Are you planning to relocate with your family to Kenya? Kenya offers a range of international schools for expats, with options spanning American, British, International Baccalaureate (IB), and many others.
These international schools, which cater to both locals and expat families, offer globally recognized education standards with curricula drawn from various countries, including the US, UK, France, and Germany.
In this article, Nellions compiles the best international schools in Kenya, highlighting their unique features, academic programs, and extracurricular activities.
Top International Schools in Nairobi
1. International School of Kenya
The International School of Kenya (ISK) was started in 1976 through a partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada. The school sits on a 40-acre piece of land at Kirawa Road, off Peponi Road. It is a private, nonprofit coeducational institution offering quality education for Elementary, Middle School, and High School stages.
The ISK offers day educational needs to both expatriate and East African students. The well-equipped school offers the curricula of the American College Prep and International Baccalaureate Diploma alongside exceptional extracurriculars.
In 2003, the school was ranked 7th out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by The African Almanac for outstanding quality of education, student engagement, alumni impact and activity, branding, and media visibility.
The ISK is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle Schools Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA). The school is also a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), The Council of International Schools, and Round Square.
2. Durham International School
Durham International School is known for its welcoming atmosphere towards children and visitors, which gives a profound feeling of warmth and belonging. The school embodies a caring, nurturing, and supportive attitude towards learning and child development, which makes it a top choice for international schools in Kenya.
The ethos of Durham International School is anchored on fostering strong, genuine relationships which are critical for both an exceptional education and a joyful childhood. Each member of the school community is acknowledged, valued, and celebrated as an individual, contributing to a nurturing educational environment. The school’s dedicated staff, innovative curriculum, and top-tier facilities stimulate students to be imaginative, think creatively, and curiously explore the world around them.
Located off Peponi Road, at Thigiri Hilltop, Durham Kenya sets itself apart with its commitment to academic excellence and a genuine appreciation for the formative years of childhood.
3. SABIS International School, Runda
SABIS International School is a private, international school located in the suburbs of Runda, off Kiambu Road. The school’s state-of-the-art campus, set on 20 acres, features modern classrooms, extensive sports facilities, an independent kindergarten, and a boarding hall that can accommodate up to 70 students, offering them the option to study and live on campus.
The school is part of the global SABIS Network with a presence in over 20 countries and prepares students to sit for IGCSEs, A-Levels, SATs, TOEFL, ACTs, and Advanced Placement (AP).
SABIS Runda is accredited by several international associations: The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), The College Board, Accreditation International (Ai), and Cambridge. These accreditations guarantee recognition of the school’s High School Diploma by universities in the US, UK, and many other countries.
Another exceptional feature of SABIS Runda is its vibrant and engaging student life. Students get to become part of a mini society that empowers them to get involved in the day-to-day experiences at their school. Some activities include organizing academic and social events, hosting games and challenges, starting clubs, raising awareness on important subjects, and many more activities that are appealing to top-rated universities.
4. Kenton College Preparatory School
Kenton College Preparatory School is one of the oldest international schools in Kenya, tracing its history back to 1924. It began as an all-boys boarding school then later changed to a co-ed school in 1992. Throughout its existence, Kenton School changed its location from Kijabe Hill overlooking Mt. Longonot and Lake Naivasha, where it began, to Gichugu Road, Lavington, Nairobi where it currently sits.
Most of the students are from British families but there are local students and others from outside Kenya. It offers an Adapted or School-Developed Curriculum at the Primary Level and Common Entrance Exam education system based on the UK curriculum.
The school is a member of the International Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) – a conglomerate of leading prep schools delivering excellent standards of education and care in over 670 countries – and is inspected by the Schools Inspection Service (SIS) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
5. German School Nairobi
The German School Nairobi is a German international school in Limuru Road, opposite Village Market. The co-ed institution founded in 1969 offers day education to students from 30 countries.
The school has a 12-year system comprising four levels: Primary School, Orientation level (class 5), Lower Secondary, and Upper Secondary. The German School follows an academic program equivalent to that of Germany, with a syllabus aligned to the curriculum of the Federal State of Thuringia.
The syllabus gives special consideration to subjects relevant to what is taught in Kenya. The main syllabus lessons are taught in German with others such as geography in Class 8 upwards taught in English. History classes are taught in both English and German from Class 9.
