How many American schools in Cairo
Cairo has eight schools running a full US high school diploma pathway through grade 12. Cairo American College in Maadi, founded in 1945, is the longest established and the largest. The American International School in Egypt, AISE, has two large campuses in Sheikh Zayed City and New Cairo. El Alsson British and American International Schools in Sheikh Zayed runs an American track in parallel with its British provision. The remaining four are mid-tier American programmes spread across New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed, broadly aligned with multinational corporate and embassy demand.
The US high school diploma is delivered with AP courses at five schools, including CAC, AISE and Schutz American School affiliated programmes. AP is the most direct route to US selective university applications and gives Cairo families the same coursework progression as a domestic US high school. Two schools, CAC and AISE, also offer the IB Diploma alongside the US high school diploma, which is rare in MENA and gives senior families a genuine choice. For the curriculum framework itself see our American curriculum hub.
Outcomes are strong by regional standards. Cairo American College and AISE post AP scores of 3 plus on 75 to 85 percent of sittings, with a meaningful share of 4 and 5 scores in maths, biology and English literature. Graduates routinely place at US selective universities, the American University in Cairo, the UK Russell Group and a growing pipeline into Dutch research universities.
Fees and the USD billing shift
Cairo American school fees follow three rough tiers, almost universally denominated in USD since the Egyptian pound depreciation cycle of 2022 to 2025. The lower tier, USD 9,400 to USD 13,200 a year, covers elementary at the mid-tier American programmes. The mid tier, USD 13,200 to USD 19,400, captures AISE elementary and middle school, plus the El Alsson American track and the Schutz affiliates. The premium tier, USD 19,400 to USD 26,500, is the senior phase at Cairo American College and AISE high school. AP entry fees of USD 95 to USD 130 per subject are billed separately. Transport adds USD 1,500 to USD 3,000 given Cairo's traffic. Capital contributions of USD 1,800 to USD 5,500 apply at the senior schools. Read the full landscape in our Cairo fees guide; the fees comparison tool places Cairo American pricing alongside Doha ACS, ASD and Dubai American School pricing.
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Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds Middle States accreditation or a comparable US international body recognition.
Cairo American College, CAC, in Maadi is the largest and longest established American school in Cairo, founded in 1945. K to grade 12 with the US high school diploma, AP and IB Diploma at sixth form. Middle States accredited and IB authorised, with a deep diplomatic and corporate alumni network spanning eight decades.
American International School in Egypt, AISE, runs two large campuses in Sheikh Zayed City and New Cairo, both with K to grade 12 US high school diploma, AP and an IB Diploma option. Middle States accredited and one of the largest US-style international school operators in the region.
El Alsson British and American International Schools in Sheikh Zayed delivers an American track in parallel with its British provision, allowing families to choose between US high school with AP or IGCSE-A Level. Founded in 1982 and inspected on the American side under Middle States.
New Cairo American School affiliates covers a small group of newer-build US programmes serving the eastern Cairo corridor with K to grade 12 and AP. Most are inspected by Middle States or in the process of full accreditation.
Where US families live
American curriculum families in Cairo cluster around three zones, broadly tied to CAC, AISE West and AISE East catchments. Maadi for direct access to Cairo American College, with leafy streets, the deepest US expatriate retail and dining infrastructure in the city, and the embassy compound spillover. Sheikh Zayed City and 6th of October for AISE West and El Alsson, with villa compounds and shorter commutes to multinational corporate offices in West Cairo. New Cairo and Katameya for AISE East and the eastern American cluster, with newer-build housing and larger plots. For the broader picture see our moving to Cairo with kids guide and the cost calculator.
Admissions and Middle States
Applications for August 2026 entry, the start of the US academic year, opened across Cairo American schools between November 2025 and March 2026. CAC and AISE close grade 6 and grade 9 first, typically by mid-February. Late applicants land on waiting lists, clearing through May and June as embassy and multinational relocations confirm. Grade 9 entry usually requires a transcript, two references and standardised test scores. Mid-year transfers in grades K through 9 are accommodated where capacity exists. Grade 11 and 12 transfers require careful credit mapping for AP and graduation requirements; grade 12 transfers after October are rare.
Middle States accreditation is the standard recognition for US international schools and matters for university applications. CAC and AISE are Middle States accredited. El Alsson is inspected on the American side under Middle States. Arabic language is taught at all eight American schools from grade 1, as required by the Egyptian Ministry of Education, typically two to four hours a week. For our editorial pick across all the strongest Cairo schools see the best international schools in Cairo guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many American curriculum schools are there in Cairo?
Cairo has eight schools running a full US high school diploma pathway through grade 12. Cairo American College and the American International School in Egypt are the established premium tier, with several mid-tier American programmes spread across New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed.
What AP results do Cairo American schools achieve?
Cairo American College and AISE post AP scores of 3 plus on 75 to 85 percent of sittings, with a meaningful share of 4 and 5 scores in maths, biology and English literature. Graduates routinely place at US selective universities, the American University in Cairo and a growing pipeline into the UK Russell Group.
How much do American curriculum schools in Cairo cost?
Annual fees range from USD 9,400 at smaller American providers to USD 26,500 at Cairo American College senior phase. Median grade 8 tuition sits near USD 17,200 in 2026, before transport, AP entry fees, capital contributions and uniform.
Is Cairo American College Middle States accredited?
Yes. Cairo American College in Maadi holds full accreditation from Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the standard recognition for US international schools. AISE is also Middle States accredited. Accreditation is the closest international equivalent to US state district recognition for university applications.
Can my child transfer from a US school mid-year?
Yes for grades K through 9 where capacity exists. Mid-year transfers in grades 10 and 11 are accommodated but require careful credit mapping for AP and graduation requirements. Grade 12 transfers after October are rare and usually require the student to repeat the senior year or graduate from the previous school.
