· updated monthly
The five schools Bulgaria parents researched most this year, chosen from the 18 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.
The British School of Sofia is a British international day school with three campuses (two in Sofia and one in Plovdiv) and IB World School status. It serves ages 2 to 18 and uses IEYC in Early Years, Cambridge Primary Programme, Cambridge IGCSE, IMYC, IB PYP, DP and CP, plus IBCP. English is the language of instruction with EAL support; Bulgarian is offered as a native language option, and IB language options include English, Bulgarian, French among others. The school opened in 2009; moved to newly built premises in 2019; in summer 2025 construction began on a new campus to expand facilities. Facilities include a Main Building since 2019 with a wide multifunctional sports field, a Primary School playground, well-lit classrooms, interactive whiteboards, audio systems; a new science lab, MAC Lab and Windows Lab; Robotics Room and Lego Room; Art Room; gym; large hall; library; iPads for every student. Active after-school clubs.
Zlatarski International School of Sofia offers an integrated international curriculum for students aged 11 to 18. English is the language of instruction. The school blends the Bulgarian national programme with Cambridge Secondary, IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme, and also provides A Levels for senior students. The three-stage structure runs Cambridge Secondary (grades 5–8), IGCSE (grades 9–10), and International Baccalaureate or A Levels (grades 11–12). Graduates receive both the Bulgarian Diploma and an international qualification. The school is fully authorised by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, the IBO and Cambridge Assessment International Education; IB World School since 2003 and Cambridge International School since 2010. Founded in 1995 as an English-language secondary school, it operates across two buildings in Darvenitsa, Sofia, with laboratories, a library, computer facilities, a gym, and outdoor sports fields. Extracurriculars span sports, arts and drama, and community service, including exchanges, global events and charitable campaigns for students.
Anglo-American School of Sofia is a Pre-K through 12 international school serving students aged 3–18. The High School core is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), delivered in English, with a comprehensive AAS High School Diploma pathway. The Pre-K–12 program is bespoke and emphasizes inquiry-based, hands-on, experiential learning, aligned to CCSS, NGSS, CEFR, and other standards. In Elementary, Bulgarian, French, and Spanish are offered as world languages, with EAL support as needed. The campus sits on about 8 hectares near Mount Vitosha, with most land preserved as green space, and features a 350-seat Rila Renaissance Centre theatre, a large on-site library with over 30,000 titles, and CEESA- and ECIS-affiliated athletics and arts programs. The school holds CIS and NEASC accreditation, is an IB World School, and operates LEED-design buildings with water recycling, solar hot water, and a wastewater treatment plant. Extracurriculars include robotics, MUN, debate, drama, community service, and service projects.
The American College of Sofia is a preparatory school offering American, Bulgarian Diploma, and IB pathways. English is language of instruction for ages 13–18. In grades 9–10 Bulgarian and international students share the ACS framework; grades 11–12 Bulgarian students pursue the Bulgarian Diploma Programme with advanced profiles, while international students enter the IB Diploma Programme. International students completing ACS coursework and the CAS portfolio can earn the American High School Diploma alongside the IB. The IB Diploma Programme has been offered since 2005. Bulgarian Diploma Profiles cover Humanities, Foreign Languages, Mathematics and Physics, Software & Hardware, Natural Sciences, and Entrepreneurship, with advanced courses and a 75-hour CAS portfolio requirement. The campus includes seven academic buildings, 62 classrooms, four computer labs, three science labs, Gipson Library, Jim Clayton Writing Center, a 380-seat theater, and an 180-seat concert hall. There are over 120 clubs, including Robotics, 3D Printing, and TEDxYouth@ACSofia.
Discover International School in Sofia, Bulgaria, offers an IB continuum anchored in Montessori principles for ages 1 to 18. Preschool through Grade 12 spans Primary (1–4), Middle Years (5–10) and High School (11–12). The school provides IB PYP, MYP and DP, with the Diploma available in Grade 11. As a flagship institution of the Montessori Society Bulgaria, affiliated with AMI, it blends Montessori methods with IB inquiry-based learning. The school operates on two Sofia campuses, with core hours 8:00 am–4:30/5:00 pm and Extended Day to 5:30 pm. A licensed kitchen serves a nutritionally balanced menu. Students engage in daily outdoor activity year-round—nature walks, park and mountain trips, and seasonal camps. Graduates earn an internationally recognized IB Diploma alongside the Bulgarian diploma, supporting access to universities worldwide. The MAGIC Programme fosters leadership and global collaboration. Languages are a strength, with English and Bulgarian instruction supporting multilingualism. Its bilingual environment supports learners.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 18 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 419 students · based on the 11 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 15.3 students · based on the 7 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 14 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in BGN.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
Tell Doris your budget, your child’s age and what matters most — we will shortlist the right schools in Bulgaria, free and impartial.