doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
A

Aguinaldo International School

Philippines, Manila

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 320
Type Co-educational
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages Filipino, Mandarin
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

Aguinaldo International School Manila is a private, co-educational international school located at 1113-1117 San Marcelino Street in Manila. It serves students from Early Learning through Senior High School, with an enrollment around 400 and class sizes typically 15–20 in core subjects. The curriculum blends the Philippines' National Standards with American Core Standards and international indicators from McRel and the International Baccalaureate Programme, guided by Understanding by Design to support inquiry-based learning. English is the language of instruction in core subjects, with Filipino and Mandarin taught as non-core languages. The school extends the national curriculum with international indicators and provides local and global perspectives to prepare students for American universities and local colleges. AIS offers SPED, Service Learning, and a range of clubs (Model UN, KIA, Quiz Bee, Journalism, Student Council, ASA, MSC) and after-school activities. The campus features two gymnasia, a Junior Olympic-size pool, a 300-seat auditorium, a 500-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and a 44,500‑book library.

918 Gonzales St, Paco, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines

The Essentials

Aguinaldo International School has 320 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Aguinaldo International School Manila is located at 1113-1117 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines. The campus sits in the central Ermita/Paco area, a densely built urban district with ready access to public transport and local amenities.

Stages
The school offers Pre-School, Elementary and High School, including a Senior High School program, with an SPED department available for students with additional learning needs.

Type
Aguinaldo International School Manila is a private, international day school.

Additional learning support
AIS opened a SPED program in 2015 to cater to students with special needs, and it maintains a dedicated SPED department; the Senior High School program began in 2016.

Country affiliation
AIS does not have a formal country affiliation; it operates as an international school in Manila, Philippines.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is listed for the school.

School day structure
The school day runs from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, with operation including Saturdays.

Bus service
AIS offers a school bus service; fares start from 4,000 PHP per month for two-way transportation, with the bus arrival at 7:15 am and departure at 4:00 pm.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
AIS uniforms consist of a red AIS polo shirt, navy socks, and black shoes with a flat sole; boys wear beige pants or shorts and girls wear beige skirts. Uniforms must be purchased from the school bookstore. Fridays are school spirit days when students may wear jeans with a 'We Y AIS' shirt.

Food Options
Students may bring healthy lunches to school or avail hot nutritious meals in the dining hall. The hot lunches include rice, vegetables, fruit and meat.
Fees
Application fee
- A non‑refundable application fee is required at the time an application is submitted. The school requires completion of an application form and entrance assessments before processing; the school uses an online/input-based fee calculator to compute individual student fees rather than publishing a single public fee table.

Tuition fees (by year group; per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a single, fixed public table of per‑year/per‑term tuition amounts; tuition is computed per student through the school's fee calculator.
- Third‑party published figures and school listings indicate typical annual tuition levels reported for recent years as follows (these are reported values from external sources, not a standard single published table):
- Preschool / Early Years: reported starting around PHP 82,000–90,000 per year.
- Elementary: reported higher than preschool, historically in four‑ and five‑figure PHP totals (well above the preschool starting range).
- High School: reported historical figures for older year groups in the mid‑five‑figure to low‑six‑figure PHP range per year (historical examples exist; current per‑grade figures are not published as a single public table).
- Because the school calculates fees per applicant (using the information families provide), parents will receive a computed term and annual amount for a specific year group and any applicable extras when the school runs the fee calculation for that student.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment of school fees is required for official enrollment.
- Payments made before June 1 are eligible for an early‑payment discount.
- A cash payment discount of 10% is applied when fees are paid in cash.
- A sibling discount applies to the tuition fee of the youngest child as follows: 2 children = 25% (youngest), 3 children = 50% (youngest), 4 children = 75% (youngest), 5 children = 100% (youngest).
- The school requires completion of enrollment formalities (including payment) to secure a slot; specific installment dates and official billing cycles are calculated and communicated per family rather than published as a single public schedule.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school; no public boarding fee schedule is published and boarding services are not listed among the school's services.

