The Insider’s Guide: International Schools in Jakarta 2026
So you're moving to Jakarta and need to find proper schooling and a comfortable place to live. Below we give you a straightforward briefing on the schools and neighbourhoods popular with Jakarta's expat community
Jakarta is vast — a sprawling metropolis of more than 40 million people that functions less as a single city than as dozens of villages, each with its own character, pressed up against one another.
Traffic shapes everything. It dictates where you live, where you eat, where your children go to school. For most expatriate families, the calculus is simple: settle in South Jakarta, keep the school run under twenty minutes, and accept that everything beyond your immediate neighbourhood requires planning. This gravitational pull has turned the Pondok Indah–Kemang corridor into the de facto centre of expat life.
The good news: within this pocket of the city, the options are excellent. Find the right neighbourhood and the right school, and Jakarta reveals itself not as chaos, but as a place where community forms quickly and daily life finds its rhythm.
Where Do the Expats Live?
Use the interactive map below to explore Jakarta's expat neighbourhoods and international schools. Click any marker for details, then read our notes on each area.
South Jakarta
Spanning Pondok Indah, Kemang, Cipete, and Cilandak, this is the centre of gravity for internationally minded families. The city's best lifestyle infrastructure — Pondok Indah Mall, Lotte Mall, golf courses, the Water Park — plus the highest concentration of cafes, restaurants, and children's activities.
Pondok Indah, South Jakarta. Together with Menteng, probably the most popular and comfortable “suburb” in Jakarta. Sometimes compared to Melbourne, Australia in Jakarta.
The CBD
SCBD, Senopati Business District, has a strong dining and nightlife scene, plus shopping at Grand Indonesia. A good fit for professionals and expatriates without school-age children.
The Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), featuring iconic glass skyscrapers like the Treasury Tower and District 8
PIK & Kelapa Gading
PIK is popular with Indonesian-Chinese and mainland Chinese expat communities, functioning as a self-contained city with excellent restaurants — particularly for Chinese and Japanese cuisine. A growing international community is developing here.
East Jakarta
Largely industrial and local residential. Worth considering only if you happen to work in the area, though a handful of international schools have campuses here.
West Jakarta
Strong Indonesian-Chinese demographic, offering a more local lifestyle geographically separated from expat hubs. Note: 'local-international' schools here may differ in management culture and workload from schools in Singapore, Hong Kong, or Europe.
Bintaro
A trade-off: green suburbia and less local traffic, but significant distance from the city centre. A growing number of families are making the move, drawn primarily by the large British School Jakarta campus and a more relaxed pace of life.
The Schools Worth Visiting
We aren't here to list every school in Jakarta. Instead, we've curated a shortlist of the contenders that actually matter: the institutions truly worth a closer look and a campus visit.
Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS)
Established in 1951, JIS is the flagship of the Jakarta school scene and often the first name expats encounter. It functions almost like a small university, with massive campuses, world-class facilities, and a deep bench of extracurricular programmes from robotics to competitive swimming. The culture is distinctly American: confident, high-energy, and heavily invested in school spirit. JIS produces well-rounded graduates, many of whom go on to excellent universities worldwide. The sheer scale offers incredible opportunities — though families who prefer a smaller, more intimate setting may find it overwhelming.
The main entrance to the JIS Cilandak Campus
The Independent School of Jakarta (ISJ)
A convenient, high-quality option for families who want a pure British education without the commute to Bintaro. Currently for children aged 2 to 13, the school is academically focused, yet like the best modern independent schools, the philosophy is that school should be fun — both because happy children learn faster and as an end in itself. It features expert teachers from leading UK independent schools and follows British independent school best practices around safeguarding, training, curriculum, staffing, and inspections. ISJ is part of The Schools Trust and has a sister school, The British School of Bali. Senior school families typically transition to schools such as International High School, Surrey, or other leading British boarding schools.
