International Schools in Nairobi

Ages 4-18 · American, IB · Gigiri · ~1,100 students

ISK is the default choice for diplomats and UN families in Nairobi - the campus, accreditations, and community are genuinely premium. If you're self-funding, weigh the fees carefully against Brookhouse, which offers comparable results at lower cost.

Ages 13-18 · British · Ruiru · ~400 students

Peponi is for secondary students only - Years 9 to 13 - and it is the most ambitious boarding school in Kenya by exam results and fees. If your child is 13 or older, you want full boarding in a rural setting, and you're prepared to pay at the upper end of the Nairobi market, it deserves serious consideration.

Ages 2-18 · British · Karen · ~1,000 students

Brookhouse is the strongest British-curriculum choice in Nairobi by exam results, with a campus that genuinely impresses. If you're Karen-based or want boarding, it's the natural first visit.

Ages 2-18 · British · Karen · ~605 students

Hillcrest is a solid British-curriculum option for Karen-based families who want ISI-inspected schooling at fees below Brookhouse - but the 2022 ownership change to the Braeburn Group warrants a campus visit to assess current teaching continuity before committing.

Ages 2-18 · British, IB · Garden Estate · ~750 students

Braeburn Garden Estate offers CIS-accredited British and IB education at fees that undercut ISK and Brookhouse significantly - a strong choice for families in the Garden Estate or Ridgeways area who want accredited schooling without the top-end price tag.

Ages 3-18 · British · Lavington · ~700 students

The founding campus of the Braeburn Group, on Gitanga Road in Lavington, established in 1979 and offering the British National Curriculum from Creche to Year 13 with IGCSE, A-Level, BTEC, and Pearson Edexcel pathways. BSO and ISI inspection in February 2025 rated personal development as Excellent. Annual fees for 2025-2026 range from KES 946,200 (Creche mornings) to KES 2,551,600 (Years 12-13); textbooks are included in tuition.

Ages 4-18 · American · Gigiri · ~703 students

Rosslyn is the go-to for American families in Gigiri who want a faith-based school close to the UN compound - the AP programme is strong and the community is tight-knit. If you're not American or not comfortable with a Christian covenant environment, it's probably not the right fit.

Ages 1-13 · British · Langata · ~490 students

Banda is Nairobi's most respected British prep school for the under-14s - the pastoral quality, specialist learning support, and scholarship results set it apart. If you have primary or junior-age children and live in the south of the city, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.

Ages 2-18 · French, British · Kilimani · ~600 students

LFIDD is the obvious first call for French-speaking families in Nairobi and a genuinely affordable option compared with other top international schools - the government subsidy is real and substantial. Non-French families can access the British International Section, but should visit to confirm whether the bilingual environment suits their child.

Ages 1.5-18 · German · Gigiri · ~405 students

German-curriculum international school on Limuru Road opposite Village Market in Gigiri, certified as an Excellent German School Abroad and offering the full German education path from Kindergarten to Abitur for around 405 students from 50+ nationalities. Annual fees for 2025-2026 run from KES 1,319,024 (Kindergarten) to KES 2,220,729 (Grades 5-12), with a one-time enrollment fee of KES 149,042.

Ages 3-18 · British, American · Runda · ~210 students

MSA-CESS-accredited international school on a 20-acre campus at Two Rivers in Runda, offering IGCSE, A-Levels, and AP alongside the SABIS proprietary learning system, with a weekly boarding option for Grades 6-12. Annual day fees for 2024-2025 run from KES 860,000 (KG1-2) to KES 2,055,000 (Grade 12); weekly boarding adds KES 790,500.

Ages 3-18 · German, Abitur · Gigiri & UN Area · ~400 students

Tiny school. Around 300-350 kids in total from kindergarten through Abitur, drawn from 30+ nationalities. Everyone knows everyone. That's the whole pitch and the whole risk.

Ages 3-18 · IB · Parklands · ~1,020 students

AKA Nairobi is the strongest IB-only option in the city - a full continuum from Nursery to Diploma with consistently above-average DP results and a diverse, cosmopolitan student body. Fees are moderate by Nairobi international standards, making it worth shortlisting for IB-committed families in the northern suburbs.

Ages 3-18 · Cambridge, IGCSE, A-Level · Karen & Langata · ~600 students

Light International is a Cambridge school in Karen, kindergarten through A-Level, day and boarding from Year 9. Part of the Light Group, which has roots in the Turkish Hizmet/Gulen movement and runs several campuses across Kenya. CIS accredited (2024) and COBIS accredited (2025).