Cities / Singapore / Stamford American International School (SAIS)
Stamford American International School (SAIS)
Large IB and American-curriculum school with two campuses (Woodleigh, Early Learning Village) serving Grades 1-12, part of Cognita.
Curriculum
IB / AP
Fees, annual
SGD 20k–55k
Ages
1 to 18
Pupils
Est. 3,000
Founded
2009
In brief
Academics
Class of 2025: - IB Diploma Pass Rate: 97% (Global average: 81%). - IB Average Score: 34.4 (Global average: 30.58). - Percentage scoring 40+ points: 13%.
School life
- Total Activities: 550+ co-curricular activities (CCA). - Sports Offered: Badminton, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, rugby, softball, swimming, tennis, touch rugby, volleyball, fencing. - Competitive Teams: Stamford Lions (participate in ACSIS and SEASAC).
- Campuses: Woodleigh Campus (Elementary & Secondary) and Early Learning Village (Pre-Nursery to K2). - Campus Size: 53,000 square meters (approx. 13 acres).
Student body
- Total Enrolment: Over 3,000 students. - Nationalities: 79+ nationalities represented. - Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 (general); Pre-Nursery 3:15; Nursery to KG2 ranges from 2:16 to 3:24.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery (3 Days) | 2 | SGD 20,420 |
| Pre-Nursery (5 Days Half) | 2 | SGD 21,020 |
| Pre-Nursery (4 Days) | 2 | SGD 29,820 |
| Pre-Nursery (5 Days Full) | 2 | SGD 30,820 |
| Nursery (3 Days) | 3 | SGD 20,420 |
| Nursery (5 Days Half) | 3 | SGD 21,020 |
| Nursery (4 Days) | 3 | SGD 29,820 |
| Nursery (5 Days Full) | 3 | SGD 30,820 |
| Pre-K (5 Days Half) | 4 | SGD 25,040 |
| Pre-K (3 Days) | 4 | SGD 26,040 |
| Pre-K (4 Days) | 4 | SGD 33,160 |
| Pre-K (5 Days Full) | 4 | SGD 39,520 |
| Kindergarten 1 (5 Days Half) | 5 | SGD 31,620 |
| Kindergarten 1 (5 Days Full) | 5 | SGD 45,340 |
| Kindergarten 2 (5 Days Full) | 6 | SGD 46,330 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | SGD 48,020 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | SGD 48,020 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | SGD 48,020 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | SGD 48,020 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | SGD 48,020 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | SGD 51,940 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | SGD 51,940 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | SGD 51,940 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | SGD 54,840 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | SGD 54,840 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | SGD 54,840 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | SGD 54,840 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | SGD 950 | |
| Facility Fee | SGD 3,200 | |
| Enrolment Fee | SGD 4,000 |
Reviews
- Reddit teachers consistently place SAIS in Singapore's second tier of international schools , for-profit with proper campuses (AIS, XCL, Nexus, Brighton, Chatsworth, Dulwich, NLCS) , below the Tier 1 non-profits Singapore American School, UWCSEA, Tanglin Trust, GESS and IFS.
- Teacher accounts repeatedly flag the school as a stepping stone. One former teacher describes it as a holding spot for staff trying to move on to SAS or UWC. Another says there is no salary scale, which they cite as a reason staff do not last.
- For-profit ownership is a recurring theme. Teachers say the school did not raise housing allowances during a Singapore rent spike that prompted SAS to give a 26% increase.
- Parent reviews are warmer. Recurring comments highlight approachable management, supportive teachers, individualised pathways, the size and breadth of the campus and a 75-plus-nationality student body.
- Facilities are routinely cited as a draw: three pools, rooftop tennis courts, an all-weather field, an Innovation Centre and the Reagan Theatre.
- Admissions reality check. Singaporean citizens cannot enrol without MOE approval, in line with other foreign-system schools.
- One press-reported safeguarding incident: a former IT helpdesk engineer was jailed in 2025 for stealing 49 Apple devices from the school.
Positives
- Facilities. Pools, rooftop tennis courts, Innovation Centre and Reagan Theatre are repeatedly cited as a draw.
- Parent experience. Approachable leadership, supportive teachers, individualised pathways and a strongly international community.
Considerations
- Tier and positioning. Consistently placed in Singapore's second tier , for-profit with strong campuses, below SAS, UWC, Tanglin, GESS, IFS.
- Teacher retention and pay. Staff describe it as a stepping stone with no salary scale and a slower response to housing-cost pressure than non-profit peers.
- Fees. Around USD 50k a year for primary; sits at the higher end of Singapore international fees.
- Operational risk. 2025 case in which an internal IT engineer was jailed for stealing 49 Apple devices from the school.
Leadership
Matt Mills
Matt Mills brings over 40 years of educational experience, including more than 25 years in headship and senior leadership roles at top international schools in New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Germany, and Thailand, most notably as Head of School at Bangkok Patana School for a record 15 years.
Accreditations
- WASC full accreditation by Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges 01
- CIS re-accredited 2021 02
- others: None published 03
- ACSIS, SEASAC, EARCOS 04
- FOBISIA participates in events 05
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2023 average 34.2 points
- IB Diploma 2024 average 97% passing rate
- AP average score 2023 3.5
- BTEC pass rate 2024 100%