Leafy green campus at ISJ in Pondok Indah
British School Jakarta (BSJ)
A well-established school with an impressive campus in Bintaro, offering the kind of space and greenery that's hard to find inside Jakarta proper. BSJ is a strong all-rounder with solid academics, good pastoral care, and a wide range of activities. While it carries the "British School" name, it has evolved into a more international model — blending the English National Curriculum in early years with MYP and IB in the senior school. For families who live south or are happy to relocate to Bintaro, it's an excellent choice. The main consideration is geography: it's a meaningful commute from Pondok Indah or Kemang.
BSJ was established in 1973
AIS Indonesia
An established, genuinely inclusive school with a strong sense of community. Located in Pejaten, AIS is known for its "success for all" philosophy: prioritising student well-being and running one of the best Learning Support programmes in the region. Families with children who have additional learning needs should put AIS at the top of their visit list. It features a comfortable, purpose-built campus with good functional facilities and a down-to-earth, egalitarian community feel that many families find refreshing.
New Zealand School Jakarta (NZSJ)
A conveniently located, budget-friendly option at the top of Kemang with a genuinely warm community feel. NZSJ operates with more modest facilities than the bigger schools, but families who value a close-knit, personal environment — where teachers know every child by name — often find it the right fit. The holistic New Zealand curriculum emphasises well-rounded development, and the school's cheerful, unpretentious atmosphere makes new families feel welcome quickly.
Nord Anglia School Jakarta
A community-focused school with real character and a strong bilingual element. Formerly the Dutch School before being acquired by Nord Anglia (owned by EQT), it is primarily a primary school currently expanding into Year 7. The school maintains a unique identity, combining a diverse international faculty with a warm, resilient culture — famously illustrated by children taking little orange boats into school when the floods hit. A happy medium between a community school and a corporate group, with the IPC framework and growing access to Nord Anglia's global resources.
The main entrance to NAS on Jalan NIS, Cilandak.
Considering ISJ for your family?
Visit our Pondok Indah campus and meet the team.
Book Your Private Tour →Compare All Jakarta International Schools
Filter by curriculum and location, or sort by fees and social score. Data covers 70+ schools across Greater Jakarta.
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Common Questions About Jakarta International Schools
The questions we hear most often from families relocating to Jakarta — answered directly.
What is the real cost of international schooling in Jakarta?
Beyond the headline tuition figures, check other annual and upfront fees. These can differ between schools and are sometimes confusing. If a school can't explain the total cost for your child in a simple, straightforward way, it might reflect a deeper problem.
Which Jakarta schools follow the British Curriculum?
Several schools offer a British or British-style education, but they differ in approach:
The Independent School of Jakarta (ISJ) — Offers an undiluted British education with 100% British-qualified teachers delivering the English National Curriculum. Seamless transfer for families moving to the UK or other British schools worldwide.
British School Jakarta (BSJ) — Has moved toward a more international model. Early years blend the English National Curriculum with Reggio Emilia, shifting to MYP and IB in senior school.
Nord Anglia Jakarta — Formerly the Dutch School. Hybrid model: English National Curriculum for Maths and English, IPC for other subjects.
What curriculums are taught in Jakarta international schools?
The most common are British (English National Curriculum), International Baccalaureate (IB), and American. The British system uses defined Key Stages leading to IGCSEs and A-Levels. The IB focuses on inquiry-based learning. The American system uses credit-based AP courses. For more, read our Curriculum Guide.
Is teacher turnover high in Jakarta international schools?
Contracts typically run 2–3 years, with many teachers renewing. At ISJ, all teaching staff are continuing into the coming academic year — an indication of a happy and supported faculty.
How bad is the traffic for school runs?
Traffic in Jakarta is a major factor. Choose your school before signing a housing lease. Most ISJ families live in Pondok Indah, Cilandak, or Kemang, ensuring a 5–20 minute school run rather than the hour-long commute faced by those further afield.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a school in Jakarta isn't complicated — but it does require a visit. No website, including this one, can replace walking through a campus and meeting the people who'll be teaching your child.
South Jakarta's leading British international school.
Hand-picked teachers from top UK independent schools. Pupils achieving results in the top 10% nationally. Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.