The Manila secondary landscape
Metro Manila has 15 to 18 schools delivering a full international secondary pathway from year 7 or grade 6 through to a university recognised exit qualification at age 18. The cluster is more concentrated than the primary segment because the operational cost of an upper secondary school, with specialist subject teachers, exam centre fees and dedicated science and design facilities, is high.
The three dominant exit qualifications are the IB Diploma, sat at seven schools led by International School Manila and Brent International School Manila. Cambridge IGCSE followed by A Level, sat at British School Manila and a smaller cluster of British providers. And the US High School Diploma combined with Advanced Placement, which is the default at the American Schools and the Christian School International network in Manila.
Secondary cohorts at Manila international schools sit between 400 and 800 students across years 7 to 13 at the larger schools, and between 150 and 300 at the smaller providers. Almost every Manila secondary school has expanded its sixth form or upper school in the past five years, reflecting the post pandemic return of expatriate enrolment and the steady inflow of dual citizen Filipino American families.
Three exit qualifications and what they mean
The IB Diploma is the most internationally portable qualification on offer in Manila. Sat across six subjects at higher and standard level, alongside Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and the creativity and service strand, it is recognised by every major university worldwide. Manila reporting schools averaged 35.2 points in May 2025, well above the global average of 30.3. Our Manila IB hub covers the schools and the score distribution in detail.
A Level is the strongest UK university preparation in Manila. British School Manila is the dominant A Level provider, offering 15 to 18 subjects and consistently sending students to Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial. The qualification is also accepted at most US universities, although it pairs less naturally with the US admissions essay led process than the IB.
Advanced Placement, sat alongside the US High School Diploma at International School Manila and Brent, is the most flexible US oriented qualification. Students typically sit five to seven AP exams alongside the school based diploma, which gives admission credit at many US universities.
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Fees and results by school
Manila secondary fees ladder by tier. Value tier secondary, USD 9,000 to 13,000 per year, captures the smaller bilingual and faith based providers. Mid tier secondary, USD 13,000 to 19,000, runs across Reedley International, Singapore School Manila and the smaller British providers. Premium tier secondary, USD 19,000 to 28,000, is International School Manila, British School Manila and Brent. The Manila school fees guide walks through the capital and tenure costs that add to this figure.
Results are remarkably consistent at the premium tier. International School Manila averages above 35 IB points, with around 25 percent of the cohort scoring 40 plus. British School Manila A Level results show an A and A star rate above 65 percent in mathematics, sciences and economics, which is strong by international standards. Brent IB Diploma scores cluster in the 32 to 34 range, with the science cohort the strongest performer.
Smaller schools can be excellent within their cohort. The Beacon Academy in Alabang routinely produces a small cohort of 40 plus IB scorers, and Reedley International has a steady record of US university admissions at the mid Atlantic universities.
Illustrative example schools
Three illustrative schools, not a ranking, that represent the dominant secondary pathways in Manila.
International School Manila High School in Bonifacio Global City is the largest international secondary in the country, with around 800 students across years 7 to 13. It delivers the IB Diploma alongside Advanced Placement, with a strong record of US Ivy and Russell Group university admissions over the past decade.
British School Manila Sixth Form, also in Taguig, is the dominant A Level provider in the Philippines. It offers around 18 A Level subjects and consistently sends students to UK universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and the London medical schools. Cohort sizes are smaller than ISM, which makes the teacher to student ratio higher in the upper years.
Brent International School Manila Upper School in Mamplasan delivers the IB Diploma alongside Advanced Placement. It is the southern alternative to the Bonifacio cluster, with a different cohort profile that leans more toward US and Australian university destinations.
Admissions and mid year transfers
Manila secondary admissions run on a US aligned calendar at most schools, with the August start matched by a Northern Hemisphere academic year. British School Manila is the exception with a September start. Applications for the 2026 academic year opened in October 2025 and the priority window closes at the end of January 2026 at the leading schools.
Mid year transfers into secondary year groups are easier in years 7 and 8 than in years 10 and 11, where the IGCSE and MYP cohorts are already locked in. Diploma transfers after the start of year 12 are rarely accepted because the two year IB course is already under way, and only Cambridge AS to A Level transfers in mid year 12 work cleanly between British schools.
For families weighing the trade offs, the compare schools tool lines up fees, class sizes, results and curricula side by side. The Manila city hub covers housing and the relocation paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are in Manila?
Metro Manila has 15 to 18 schools delivering a full international secondary pathway through to a university recognised exit qualification at age 18. The IB Diploma is offered at seven schools, A Level at British School Manila and three smaller providers, and AP at the American schools.
Which is better in Manila: IB Diploma or A Level?
It depends on the university destination. The IB Diploma is the most portable qualification globally and the strongest fit for North American admissions. A Level is the deeper specialist track for UK university applications and well regarded by US universities, particularly for STEM programmes.
How much does secondary international school cost in Manila?
Secondary fees in Manila range from USD 9,000 at smaller providers to USD 28,000 at the flagship schools. The median sixth form fee sits near USD 20,000. Capital and refundable membership fees on admission typically add USD 5,000 to 25,000.
Can students transfer schools in year 12 in Manila?
Diploma transfers after the start of year 12 are difficult because the IB and Cambridge A Level courses are already two years under way. Cambridge AS to A Level mid year transfers between British schools are possible. Year 11 and year 13 transfers are exceptional.
Do Manila international schools offer Advanced Placement?
Yes. International School Manila and Brent both offer Advanced Placement alongside the IB Diploma, which gives students access to either qualification or a combined transcript. The American Schools also offer AP as the principal upper school qualification.
