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Chiang Rai International School

Thailand, Chiang Rai

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees THB 170,250 - 404,600
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 250
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2010
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Taught languages English, Mandarin, Thai
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Chiang Rai International School (CRIS) opened in 2010 and is situated on an 11-rai (approximately 4.5-hectares) campus about 3 km north of Chiang Rai city center, in a semi-rural area that is gradually becoming suburban and commercial. The campus is surrounded by mountains and lies roughly an hour away from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. CRIS follows an American-style curriculum: in primary and secondary levels, the school uses Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and AERO standards for Social Studies. Core subjects in the upper grades include English, Math, Science, Social Studies, plus physical education, music, art, Chinese, ICT, Bible instruction, electives, and Thai language and culture. Boarding options are available, with separate accommodation for boys and girls. Boarders typically share twin rooms and are supported through a “buddy” mentorship system, and live within a structured community where houses are led by senior students.

496 Moo 5, Rimkok Sub-District, Muang District, Chiang Rai 57100

The Essentials

Chiang Rai International School has 250 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Chiang Rai International School sits on a campus about 3 km north of Chiang Rai city centre in Northern Thailand’s Rimkok sub-district, in a semi-rural setting that’s gradually becoming more suburban and commercial as the city expands. The site covers around 11 rai (4.5 ha) of land.

Stages
CRIS serves children from Preschool (around age 3), through Primary (Elementary), Middle, and up to Secondary (High School) levels.

Type
The school is co-educational and offers both day and boarding options.

Additional learning support
CRIS offers support tailored to individual student needs in collaboration with teachers and families, aiming to help students engage effectively with the curriculum. Specific programs such as dedicated learning assistance were not detailed on the website.

Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.

Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.

School day structure
A typical school day begins at 7:45 a.m. Daily hours run from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with Primary students dismissed at 3:00 p.m., and Secondary students at 3:15 p.m.

Bus service
There is not enough information available about the school's transportation services.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
There is one boarding house on campus divided into two halves, one for boys and one for girls. Most boarders share twin rooms, and new students are paired with a suitable roommate by House Parents. Each boarder is part of a small family of boarders headed by a senior student, with an induction and buddy system to help newcomers settle in. The boarding campus is secure with fingerprint access, 24‑hour security, cameras, and ID checks for adults.

Food Options
Lunch is provided, with a published Lunch Weekly Menu for Preschool/Elementary and for Middle/High School. A salad bar and seasonal fresh fruit are available daily.

House System
Boarding uses a house structure; there is a single boarding house divided into two halves, supervised by House Parents. Each boarder belongs to a small family led by a senior student, which supports younger boarders and fosters responsibility and community.

Governance and Ownership
The school holds accreditation with Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) and affiliations with ASEAN, the International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT), the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA), and WIDA International.
Fees

Annual tuition at Chiang Rai International School ranges from THB 170,250 to THB 404,600 for 2026/27.

Application & Enrollment Fees

* Application Fee (one-time, non-refundable): THB 5,000
* Entrance/Enrollment Fee (one-time, non-refundable): THB 50,000

Annual Tuition Fees (per semester / per year)

* Kindergarten: THB 64,200 per semester / THB 128,400 per year
* Grades 1–3: THB 83,400 per semester / THB 166,800 per year
* Grades 4–6: THB 96,300 per semester / THB 192,600 per year
* Grades 7–9: THB 108,700 per semester / THB 217,400 per year
* Grades 10–12: THB 120,600 per semester / THB 241,200 per year

Other Annual Costs

* Resource Fee (G1–G12): THB 25,000 (once-off per new enrollment)
* Book/Technology Fee: THB 3,000–5,000 (varies by grade)
* Semester Registration Fee: THB 7,500–17,500 (varies by grade)
* Meals: THB 10,500–21,000 per semester (varies by grade)
* Accident Insurance: THB 750 per semester
* Student Card: THB 150 per semester
* PTG Fee: THB 500 per semester

Boarding Fees

* THB 180,000 per year (includes three meals daily, utilities, and laundry service)

Optional Costs

* After School Activities: Fees vary by activity

Billing & Payment Terms

* Fees are due in full before the start of each semester.
* A 5% discount applies if tuition is paid annually in advance.
* Late enrollment (after 45 days) receives a 25% discount on tuition and meals for that semester.
* Sibling discounts: 10% for the second child, 15% for the third child.
* Overdue accounts incur a 1.25% monthly penalty from the 7th of each month.