Other costs and typical additional fees
- Transportation: school bus service is offered; fares vary by route and distance. Reported starting price for two‑way bus service is approximately PHP 4,000 per month.
- Meals / Food: hot lunches are available in the dining hall (additional charges apply if using meal service).
- Special needs / additional learning support: students requiring SPED or English‑language support may incur additional specialist fees; external and historical sources note extra charges for SPED/ESL support where applicable.
- Uniforms, textbooks, basic stationery and school supplies, extracurricular/activity fees, field trips, and program‑specific costs (for example, summer camps or specialist classes) are additional to tuition and are charged as appropriate. Uniforms are required. Examples of extracurricular program fees have been published in social/parent channels (e.g., seasonal program fees such as martial arts offerings).

Refund information
- The school requires payment for enrollment and does not publish a detailed public refund policy or a standard refund table on the public admissions pages. Refunds or deposit return conditions (if any) are handled according to the school's enrollment and billing rules as applied at the time of registration; the school communicates specific billing/refund terms per enrollment.

Fee payment options
- Cash is accepted (a 10% cash payment discount is published). Specific information about accepted electronic payment methods (bank transfer, credit card) and the school's invoicing or banking details are not published as a single public list; those details are provided to families during the admissions/billing process.

Summary (what parents can expect)
- The school computes fees individually for each applicant rather than publishing a single public fee table; families receive a computed per‑term and per‑year figure when the school runs the fee calculation for the student.
- Early payment, cash and sibling discounts are explicitly applied as described above.
- Typical additional charges to plan for include bus fare (from ~PHP 4,000/month), meal plans, uniforms, textbooks, specialist support (if needed), and extracurricular program fees.

If you need the school's computed fee figures for a specific child's year group, the school provides individualized fee calculations and the admissions office publishes and applies the discounts and service charges listed above when producing the invoice.
Academics

Aguinaldo International School teaches American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
AIS Manila runs Pre-School, Elementary, and Senior High School. Pre-School levels are Nursery (3-4), Kinder (4-5) and Prep (5-6), with a curriculum covering language, arts, math, science and geography and an emphasis on early reading, writing and social development. Elementary curriculum centers on digital literacy, inventive thinking, interpersonal skills and the six facets of understanding (explaining, interpreting, applying, shifting perspective, empathizing, self-understanding) and extends the national curriculum with international standards to prepare students for American colleges and local universities. Core subjects Civics, English, Math and Science are taught in English in an in-house curriculum with small class sizes and differentiated instruction; non-core subjects include Filipino, Mandarin, Art, Music, ICT, PE and Home Economics, assessed by quizzes and performance tasks. The school follows the National K-12 grading system (A, P, AP, D, B) and recognizes achievement with merit certificates and medals. Senior High School offers a General Academic Strand under the DepEd Academic Track.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
AIS Manila supports social and emotional learning (SEL) through the Guidance Department, which provides counseling, classroom observations, values education, career planning, and university guidance, and runs anti-bullying campaigns; advisory classes use developmentally appropriate modules to support wellbeing, and Wellness Week activities promote emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
AIS Manila opened a SPED program in 2015 to serve students with special needs, featuring four SPED tracks (Mainstreaming, Academic Self-contained, Adaptive Self-contained, Functional Academics) and partnerships with occupational therapists, speech therapists, pediatricians and other providers; individualized education plans (IEPs) are developed with regular team meetings to tailor support.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The ESL program is open to non-native English speakers, with Beginners placed in full-time ESL, Intermediates integrated into mainstream classrooms with pull-out support, small class sizes, and a curriculum targeting listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported by the School Counselor and Guidance Department through counseling, social skills support and advisory wellbeing content, and is complemented by Wellness Week activities to promote healthy lifestyles and emotional wellbeing.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is addressed via an Anti-Bullying Policy, in loco parentis supervision, and incident reporting; health measures include new-student medical checkups and annual dental checkups, with emergency treatment at Medical Center Manila, all within a closed campus supervised by staff.
Parent Experience

History
Aguinaldo International School Manila began in June 1999 as Emilio Aguinaldo College Science High School (EAC-SHS), a school for gifted students. It started with 11 enrollees and grew to about 400 students. EAC-SHS received official recognition from the Department of Education on September 20, 2004. From November 2004 to June 2008, Principal Eloisa E. Olivera led the school; Lileth L. Cuaresma became head teacher in June 2008 and joined with New Zealand superintendent Keith Jones, who renamed the school Aguinaldo International School and began modernizing facilities and internationalizing the curriculum. AIS opened the SPED program in 2015 and the Senior High School in 2016, and as of March 2020 Ms. Julie B. Pel-o serves as principal.

