a US university pathway, the school needs to produce transcripts, GPA calculations and counselor recommendations that American admissions offices understand without translation.
Not every school with "American" in its marketing meets all three. Read on.
The Schools
JIS - Jakarta Intercultural School
JIS is the benchmark. Founded in 1951 as the Joint Embassy School, it is Jakarta's oldest and largest international school, 2,500+ students from 70+ nationalities across a campus in Pondok Indah that is the best-resourced school facility in the city.
JIS runs an American-style curriculum and is the only school in Jakarta offering AP (Advanced Placement) alongside the IB Diploma. Students choose their pathway in Grades 11–12: full IB Diploma, AP courses, or a combination. This flexibility is unusual internationally and useful for families whose children have strong single-subject interests (where AP's subject-by-subject approach suits) or broad academic profiles (where IB's structured breadth is a better fit).
The school is WASC-accredited and produces US-compatible transcripts. College counselling is strong, JIS graduates go to American, British, Australian and Asian universities. For families who need a school that American universities will recognise without explanation, JIS is the only option in Jakarta that delivers this at scale.
JIS is a non-profit Yayasan. Fees are at the top of the Jakarta market, approximately $17,341 at elementary level rising to around $35,916 at high school. The quality shows in the co-curricular programme, the breadth of AP/IB options, the college counselling, and the campus itself.
Fees: ~$17,341–$35,916/year Exit qualifications: AP, IB Diploma, JIS High School Diploma Accreditation: CIS, WASC Location: Pondok Indah, South Jakarta Student body: 2,500+ from 70+ nationalities
NJIS - North Jakarta Intercultural School
NJIS sits in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and is WASC-accredited, making it the only school in North Jakarta with American accreditation. The school describes itself as having an "American orientation" and became a full IB Continuum school (PYP, MYP, DP) in 2021.
NJIS is much smaller than JIS, approximately 266 students from 16 nationalities. That is a different school experience. Smaller schools offer closer teacher-student relationships and less anonymity, but they also offer fewer subject options, narrower co-curricular programmes, and a smaller peer group for social development.
NJIS does not offer AP. Students take the IB Diploma or an NJIS Diploma. For families based in North Jakarta, geography makes the case, the commute to JIS or other South Jakarta schools from Kelapa Gading is brutal. NJIS fills a real gap.
Fees sit in the $10,000–$18,000 range depending on year group. The school has a committed teaching staff and a warm community feel, though the programme is naturally narrower than what JIS can offer at its scale. Ask about class sizes, teacher turnover, and IB results directly.
Fees: ~$10,000–$18,000/year (estimated from third-party sources, verify with admissions) Exit qualifications: IB Diploma, NJIS Diploma Accreditation: WASC Location: Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta Student body: ~266 from 16 nationalities
ACS Jakarta - A Note on the Name
ACS Jakarta deserves mention because families searching for American schools in Jakarta will find it. But ACS Jakarta does not run an American curriculum. The school uses Cambridge IGCSEs and the IB Diploma as its exit qualifications. The pedagogical philosophy has American influences, experiential learning, character development, a structured values framework, but the qualifications are British and international, not American.
ACS Jakarta is located in East Jakarta (Setu), on a semi-rural campus off the Jorr Tol. The student body is almost entirely Indonesian, with a smaller cohort of East Asian and South Asian families. Annual fees are approximately IDR 242–295 million (~$14,400–$17,500). Camps are compulsory and add $700–$1,600 per year.
If you are looking for Cambridge IGCSEs and the IB Diploma with an American-influenced school culture, ACS Jakarta is worth investigating. If you specifically need AP courses, US-compatible transcripts, or American accreditation, ACS Jakarta does not offer them.
For a full comparison of JIS and ACS, read our detailed head-to-head.
Fees: ~$14,400–$17,500/year Exit qualifications: Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma Accreditation: CIS, IB Location: Setu, East Jakarta
Fee Comparison
| School | High School Fees (USD) | Exit Qualifications | US Accreditation | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIS | ~$28,000–$35,916 | AP + IB Diploma | WASC | Pondok Indah |
| NJIS | ~$16,000–$18,000 | IB Diploma | WASC | Kelapa Gading |
| ACS Jakarta | ~$17,500 | Cambridge IGCSE + IB DP | None | East Jakarta |
Fees correct as of February 2026. Exchange rate: IDR 16,826 = $1 USD. JIS fees from school website and US State Department data. ACS fees from school website. NJIS fees estimated from third-party sources.
The gap between JIS and the other two shows in the breadth of programme, the depth of co-curricular offerings, and the scale of the campus. JIS is a different kind of school, and the fees reflect that.
Which School Fits Which Family?
Choose JIS if: You need AP courses, US-compatible transcripts, or a school that American universities will recognise instantly. You want the most internationally diverse student body in Jakarta. You can afford $28,000–$31,000 at high school. You live in or can commute to South Jakarta.
Choose NJIS if: You live in North Jakarta and the commute to South Jakarta schools is impractical. You want an IB pathway with WASC accreditation in a smaller, more intimate school setting. You can accept fewer subject options and a narrower co-curricular programme. Budget: ~$16,000–$18,000.
Consider ACS Jakarta if: You are drawn to an American educational philosophy but your child's pathway is Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma, not AP. You value a semi-rural campus environment. Your family is based in East or South Jakarta. You do not specifically need US accreditation. Budget: ~$14,400–$17,500. Read the JIS vs ACS comparison before deciding.
If none of these fit: Most American families in Jakarta who cannot afford JIS or do not live near it end up choosing a strong British or IB school instead. BSJ, AIS and ISJ all produce transcripts that US universities accept, and all have students who matriculate to American colleges. The curriculum label matters less than the quality of the school and its university counselling. We cover that in our curriculum comparison guide.
Ready to explore?
FAQs
Is there an American school in Jakarta? JIS is the closest to a traditional American international school, American curriculum structure, WASC accreditation, AP and IB pathways, US-compatible transcripts. NJIS also has WASC accreditation and an American orientation with IB. ACS Jakarta has American-influenced philosophy but uses British/IB qualifications.
Can my child get into a US university from a non-American school in Jakarta? Yes. British schools (BSJ, ISJ), IB schools, and Australian schools (AIS) all have students who matriculate to American universities. US admissions offices are familiar with A Levels, the IB Diploma, and IGCSE transcripts. What matters is the quality of college counselling and the school's track record with US admissions, not the curriculum label.
Does JIS feel like an American school? In many ways, yes. The grade structure, school culture, co-curricular emphasis, and counselling model are American. The student body is genuinely international rather than predominantly American, which makes the social environment more diverse than a typical US school. JIS alumni describe it as cosmopolitan rather than specifically American.
Why are there so few American schools in Jakarta? Jakarta's expat community skews European, Australian, South Korean and South Asian, markets where British and IB qualifications are more widely recognised. American families represent a smaller share of Jakarta's international school parents. The market has responded accordingly. This is not unique to Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong also have relatively few standalone American-curriculum schools compared to British and IB options.
Should I consider NJIS if I live in South Jakarta? Probably not, unless the smaller school environment is specifically what you want. The commute from South Jakarta to Kelapa Gading is 60–90 minutes in traffic. JIS, BSJ, AIS, and ACG are all closer and offer broader programmes. NJIS makes most sense for families living in North or Central Jakarta.
Fees correct as of February 2026. Exchange rate: IDR 16,826 = $1 USD. We work hard to make every figure, date and description on this page accurate. We don't always get it right. If you spot an error, a fee that's changed, a fact that's out of date, something we've got wrong, please tell us. Use the feedback button above or email us directly. We'll check it and update the article.