Within the wider field of international schools in Hanoi, St Paul American School Hanoi is one of the city's established American curriculum day schools, and a school families look at when they want a United States style pathway rather than the British or IB Diploma route. It opened in 2011, starting in the Tay Ho area with a small first intake, then moved in 2015 to a purpose built six hectare campus in the Splendora urban area of An Khanh, Hoai Duc, on the western edge of the city.
St Paul American School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam route | United States curriculum on the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, with a broad Advanced Placement programme in the senior years |
|---|---|
| Stages | Grade 1 to Grade 12, organised into elementary, middle and high school, day school |
| Language of instruction | English, with SPELL English language support |
| Founded | 2011, Splendora campus from 2015 |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for the city (see Hanoi fees) |
| Campus area | Splendora, An Khanh, Hoai Duc, west of central Hanoi |
Curriculum and academics
St Paul follows a United States curriculum taught in English from Grade 1 to Grade 12, built on the American Common Core State Standards for English, mathematics and social studies and the Next Generation Science Standards for science. The school is organised in the familiar American way, with an elementary school for Grades 1 to 5, a middle school for Grades 6 to 8 and a high school for Grades 9 to 12, which gives families relocating from or heading to the United States a recognisable grade structure and a smooth transfer of credits. World languages on offer include Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.
The high school is built around a broad Advanced Placement programme, with more than twenty college level courses across the sciences, mathematics, computer science, languages and the social sciences, the courses American and international universities recognise for credit. That Advanced Placement route is the clearest point of difference from the city's IB Diploma schools, letting a student build a profile around chosen subjects rather than the IB's fixed six group model. Our look at the best international schools in Hanoi places St Paul in the wider field, and the American curriculum schools in Hanoi overview shows how it sits alongside the other US style options.
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St Paul American School Hanoi fees
St Paul American School Hanoi sits in the mid to upper part of our guide to international school fees in Hanoi, typically below the most expensive premium day schools while funding a full Grade 1 to Grade 12 American pathway and a wide Advanced Placement offering. As with most schools running the full grade range, tuition climbs by grade and the high school years are the most expensive part.
As a day school there is no boarding charge, but families should budget beyond the headline tuition. Expect a registration or application fee, any deposit, Advanced Placement examination entries in the senior years and a daily commute to the Splendora campus on the western edge of the city. The school publishes its fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions, and our fee calculator pulls the extras into a single annual figure, the fair way to compare a US school with a British or IB alternative such as Concordia International School Hanoi.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and St Paul accepts applications year round where a place is free in the grade a child would join, which makes it workable for families relocating outside the usual cycle. The school reviews prior records and may assess a child to confirm the right grade and the level of English support needed, drawing on its SPELL English language programme for pupils still building academic English at no additional cost.
Because the campus runs from Grade 1 to Grade 12 on one site, siblings at different stages can usually be placed together, which matters to relocating families. The intake mixes Vietnamese families seeking an American pathway, returning families and expatriate households. The admissions team can talk through the documents required, any assessment and the learning support available across the divisions. Contact the school directly to confirm availability in your child's grade and the current intake points.
Location and who goes there
St Paul is on a six hectare campus in the Splendora urban area of An Khanh, Hoai Duc, around nine to ten kilometres west of central Hanoi along the Thang Long Highway. The setting is greener and more spacious than the inner districts, which is part of the appeal for families who want a large campus with room for sport and the arts, and it suits households based in the western districts and the newer developments along the highway. Families living in Tay Ho, the centre or across the river should weigh the commute.
The intake is broadly international, mixing expatriate families on assignment, returning Vietnamese families and local families who want an American education and a pathway to United States universities. For how the western districts compare with the rest of the city on housing, commute and school choice, the Hanoi hub maps out the wider picture, and you can line St Paul up beside the British and IB British International School Hanoi and the American Concordia International School Hanoi for a sense of the range.
St Paul American School Hanoi reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of St Paul American School Hanoi, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are St Paul American School Hanoi fees?
St Paul sits in the mid to upper part of the Hanoi range, below the most expensive premium day schools, with tuition rising by grade and the high school years the most expensive. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, any deposit, Advanced Placement examination entries and transport to the Splendora campus.
What curriculum does St Paul American School Hanoi follow?
St Paul follows a United States curriculum taught in English from Grade 1 to Grade 12, built on the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, with a broad Advanced Placement programme of more than twenty courses in the high school. It does not offer the IB Diploma.
What ages does St Paul American School Hanoi take?
The school takes children from Grade 1 to Grade 12, covering roughly ages 6 to 18, organised into elementary, middle and high school, as a day school. It does not offer boarding.
Where is St Paul American School Hanoi?
St Paul is on a six hectare campus in the Splendora urban area of An Khanh, Hoai Duc, around nine to ten kilometres west of central Hanoi along the Thang Long Highway, which suits families based in the western districts.
When do St Paul American School Hanoi applications open?
The school year runs from August, and applications are accepted year round subject to places in the relevant grade. Families relocating mid year can apply for an in year place, so contact the admissions office to confirm availability and any assessment.
