In this guide
The Cairo IB landscape
The IB has been present in Cairo since the early 1990s and has grown steadily as the city's expat-family population has shifted from heavily American towards a more international mix. Today around 10 to 12 schools offer at least one IB programme. The Diploma is run by around 8 schools, the MYP at a similar number, and the PYP at around 9 schools that include early years. A small number run the full continuum.
Three structural facts shape the choice. First, the schools cluster geographically. The largest concentration sits in New Cairo, with a secondary cluster in Sheikh Zayed and the established schools (CAC, Schutz) in Maadi. The compound and school logic is decisive in shortlisting because the practical school-run radius in Cairo traffic is shorter than the map suggests. Second, IB authorisation is a three-stage process: candidate school, authorised school, evaluated school. Always confirm a school's current authorisation status directly with the IB if it matters to you. Third, cohort sizes vary widely. A Diploma cohort of 50 supports far more subject options than one of 10, and several of the smaller IB schools in Cairo run lean cohorts that limit subject choice.
For the curriculum-level view see our IB curriculum hub, and for the broader school landscape see best international schools in Cairo.
Schools offering the full IB continuum
A handful of Cairo schools run the full IB continuum: PYP from age 3, MYP from Year 6 or 7, and the Diploma in the sixth form. These schools tend to attract families who have made a deliberate philosophical commitment to the IB across the school journey rather than to specific examination outcomes.
Cairo English School
One of the longest-running full-continuum IB schools in Cairo. PYP through to Diploma. Mid-tier fees, strong inquiry-led primary, Diploma averages in the 33 to 35 range with consistent university destinations across the UK, Egypt, the Gulf and a small US contingent. Good fit for families wanting full IB without the premium fees of the international flagships.
Modern English School (MES) Cairo
Runs the IB continuum alongside a British IGCSE and A-Level pathway. Sixth form pupils choose between A-Levels and the Diploma. Diploma cohort smaller than the A-Level cohort but well supported. Strong primary inquiry programme. The west campus (MES West) serves the Sheikh Zayed corridor.
Hayah International Academy
Egyptian-founded continuum IB school with a strong values-led ethos. Diploma cohort small but supported, with averages around 32 to 34. Particularly suited to families who want an IB pathway in a culturally Egyptian rather than expat-led setting; the cohort skews toward Egyptian and regional families.
Compare these schools side by side
Use the compare tool to put any three IB schools next to each other on fees, cohort size, Diploma averages and university destinations. Build your shortlist via the school finder, or browse the full Cairo city guide for listings. Want a tailored review? Send us your shortlist.
Diploma-only and mixed-curriculum schools
The largest group of Cairo's IB schools run the Diploma alongside another curriculum. The most common combinations are British IGCSE plus A-Level with a sixth form IB option, and American high school with an IB Diploma alternative. These mixed schools suit families who want to keep curriculum options open until Year 11 and then choose.
The British International School Cairo (BISC)
The senior British school in New Cairo with sixth form IB Diploma alongside A-Levels. Diploma cohort smaller than the A-Level cohort but with strong academic outcomes and credible university destinations across the UK Russell Group and selective US universities. Strong faculty stability under long-tenured senior leadership.
New Cairo British International School (NCBIS)
British curriculum primary and secondary, with sixth form IB Diploma. Smaller Diploma cohort but supported with a strong UK university outcomes track record. The school has invested heavily in its IB pathway since 2018, with a noticeably stronger Diploma cohort in recent years.
Cairo American College (CAC)
The legacy American school in Maadi with IB Diploma offered as an alternative to AP at sixth form. Premium fees reflect the legacy infrastructure, the historical diplomatic cohort and the strong US university outcomes. Diploma averages in the 34 to 36 range. The most internationally recognisable Cairo school name.
American International School in Egypt (AIS)
Mixed American and IB pathway at sixth form. Both East and West campuses run. Diploma cohort modest but growing, and university destinations spread across US, Egyptian and regional universities. Strong value relative to CAC at the premium tier.
PYP and MYP-focused options
For families with younger children, the PYP options expand the shortlist considerably. Several schools offer the PYP without continuing into the MYP or Diploma, which suits families using inquiry-led primary education and planning to switch to another curriculum later. The decision point becomes Year 6 or 7, when the school's MYP option (or lack of it) shapes the next phase.
