Modern English School Cairo is one of the larger British schools in the capital, listed on our Cairo city hub among the established options in the eastern suburbs. Known widely as MES, it opened in 1990 with a small first intake and has grown into a substantial through school of well over two thousand students on a large purpose built campus in New Cairo, making it one of the better known names for British schooling in the city.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The core of Modern English School is the British Cambridge curriculum, running from Foundation Stage through the primary years into Cambridge IGCSE in the middle secondary years and Cambridge AS and A Levels in the sixth form. That Cambridge spine is the main reason British families choose the school, and its Outstanding rating under the British Schools Overseas inspection framework speaks to how the British provision is delivered.
Alongside the British route the school also offers an American curriculum pathway and, for families who want the broader option, the IB Diploma Programme, so a student can in principle finish on A Levels, an American Diploma or the IB. This profile focuses on the British Cambridge pathway; families leaning toward the broader option can read our British curriculum guide to weigh A Levels against the alternatives before deciding which route at MES suits their child.
Comparing the big New Cairo schools?
Put Modern English School side by side with other Cairo schools on curriculum, sixth form routes and fee band before you shortlist.
Modern English School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Foundation / KG1 | EGP 80,000 |
| Primary Years 1 to 2 | EGP 119,000 |
| Secondary (American diploma) | EGP 161,000 |
| Secondary (British / IB) | EGP 185,000 |
Source: Modern English School Cairo (directory, corroborated). British/American/IB, New Cairo. Transport extra. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Modern English School sits in the upper part of the Cairo British market. Our Cairo international school fees guide places large premium British schools in the upper mid to premium bands, with tuition rising stage by stage from Foundation Stage to the sixth form. Like most international schools in the city it may quote in or peg to US dollars to manage movements in the Egyptian pound, so confirm the current schedule and billing currency directly before you budget from abroad.
Tuition is only part of the bill. Budget for a one off registration or enrolment charge, a place confirmation deposit, school transport across New Cairo, lunches, uniform, trips and activities, and in the senior years the Cambridge, American or IB examination entry fees that are charged separately depending on the route. Ask how fees are staged across the year and use our fee tools to model the full annual cost rather than the headline tuition alone.
Admissions
Modern English School admits for a September start and reviews applications through the year where places remain. Entry draws on prior school reports and an assessment appropriate to the year group, with closer attention as students move into IGCSE option choices and again into the sixth form, where the decision between A Levels, the American Diploma and the IB is made. Younger entry points are generally more flexible than the upper secondary years.
New Cairo has become one of the busiest areas for international schooling in the capital, so demand for places at a well known school like this is steady and popular year groups can fill ahead of the new academic year. Families planning a move should apply early, confirm availability in their child's exact year, and decide which senior pathway they are aiming for if their child is approaching the sixth form.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies a large campus in New Cairo, the planned area of gated communities and wide roads east of the historic centre that now holds a high concentration of the city's international schools. The scale of the site supports extensive sports, performance and library facilities, which is part of what families notice when comparing the bigger New Cairo schools.
The community blends internationally minded Egyptian families with expatriates working across New Cairo, drawn by the established British provision and the range of senior pathways. For the wider picture of where families settle across the capital and how the British schools compare with the American, IB and bilingual options, see the Cairo city hub and our wider Cairo school guides.
Reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for Modern English School Cairo. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended Modern English School, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Modern English School Cairo fees?
Modern English School Cairo sits in the upper part of the Cairo British market, in the upper mid to premium bands described in our Cairo fees guide, with tuition rising stage by stage to the sixth form. The school may quote in or peg to US dollars, so confirm the current schedule and billing currency directly before budgeting.
What curriculum does Modern English School Cairo follow?
Modern English School Cairo teaches the British Cambridge curriculum to IGCSE and AS and A Level as its core pathway, with American curriculum and IB Diploma routes also offered. It is a British Schools Overseas Outstanding school.
Is Modern English School Cairo a good school?
Modern English School Cairo is a large established British school in New Cairo, founded in 1990, rated Outstanding under the British Schools Overseas framework and a member of BSME and COBIS. Whether it suits depends on your child, and we do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
Where is Modern English School Cairo located?
The school is on a large campus in New Cairo in the eastern suburbs of the capital, the area that now holds many of the city's international schools.
When do Modern English School Cairo applications open?
The school admits for a September start and reviews applications through the year subject to space. Entry uses prior reports and an assessment, so families should apply early and confirm availability in their child's year group.
