Grace International School - Is it honestly cheap?

[SABloke]

So I came across Grace International School today whilst searching for decent affordable schools. I will just qoute a few statements from their website, the last being the so called "cherry" with regards to the topic question.

 

" Our purpose is to provide quality, low cost education to the children of Christian workers in SE Asia. "

 

"Entrance Fee 67,000 baht This is a non-refundable fee that secures a classroom place for your child"

 

"If you have received an acceptance letter and paid your entrance fee, then welcome to the Grace family!" 

 

"To keep tuition as low as possible, foreign teachers and staff come as volunteers, through sending agencies or churches, and raise 100% of their financial support."

 

Ok... they DO pay their Thai staff (nobody is stupid enough to work for free), but the "International staff" are coming to serve Jesus etc??? Suddenly 226 000 Baht per annum doesn't sound so cheap considering that the majority of the work force have been sponsored 

 

 

 

 

[junglechef]

Thought they closed?

 

Or did they move??

 

My understanding that the people from ABS (Ambassador Bilingual School) are opening in their old location with Unity School 

[richard10365]

Grace has a new school opening soon. 

http://www.gisthailand.org/

 

I think all the international schools are decent but some are better than others. They are cheaper than most in Chiang Mai. Varee is cheaper than Grace. ABS is a bilingual school which teaches most classes in English and is very cheap. Their new international school will probably be priced very competitively. 

 

There are pros and cons to all the schools and most long term expats have their own opinions on which is best for whatever reason. I think best to figure your budget and go from there. Good luck. 

[SABloke]

The prices I qouted are from the 2017/18 fee schedule so I assume they're still open. I live in BKK, but always have one eye on packing up the family and moving to CM so just researching out of interest

[richard10365]

I just started working at Nakornpayap International School (NIS) (nis.ac.th) so I'm a bit biased. NIS uses the US Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which I had no idea about until I started to consider working there. The more I read about CCSS the more I like it. It's priced about in the middle of most international schools in Chiang Mai. It also seems like a really nice place to send my son.

 

What to consider when picking an international school in Chiang Mai:

1. Price

2. Location

3. Curriculum

4. Religious focus

5. Reputation

6. Matriculation

7. EAL Support (for non-native speakers)

Maybe someone else has some considerations they want to add or comment on the ones I mentioned above.

 

I can try to comment on this later but going out now.

[junglechef]

32 minutes ago, SABloke said:

The prices I qouted are from the 2017/18 fee schedule so I assume they're still open. I live in BKK, but always have one eye on packing up the family and moving to CM so just researching out of interest

 

I have kids at or have been to 5 different school in CM and some moving to another one next term (Thai and Bilingual Schools only)

 

This is mainly because they have progressed to a higher ability of learning (esp. English language skills) but also as things have changed at schools they were attending.

 

Feel free to pm me if you'd like 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2017 by junglechef

[stament]

2 hours ago, junglechef said:

 

I have kids at or have been to 5 different school in CM and some moving to another one next term (Thai and Bilingual Schools only)

 

This is mainly because they have progressed to a higher ability of learning (esp. English language skills) but also as things have changed at schools they were attending.

 

Feel free to pm me if you'd like 

 

 

feedback on the schools would be useful pls

[junglechef]

Wanted to give an update on info about UCIS (Unity Concord International School)

 

I received a notice from ABS (my kids go there) that it's location has been changed to nex to ABS in Saraphi.

 

Again my offer to pm me for more info is open