Jakarta International School Term Dates: Full Comparison
Jakarta's international schools run on different academic calendars. Here is a side-by-side comparison of term dates, holidays and key planning dates for 2025–26.
Originally published: 25 February 2026 · 4 min read
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TL;DR
Most Jakarta international schools run an August-to-June academic year, split into semesters or three terms
AIS is the exception, it runs a calendar year (January to December), aligned with the Australian school year
ISJ follows a British three-term structure: September to July, with half-term breaks in each term
ACS Jakarta runs a July-to-June year, split into two semesters with four quarters
Indonesian public holidays apply to all schools. Some holiday dates are confirmed late by the government, so school calendars may be updated during the year
Academic Year Overview
School
Academic Year
Structure
First Day of School (2025-26)
JIS
August - June
Two semesters
12 August 2025
BSJ
August - June
Three terms
August 2025 (check BSJ calendar)
ISJ
September - July
Three terms (British pattern)
1 September 2025
AIS
January - December
Four terms (Australian pattern)
January 2026
ACS Jakarta
July - June
Two semesters, four quarters
14 July 2025
ACG
August - June
Check school calendar
August 2025
NJIS
August - June
Two semesters
August 2025
NAS
August - June
Check school calendar
August 2025
Binus Simprug
August - June
Check school calendar
August 2025
The August start is the standard for most Jakarta schools, following the Northern Hemisphere academic year. ISJ is the notable exception with a September start, reflecting its British independent school heritage. AIS follows the Australian academic calendar, which starts in late January and runs to mid-December.
JIS runs a two-semester year. Semester 1 begins in August and ends in December. Semester 2 begins in January and ends in June.
Key dates
First day of school: 12 August 2025
Indonesian Independence Day (holiday): 17 August 2025
December break: approximately three weeks around Christmas and New Year
Students return: 13 January 2026
March break: 18-27 March 2026
Last day of school: 12 June 2026 (half day)
The full calendar is published on the JIS website and updated when Indonesian government holidays are confirmed.
BSJ - 2025-26
BSJ runs a three-term year aligned with the British school calendar adapted for Jakarta. Term 1 runs from August to December. Term 2 from January to March. Term 3 from April to June. Half-term breaks fall within each term.
BSJ publishes its 2025-26 and 2026-27 calendars on its admissions page. Check the school website for exact dates.
ISJ - 2025-26
ISJ follows a British three-term structure. The academic year begins in September, later than most Jakarta schools.
Key dates
Staff study days: 25-29 August 2025
Pupils return: 1 September 2025
Autumn half-term: October (check ISJ calendar for exact dates)
Christmas break: mid-December to early January
Spring term: 5 January - 13 March 2026
Spring term ends: 12:00pm, 13 March 2026
Summer term: April to July 2026
ISJ's September start means families relocating to Jakarta in August have a few extra weeks to settle before school begins, a practical advantage for new arrivals.
AIS - 2026
AIS runs a calendar-year academic year (January to December), following the Australian school system. The year is divided into four terms with breaks between each.
Key dates for 2026
Term 1: late January to late March
Term 2: mid-April to late June
Term 3: mid-July to late September
Term 4: mid-October to mid-December
Exact dates for 2026 are available on the AIS website. The calendar-year structure means AIS's "new year intake" falls in January, not August, a significant difference for families comparing schools or planning a transfer.
ACS Jakarta - 2025-26
ACS Jakarta runs a July-to-June year, starting earlier than most Jakarta schools. The year is divided into two semesters with four quarters.
Key dates
Semester 1: 14 July - 4 December 2025 (Q1: July-September, Q2: September-December)
Semester 2: 5 January - 11 June 2026 (Q3: January-March, Q4: March-June)
Indonesian Public Holidays
All Jakarta international schools observe Indonesian national public holidays. These include:
Indonesian Independence Day, 17 August
Hari Raya Idul Fitri (Eid al-Fitr), dates vary annually based on the Islamic calendar; typically a week-long school break
Hari Raya Idul Adha (Eid al-Adha), date varies annually
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence), typically March or April
Christmas Day, 25 December
New Year's Day, 1 January
Waisak (Buddha's Birthday), date varies
Isra Mi'raj, date varies
Chinese New Year, date varies (January or February)
The Indonesian government confirms some holiday dates late in the year, particularly Islamic holidays that follow the lunar calendar. Schools publish provisional calendars and update them when government dates are confirmed. This is normal and expected.
Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr) is the longest public holiday period. Most schools build a one- to two-week break around it. Many families travel during this period, and Jakarta empties noticeably.
Planning Tips
If you are arriving mid-year: Check which school calendar aligns with your arrival date. A family arriving in January is starting fresh at AIS but joining mid-year at JIS and BSJ. See our guide to mid-year transfers for the process.
If you are transferring between schoolsCalendar differences mean the transition timing needs care. A child leaving AIS at the end of Term 2 (June) would be arriving at JIS or BSJ just as their school year ends. Plan the overlap carefully.
If you are planning family travelThe December/Christmas break and Hari Raya break are the two longest holiday periods common to most schools. Flights and hotel prices spike during both. Book early. March break (at JIS and some others) is an additional travel window.
If your employer sets your start dateShare the school calendar with your HR team early. A start date of 1 July works well for ACS Jakarta but means arriving six weeks before JIS begins. A start date of 1 September works for ISJ's first day but is three weeks into the JIS school year.
Do all Jakarta international schools start in August?
Most do, but not all. ISJ starts in September. AIS starts in January. ACS Jakarta starts in July. The August start is the most common, following the Northern Hemisphere convention, but Jakarta has enough variation that checking the specific school's calendar is essential.
Can my child start mid-term?
Yes, most schools accept mid-term or mid-year entry if they have space in the relevant year group. The school will assess the child and determine the best starting point. A mid-term start is more common at international schools than at schools in the UK or Australia, where term-start entry is the norm.
Are term dates the same every year?
The structure stays the same (terms, semesters, breaks), but exact dates shift slightly each year. Schools publish the following year's calendar by the start of the current academic year, usually in August or September. Indonesian public holidays introduce additional variation because some dates are confirmed late.
How many school days are there per year?
Most Jakarta international schools operate 175-185 school days per year. This is consistent with international school norms worldwide and comparable to school years in the UK (190 days), US (180 days) and Australia (200 days).
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