Cities / Phnom Penh / Paragon International School Cambodia
Paragon International School Cambodia
Paragon ISC is a large Cambridge and AP school in Russey Keo, founded in 1997 by Atilla Yusuf Guleker. Around 1,200 students aged 2 to 18 across bilingual and international tracks.
In brief
Paragon ISC is a large Cambridge and AP school in Russey Keo, founded in 1997 by Atilla Yusuf Guleker. Around 1,200 students aged 2 to 18 across bilingual and international tracks. CIS-accredited.
The school runs Cambridge IGCSE and A Level alongside Advanced Placement, with parallel bilingual and international streams from middle school up. Tuition spans roughly USD 5,400 to USD 16,500 depending on year and stream, with separate enrolment and capital fees. The campus sits in Svay Pak in northern Phnom Penh. Head of school Artur Tulepbekov.
Families describe a structured academic environment with active parental involvement through the Paragon Parents Club. The dual bilingual and international pathway is the main draw for Cambodian families who want options to keep both Khmer and international university doors open. Repeat enrolment from siblings comes up consistently. Best fit for families wanting a large, established Cambridge-and-AP school with a credible bilingual track and a more affordable price point than the IB names.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Toddler / Nursery (half day) | 2 | $5,350 |
| Toddler / Nursery (full day) | 2 | $6,210 |
| Pre-KG | 4 | $7,620 |
| Kindergarten | 5 | $8,220 |
| Grade 1 - Grade 3 | 6 | $13,820 |
| Grade 4 - Grade 6 | 9 | $14,630 |
| Grade 7 - Grade 9 | 12 | $15,690 |
| Grade 10 - Grade 12 | 15 | $16,480 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (KG+) | $120 | |
| Annual Registration Fee | $850 | |
| Enrollment Fee (KG+) | $1,500 |
Reviews
- A Paragon ISC teacher posting in r/pakistan described the school as Turkish-owned with around 80% of staff drawn from Central Asian countries and the rest a mix of British, South African and French hires, which gives the staffroom an unusual makeup for Phnom Penh.
- A separate r/Internationalteachers thread asked openly about the package and conditions at Paragon, suggesting the school is on the radar for international hires but without strong word-of-mouth in either direction.
- A r/cambodia commenter discussing Cambodian schooling routes lists Paragon among private mid-tier schools alongside AIS, PSIS, Beltei and Golden Gate, well below the genuine internationals (Northbridge, ISPP, AISPP).
- Directory reviews are small in number and uniformly positive, citing CIS accreditation, Cambridge curriculum and a caring environment; the Wikipedia page records the school's earlier identity as Zaman International, run by the Hizmet/Gulen-affiliated network before its 2017 rebrand.
Positives
- Curriculum and accreditation. Directory reviews praise the CIS-accredited Cambridge pathway from Primary through A Levels and the bilingual Khmer-English stream.
Considerations
- Ownership and staff mix. A teacher describes Turkish ownership and a heavily Central Asian staff body, with smaller British, South African and French contingents. The school's former name was Zaman.
- Position in Phnom Penh's market. commenters place Paragon in the strong-private rather than top-international tier, behind Northbridge and ISPP but well above local options.
Leadership
Mr. Artur Tulepbekov
Mr. Artur Tulepbekov serves as the Head of School at Paragon International School Cambodia, a position he has held since July 2021. With over a decade of leadership experience in international education, he previously served as a School Principal at Spectrum International School in Kazakhstan and Ekibastuz Multilingual High School. His career includes significant roles as Academic Vice-Principal at Galaxy International School and several Bilim-Innovation schools. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. At Paragon ISC, he leads the institution in providing a holistic education that balances academic excellence with character development and global-mindedness.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- Cambridge IGCSE Top in the World award (Rubina Heng, 6 A*s) 2023. Further specific school-wide aggregate statistics not published on the official site.
Location
Building 402, Plov Lom, Phum Lor Kombor, Sangkat Svay Pak, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, Cambodia