There are probably multitudes of international schools in most countries, developing or developed. Whether they house children of expatriates or rich local children, international schools are always of a repute higher than that of local public schools. In my opinion, you get what you pay for. Like local private schools, international schools are expensive alternatives to public schools and they therefore, can afford the latest academic and co-curricular programs, amenities and facilities as well as highly qualified teachers. But, while international schools have obvious advantages over public schools, how do we distinguish between the international schools themselves?

Well, I believe that top-rate international schools should provide top-notch support services. This, in my opinion, is the most important of all criteria, simply because such schools tend to cater to children dislocated from their original countries. Strong academic curricula is an obvious requirement, but diverse choices are equally important. The best international schools tend to provide multiple paths, e.g. IB, AP or A-Level education programs.

In any case, I found that Newsweek has an online review of the best international schools all around Asia. But the site seems to serve more as an advertising vehicle than anything else given that I couldn’t find any relevant review-type information there. All I see is the standard sales pitch of the supposedly best international schools in Asia.

Anyway, about.com has a page listing the private and international schools available in Asia that have their own websites. It is not extensive but it might help those interested in sending their children to a private or international school.

That’s about it for today. Hopefully I’ll be able to find actual reviews of international schools around Asia soon.