What Is a Bilingual School in Jakarta?
The term gets used loosely. In Jakarta, "bilingual" typically means one of three things:
SPK schools with a strong Indonesian identity. These hold a licence from the Indonesian Ministry of Education (Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama) to deliver an international curriculum. They teach in English but maintain Indonesian language and culture as core subjects. Binus Simprug, SPH and Global Jaya sit in this category. The curriculum is internationally recognised (IB or Cambridge) but the school culture, student body and language environment are more Indonesian than a school like JIS or BSJ.
National-plus schools. These follow the Indonesian national curriculum (Kurikulum Merdeka) but add English-medium instruction for some subjects and may incorporate Cambridge Primary or IB PYP approaches. They do not hold SPK status and the exit qualifications are Indonesian. Examples include Sekolah Cita Buana (SCB) and some Cikal campuses.
Schools marketing as bilingual. A broad category ranging from strong to weak. Some deliver genuine dual-language instruction with qualified staff in both languages. Others teach mostly in Indonesian with English for a few periods a week and call it bilingual. The label alone tells you nothing. Ask about the actual time split, teacher qualifications, and exit qualifications.
For this guide, we focus on the SPK bilingual schools - the ones offering internationally recognised qualifications alongside genuine Indonesian language development. These are the schools most likely to interest our readers: families making a deliberate choice between fully international and bilingual.
For more on SPK schools and what the licence means, read our SPK Schools Explained guide. For the broader national vs international decision, see Indonesian National Curriculum vs International.
Who Are These Schools For?
Three family types gravitate to bilingual schools in Jakarta:
Mixed families. One Indonesian parent, one expatriate. The family wants their children to be genuinely fluent in both languages and comfortable in both cultures. A fully English-medium school risks the Indonesian side; a fully Indonesian school limits international options. Bilingual schools are the middle path.
Long-term residents. Expatriate families who have been in Jakarta for years and plan to stay. Their children have Indonesian friends, speak some Bahasa Indonesia, and may attend an Indonesian university. A fully international school feels increasingly disconnected from their daily life.
Indonesian families who want international qualifications. Upper-middle-class Indonesian families who want their children to sit Cambridge IGCSEs, IB Diploma or other international exams, but within a school environment that is culturally Indonesian rather than expatriate-dominated.
If your family is in Jakarta for a two-to-three-year posting and will relocate internationally, a fully international school (JIS, BSJ, ISJ, AIS) is almost certainly the better fit. The portability of qualifications and the international peer group matter more than bilingual development when you are not staying.
The Ranking
Only schools with publicly available or verifiable fee data are included.
| School | Curriculum | Fee Range (USD) | IB Programmes | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binus Simprug | IB | ~$7,000-$15,000 | PYP, MYP, DP | Simprug, South Jakarta |
| Global Jaya | IB | ~$8,000-$13,000 | PYP, MYP, DP | Bintaro |
| GMIS | IB + Cambridge | ~$4,600-$10,000 | PYP, MYP, DP, CP | Kemayoran |
Fees estimated from school websites and third-party sources. Verify directly with admissions. Exchange rate: IDR 16,826 = $1 USD. Correct as of February 2026.
Three schools. That is the honest picture of this segment when you apply the public-fee filter. The ranking is thin because most bilingual schools in Jakarta do not publish fees. Read the next section for schools worth investigating even without published fee data.
Binus Simprug - The Strongest Bilingual IB Option
Binus Simprug runs the full IB continuum - PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme - and is one of only a handful of Jakarta schools with all three programmes under one roof. The school has published an IB Diploma average score of 34 points with a 95% pass rate, both above global averages.
The student body is majority Indonesian. The school culture is Indonesian. English is the primary language of instruction, but students move between languages throughout the day in a way that does not happen at JIS or BSJ. For mixed families who want their children to be genuinely bilingual while pursuing a globally recognised qualification, Binus Simprug is the first name to investigate.
