Beacon Academy

Families comparing international schools in Manila tend to shortlist Beacon Academy when they want a dedicated IB secondary education with a strong Filipino identity rather than a large all through campus. This profile sets out what GlobalSchoolGuide Editorial has verified about the school: its curriculum, fee position, admissions rhythm and where it sits in the wider Manila market. We are independent and no school pays to be listed, so this is a reference for relocating parents rather than a prospectus.

Beacon Academy was founded in 2009 by the architect Leandro Locsin Jr and his wife Mailin Paterno Locsin, building on the work of the Beacon School in Metro Manila. The two schools operate as partners: the Beacon School delivers the early and primary years, and Beacon Academy takes pupils on through secondary to the Diploma. Together they form the institution in the Philippines authorised to offer all three IB programmes, the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, which is the school group's defining feature. For wider context on what comparable schools charge, see our guide to international school fees in Manila.

Curriculum and academics

Beacon Academy is an authorised International Baccalaureate World School. It delivers the IB Middle Years Programme across Grades 7 to 10, then the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12, the final two years before university. The Diploma is the academic spine of the school: pupils take six subjects, three at higher level and three at standard level, alongside the IB core of Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity and Service. Because the partner Beacon School runs the Primary Years Programme, a child can in principle follow the full IB continuum across the two campuses. The IB pathway is internationally portable and recognised by universities in the Philippines, the United States, the United Kingdom and across Europe, which matters to mobile families weighing a later move.

Beacon Academy fees

Beacon Academy does not publish its fees openly for the current academic year, so the only reliable figure is the one the admissions office gives for your child's year group. As a dedicated IB World School offering the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, it sits in the upper band of the Manila market rather than the value tier. We do not invent numbers, so treat any third party figure with caution and confirm directly. To judge the wider picture, read our overview of international school fees in Manila or model a budget with our school fee calculator.

• Registration: one off application and registration fee, normally not refundable
• Deposit: charged to confirm and hold a place
• Tuition: billed across the school year and rising into the Diploma years
• Extras: transport, meals, trips and IB examination entry billed in addition

Admissions

Beacon Academy admits for the August academic year and opens applications well in advance, with intake confirmed for the 2026 to 2027 year. The natural entry points are Grade 7, the start of the Middle Years Programme, and Grade 11, the start of the Diploma, though places in other year groups open as families move. Assessment typically considers prior school records and the fit between a pupil and the demands of the IB, particularly for older entrants joining straight into the Diploma. Families relocating to the southern Manila corridor should apply early and contact the school directly to ask about availability in the specific grade.

Location and who goes there

Beacon Academy is in Binan, Laguna, in the southern growth corridor beyond Metro Manila that has drawn a cluster of international schools and master planned residential communities. The location suits families living in the southern suburbs and the gated estates of Laguna and southern Metro Manila, who avoid the long northbound commute that schools in the city centre would demand. The partner Beacon School sits in Metro Manila itself, so younger and older siblings can be split across the two campuses where that works for a family.

The community has a distinctly Filipino character, which is one of the reasons internationally minded local families and returning Filipino expatriates choose it over the larger foreign internationals. Diplomatic and corporate expatriate families also feature, drawn by the IB pathway and the smaller, more personal scale. Because the Diploma is portable, families who expect to move again find the qualification transfers cleanly into IB World Schools elsewhere. Those weighing alternatives often compare Beacon Academy with the wider list of international schools in Manila in our directory before booking visits.

Reviews

No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide collects first hand parent reviews so relocating families can judge schools on evidence rather than marketing. If your family has attended Beacon Academy, you can add your experience through our school reviews page. We publish reviews unedited except for moderation.

Frequently asked questions

If Beacon Academy is on your list, it helps to see it next to the other names families shortlist in the city. Our roundup of the best international schools in Manila for expat kids and the full directory of international schools in Manila are good next steps before you book visits.