Community
AIS's community includes multiple student clubs: Model United Nations, Kidz In Action, Quiz Bee, Journalism, Student Council, ASA, and the Math & Science Club. The arts program features theatre productions; the school play is a major annual event supported by a Fine Arts Theatre. AIS maintains a calendar of activities that lists events throughout the year, demonstrating ongoing community engagement. Families may participate in programs and events, including SPED parent-oriented orientations for families and the annual Parenting Workshop.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parent involvement at AIS is organized through the Guidance Department's initiatives, including an annual Parenting Workshop. AIS also runs SPED-related parent orientations to help families engage with the SPED program. Families participate in school life through clubs such as Model UN, Kidz In Action, Quiz Bee, Journalism, Student Council, ASA, and MSC. The arts program features major theatre productions that attract large audiences, supported by a Fine Arts Theatre. AIS maintains a calendar of activities that lists events and participation opportunities for parents, including summer enrichment and other programs. AIS fosters parent partnership through these programs and events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has two gymnasia and a Junior Olympic-size swimming pool for physical education and competitive activities. A fully equipped fitness training room and an indoor soccer court support a range of athletic programs. Academic facilities include a library with 44,500 books, three science laboratories, and computer laboratories, all complemented by air-conditioned classrooms. Creative spaces include a music room and an art room, along with a 300-seat auditorium and a 500-seat Fine Arts Theatre for performances. The campus provides a 100% wireless network with smart boards to support teaching and learning.

Sports Facilities
The school features two gymnasia and a Junior Olympic-size swimming pool for physical education and competitive activities. An indoor soccer court is available for team sports, and outdoor spaces include a playground for recreation.

Academic Facilities
Academic facilities include a library with 44,500 books, three science laboratories, and dedicated computer labs. All classrooms are air-conditioned. The school operates a 100% wireless network and uses smart boards to enhance instruction.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Arts facilities support choir, dance, and drama; a music room and an art room are provided for creative work. Dramatic productions are staged in the Fine Arts Theatre, a 500-seat venue, with additional performances in the 300-seat auditorium. The arts program includes large-scale school plays and musical productions.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Aguinaldo International School offers opportunities for academic enrichment beyond the classroom. Model United Nations allows AIS students to participate in a Manila-wide forum with other international schools, focusing on politics, diplomacy and law. The Quiz Bee club provides exposure to competitions organized by the Quiz Bee Foundation in sciences, politics, history, culture and law, and the Math & Science Club (MSC) offers STEM enrichment that includes robotics and medicine experiences through the Young Doctors program at Medical Center Manila.

Arts & Creative
AIS runs arts and drama programs beyond class time, including choir and performing arts. The school develops singers through music classes, with top singers selected for the school choir or the school musical; the choir performs at special events and participates in local competitions. The drama program emphasizes theatre as a core part of the arts, with a large annual school play and a Fine Arts Theatre that hosts major productions, including long-running musical titles.

Cultural & Language
Model United Nations fosters international awareness and diplomacy, connecting AIS with other Manila international schools. The Kidz in Action (KIA) program is a weekend outreach initiative that engages less advantaged children in art, drama, sports, cooking and field trips, while also providing full scholarships to some AIS students. The school's artistic productions and the annual musical program contribute to broad cultural exposure for students.

Social & Hobbies
After School Activities (ASA) provide elementary students with options such as ballet, chess, Junior Chef, swimming, basketball, taekwondo, choir and other activities after the school day. The Student Council leads and coordinates events, including intramurals, community outreach and the high school prom, offering students formal leadership opportunities. The Journalism club involves students in producing the yearbook, school magazine and online posts, and creating media coverage of school events.