The German School Nairobi is accredited by the “Kultusministerkonferenz-KMK” – The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany and the relevant federal governing body in charge of schools abroad (BLAschA).
6. The French School of Nairobi
Also known as the Lycée Denis Diderot (LDD), the French School of Nairobi, is a French international school in Nairobi located in Argwings Kodhek road in Kilimani near Yaya Center. The school was established in 1962 in Westlands, and it was first known as the École française à Nairobi. It moved to its current location in 1989 when it was named after Denis Diderot, the famous philosopher, writer, and art critic.
The school is day and coeducational with kindergarten to secondary education levels. The school has various achievements and involvements in academic, sports, and cultural events at local and international levels, including rugby competitions and an art project at La Grande Lessive.
The French School of Nairobi offers lessons in English and French with British and French Curriculums. The school allows the secondary school students to choose, from year 7, to join the British international section, with the prospect of sitting the brevet and then a Baccalaureate (French) with an international option (OIB) and exams that follow the Cambridge Certification.
The school is a member of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), the world’s largest network of schools.
7. Crawford International School
Crawford International School is a boarding coeducational institution that first opened its doors in 2018 in Tatu City. The school is part of the Crawford Schools, a proud leader in progressive and high-end private education in South Africa since 1993 where it remains among the top 20 private schools. The school features state-of-the-art facilities that earned the school a finalist spot at the acclaimed international World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam in 2018.
Crawford International School follows the British Curriculum and the Cambridge International Examinations Board. The curriculum leads to IGCSE and in time the A-level examinations. Other unique offerings include a unique and flexible, individualized timetable that gives students a chance to study a wide range of subjects, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain education in technology.
The school is a member of South Africa’s JSE-listed ADvTECH Group, Africa’s largest private education provider.
8. Banda School
The Banda School is a private multinational British preparatory school situated along Magadi Road in Langata, opposite the Nairobi National Park. This co-educational day/boarding institution dates to 1956 where it began as Kaptagat Preparatory School. It officially opened as Banda School in 1966 and has grown to be among the best international schools in Kenya.
The school follows the British National Curriculum. Banda School provides excellent academics with a full choice of extracurricular opportunities in a conducive learning environment. Their syllabus is in line with the National Curricula of England with the Common Entrance Exam. It also has a weekly boarding option.
Banda School is a member of the IAPS and is accredited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
9. Brookhouse International School
Brookhouse International School is a day/boarding, mixed, independent, and private institution known for the primary school’s castle design and modern facilities. Established in 1981, the school has campuses in Karen and Runda which serve both the national and international community at pre-school, primary, and secondary levels.
Brookhouse is a Round Square school and a member of the G-30 group, a group of prestigious education institutions operating in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The school follows the British National Curriculum, and students take the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A-level examinations administered through the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and Edexcel Boards.
In 2019, Brookhouse Schools led in the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, making it the highest performing school in the region offering an excellent British curriculum education.
It also offers an international foundation year (IFY) bridging program in partnership with the Northern Consortium of UK Universities (NCUK) and an extensive program of extra-curricular activities, including a wide range of sports and trips.
The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is a member of AISA, IAPS, and Round Square.
10. Hillcrest International School
The Hillcrest International Schools started as Hillcrest Preparatory School in 1965 before going international in 1972 after joining IAPS. The campus is found on a 35-acre site along Langata Road, Nairobi. Since 2019, the school has been operated by Dubai-based GEMS Education.
The campus has three schools: Hillcrest Early Years (HEY), Hillcrest Preparatory School, and Hillcrest Secondary School. The school offers day/boarding coeducation with a British curriculum and A-Levels, IGCSE, and BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
The school is a member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
11. Peponi School
Peponi School is an independent private day/boarding co-education institution founded in 1989 on a 45-acre piece of land along the Nairobi-Thika Highway near Ruiru. They also have a preparatory school in Kabete. The school caters to students from all over Kenya and multinational students.
The school was designed to offer the British curriculum geared towards the Common Entrance Exam. Peponi School offers IGCSE education and in 2017, it began offering the US-based College Board examinations including SATs.