At approximately $15,000 per year at the high end, it sits well below the premium schools ($25,000-$31,000) and represents the strongest value proposition in Jakarta's IB market. The trade-off is facilities and international diversity: Binus Simprug's campus and co-curricular breadth do not match JIS or BSJ. If those matter more than bilingual development and IB results at a reasonable price, this is not the right school.
Global Jaya - IB Continuity in Bintaro
Global Jaya has been running IB programmes since the late 1990s - longer than most Jakarta schools. It offers PYP, MYP and the Diploma Programme from a campus in Bintaro. At approximately $13,000 per year at the upper end, it sits in a similar fee bracket to Binus Simprug.
The school draws a mix of Indonesian and expatriate families, particularly those living in the Bintaro and BSD corridor. For families in that area who want IB at a mid-range price, Global Jaya offers the convenience of proximity and the credibility of a long IB track record. Ask about recent IB Diploma results and university destinations - the school has the data even if it does not publish it online.
GMIS - The Budget IB Option
GMIS (Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School) holds the broadest IB portfolio in Jakarta - PYP, MYP, Diploma Programme and the Career-related Programme (CP). Authorised since 1996, its IB track record is longer than any other Jakarta school. The student body is diverse - over 50 nationalities - with significant Indian, Korean, Chinese and Indonesian communities.
At approximately $10,000 per year at Diploma level, GMIS is the most affordable IB option in Jakarta. It also offers Cambridge IGCSEs and A Levels alongside IB, giving students multiple exit qualification options. For families who want an IB pathway at a lower price point, GMIS is a credible option. Campus is in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Schools Worth Knowing About (Fees Not Published)
These schools are significant players in Jakarta's bilingual segment but do not publish fee schedules. They are excluded from the ranking table but worth contacting directly.
Sekolah Pelita Harapan (SPH). Five campuses across Greater Jakarta (Lippo Village, Kemang Village, Lippo Cikarang, Sentul City, Pluit Village). IB and Cambridge programmes. Christian ethos. SPH is the largest bilingual school group in Indonesia and has produced strong IB results historically - a published cohort average of 35.89 points in one reported year, with two students achieving the maximum 45/45. SPH directs families to contact admissions for fee information. Third-party databases estimate a range of approximately $6,900-$20,900 depending on campus and year group, but these figures are unverified.
Mentari Intercultural School Bintaro (MISB). Holds both Cambridge and IB Diploma authorisation. SPK school in Bintaro. Fee data is limited to partial third-party references. Contact the school directly.
Cikal. Indonesian-founded school with IB PYP influence and a bilingual programme. Multiple campuses. Strong reputation among Indonesian education professionals. Fees not published.
Sekolah Cita Buana (SCB). National-plus school (not SPK) delivering a bilingual Indonesian-English programme grounded in the national curriculum with IB-influenced pedagogy. Fees not publicly available.
How Bilingual Schools Compare to Fully International Schools
The honest comparison comes down to three trade-offs:
Fees. Bilingual schools are cheaper. Binus Simprug and Global Jaya charge $7,000-$15,000. JIS, BSJ and ISJ charge $18,000-$31,000. That gap shows up in campus facilities, co-curricular breadth, and the size of the teaching team.
Language development. A child at a bilingual school will develop stronger Bahasa Indonesia than a child at JIS or BSJ. If long-term Indonesian fluency matters to your family, this is a genuine advantage that no fully English-medium school can match.
International portability. JIS, BSJ and ISJ transcripts travel. These schools have established relationships with universities worldwide, produce transcripts that admissions offices recognise, and employ experienced university counsellors. Bilingual schools are catching up - Binus Simprug and SPH both have students at international universities - but the depth of counselling and institutional recognition is not yet equivalent.
For a detailed breakdown of the national vs international decision, including fees, university pathways and language development, read our Indonesian National Curriculum vs International guide.