AISB was founded in 1962 by the US Embassy, sits in Voluntari and teaches the full IB, from kindergarten to the Diploma.
Per AISB's 2026-2027 fee table: €24,850 in kindergarten up to €28,050 in high school, plus registration and building fees.
The Jewish school was founded in 1997 within the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and teaches Hebrew from kindergarten to high school.
Where your child goes next, the accreditation, a place in the year group, the commute, and Hebrew.
According to business press reports, Mark Twain is building a Balotești campus for about 1,500 students, planned for autumn 2028.
Which international schools are there in Bucharest?
Bucharest has several well-established international schools teaching in English, French and German, most of them in the north of the city and around Pipera-Voluntari. The most common programmes are the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the British Cambridge track (IGCSE and A Level), and at the most expensive school on the market, the American school, 2026-2027 tuition runs at roughly €26,000 to €28,000 a year. Alongside them there is a Jewish school, Lauder-Reut, which teaches Hebrew.
Almost every family that talks to me about moving to Bucharest asks about the school first and the house second. That is the right order. The school decides the neighbourhood, and the neighbourhood decides the house.
The main international schools in Bucharest
These are the schools families from abroad ask me about most. Data comes from the schools' own websites and public sources, as of 2026.
| School | Curriculum | Location | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| American International School of Bucharest (AISB) | Full IB: PYP, MYP, Diploma | Voluntari, Pipera Blvd | 1962 |
| British School of Bucharest | English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Level | Voluntari | 2000 |
| International School of Bucharest (ISB) | English curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma | Sector 3 | 1996 |
| Cambridge School of Bucharest | IGCSE, A Level and IB | Bucharest | — |
| International British School of Bucharest | English curriculum, IGCSE, A Level | Bucharest | 2000 |
| Lycée Français Anna de Noailles | French national curriculum | Sector 1, Bucharest-Ploiești road | current name since 1998 |
| Deutsche Schule Bukarest | German curriculum | Bucharest | 2007 |
| Lauder-Reut | Romanian curriculum with Hebrew and Jewish culture | Bucharest | 1997 |
The American school (AISB)
The oldest and best known. It was founded in 1962 by the US Embassy, sits on a campus of about ten hectares in Voluntari, and has been an accredited IB World School since 1997. Its students come from dozens of countries.
The British schools
The British School of Bucharest follows the National Curriculum for England through IGCSE and A Level, and was rated "Excellent" by the UK Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in 2025. ISB combines the British curriculum with the IB Diploma in the final two years. The British exams run through Cambridge International.
French and German
The Lycée Français Anna de Noailles is part of the AEFE network of French schools abroad and teaches more than 1,100 students, from preschool to the French baccalauréat. Deutsche Schule Bukarest is a German international school founded in 2007.
Lauder-Reut: Bucharest's Jewish school
For Israeli families this is often the most surprising option. Lauder-Reut was founded in 1997 within the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, whose mission is to preserve Jewish culture and the Hebrew language in Europe. It runs a kindergarten, primary, middle and high school.
It is not an international school in the IB sense, but for a child arriving from Israel, Hebrew and a familiar culture can make the first year much easier. We cover the wider community in our guide to the Jewish community in Bucharest.
The school decides the neighbourhood, and the neighbourhood decides the house.
How much does an international school in Bucharest cost?
The most complete published price list is the American school's. According to AISB's official 2026-2027 fee table:
| Grade | Annual tuition (€) |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten (KG) | 24,850 |
| Grades 1–5 | 26,040 |
| Grades 6–8 | 26,270 |
| Grades 9–12 | 28,050 |
On top of that come a one-off registration fee of €3,500 for the first child, a building fee of €1,000 a year, and a €250 application fee. Other schools publish their own fee schedules, usually lower. Ask for the full fee list in writing, including transport, meals and activities.
How to choose: five questions before you enrol
- Where will your child go next? The IB opens universities worldwide. A Levels suit the UK especially. A French or German diploma suits those heading there.
- What is the accreditation? Look for IB World School status, British inspection (BSO), or CIS accreditation. If your child follows the Romanian curriculum, the school must be accredited by ARACIP, Romania's agency for quality in education.
- Is there a place in the year group? Popular schools have waiting lists. Apply early, even a year ahead.
- How long is the commute? Morning traffic in Bucharest is heavy. Test the route at 7:30, not at noon.
- What about Hebrew? If keeping it matters to you, look at Lauder-Reut or after-school programmes.
The school decides the neighbourhood
Most international schools sit in the north: Pipera, Voluntari, Băneasa and the Bucharest-Ploiești road. That is one reason many families look for a home in these areas or further north. We map the districts in our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Bucharest, and explain why young families move to suburban villas in a separate article.
And a change is coming. According to reports in the Romanian business press, Mark Twain International School is building a new campus in Balotești: an investment of about €30 million, six hectares by Lake Cociovaliștea, around 1,500 students aged 18 months to 18, with the IB, Cambridge and an accredited Romanian curriculum. Opening is planned for autumn 2028. Our project, Compass on the Lake, is in the same Balotești, and when we chose the location, a school within easy reach was one of the factors. A Walla Nadlan report (in Hebrew) toured the villas.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the oldest international school in Bucharest?
The American International School of Bucharest, founded in 1962 by the US Embassy. It teaches the full IB programme, from kindergarten to the IB Diploma.
How much does an international school in Bucharest cost?
At the American school, 2026-2027 tuition ranges from €24,850 in kindergarten to €28,050 in high school, plus registration and building fees. Other schools publish their own fee lists, so ask each one for a written quote.
Is there a school in Bucharest that teaches Hebrew?
Yes. Lauder-Reut, founded in 1997 within the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, teaches Hebrew and Jewish culture alongside the curriculum, from kindergarten to high school.
When should we apply?
As early as possible. Popular schools have waiting lists in some year groups, and the Romanian school year starts in September. Applying a year ahead is not excessive.
Where should we live to be close to the schools?
Most international schools are in north Bucharest and around Pipera-Voluntari, so the north and the DN1 corridor are the natural choice. Mark Twain's planned Balotești campus is expected to extend the options further north from 2028.
The bottom line
Bucharest offers a real choice of international schools, in several languages and programmes. The right decision starts with where your child goes next, continues with a school visit, and ends with a neighbourhood that keeps the commute reasonable.
If you are building a relocation plan, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the neighbourhoods around the schools, real commute times, and what to check before choosing a home.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: American International School of Bucharest, 2026-2027 fees · Cambridge International · AEFE, network of French schools abroad · Lauder-Reut · ARACIP, Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-University Education · Walla Nadlan (in Hebrew) · Details of the Mark Twain International School campus are based on reports in the Romanian business press.
This article is for general information only. Fees, programmes and admission terms change; check current details directly with each school before deciding.
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This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