Peponi School is a member of the IAPS and is inspected by the Schools Inspection Service (SIS) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
12. Rosslyn Academy
Rosslyn Academy is a private independent Christian co-ed day/boarding institution in Gigiri, Nairobi, close to the US Embassy and the headquarters of the UN in Africa. The nonprofit was founded in the 1940s as Mara Hills Academy in northern Tanzania. It moved to its current location in 1967, opening a boarding facility offering K–8 education.
The school is owned by the International Mission Board (by proxy through the Baptist Mission of Kenya), the Eastern Mennonite Mission, and the Assemblies of God.
Rosslyn Academy offers a North American education system with Advanced Placement (AP), American Elementary (or Primary) Curriculum, and American High School Diploma (College Preparatory). The school is renowned for its strong fine arts and sports programs. The Rosslyn Eagles consistently place among the top of their leagues in both men’s and women’s varsity and junior varsity sports. Most of Rosslyn’s Students attend post-secondary education.
Rosslyn is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), Association of International Schools of Africa (AISA), AP/College Board, Child Safety Protection Network (CSPN), and International Association for College Admission Counseling (International ACAC).
13. The Netherlands School Society
Established in 1971, the Netherlands School Society is a Dutch primary education institution for children aged 4 to 12. It also has a toddler group for younger kids. The school has been moved between various locations over the years, currently located in Windy Ridge, off Ngong Road in Karen estate. It is a day school for both boys and girls.
Classes in the Netherlands School Society are offered in both English and Dutch in an international setting using the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). The curriculum is used by more than 1000 schools in over 90 countries and is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, with a clear process of learning and specific learning goals for every subject. It also develops global thinking and encourages personal learning. The curriculum is offered alongside a ton of other after-school activities.
The school is recognized by the Dutch Education Abroad Foundation.
14. Potterhouse School
Potterhouse School is an international co-educational school established in the year 2002 and propelled by a strong Christian ethos. The day/boarding school is in Runda today attracts pupils from diverse backgrounds, providing a rich diversity of culture and experience from kindergarten to high school.
Potterhouse School follows the British National Curriculum although students can study French and Kiswahili besides English. In year 9, students undertake a pre-IGCSE year of study, and in Years 10 and 11, they follow a two-year course leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations and thereafter go for the Advanced Level General Certificate of Education (A-levels).
The school is independently inspected.
Other notable international learning institutions in Nairobi include:
- St. Austin’s Academy
- The Nairobi Academy
- Cavina School
- Brookhurst International School
- Nairobi International School
- Rusinga School
Top International Schools in Nakuru and Rift Valley
15. Greensteds International School
Founded over 80 years ago, Greensteds International School is a co-educational day and boarding school that sits on 50-acre land 11 miles from Nakuru town. With a culture of creative, academic, and sporting excellence, the school caters to the educational needs of students from over 20 countries, the majority being Kenyan students.
Greensteds offers a holistic education for students from early years to A-levels. The school provides a UK-based curriculum in its A-Levels, General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), and IGCSE categories. Their exam bodies, however, vary since Greensteds offers both Edexcel and CIE.
The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is also a member of IAPS and the Kenya Association of Independent International Schools (KAIIS).
16. Pembroke House
Pembroke House is more than 90 years old. It was established and operated as a traditional British preparatory school, a tradition that has continued to this day. The school is a private and independent co-ed boarding institution and a non-profit. It sits on a massive piece of land along Nyahururu Road in Gilgil and it caters to students from all over East Africa.
The school offers a Pre-Prep, Junior, and Middle School syllabus guided by the UK National Curriculum. Most of these subjects are geared towards the Common Entrance exam. The school has several achievements including scholarship offers to top students.
Pembroke House is a member of IAPS and is inspected by the Schools Inspection Service (SIS) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
17. St. Andrews School Turi
St. Andrews School, Turi is an independent international preparatory and secondary boarding school in Nakuru County, near the town of Molo. The name Turi was derived from its specific location where it sits on a beautiful 450-acre estate, on the edge of the Rift valley.
The school began in 1931 with an initial enrollment of 15 local children but has grown to cater to more than 600 students from all over East Africa. It offers an outstanding UK curriculum and extensive co-curricular programs that include choir, music, art, design technology, and cooking lessons, as part of timetabled lessons.
