How many bilingual schools in Manila
Metro Manila has around 12 schools that meet a working bilingual definition, where at least 30 percent of the timetable is taught in a language other than English. Those split into three groups. Chinese mandarin schools, of which there are three main contenders led by Chinese International School Manila in Pasay. National schools, which are run by foreign governments or community foundations, including the Lycee Francais de Manille, the Korean International School Philippines and the Manila Japanese School. And specialist Spanish English schools, of which Colegio San Agustin in Makati is the most prominent.
The bilingual segment grew sharply between 2018 and 2024 as Chinese and Korean enrolment in Manila rebounded. Filipino bilingual programmes within the Department of Education system, where Filipino and English are both used as media of instruction, are not covered on this hub because the curriculum framework sits outside the international school system.
Bilingual schools draw a different parent profile from the IB and British tracks. The motivation tends to be family heritage, university destination in the home country, or executive postings of three to seven years where preserving the home language is the priority.
Language models and the bilingual tiers
Two language models dominate. The first is full immersion in the partner language for the primary stage, with English added as a strong second language from year 3 or 4. This is the path at the Lycee Francais and the Manila Japanese School. The second is a balanced 50 50 model where two languages are used in parallel from kindergarten upward, which is the structure at Chinese International School Manila and the Korean International School Philippines.
The implication for parents is significant. Immersion models are demanding for children who arrive without the partner language but produce the strongest long term competence. Balanced models are easier to join mid stream and produce strong functional bilingualism without quite the same native level depth. The home country university pathway also matters. The Lycee follows the French Baccalaureate, the Korean school follows the South Korean national curriculum and the Japanese school follows the MEXT curriculum, so the exit destination is usually written into the language choice.
For a deeper read, our bilingual curriculum primer sets out how the major models differ in delivery and university recognition.
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Illustrative example schools
The three schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each represents a distinct language model and has decades of operating history in Manila.
Chinese International School Manila (CISM) in Pasay runs a balanced English and Mandarin programme from kindergarten through grade 12, with Putonghua as the third language strand for native English speakers. It serves Chinese Filipino families across Manila and is the largest of the three Mandarin oriented bilingual schools in the metropolis.
Lycee Francais de Manille in Paranaque is part of the AEFE network of French government accredited schools and delivers the full French national curriculum from maternelle through to the Baccalaureate. Around 35 percent of the cohort is non French, taught in the language stream from the early years.
Korean International School Philippines (KISP), also in Paranaque, delivers the South Korean national curriculum alongside an English language strand. It serves the second largest Korean expatriate population in Southeast Asia and prepares students for the Suneung university entrance examination.
Fees and admissions
Bilingual school fees in Manila sit below the premium IB tier but above the local private schools. CISM tuition is around USD 8,500 to 13,500 per year. The Lycee Francais sits at USD 9,000 to 14,500, with the French government providing the bourse scolaire need based scholarship for documented French nationals. KISP sits a touch lower at USD 7,500 to 11,000 per year, reflecting the higher subsidy from Korean community foundations.
Calendar varies by school. The French Lycee follows the September start with a Northern Hemisphere academic year, the Korean and Japanese schools follow a March start aligned with the home country, and CISM follows the August Manila international school calendar. That difference catches relocating families out, so confirm the exact start before signing a housing lease.
Applications for the 2026 to 2027 academic year are already open at most of the bilingual schools listed. CISM and the Lycee both run priority intake windows that close in mid March 2026. Our Manila fees guide covers the all in cost picture including transport.
Where bilingual families live
Bilingual school catchment is more concentrated than the IB or British tracks. Korean families are clustered in the Paranaque and Las Pinas corridor with a heavy presence around Better Living Subdivision and Multinational Village. Japanese families lean toward the Forbes Park and Dasmarinas Village pockets in Makati with a smaller cluster near the Manila Japanese School itself in Pasay. Chinese Filipino families are spread across San Juan, North Greenhills and Binondo in central Manila.
For a wider city read, our Manila city hub covers cost of living, housing rentals and the visa rules. Families weighing up the bilingual route against the IB route can compare via the Manila IB hub, which sets out the language requirements and university destinations.
Practical advice. Several bilingual schools require a parent interview in the partner language. Plan the trip accordingly if you are moving from outside the Philippines.
Frequently asked questions
How many bilingual schools are in Manila?
Metro Manila has around 12 schools that meet a working bilingual definition. The cluster splits into Chinese Mandarin schools led by Chinese International School Manila, national schools such as the Lycee Francais and KISP, and Spanish English schools led by Colegio San Agustin.
How much do bilingual schools in Manila cost?
Bilingual school tuition in Manila ranges from USD 7,500 at the more subsidised national schools to USD 14,500 at the Lycee Francais and CISM upper years. Most sit in the USD 9,000 to 12,000 band, which is below the premium IB tier but above local private schools.
Do bilingual schools in Manila accept students who only speak English?
Many do, but with conditions. Balanced model schools such as CISM accept English only entrants through to year 3 with a structured language catch up. Immersion model schools such as the Lycee require partner language competence beyond the early years, with an intensive language support placement for younger transferees.
Which language is most useful for Manila families?
It depends on family heritage and university destination. Mandarin is the most useful additional language for broad regional career mobility, French opens the AEFE university pathway, and Korean and Japanese serve families with planned return to those countries.
Can my child sit IGCSE or IB from a bilingual school in Manila?
CISM and a small number of others offer the IGCSE alongside the bilingual stream. The Lycee Francais offers the Baccalaureate. The Korean and Japanese schools follow their home national curricula and do not offer the IB Diploma directly, although students can transfer into IB schools for the upper secondary years.
