Cities / Bangkok / Raffles American School Bangkok (RAS)
Raffles American School Bangkok (RAS)
Operating from a 2. 25 hectare campus shared with Raffles higher education facilities, RAS Bangkok delivers an American curriculum pathway with integrated Chinese language instruction at all levels.
In brief
Raffles American School has around 500 pupils aged two to eighteen and sits on Bang Na-Trat Road in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, sharing a 2.25-hectare campus with Raffles higher education facilities. It pairs an American curriculum with IB programmes, the Diploma now the main route in Grades 11 and 12, alongside AP courses and Chinese taught at every level. It is WASC accredited. Annual fees run from THB 198,000 for nursery to THB 297,000 from Grade 5 upward.
Parents describe patient teachers, good communication from class teachers, and teaching in English, Thai and Mandarin.
Staff accounts are far more critical. Teachers repeatedly describe high turnover, bullying and badmouthing from leadership and administration, and being left to build curriculum and resources with little oversight or support.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (2-3 years old) | 3 | THB 198,000 |
| Kindergarten 1-2 (3-5 years old) | 5 | THB 234,000 |
| Kindergarten 3 (5-6 years old) | 6 | THB 255,000 |
| Grade 1-4 (6-10 years old) | 10 | THB 279,000 |
| Grade 5-12 (10-18 years old) | 18 | THB 297,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | THB 5,000 |
Reviews
- Teachers describe the package as the main draw, with salaries roughly 60% above the Bangkok teaching average.
- Recurring complaint across staff reviews is leadership and admin culture: bullying, badmouthing, and disconnect from classroom realities.
- Staff turnover is flagged repeatedly. One ex-staffer wrote that "the turnover rate at this school is unreal."
- Teachers also report being expected to build curriculum from scratch with little oversight or resourcing.
- Parent-facing reviews are thinner and more positive, focused on multilingual provision (English, Thai, Mandarin) and communication from class teachers.
- One prospective-teacher Reddit thread flagged a 4.9-star Google profile as suspiciously high, set against more critical Glassdoor commentary.
Positives
- Compensation above Bangkok market. Teacher pay is well above Bangkok's average; staff cite the package as the main reason to take the role.
- Classroom experience and language provision. Parent-facing reviews praise patient teachers and multilingual instruction in English, Thai, and Mandarin.
Considerations
- Leadership and admin culture. Repeated staff complaints about head-of-school leadership, admin bullying, and badmouthing of teachers.
- Staff turnover. Multiple teacher reviews describe high turnover; prospective-staff forum threads echo the concern.
- Curriculum and resourcing gaps. Teachers report having to create resources independently with little curricular oversight.
- Review credibility. Online ratings are polarised: a near-perfect Google profile sits alongside critical Glassdoor commentary, which prospective applicants explicitly question.
Leadership
Dr. Paul Wilson
Dr. Paul Wilson is the newly appointed Head of School at Raffles American School Bangkok, succeeding Mr. Kyle who established a strong student-centered foundation with mastery-based learning. He is impressed by the school's holistic philosophy, teachers, and inclusive atmosphere that empowers critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
Academic results
- Result IB DP results not publicly detailed on the official site as of the latest update. The school transition to IB DP as the main academic pathway for Grades 11-12 was recently formalized with authorizatio
Location
No. 15 Moo. 15, Bangna-Trad Rd., Bangkaew, Tambon Bang Kaeo, Amphoe Bang Phli, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand