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Atherton International School

South Korea, Geoje

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ₩34,357,564 - 47,016,343
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 124
Type Co-educational
Opened 2002
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages Korean, Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Atherton International School (AIS) also formerly known as Okpo International School in Okpo-dong, Geoje City, educates students aged 2 to 18 using a combination of British and international curricula, including the EYFS, IEYC, IPC, IMYC, Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels. The school follows the English National Curriculum in Early Years, Primary and Middle School and Cambridge qualifications in High School, preparing students for global university pathways. Class sizes average 12–15 students, fostering individualized learning. AIS promotes leadership and resilience through programs such as the William Pike Challenge Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The campus offers specialist facilities for music, art, drama, design and science. The school also runs a school bus service and teaches Korean alongside English instruction. Atherton’s location on Geoje Island, a coastal city near Busan, places it within a vibrant expatriate community supported by local industry and international families.

www.atherton.sc.kr

9-8 Seogando-gil, Okpo-dong, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Atherton International School has 124 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location
Atherton International School is located on Geoje Island in Okpo-dong, Geoje City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The campus address is 9-8 Seogando-gil, Okpo-dong, Geoje 53227. Geoje Island sits off Korea's southeast coast and AIS serves both international families and local Korean residents within the Okpo district. The public address confirms the campus location in Geoje, Republic of Korea.

Stages
AIS educates students from age 2 to 18, spanning Early Years to Year 13. The school's program is structured as Early Years (age 2–5), Primary (age 5–11), Middle School (age 12–15), and High School (age 15–18). The curriculum combines the English National Curriculum (EYFS/Primary/Middle) with Cambridge International qualifications (IGCSE and A Levels) for the senior years, along with IMYC/IPC in appropriate stages.

Type
The school type is a co-educational, day international school offering a British Curriculum. AIS welcomes both international students and qualifying Koreans and does not operate boarding facilities.

Additional learning support
AIS provides ongoing assessment and adapts lessons to support each child's individual learning needs within the classroom setting. Specific dedicated SEN provisions are not publicly listed on AIS pages.

Country affiliation
AIS operates in Korea and follows a British Curriculum rather than a national Korean system; there is no formal country affiliation stated.

Religious affiliation
AIS does not indicate any religious affiliation in its public materials.

School day structure
Specific daily start and end times are not published publicly. AIS offices are open 8:00 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday, and visits can be scheduled through the contact channels. For exact school-day timings, please contact AIS admissions.

Bus service
AIS offers a school bus service. Public listings and third-party databases confirm a bus service is provided, though route details are not published on AIS pages.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Atherton International School ranges from KRW 34,357,564 to KRW 47,016,343 for 2026/27.

Application / Enrollment Fee
- Enrollment fee: USD 1,000 per student (applies to all students, new and returning). This enrollment fee is non-refundable and covers registration and administration.

Tuition fees (annual) — amounts by year group
- New students (annual):
- Nursery, Foundation, Reception: USD 24,780.
- Year 1 – Year 6: USD 28,560.
- Year 7 – Year 9: USD 32,020.
- Year 10 – Year 13: USD 33,910.

- Returning students (annual):
- Nursery, Foundation, Reception: USD 21,210.
- Year 1 – Year 6: USD 24,880.
- Year 7 – Year 9: USD 28,350.
- Year 10 – Year 13: USD 30,340.

Approximate per-term amounts (calculation note)
- The school issues a tuition invoice (example: Tuition Fee Invoice issued June 2, 2025; due June 27, 2025). The published figures are annual amounts. If one divides the annual tuition equally into three terms (an approximate calculation only), the per-term figures would be approximately:
- New students per-term (annual ÷ 3): Nursery/Foundation/Reception ≈ USD 8,260; Year 1–6 ≈ USD 9,520; Year 7–9 ≈ USD 10,673.33; Year 10–13 ≈ USD 11,303.33.
- Returning students per-term (annual ÷ 3): Nursery/Foundation/Reception ≈ USD 7,070; Year 1–6 ≈ USD 8,293.33; Year 7–9 ≈ USD 9,450; Year 10–13 ≈ USD 10,113.33.
- Note: these per-term figures are approximations derived from the published annual tuition and assume equal division into three terms; they are not published per-term rates. The published invoices show annual billing timing.

Transportation (school bus)
- Geoje school transportation service (full year): USD 2,870. The document lists this amount as a full-year charge. An approximate equal three-term split would be about USD 956.67 per term.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Example invoice schedule for the 2025–2026 admissions cycle: Enrollment Invoice issued May 12, 2025 (due May 23, 2025); Tuition Fee Invoice issued June 2, 2025 (due June 27, 2025). Payment schedules for mid-year entrants vary with start date.
- The school allows consultation for a monthly payment scheme for parents who self-finance their educational costs; arrangements must be made through admissions.
- Late payment: a 5% late fee is charged for any balances not paid by the applicable due date. The school may de-register students whose accounts remain unpaid for a month and may withhold reports, certificates, and records until full payment is received. Accounts not settled may be handed to the school's attorneys for collection.

Boarding fees / boarding provision
- No boarding program or boarding fees are published in the school's 2025–2026 admissions and fees document; there is no listed boarding charge. This school's published fee materials therefore do not include boarding fees.

Other costs and fees
- Exam/test fees: Parents of Higher Years students who wish their children to sit PSAT, SAT, or IGCSE examinations will incur charges for those tests.
- Additional likely costs (not published as fixed fees): uniforms, school meals, personal school supplies, optional extracurricular activities, school trips, and specialist course or resource charges may apply but are not listed as fixed items in the published 2025–2026 fee document. The only explicitly listed additional charge in the published fees document is the cost of applicable external tests for Higher Years.