Refund Policy

* Refunds only apply to tuition and meals when written notice is given at least two weeks in advance of withdrawal at the April or October break.
* Claims must be made within three months of withdrawal.

Academics

Chiang Rai International School teaches Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
CRIS delivers a full American-based curriculum across all school stages, built around Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and AERO Standards for Social Studies.

In Preschool and Elementary, students follow these frameworks and also attend co‑curricular classes in Physical Education, Music, Art, Chinese, ICT, Bible, and Thai Language & Culture.

In Middle School, students continue studies in core subjects—ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies—while choosing from electives and co‑curricular offerings that include Chinese, ICT, Bible, and Thai language & culture.

At the High School level, the curriculum advances to include courses such as Geometry, Algebra, Calculus, Statistics (Math); Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Science); and World History, Economics, Global Citizenship (Social Studies), alongside continued co‑curricular subjects like Music, Art, Chinese, ICT, Bible, and Thai language & culture.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
CRIS describes its primary program as fostering "comprehensive academic, social, spiritual and globally-minded learning in an enjoyable and safe environment" with collaborative planning and parent involvement. Beyond this, the school doesn’t provide explicit details about structured SEL programs, dedicated staff, or specific initiatives on the website.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school lists a Special Needs Teacher and Shadow Teachers among its Student Services staff, but no details are shared about the types of needs supported, specialized facilities, or whether CRIS is a specialist SEN institution. As such, specific SEN provisions are not publicly disclosed.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
CRIS offers an English Language Development (ELD) program designed to meet each student’s language needs, determined through initial and ongoing assessments. If a student has not yet achieved the necessary English proficiency for their grade level, they are placed in specialized, intensive ELD classes—either in place of, or alongside, core subjects—until they are ready to rejoin the mainstream curriculum.

Mental Wellbeing
The site outlines pastoral care in the boarding context: house parents, boarding assistants, and GAP (gap-year) staff oversee welfare and encourage respectful, supportive relationships; mentoring systems are used to help new boarders settle in. Other than this, there is no additional publicly available information on broader mental health or wellbeing initiatives.

Safeguarding
CRIS describes several boarding policies promoting safety: secure access via fingerprint scanners, 24-hour security patrols, video surveillance, and regulated entry for adults. First aid and nursing support are provided, and procedures are in place for illness, fire safety, and valuables management within boarding houses. However, the school does not publicly detail its overarching safeguarding or child-protection policies outside of boarding-specific measures.
Parent Experience

History
Chiang Rai International School (CRIS) was established in 2010, and it was the first purpose‑built international school in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand. Over time, CRIS has marked its first graduating class in 2016, with alumni now studying in various countries. The campus is situated on approximately 12 rai of land surrounded by mountains and is about an hour from the Golden Triangle region.

Community
The CRIS community places a strong emphasis on student‑centered instruction, collaborative planning among teachers, and active parent involvement in the primary program. The school also organizes a range of campus life activities under “Campus Life,” including MUN (Model United Nations), Chapel services, and Community Service initiatives.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
CRIS does not reference a formal Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) on its website. However, it runs regular Parent–Teacher Conferences, where parents can meet with teachers across all departments—elementary, middle/high school, languages, and specialist subjects—in person or via Google Meet. Meetings are booked in ten-minute slots to ensure individual discussions about student progress.
Gallery
Facilities

Facilities Overview
CRIS sits on 11 rai (4.5 hectares) of land at 496 Moo 5, Rimkok Sub-District, Chiang Rai, about 3 kilometres north of the city center. The campus is purpose-built to provide the very best educational and sports facilities, an environment, and state-of-the-art technologies appropriate to a first-class international school. The facilities include a dormitory, an art room, a football pitch, a swimming pool, a science lab, an indoor gymnasium, a computer lab, a library, and a music room. These spaces support both academic and sports programs and provide a comprehensive environment for diverse learning experiences.

Sports Facilities
CRIS has a football pitch, an indoor gymnasium, and a swimming pool on site. These facilities support the school's physical education and team-sport programs. CRIS participates in local and regional tournaments, reflecting active school sports involvement.