PYP-strong schools in Cairo include the Egyptian International School and several smaller bilingual schools that have adopted the PYP framework. Most schools that run MYP also run the Diploma, so the schools listed in earlier sections cover most of the MYP landscape. Families considering a primary-only PYP school should plan early for the Year 6 or 7 transition, ideally with two shortlists ready: an IB continuation route and a British or American alternative for sixth form.
Fees and the all-in cost
IB school fees in Cairo cluster across three tiers. Premium (USD 18,000 to 28,000 tuition, USD 22,000 to 32,000 all-in): CAC, BISC at the senior end. Mid-tier (USD 12,000 to 18,000 tuition): NCBIS, MES, AIS, smaller premium IB schools. Value tier (USD 8,000 to 13,000): Cairo English School, Hayah, several smaller IB-authorised schools.
The headline figures understate the true cost by roughly 25 to 30 percent. Add transport (USD 1,200 to 2,500 per year), books and uniform (USD 400 to 700), trips and ECAs (USD 300 to 900), and the IB Diploma exam fees in Years 12 and 13 (USD 1,200 to 1,700 in total). A school quoting USD 16,000 in tuition will land closer to USD 20,000 all-in. The school fees in Cairo piece covers the full uplift framework, and the fees explorer lets you model a specific shortlist.
Admission timing and waitlists
The popular IB schools in Cairo have meaningful waitlists for the in-demand year groups: Foundation Stage entry, Year 1, Year 7 entry into MYP, and Year 12 entry into the Diploma. For September entry at the premium tier, applications should be in by the previous October at the latest, with assessments scheduled in November and January for offer decisions in February or March.
Less popular year groups, particularly Years 3 to 5 and Years 8 to 10, tend to have rolling availability across the year. Mid-year transfers are absorbed by most schools, though placement depends on cohort space. Our admissions timing by city guide covers Cairo alongside the other Middle East and Africa hubs.
How to choose between them
The choice usually comes down to three filters, applied in order. Curriculum philosophy: are you committed to the IB through the whole school journey, or only at sixth form? If only at sixth form, a mixed-curriculum school keeps the British or American option open. Cohort size: a Diploma cohort of 50 supports a much wider subject choice than one of 10. Ask for current subject offerings at the school's most recent cohort. Location and logistics: a 40 minute school run in Cairo traffic adds up. The practical school catchment is the compound and school cluster within 20 minutes at peak time.
Most international families converge on BISC, NCBIS, CAC, MES or one of the established IB schools, and choose the broader set of PYP options for the primary years. The school finder quiz at school finder walks through the filters in 4 minutes, and the compare tool puts the final three side by side. For the broader city context including housing, see our moving to Cairo with kids piece.
Related guides
- Best international schools in Cairo
- International school fees in Cairo
- Cheapest international schools in Cairo
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Cairo?
Cairo has roughly 10 to 12 schools offering one or more IB programmes. The Diploma is offered at around 8 schools, the MYP at a similar number, and the PYP at around 9 schools with early years. A handful run the full continuum from PYP through to Diploma. The market is older than many parents assume; several schools have offered the Diploma for more than 15 years.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Cairo?
Across Cairo's established IB schools, average Diploma scores cluster between 31 and 35. The strongest schools in 2025 reported averages of 34 to 36, with several pupils achieving 40 plus. The worldwide IB average is 30 to 31, so Cairo sits roughly at or modestly above the global mean, with the top schools well ahead.
Are IB schools more expensive than British or American schools in Cairo?
Marginally. At the premium tier, IB schools sit in a similar USD 14,000 to 20,000 tuition range to the established British and American schools. The smaller mid-tier IB schools can come in materially cheaper at USD 8,000 to 12,000, which is one reason the IB has expanded so quickly in Cairo.
Can my child transfer from a British school to an IB school in Cairo?
Yes. Schools handle Year 6 to Year 9 transitions routinely. The harder switch is mid-Diploma in Year 12, where transferring partway through a two-year course can mean repeating content. Most schools advise transferring at the end of Year 11, with predicted grades retained.