Refund information
- Only tuition and transportation fees are refundable. The refund amount depends on the student's official withdrawal date and follows this schedule for the 2025–2026 year:
- Withdrawal before Oct 3, 2025: 70% refund of annual tuition and transportation fee.
- Withdrawal Oct 3 – Dec 31, 2025: 50% refund of annual tuition and transportation fee.
- Withdrawal Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2026: 30% refund of annual tuition and transportation fee.
- Withdrawal Mar 1 – Apr 30, 2026: 10% refund of annual tuition and transportation fee.
- As of May 1, 2026: no refund.
- Withdrawal requires 30 days' notice to admissions; refunds (where applicable) are made by bank transfer in USD or KRW within 30 days from the withdrawal date. Fees other than tuition and transportation are non-refundable; no refunds are made for reasons other than withdrawal (for example, temporary leave such as long-term vacation or illness).

Fee payment options and bank details
- Payment is accepted by bank transfer. The school provides both a U.S. Dollar (USD) account and a Korean Won (KRW) account for fee payment. Parents who wish to pay in KRW are instructed to contact admissions for arrangements. The published banking details include:
- USD account — Beneficiary Name: Atherton International School; Bank: Kookmin Bank Okpo Branch; Account Number: 660-42-0006-019; SWIFT: CZNBKRSEXXX.
- KRW account — Beneficiary Name: Atherton International School; Bank: Kookmin Bank Okpo Branch; Account Number: 660837-04-000118.
- No published fee schedule itemizes credit card acceptance for tuition; the published payment information lists bank transfer accounts and directs KRW payers to contact admissions. A monthly payment arrangement is available by consultation for self-funded families.

Outstanding payments
- Parents/guardians who sign the application remain liable for school fees regardless of private arrangements. Students with outstanding fees may face restrictions on attendance; official reports, transfer certificates and records will not be issued until full payment; unresolved accounts may lead to de-registration and debt recovery actions.
Academics

Atherton International School teaches IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
Atherton International School is a British Curriculum School in Geoje, South Korea, educating students from Early Years through Year 13. Early Years (ages 2–5) use a play-based, child-centred approach that aligns with the English National Curriculum's Early Years Foundation Stage, focusing on reading, writing, creativity, and social development. Primary (ages 5–11) follows the English National Curriculum, using White Rose and Pearson schemes, with specialist lessons in art, music, physical education, and Korean Studies. Middle School (ages 12–15) continues with the English National Curriculum, supported by Pearson Maths Progress International and Exploring Science International, with English development and leadership opportunities through the William Pike Challenge Award. High School (ages 15–18) offers Cambridge International IGCSE and A Levels using Cambridge-endorsed textbooks, with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award included to promote leadership and service.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
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Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admissions Introduction and campus visit. Families start by contacting AIS admissions to arrange a personalized campus tour. The admissions team will explain the enrollment process during the visit and answer initial questions you may have about the school and its programs. AIS states that applications are accepted throughout the year, so you can schedule a visit at a time that suits your family.

2. Submit the application form and initial documents. If you decide to proceed, you complete the AIS Application Form as the first stage of placement. The application form is accompanied by a set of required documents including birth certificate, passport copies, and school reports. The school emphasizes that submission of these materials starts the formal placement process and is read by the school leadership team as part of the initial screening.

3. Documentation, SLT review, and potential further assessment. After submission, the Leadership Team reviews the application and accompanying information; this review does not guarantee a place. If additional information is needed, AIS may request previous school reports or assessment data. For students with potential EAL needs or other learning considerations, the SLT may propose a further assessment (including potential assessment with external centers) before a placement decision is made.

4. Offer, enrollment agreement, and readiness to start. If a place is offered, AIS aims to contact the family to confirm status, schedule a pre-start meeting, and issue the school fees invoice. An offer may be revoked if the school cannot reach the family within one week of the offer. Once an offer is accepted, families enter the enrollment phase and must address any required paperwork and invoicing.

5. Induction, placement, and class assignment. AIS intends to place new students in the class that aligns with their chronological age, with a two-week induction period for students entering from outside the local calendar. After induction, a decision may be made about continued placement in the initially assigned year group based on educational needs. This placement decision is final and driven by the child's needs rather than parental preference.

6. Fees, invoices, and ongoing payment terms. The enrollment process culminates in the issuance of invoices for enrollment and tuition. The 2025-2026 information lists an enrollment fee of USD 1,000 (non-refundable) and tiered tuition for new and returning students by year group, plus transportation fees. A payment schedule is provided, including refunds and late fee terms if payments are not made by their due dates.

Notes on the sources: The detailed application steps, the role of the SLT, and the possibility of assessments come from the AIS Application Checklist and Admissions Information for 2025-2026. The specific fee amounts, refund policy, late entry discounts, and payment schedule are drawn from the same 2025-2026 admissions document and the 2025-2026 school fees sheet.

Scholarships
3) Scholarships. AIS does not publish information about scholarships or financial aid in its admissions materials. The 2025-2026 admissions information and the fees document list enrollment and tuition fees, transportation charges, and payment terms, but there is no mention of scholarship programs or financial assistance options. If you need confirmation of available financial support, you would typically discuss options during the admissions process or via direct inquiry with the admissions team; however, no scholarship details are listed in the published documents.

Waitlist
2) Waitlist/Pool. AIS Geoje does not publish a formal waitlist or pool system in its publicly available admissions materials. The admissions page notes that AIS accepts applications throughout the year and invites campus visits, but it does not describe a waitlist process. Because no waitlist policy is stated in the published documents, there is no explicit waitlist mechanism described for AIS. Sources confirm the open, rolling admissions stance but do not outline a waitlist/pool procedure.
School Events
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