The British curriculum builds towards IGCSE and A-level examinations and every year, the school’s students achieve better academic results resulting in entry to top universities around the world. The school is a member of IAPS and Round Square and is inspected by the Schools Inspection Service (SIS) for British Schools Overseas (BSO).
18. Rift Valley Academy
Rift Valley Academy (RVA) is a coeducational Christian boarding school run by the African Inland Mission. The school was founded in 1906 in Kijabe. It serves close to 500 missionary children from up to 30 nations and 80 mission organizations and churches alongside a few non-mission students from Kenyan nationals and expatriates.
The school offers a North American curriculum for all its students in Elementary, Junior High, and High School. The syllabus is geared towards IGCSE and A-level examinations. With its unique syllabus offering, the school was ranked 2nd out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by The African Almanac in 2003 for quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, branding and visibility.
Rift Valley Academy is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA) and is a member of the National Association for College and Admission Counseling, and the Kenya Association of Independent International Schools.
Other notable institutions in Nakuru and Rift Valley include Kipepeo International School and Mustard Seed International School.
Top International Schools in Mombasa
19. Light International School
Located in Greenwood Drive, Mombasa, Light International School (LIS) is a unique private co-educational day/boarding schooling. The institution started in Karen, Nairobi in 1998, and offers quality education from kindergarten to A-level to students from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds.
The school is one of six schools run by the Omeriye Educational Foundation and Medical Charitable Trust which was established in 2001. It is part of the Light Academy Schools spread across the country, including another one in Nairobi, and it administers a robust international curriculum which fosters a balance between books and co-curricular activities. It follows a British curriculum geared towards IGCSE and A-level exams.
The school has Cambridge accreditation.
20. Braeburn School
Braeburn School dates to 1968 when it was first established as Braeburn House International School by an English expat. It is located along the Mombasa-Malindi highway and has several branches in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam. The Braeburn Group, the international educational management company, took over the school in 1979 and integrated it among the Braeburn Group of International Schools.
The schools follow the National Curriculum of England and Wales and offer the option of studying Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) lessons in conjunction with A-Levels.
Braeburn offers both day and boarding education for boys and girls. It is made up of British students and Kenyan nationals, and it has other campuses in the country and Tanzania.
The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for the British Schools Overseas (BSO). It is a member of the Association of British School Overseas (AoBSO), AISA, and IAPS.
21. Deenway International School
Deenway International School is an integrated learning center offering holistic Islamic studies and the British National curriculum (Edexcel). With a world-class curriculum, infusing the best of Islamic and secular sciences and with a focus on character and moral education, Deenway aims to set the benchmark for premium quality Islamic schooling.
Besides IGCSE, Deenway School trains students as per the ILSC and IAL curriculums.
Other international schools in Mombasa include:
- Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
- Visa Oshwal Academy
- Jaffery Academy
- Coast Academy
- Kencada International Academy
Top International Schools in Kisumu
22. The Western International School of Kenya
Located in the outskirts of Kisumu, the Western International School of Kenya (WISK) is an institution founded on inquiry-based philosophy. It teaches both Kenya’s CBC and IGCSE, enrolling students from kindergarten to high school.
Students in their 10th and 11th years can sit for IGCSE exams, while those in years 12 and 13 can undertake the Cambridge A-level exam.
Other international academic institutions in Kisumu include:
- Braeburn Kisumu International School
- Aga Khan Academy Kisumu
- Jalaram Academy
- White Oaks School
- Rainbow School International
While these schools all offer different curricula, what they have in common is extensive resources, modern facilities, and internationally accredited education standards that facilitate entry into ivy league universities of the world including Oxford, Harvard, and Yale.
Final Word
At Nellions, it’s not uncommon for us to hear from clients about international school options long before they even relocate to Kenya. Similarly, those preparing to depart often share the invaluable experiences their kids have had with these institutions. This underscores the reality that choosing a school is a pivotal step in any international relocation journey.
Whether you are packing your life for a move to Kenya or simply want to explore options for your child as an expatriate, we are committed to helping you navigate these school choices. We are an IAM-trusted international moving and relocations company, and we pride ourselves in assisting our clients with the smoothest transitions and settling in.
Reach out to us for a free quote today.
Call us on +254700000002 or email move@nellions.co.ke for more information.
