How many international secondary schools in Cairo
Cairo has roughly sixty international schools running secondary or sixth form provision in 2026, counted as schools with at least a full secondary phase on a recognised non-Egyptian curriculum and an exit qualification accepted at international universities. The largest secondary tier is British, with twenty-four schools running Key Stage 3 through IGCSE and A Level, often with an IB Diploma alternative offered at sixth form. The American secondary tier has around twenty schools running middle and high school with Advanced Placement courses and a US high school diploma. The IB tier sits at nine schools, all offering the IB Diploma at grades 11 and 12 and several offering the Middle Years Programme.
The result is one of the deepest secondary markets in the Middle East and North Africa, with multiple credible options at every fee point, every curriculum and every sixth form structure. The wider curriculum context sits in our curriculum index and the best international schools in Cairo review covers the whole market.
Fees and the sixth form tier
Secondary fees in Cairo run from roughly USD 5,800 at affordable American and British providers to USD 26,500 at Cairo American College high school grades. The British secondary tier clusters at USD 9,800 to USD 14,400, with BISC, NCBIS and MES Cairo running close to the upper end at IGCSE and A Level. The American secondary tier is more dispersed, with mid-tier providers at USD 8,400 to USD 12,000 and CAC at USD 19,800 to USD 26,500 across high school grades. IB Diploma sixth form pricing sits at USD 13,400 to USD 26,500, with the cheaper IB providers running close to the British A Level tier. Sixth form pricing typically includes the formal exam entry fees in the published number, but transport, capital contribution and uniform sit outside. See the wider picture in our Cairo fees guide and the cheapest international schools in Cairo piece. The fees comparison tool places Cairo secondary pricing alongside the regional sixth form market.
Choosing a sixth form in Cairo for September 2026?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three secondary or sixth form schools based on your child's year group, your home area and your target universities.
Illustrative example schools
The three schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs a full secondary phase to a recognised exit qualification with international accreditation.
Cairo American College High School in Maadi runs an American middle and high school programme from grades 6 to 12, with Advanced Placement options across more than fifteen subjects and an optional IB Diploma at grades 11 and 12. Middle States accredited and IB authorised. Strong placement at US selective universities, UK Russell Group and a growing pipeline into Bocconi and Dutch research universities.
British International School Cairo Sixth Form in West Cairo runs A Levels and the IB Diploma side by side at grades 12 and 13, with strong placement at UK Russell Group universities, AUC and a growing pipeline into Dutch and Canadian universities. CIS and BSO accredited.
Hayah International Academy Diploma in New Cairo runs the IB Diploma at grades 11 and 12 alongside an American high school diploma pathway, with strong sciences and a recognisable IB pedagogical signature through the Middle Years Programme.
Where secondary families live
Expat families with secondary-aged children in Cairo make different residence choices from families with younger children, because commute matters less to teenagers and curriculum continuity matters more. Maadi remains the heritage zone for families using CAC, BISC West Cairo or Lycée Français Maadi, with the deepest expatriate infrastructure. New Cairo is the modern villa-compound zone for families using NCBIS, Hayah, GEMS New Cairo and Choueifat New Cairo, with masterplanned compounds and a more car-dependent lifestyle. Sheikh Zayed and 6 October City house a growing cluster of British secondary providers, particularly suiting families whose work sits in the western corporate corridor. The wider relocation context sits in our moving to Cairo with kids guide and the cost calculator.
Admissions and the sixth form question
Applications for September 2026 entry opened across Cairo secondary schools between October 2025 and February 2026, with sixth form intake closing earliest because of the two-year coursework cycle. CAC, BISC, NCBIS, MES Cairo and Hayah all run entry tests in English language and mathematics from Year 7 upwards, plus an interview. Sixth form entry requires final term reports from Year 10 or grade 9, two references and a subject-choice form submitted at the point of application. Mid-year secondary transfers are accommodated where capacity exists, but transfers into the second year of A Level, IB Diploma or US high school are very rare because coursework is already in flight. Documentation requirements include the Egyptian Ministry of Education equivalence stamp for prior schooling, a vaccination record and a confirmed residence visa. For families choosing the curriculum first, see our Cairo British hub, Cairo American hub and Cairo IB hub, with the best international schools in Cairo piece setting the wider map.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Cairo?
Cairo has roughly sixty international schools running secondary or sixth form provision in 2026. The British tier is the largest at twenty-four schools, followed by twenty American secondary schools, nine IB Diploma schools and the remainder French, German or bilingual providers with strong Arabic continuity at sixth form.
Which sixth form qualification is best in Cairo: A Levels, IB or AP?
It depends on the universities you are targeting. A Levels suit UK Russell Group continuity. IB Diploma is the broadest profile and suits Dutch, Canadian and US selective universities. Advanced Placement courses with a US high school diploma suit US universities directly. Several Cairo schools offer two of the three side by side, giving families a late switch option.
How much do international secondary schools in Cairo cost?
Annual secondary fees range from USD 5,800 at affordable American and British providers to USD 26,500 at Cairo American College high school grades. British secondary clusters at USD 9,800 to USD 14,400 at the heritage providers. IB Diploma sixth form sits at USD 13,400 to USD 26,500. Most expatriate families end up at USD 12,000 to USD 16,000 a year.
Can my child transfer into a Cairo sixth form mid-cycle?
Transfers into the second year of A Levels, IB Diploma or US high school are very rare. Subject coursework and Extended Essays are already in flight, and most Cairo sixth forms will not accept a mid-cycle transfer unless the prior school followed the same syllabus. Transfers at the start of the two-year cycle are much easier, with capacity reviewed in May and June.
When should I apply for a Cairo secondary school?
Cairo secondary schools open applications for September 2026 entry between October 2025 and February 2026. Sixth form intake closes earliest, typically by January or February at the heritage providers. Year 7 to Year 11 transfers run on a more flexible basis, with capacity confirmed through May and June.
