Lagos is Nigeria's commercial capital and one of Africa's largest cities, with a growing international community drawn by its energy, finance and technology sectors. For a relocating family the school decision comes first, because the leading international schools in Lagos hold limited places and the choice of island or mainland neighbourhood shapes a daily commute that can be long in heavy traffic.
The school landscape in Lagos
International provision in Lagos is concentrated but well established, so most families weigh several strong options. American International School of Lagos offers an American curriculum and the International Baccalaureate. British International School Lagos follows a British curriculum, and Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur de Lagos delivers the French national programme. Alongside these sit a large field of Nigerian private schools, many of which teach a British based curriculum in English.
How to move to Lagos with children, step by step
Relocating with school aged children rewards early planning. These five steps mirror how the GlobalSchoolGuide relocation desk sequences a family move, so nothing critical slips through the gaps between the offer, the housing search and the first day of term.
- Set your relocation timeline. Fix your move date against the start of the school year in Lagos and work backwards, allowing several months for shortlisting and applications.
- Shortlist and apply to schools. Match two or three schools in Lagos to your child's age, curriculum and budget, then apply early because the leading schools have limited capacity.
- Confirm fees and admissions. Request the current fee schedule and admissions requirements directly from each school, since published figures are reset every academic year.
- Choose a neighbourhood near school. Pick housing within a reasonable commute of your shortlisted school, since Lagos is spread out and school location shapes daily life.
- Settle the practical set up. Arrange visas, banking, health cover and the physical move, and time everything to the school calendar so your child starts with the year group.
Fees and budgeting
Fee paying international schooling in Lagos sits in the upper range for the region, reflecting small classes, security provision and specialist teaching, and the fully international schools cost more than the local private schools. Fees vary by school, year group and campus, and many schools add registration, capital or enrolment charges on top of tuition, so treat any single figure with caution. Because schools reset their schedules each academic year, request the current fee list directly from each school. Some employers meet school fees as part of an expatriate package, so confirm what your contract covers early.
Free Lagos family relocation checklist
Work through our step by step checklist covering the admissions timeline, documents, housing and the first month settling in. Browse the full library on our guides hub, or start with the Lagos city guide for school listings.
Neighbourhoods and housing
International families most often settle on Lagos Island in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, and increasingly along the Lekki corridor, choosing secure housing within a workable run to school. Ikoyi and Victoria Island put families close to several international schools and the main business districts, while Lekki offers newer housing further from the centre. Some families base themselves on the mainland near Ikeja. Because traffic can be heavy, choosing a home within a sensible commute of your chosen school matters more here than the address itself.
Language and settling in
English is Nigeria's official language and the medium of instruction in the international schools, so most expat children settle in without a language barrier. A rich mix of local languages is spoken across the city in daily life. Building the family routine around the school day from the outset makes the settling in period smoother.
Curriculum continuity
Curriculum continuity is usually the decision that matters most. Lagos offers British, American and International Baccalaureate pathways, so a child part way through any of these will usually find a smooth transition. The closer a child is to a leaving examination, the more weight you should give to keeping the same curriculum. Our British curriculum hub and IB curriculum hub are useful references.
Fees by stage
To ground your budgeting, compare fee bands across several schools rather than relying on a single headline number. Browse our international school fees hub and the Lagos city guide for listings, and always confirm the current figures with each school directly.
Visas, healthcare and admin
Practically, confirm your visa and residency status early, since your category shapes both your access to services and your children's school registration in Lagos. Arrange health cover for the settling in period before your status and registration are complete, and set up local banking soon after arrival, since school fees, deposits and daily life all run more smoothly once a domestic account is open. Sequencing status, housing and the school offer carefully makes the first month far less stressful than handling everything at once.
The admissions timeline
The leading schools in Lagos accept applications ahead of the school year, and because capacity is limited, individual year groups can fill well before any published deadline. Most international schools work towards a September start, so confirm the calendar for each school on your shortlist. Applying early is the single most effective way to protect your first choice, and where a year group is full it is worth joining the waiting list while keeping a realistic second option open.
Your first weeks: what to prioritise
In your first weeks in Lagos, confirm the school place and start date in writing, then settle the essentials that everything else depends on: residency status, a local bank account, health cover and a domestic mobile and internet plan. With those handled, the wider routines of family life fall into place quickly. Many families also register early for after school activities and clubs, which help children build friendships and settle into the rhythm of the school year.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lagos have English speaking schools?
Yes. English is Nigeria's official language and the medium of instruction in the international schools, including the American International School of Lagos and British International School Lagos, alongside a French option.
Are international schools in Lagos expensive?
Fee paying international schooling in Lagos sits in the upper range for the region, with the fully international schools costing more than the local private schools. Fees vary by school and year group and are reset annually, so request the current schedule directly from each school.
Where do international families tend to live?
Ikoyi and Victoria Island on Lagos Island, and increasingly the Lekki corridor, are the areas international families most often choose, with some families basing themselves near Ikeja on the mainland.
Do employers help with school fees?
Some employers meet school fees as part of an expatriate package, so confirm what your contract covers early, as this can shape which schools are within reach.
When should we apply?
Apply well ahead of the school year and earlier for competitive year groups, because the leading schools in Lagos have limited capacity and popular years fill first.
Plan your move
Use these free tools and guides to turn this overview into a shortlist and a working plan for your family's move to Lagos.