Community & Service
Kidz in Action (KIA) is AIS's primary outreach program, engaging less advantaged children in art, drama, sports, cooking and field trips, with weekend participation and full scholarships for some KIA students. The program provides pathways for KIA kids to develop talents and pursue future careers in fields such as nursing, medicine, teaching and sports. School-wide service and outreach are also facilitated through student-led activities coordinated by the Student Council.

Leadership & Professional
The Student Council provides formal leadership experiences, helping students develop responsibility, compassion and global-mindedness. The Guidance department supports university admissions planning, career planning, mentoring and other professional skills development to prepare students for post‑secondary success.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports are a visible part of AIS life, with swimming, basketball, taekwondo and rugby offered as part of the school's athletic program. Taekwondo is noted as AIS's most popular after-school sport, reflecting its emphasis on fitness, discipline and character. Swimming is highlighted for fitness, character development and mental resilience, with AIS promoting it as a core activity within P.E. and after-school programs.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English (the language of instruction for core subjects), Filipino and Mandarin (non-core language offerings). AIS classrooms are 100% English-speaking except in modern language classes, indicating English as the primary instruction language. Filipino and Mandarin appear as non-core language subjects; Mandarin is listed as a non-core subject in high school as well. An ESL program supports non-native English speakers: Beginners join full-time ESL, Intermediates participate in mainstream classrooms with pullout sessions as needed, and ESL instruction targets listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Bilingual Teaching
Bilingual teaching: AIS does not offer a formal bilingual education program. Core subjects are taught in English across the school. Filipino and Mandarin are taught as non-core language classes rather than bilingual instruction across the curriculum. ESL support is provided for non-native English speakers to access mainstream lessons.
Reputation

Awards
No school-wide awards are publicly posted for the past five years on the AIS site. The Awards section on the Elementary page lists student-level honors (merit certificates, medals such as Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze, and graduating honors) rather than awards granted to the school.

Accreditations
Official recognition by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) since September 20, 2004. This recognition indicates AIS Manila operates under national education standards and is authorized to run its programs in the Philippines.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Initial eligibility and document requirements. Aguinaldo International School (AIS) accepts students from all nationalities. Official transcripts and/or official report cards are required depending on the student's country of origin. Slots can be reserved online and followed up later with the completion of an application form and an entrance exam. Payment of school fees is required for official enrollment.

2. Application materials to submit. The forms required are the Application Form, the Student's Background Information Sheet, and the Parent Interview Form. These forms collect background information and help schedule necessary interviews. After you submit these forms, AIS reviews the materials to determine the next steps in the process. Make sure transcripts and other official documents accompany your submission if requested.

3. Entrance exams and grade placement. AIS administers an external aptitude test and an in-house Math/English test to determine grade placement. There is also a get-to-know-you component that assesses personality, learning style, creativity, and interests. The combined entrance exams take about two hours and can be scheduled between 8am–3pm, Monday through Saturday, in advance.

4. Enrollment payments and discounts. Payment of school fees is required for official enrollment. An early payment discount applies to payments made before June 1. An additional 10% discount is available for cash payments. A sibling discount is applied on the youngest child's tuition: 2 kids = 25%; 3 kids = 50%; 4 kids = 75%; 5 kids = 100%.

5. Scholarships available. AIS offers scholarships to new and/or continuing students beginning in Grade 7. There are two kinds of scholarships: Athletic (for competitive swimmers) and Academic (for valedictorians). To apply, request a scholarship application form at the admissions office.

6. Final steps and inquiries. After completing the required steps and being informed of placement, families proceed with enrollment and fee payment to secure the place.

Scholarships
AIS offers two scholarships beginning in Grade 7: Athletic (for competitive swimmers) and Academic (for valedictorians). Scholarships are available to new and/or continuing students, and applicants should request a scholarship application form at the admissions office.

Waitlist
AIS does not publish a waitlist or pool policy in its admissions materials. There is no publicly described waitlist process on the admissions page. Prospective families should contact the admissions office to confirm current waitlist status and availability.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Philippines View all schools in Manila View all schools in Philippines American curriculum schools in Philippines Open days & tours in Manila What is the American curriculum? View all schools Search all schools