Schools in Singapore: American and international

If you want an American classroom in Singapore, you can have one, at a price that rivals a top private day school back home. The public system is excellent but has limited room for foreigners, so most American families go international.

The short version

Singapore American School (SAS) is the big US-curriculum option: preschool to grade 12 in Woodlands, WASC-accredited, with 2026/27 tuition of SGD 32,510 to 43,780 (about USD 25,450 to 34,270) a year, plus a facility fee and one-time entry fees [1][2].
Stamford American International School blends American standards with the IB and AP, with 2026/27 tuition from about SGD 49,040 to 56,110 (about USD 38,380 to 43,920) for grades 1 to 12 [3].
Government (MOE) schools take international students only where places are left after citizens and permanent residents. Primary fees for non-ASEAN international students are SGD 1,035 a month (about USD 810) in 2026 [4][5].
International schools mostly run August to June. MOE schools run on a January to November year.
Start early. Popular grades fill, and the US-passport priority at SAS matters.

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (USD 1 = SGD 1.2776).

The American options

Singapore American School

SAS is where many US families end up, especially on corporate packages. It's a single large campus at 40 Woodlands Street 41 in the north of the island, with 4,095 students in the 2024/25 school year, and it's accredited by WASC, the same body that accredits schools in California and Hawaii [2]. It follows a US curriculum with AP courses and US-style grades from kindergarten to senior year.

Admissions run on priority lanes. SAS's fee schedule defines Lane 1 as a student, or at least one parent, holding a US passport or green card [1]. If your child is a US citizen, that puts you at the front. Families in other lanes pay a higher registration fee and can wait longer for a seat.

Location matters. Woodlands is close to the Causeway to Malaysia and a long ride from the central neighborhoods where many expats rent. SAS families often live nearby in condos around Woodlands, Yishun and Sembawang, or rely on the school bus.

Stamford American International School

Stamford American runs two campuses: an Early Learning Village for the youngest kids and the Woodleigh campus for grades 1 to 12 [6]. It mixes American academic standards with the IB Primary Years and Middle Years programs, then offers a choice in high school between the full IB Diploma and a pathway built around AP courses [6]. It's a good fit if you want US-style classes but expect to move again and value the portability of the IB.

Other international schools

Singapore has dozens of international schools. One that comes up constantly with American families is United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), a K–12 IB school with a Dover campus in the west and an East campus in Tampines, plus boarding from grade 8 [7]. It's not American, but plenty of US kids go there and on to US colleges. There are also British, Australian, Canadian, French, German and other national schools. Check each school's own fee page rather than third-party lists, which often lag a year or two.

What it costs in 2026/27

School and grade	Annual tuition (SGD)	About USD	Source
SAS, preschool and pre-K	32,510	25,450	2026/27 [1]
SAS, kindergarten to grade 5	37,640	29,460	2026/27 [1]
SAS, grades 6–8	41,560	32,530	2026/27 [1]
SAS, grades 9–12	43,780	34,270	2026/27 [1]
Stamford American, kindergarten 2	46,330	36,260	2026/27 [3]
Stamford American, grades 1–5	49,040	38,380	2026/27 [3]
Stamford American, grades 6–8	53,210	41,650	2026/27 [3]
Stamford American, grades 9–12	56,110	43,920	2026/27 [3]
MOE primary school, non-ASEAN international student	12,420 (SGD 1,035 a month)	9,720	2026 [4]
MOE secondary school, non-ASEAN international student	26,280 (SGD 2,190 a month)	20,570	2026 [4]

All international school figures include Singapore's 9% GST. Stamford's tuition figures include its technology fee [3].

The one-time and extra fees

This is where the sticker shock really hits.

SAS: a non-refundable application fee of SGD 2,500 (about USD 1,960), a one-time registration fee of SGD 8,660 for Lane 1 (about USD 6,780) or SGD 9,900 for other lanes (about USD 7,750), and an annual facility fee of SGD 9,030 (about USD 7,070). A SGD 5,500 confirmation payment (about USD 4,300) is due within seven days of accepting a place and counts toward your fees [1]. SAS puts the first-year total for a new Lane 1 high schooler at SGD 63,970 (about USD 50,070) [1].
Stamford American: one-time joining fees of SGD 13,410 at Woodleigh (about USD 10,500), made up of application, enrollment and facility fees, or SGD 8,150 at the Early Learning Village (about USD 6,380) [3].
Everywhere: buses (SAS lists SGD 1,320 to 3,500 per semester), lunches, uniforms, laptops, AP or IB exam fees and trips [1].

If your employer covers schooling, read the package line by line. Some cover tuition but not the facility fee or registration, and those can add up to the price of a decent used car.

Getting a seat: how admissions work

Start six to twelve months ahead. Space varies by grade, and SAS asks families to check availability before applying [2].
Apply online and pay the application fee.
Send records: two years of report cards, teacher recommendations, and any IEP, 504 plan or psychological evaluation from your US school district. Being upfront about learning support needs saves a lot of trouble later.
Assessments or interviews for some grades, especially for English language support.
Accept and pay the confirmation or enrollment fees to hold the seat. They're usually non-refundable [1][3].
Sort the pass. Kids who come with an Employment Pass holder normally hold a Dependant's Pass, which covers school.

Check refund rules before you sign. At SAS, withdrawing before June 1, 2026 gets a full tuition and facility refund for the first semester, but the refund drops to 50% after that and to zero after October 15, 2026 [1]. That matters if your transfer date is still uncertain.

Local MOE schools for American kids

Singapore's public schools have a strong reputation, and some American families love them. But they're designed for Singaporeans, and seats for international students are limited.

Primary 1: international children indicate interest online during a set window (May 19 to 25, 2026, for the 2027 intake), and MOE emails outcomes by the end of October. Citizens and permanent residents get priority, and a place isn't guaranteed [5].
Other grades: entry to Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3 is through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), a test held in Singapore. The 2026 tests ran September 1 to 3, for school starting in January 2027. A supplementary test, S-AEIS, is expected in late February to early March 2027 [8]. MOE places successful kids where there are vacancies, taking your home area into account where it can [8].
What it feels like: classes are in English, with a second "mother tongue" language, uniforms, big classes, a strong math focus and high-stakes national exams. Kids coming from a US school can find it a big adjustment.

Fees are low next to international schools, but they rise every year for non-citizens [4]. ASEAN nationals pay less than Americans.

Coming back to the US

For college, your child applies as a US citizen, not an international student, even with a Singapore address. SAS and Stamford both offer AP courses, and SAS reports AP exam fees in its schedule [1][6]. Our guide to universities in Singapore covers the reverse case: American students heading to NUS or NTU. The FAFSA still works from abroad, using the figures on your family's US tax return.

For younger kids moving back mid-career, MOE's January start can leave a half-year gap against a US calendar, so time moves carefully. Need real talk on which schools families like this year? Ask in our community group for Americans in Singapore.

Schools in Singapore: American and international schools, local places and what they cost