Academic Facilities
CRIS has a science lab, a computer lab, and a library on campus.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After School Activities (ASA) offer a wide variety of academic, sports, and arts programs, as well as community service opportunities. ASA participation is not mandatory but encouraged to build confidence and social skills. Chapel is held weekly to focus on character development from a Christ-centered perspective. Community service opportunities are available through ASAs.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
CRIS offers Preschool, Elementary, and Middle/High School programs. The Elementary program uses Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, the NGSS for Science, and the Aero standards for Social Studies. The High School program follows Common Core for Math and English Language Arts, the NGSS for Science, and the Aero Standards for Social Studies, with four core subjects and Thai language and Culture among the electives. AP courses are offered across multiple disciplines, including an AP Capstone Diploma Program.

Arts & Creative
CRIS provides arts-focused opportunities through its curriculum, including Music and Visual Arts. AP courses include AP 2-D Art and Design, AP Drawing, AP Art History, and AP Music Theory. Arts are integrated into the curriculum as part of co-curricular offerings in Elementary and across the school.

Cultural & Language
Thai Department provides dual curricula for Thai and international learners and follows the Standards of Thai Language and Culture Competency from the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC). The Thai language, culture, and history are central to the Thai program. International Day celebrates cultural diversity with students wearing traditional outfits and representing different countries.

Social & Hobbies
CRIS Sports is a core part of campus life with activities and competition. Spirit Weeks and CRIS House Day promote teamwork and school spirit. International Day celebrates cultural diversity and is a regular school event.

Community & Service
CRIS has a Community Service program. The CRIS community engages in activities that promote creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. International Day celebrations bring together students representing different countries and cultures.

Leadership & Professional
CRIS provides student leadership opportunities through ASAs and the Model United Nations (MUN) program. The Head of School is Mr. Jae Knickerbocker.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
CRIS emphasizes sports and fitness through CRIS Sports. Spirit Weeks and House Day foster teamwork and well-being. International Day and other campus events contribute to a vibrant school culture. The boarding option on campus provides a secure living environment for students.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the medium of instruction for core subjects; the English Language Development (ELD) program provides individualized instruction in an English-medium environment. Thai language, culture, and history are taught as a curriculum/subject for Thai and international learners. Chinese is offered as a co-curricular/elective in middle and high school.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has two distinct curricula for Thai learners and international learners; instruction is primarily in English, with Thai language, culture, and history taught as part of the Thai/International tracks.
Reputation

Awards
The school does not mention any awards on their website.

Accreditations
* Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): A U.S.-based accreditation agency that ensures schools have clear educational aims, the capacity to meet them, and ongoing systems for quality evaluation.

* Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Reflects CRIS’s alignment with a regional vision focused on peace, regional development, and caring societies.

* International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT): Membership indicates participation in collective support for educational quality and ethical practices in Thailand’s international school community.

* Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC): Demonstrates CRIS operates under Thailand’s governance framework for private educational institutions.

* Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA): Shows that CRIS participates in Thailand’s quality assurance programs, which include mandatory external reviews conducted every five years.

* WIDA International: Indicates CRIS aligns with standards and assessments for academic language development for culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit an Application Form
Parents can complete either the online application form or a printed version. Once the form is received, the school reserves an appointment slot for an admissions evaluation.

2. Interview and Entrance Assessment
All new applicants attend a short interview followed by an entrance assessment. For Grades 1–12, the assessment can be done on campus or online; for Kindergarten 1–3, assessments must be done on campus.

3. Assessment Content
The assessment evaluates school readiness, English proficiency, Mathematics and Science skills, and ensures correct grade placement.

4. Review of Supporting Documents
After passing the entrance evaluation, the admissions team reviews the required supporting documents before making an offer of enrolment.

5. Appointment Confirmation
The admissions team contacts parents to confirm the date and time for the evaluation. An evaluation fee is payable before the assessment takes place.

6. Offer of Enrolment
If the evaluation and documentation meet the requirements, the school may issue an official offer of enrolment.

Scholarships
The school does not publicly disclose any scholarship programmes on its website. They do post about scholarships on their socials seemingly frequently.

Waitlist
The school does not publicly state that it operates a waitlist or pool system.
School Events
The school has not added events
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