Cities / Phnom Penh / CIA FIRST International School
CIA FIRST International School
By far the largest international school group in Cambodia, with more than 5,500 students across four Phnom Penh campuses and an American curriculum, WASC accredited programme from age 2 to 18.
In brief
By far the largest international school group in Cambodia, with more than 5,500 students across four Phnom Penh campuses and an American-curriculum, WASC-accredited programme from age 2 to 18.
CIA FIRST started in 2004 with seventeen students and now runs Sen Sok 1 and 2, Chbar Ampov and Russey Keo, with more than 1,100 staff. Sen Sok 2 carries the high school cohort to graduation, and the group has produced over 870 alumni across twelve graduating classes. The student body is dominated by Cambodian families with growing numbers of regional and expat children.
Fees of roughly USD 3,400 to 7,600 sit well below the top international tier, which is why the school has scaled the way it has. Parent voice is broadly positive on academic standards and the Cambridge-influenced American programme, with students themselves sometimes flagging heavy workloads and clustered deadlines. Best read as the volume option for families who want a credible international pathway at a price that genuinely works in the local market.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery 2 (half-day) | 2 | $3,350 |
| Kindergarten 1 (age 3) | 3 | $4,770 |
| Kindergarten 2 (age 4) | 4 | $4,770 |
| Kindergarten 3 (age 5) | 5 | $5,070 |
| Grade 1 - Grade 5 | 6 | $5,640 |
| Grade 6 - Grade 8 | 11 | $6,480 |
| Grade 9 - Grade 10 | 14 | $7,560 |
| Grade 11 - Grade 12 | 16 | $7,560 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance Test Fee (K3-G12) | $40 | |
| Registration Fee | $850 |
Reviews
- A WASC-accredited K3-12 American-curriculum school in Phnom Penh, founded in 2004 and one of only four schools in Cambodia holding international WASC accreditation across the full range.
- Recent parent reviews on directory sites are largely positive, citing facilities, curriculum and teaching staff, with one parent flagging heavy concurrent homework as a workload concern.
- The school is owned by Navis Capital Partners, and a minority of online reviews from before and after the ownership transition raise questions about commercialisation a real factor the school directly.
- Public-facing parent commentary is limited compared with peer schools in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City; most online review volume is from employee platforms, which we treat as background only.
Positives
- Facilities and curriculum praised. Five-star Google reviews cite great facilities, curriculum and staff as the headline strengths.
- WASC accreditation across all phases. One of four schools in Cambodia with international WASC accreditation from K3 through Grade 12, a meaningful external benchmark in the local market.
Considerations
- Workload and homework volume. At least one published parent review flags heavy homework with bunched due dates as a stress point a real factor about.
- Ownership transition questions. A small number of reviews question whether the Navis Capital ownership has changed the school's day-to-day character; a real factor the school how the leadership team and staff retention have evolved.
Leadership
Dr. Daniel Mock
Sreychea Heang is the Marketing and Admissions Director at CIA FIRST International School, dedicated to guiding families through the admissions process and ensuring a smooth transition for students. She is passionate about fostering a supportive educational environment that nurtures academic excellence and personal growth.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
Academic results
- AP Test Takers 2025 75% of 337 earned top scores