How many international secondaries in Warsaw
Around 15 English medium secondary providers operate in the Warsaw area in 2026, covering ages 11 through 18 with structured progression into the IB Diploma, A Level or US high school diploma. The market is anchored by four continuum schools, three of which carry the largest senior rolls. The American School of Warsaw in Konstancin Jeziorna delivers the US framework plus Advanced Placement through to grade 12. The British School Warsaw in Wilanow runs IGCSE then a parallel IB Diploma and A Level sixth form. Akademeia High School in Wilanow offers IGCSE through A Level with an Oxbridge prepared sixth form. The Canadian School of Warsaw completes the upper tier with a North American framework through grade 12.
The middle market is filled by the senior phases of International European School Warsaw in Konstancin, Meridian International School and Thames British School, alongside Willowbrook International School at the smaller end. A handful of standalone secondaries and bilingual private liceum providers fill the gaps, particularly for families joining the Polish matura system with structured English instruction. Roughly 60 per cent of the international senior roll sits across the four continuum providers, with the remainder split across the mid tier and entry tier schools.
The three senior curriculum routes
Warsaw senior school families pick from three credible routes. The IB Diploma is the largest single route, run as the full senior framework at International European School Warsaw and offered in parallel with A Levels and IGCSE at British School Warsaw. The IB Diploma suits families weighing UK, continental European and US universities, with a strong record of acceptance into top tier institutions. The Diploma is also the standard pre university qualification for students moving on to international universities outside the UK.
The A Level route is delivered at British School Warsaw, Akademeia High School and Thames British School, sitting alongside IGCSE in the lower senior years. A Levels suit families targeting UK universities and a smaller subset of US and continental universities that recognise the qualification. Akademeia in particular is built around an A Level sixth form with focused Oxbridge preparation. The US high school diploma plus Advanced Placement is the framework at the American School of Warsaw, with strong AP take up across maths, sciences and humanities. For families heading to US universities, this route remains the most familiar and the simplest to translate at admissions.
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Fees and the Warsaw senior tiers
International senior fees in Warsaw run from PLN 45,000 to PLN 110,000 per year, with the curve steepening at the sixth form end. The premium tier sits at PLN 75,000 to PLN 110,000 per year, covering ASW grades 11 and 12, BSW Years 12 and 13 and Akademeia High School sixth form. These fees reflect specialist subject teaching, structured university counselling, individual tutorials and supervised research projects. The mid tier runs PLN 55,000 to PLN 75,000 per year, covering International European School Warsaw IB Diploma, the Canadian School senior phase, Meridian senior and Thames British senior. The entry tier sits at PLN 45,000 to PLN 55,000, covering smaller English medium senior providers and the bilingual private liceum schools.
On top of the headline fee, expect a one off enrolment fee of PLN 2,000 to PLN 5,000, exam fees of PLN 4,000 to PLN 8,000 in the IB Diploma and A Level years, structured trips at PLN 2,500 to PLN 6,000 a year and transport at PLN 8,000 to PLN 14,000 a year for families outside the school catchment. For the full picture see our Warsaw international school fees explainer and the broader Warsaw international schools complete guide.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has at least ten years of senior phase operating history in Warsaw or a credible recent senior school cohort.
American School of Warsaw Senior in Konstancin Jeziorna runs the US framework plus Advanced Placement through grade 12, with the IB Diploma offered in parallel for families wanting that route. Around 80 to 100 students per grade in the senior phase, structured college counselling and a strong record of placement into US universities. The benchmark senior school in the city for North American families.
British School Warsaw Senior in Wilanow delivers IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, then a sixth form that runs both the IB Diploma and A Levels in parallel. Around 60 to 90 students per year group at the senior phase, qualified UK teachers, strong record of UK and global university placement. Premium tier sixth form fees.
Akademeia High School in Wilanow runs IGCSE then A Levels through to a focused sixth form, with explicit Oxbridge preparation, individual tutorials and structured research projects. The closest Warsaw equivalent to a UK independent senior school, with strong UK university outcomes.
International European School Warsaw Senior in Konstancin delivers the IB Middle Years Programme then the IB Diploma through to grade 12. Mid tier fees, smaller year groups, particularly strong fit for European Union expatriate families on rotational postings. See also our best IB schools in Warsaw overview.
Where senior families live
Senior school families in Warsaw cluster in two areas, shaped by the location of the major continuum providers. Konstancin Jeziorna, the southern villa belt 18 kilometres from central Warsaw, hosts the largest senior family cluster, attached to the American School of Warsaw and International European School Warsaw. The Konstancin villa belt offers detached family houses with gardens, calm streets and direct access to ASW. The trade off is a 35 to 50 minute commute into the central business district during peak hours, partially offset by ASW’s structured bus network across the southern suburbs.
Wilanow, in the south of central Warsaw, hosts the second largest senior family cluster, attached to the British School Warsaw, Akademeia High School and several mid tier providers. The Miasteczko Wilanow residential development is the single most popular area for senior families, offering modern apartment and townhouse stock close to several schools and the metro extension that has shortened the commute into the central business district. Smaller senior clusters sit in Mokotow, Saska Kepa and Zoliborz. For a broader area read see Warsaw neighbourhoods for international families.
Admissions calendar
Applications for senior entry open in October and November for the following September start, with priority places at the major continuum providers (ASW, BSW, Akademeia) confirmed by February. Most senior schools test for English language and subject readiness, particularly for Year 9 entry and Year 12 sixth form entry. Mid year placement at the senior phase is common because of expatriate transfer cycles, with confirmation typically inside four to six weeks. The most contested entry points are Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 sixth form, while Year 13 entry is restricted at the A Level schools because of the two year qualification structure. Families weighing the move into Warsaw senior schools alongside other curriculum or city options should also see the Warsaw IB hub, the British curriculum hub and the American curriculum hub, plus the parent curriculum index for a wider comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Warsaw?
Around 15 English medium secondary providers operate in Warsaw in 2026. The continuum schools (ASW, BSW, Akademeia, Canadian School) anchor the market, alongside the senior phases of International European School Warsaw, Meridian, Thames British School, Willowbrook and a small group of standalone sixth forms and senior schools.
Which curriculum do Warsaw secondary schools follow?
The three main senior routes are the IB Diploma at International European School Warsaw and the IB stream at ASW, IGCSE plus A Level or IGCSE plus IB at British School Warsaw and Akademeia, and the US high school diploma with Advanced Placement at the American School of Warsaw. Several mid tier schools combine the Polish matura with English medium IGCSE.
How much do international secondary schools in Warsaw cost?
International senior fees in Warsaw run from PLN 45,000 to PLN 110,000 per year. ASW, BSW and Akademeia sit at the top of the market at PLN 75,000 to PLN 110,000 for sixth form. Mid tier providers including International European School Warsaw, the Canadian School, Meridian and Thames British charge PLN 55,000 to PLN 75,000. Entry tier English medium senior schools start at PLN 45,000.
When do applications for secondary entry open?
Applications for Year 7 and Year 12 entry open in October and November for the following September start. Priority places at the major continuum providers (ASW, BSW, Akademeia) are confirmed by February. Mid year placements are common because of expatriate transfer cycles, with confirmation typically inside four to six weeks at most senior schools.
Do Warsaw international schools offer A Levels?
Yes. British School Warsaw and Akademeia High School run IGCSE plus A Level pathways through to UK and global university entry. Some British leaning schools also offer Cambridge AICE. International European School Warsaw, the IB stream at ASW and several other senior providers route through the IB Diploma instead, which is widely accepted by UK and global universities.
