· updated monthly
The five schools Nepal parents researched most this year, chosen from the 12 international schools in the country. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Rato Bangala School is a co-educational day school in Patan Dhoka, Nepal, that houses a teacher training institute. The curriculum progresses from Lower School through A-Levels, with Cambridge Assessment International Examinations Grades XI–XII. In early years, Language Arts are taught in Nepali and English alongside Social Studies, Science, Mathematics and Digital Literacy, with specialist teachers for ICT, Nepali, Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, Gymnastics and Martial Arts. Chinese is taught with the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, and Newari appears in Grade IV. Upper School emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning social-emotional growth, while A-Levels are delivered by a registered Cambridge Center NP704 and have produced high marks and Cambridge awards. Founded in 1992, the school champions progressive education through Bank Street College of Education links and a focus on social justice. Facilities include a library, STEAM Lab, five science labs, three computer labs, Art and Design rooms, wood workshop, Kamalmani Theater.
Located in Nepal, GEMS School provides an international-minded education with a clear curriculum progression. For Grades 1–5, the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) serves as the framework to deliver the national curriculum, aligning inquiry-based learning with local standards. From the academic session 2023 (2080), Grade 6 adopts the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) to continue international benchmarking. The school supports a robust extracurricular program through GEAP for Grades 1–5 and BIA for Grades 6–12, offering a wide range of sports and performing and visual arts activities. Arts activities are a key component of the offerings, alongside participation in performing and visual arts. Programs are coordinated by the Extra Curricular Department and extend to lifestyle and wellbeing initiatives, aiming to enrich student life beyond the classroom. The combination of IPC/IMYC, diverse arts and sport opportunities, and structured extracurriculars contributes to a globally minded school experience in Nepal. It supports a coherent learning journey.
Lincoln School in Kathmandu is an independent, co-educational day school delivering an American curriculum through Pre-K to 12, leading to an American high school diploma. Established in 1954, it serves a fully international community with students and faculty from more than thirty countries. Instruction is in English, with ESOL and learning support as needed. The program combines an American college-preparatory curriculum with an international perspective, and includes health and physical education, music, art, and world languages such as Spanish and French. A distinctive Innovation Lab emphasizes project-based learning, cross-disciplinary inquiry, and student voice, complemented by access to The Virtual High School for online courses. The campus comprises three buildings with 35 classrooms, a three-story library/media center, a theater, a gym, and a heated 25-meter pool, plus outdoor fields and rooftop spaces. Lincoln supports SAISA activities, service learning through Service Nepal, and extensive after-school offerings that engage most students.
Budhanilkantha School is a fully residential, co-educational institution located in Kathmandu, Nepal, situated on a 95-acre campus at the base of Shivapuri mountain. Established in 1972 with support from the British Government, the school accepts students from Grades 5 to 12. It follows the National Curriculum of Nepal for earlier grades and provides the Cambridge A-Level program for Grades 11 and 12. All students live on campus in specific residential houses, creating a closely-knit student community. The school grounds include extensive sports fields, modern science laboratories, and a swimming pool. A unique feature of the institution is its substantial scholarship program, which reserves approximately one-third of all places for students from disadvantaged communities across all 77 districts of Nepal, funding their education fully or partially. Students participate heavily in a structured co-curricular program encompassing debating, drama, community service, and various sports.
The Ullens School in Nepal is part of the Ullens Education Foundation (UEF), established in 2006 under the patronage of Baron Guy Ullens and Myriam Ullens. It operates at a Khumaltar campus (K–12 and IBDP) and Ullens Kathmandu, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) alongside the Nepal National Curriculum (NEB). The school teaches in English, with Nepali language development, and Mandarin study in Grades 4–8. It follows Bank Street approach to education, through a partnership with Bank Street College of Education, emphasizing experiential learning, hands-on activities, field trips and ICT resources. Ullens aims for classes (7:1 ratio) and development, including training at Bank Street and IB programmes. Facilities include three libraries totalling 20,000 books, science labs, ActivBoards, a 500-seat auditorium, and Kadjou Building for juniors, the Nala Outdoor Learning Center for nature-based learning. The school runs Project Week, CAS, and student activities such as MUN and Duke of Edinburgh.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 12 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 710 students · based on the 8 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 22.5 students · based on the 8 schools that report it.
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