Cities / Jakarta / Sekolah Cita Buana
Sekolah Cita Buana
Small bilingual school on a Jagakarsa campus in South Jakarta, founded 1995, offering the International Primary Curriculum and Cambridge Primary alongside the Indonesian national curriculum for around 250 students.
In brief
Founded in 1995 with just seven students, Sekolah Cita Buana (SCB) has grown to serve over 500 students at its Jagakarsa campus in South Jakarta. The school offers multiple educational pathways including the International Primary Curriculum, Cambridge Primary, and Indonesian National Curriculum, providing families flexibility in choosing qualifications based on their children's future academic plans. Recent social media posts highlight student internship programs for Year 11 students and various school events including open days for prospective families.
Unlike Jakarta's prominent international schools such as Jakarta Intercultural School, British School Jakarta, or Sekolah Pelita Harapan that generate extensive parent forum discussions and detailed online reviews, SCB operates with virtually no visibility in major international education platforms or expatriate community conversations. The school appears to cater primarily to local Indonesian families seeking international qualifications rather than competing in the mainstream expatriate education market that typically drives international school discussions in Jakarta.
Strengths
- Multiple curriculum pathways offering flexibility for families
- Long-established institution with nearly 30 years of operation
- Internship programs for senior students providing real-world experience
- Regular open days and parent engagement activities
Considerations
- Extremely limited online presence and parent reviews available
- No visibility in Jakarta's active international school comparison discussions
- Appears to serve primarily local rather than expatriate market
- Limited information available about academic outcomes or university placements
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (SD) | 6 | IDR 71,400,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration/Application Fee (Primary) | IDR 1,000,000 | |
| Registration/Application Fee (Middle/High School) | IDR 3,000,000 | |
| Uang Pangkal (Capital Development Fee) Primary SD | IDR 69,000,000 |
Reviews
- Reviews surface in small numbers and skew positive on inclusion. Cita Buana is one of the few South Jakarta schools cited specifically for serious special-needs provision rather than a token statement.
- Parents describe the special needs class as among the best in Jakarta, and inclusion is treated as a real curriculum line rather than rhetoric.
- The general parent line is community-led: small school feel, strong relationships between students and teachers in the upper years, and an environment that suits children who would struggle in a more clinical international-school setting.
- The dual-curriculum design, Indonesian National alongside Cambridge or IPC, is the practical reason most families choose it. Parents looking for full international cohort expect to look elsewhere.
- Critical notes are facility-side rather than education-side: parking and security come up on Google reviews, not curriculum or staffing.
Positives
- Inclusion and special needs. The special-needs programme is the standout feature in parent commentary, often described as the best in Jakarta for genuinely integrated provision.
- Community feel. Parents describe close student-teacher relationships and a smaller-scale environment than the major international names.
Considerations
- Dual curriculum design. Indonesian National alongside Cambridge and IPC is the deliberate hybrid the school sells. It suits local and mixed-heritage families, less so families wanting full IB or full British.
Leadership
Julianti Hadi Purnami
Ibu Julianti Hadi Purnami, often known as Ibu Julie, began her educational career in 1996 and has extensive experience with national and international schools both in Indonesia and abroad. She joined Sekolah Cita Buana in 2000, initially as a Teaching Assistant, before expanding her role into curriculum development and school establishment. After a period working as an education consultant and trainer across Southeast Asia, she returned to SCB in 2011. Currently serving as the Principal of Early Years and Primary, she is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education. Her professional philosophy is centered on "working from the heart with a contented mind."
Accreditations
- ID_KEMENDIKBUD 01