Secondary Schools in Bali for Expats: An Honest Guide (2026)

Bali is an increasingly compelling destination for globally mobile families — but when children reach secondary age, the education picture changes. This guide does not gloss over that. Bali's secondary school ecosystem is limited, A-level provision is minimal, and families with older children need to plan carefully — or plan for boarding school.

That said, the secondary schools that do exist in Bali are genuine and well-regarded. This guide sets out what is available, what the realistic constraints are, and what the options are for families who find Bali's provision insufficient for their needs.

The Reality of Secondary Provision in Bali

In major expat hubs — Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok — families can typically find 10–20 international secondary schools offering multiple curricula, large cohorts, strong extracurricular programmes, and direct pathways to top universities. Bali is not in this category.

As of 2026, a realistic count of schools in Bali offering secondary education to Year 11 or beyond is approximately four to five. The IB Diploma — not A-levels — is the dominant qualification route. A-level provision is thin and families who need it should plan accordingly.

This is not a criticism of the schools that exist; it is a factual limitation of an island whose international school sector is at an earlier stage of development than major Asian cities. Being clear about this is important for families making multi-year property and lifestyle decisions.

Secondary Schools in Bali: Current Options

Canggu Community School (CCS) — Years 7 to 13

CCS is the best-placed school for families in the Canggu–Seminyak corridor who want a complete secondary pathway. It offers:

• Years 7–9: A school-developed holistic curriculum with an international and cross-disciplinary focus
• Years 10–11: Cambridge IGCSE in a range of subjects
• Years 12–13: IB Diploma Programme (authorised)

CCS is a non-profit school with students from 36+ nationalities. The IGCSE results and IB Diploma provide universally recognised qualifications for UK, US, Australian, Canadian, and European universities. Annual secondary tuition runs from approximately IDR 230,000,000–295,500,000 (roughly USD 14,400–18,500).

CCS is currently the only school in Bali offering the IGCSE + IB DP combination in a single school — making it the closest thing to a conventional British international secondary in Bali.

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Bali Island School (BIS) — Preschool to Year 12

BIS in Sanur is the island's longest-established international school (founded 1986, originally Bali International School) and the only school in Bali offering the complete IB continuum — PYP, MYP, and IB Diploma — on one campus.

• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP): Years 7–11 (ages 12–16)
• IB Diploma Programme (DP): Years 12–13

BIS's IB DP is formally authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. Cohort sizes are smaller than CCS, and the Sanur location suits families who prefer a quieter, less congested base.

Annual fees for secondary run from approximately IDR 150,000,000–320,000,000 (~USD 9,400–20,000), making BIS significantly more affordable than Green School at comparable levels.

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Green School Bali — Through Year 12

Green School offers secondary education through its own Green School Diploma in Years 11 and 12. This is a two-year programme, accredited by WASC, grounded in IB principles but not the formal IB DP.

Key points for secondary families:

• Green School does not accept new enrolments at Year 12; students must enter at Year 11 at latest
• The Green School Diploma is accepted by many universities (particularly in the US and some UK institutions) but is not a standard IGCSE or IB
• There is no IGCSE pathway at Green School — students who need IGCSE results for UK sixth-form entry or other purposes will need to look elsewhere

For a full secondary pathway via recognised qualifications, families should consider CCS or BIS rather than relying solely on Green School. See IB Schools in Bali for qualification comparison.

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Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS)

GMIS offers IB PYP, MYP, and DP alongside Cambridge IGCSE, making it a full-range option. Based in the Denpasar area, it is less well-known internationally than CCS or BIS but is an established school with good credentials. Families in central or eastern Bali may find GMIS most convenient.

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SPARK School Bali

SPARK is a small Cambridge International micro-school for secondary-age students, offering IGCSE and A-Levels. Because it is very small, subject availability is limited; families should verify which subjects are running and the school's examination track record directly, as this matters at secondary level where qualifications have direct university implications.

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The Secondary Gap: What Happens After Year 9

The realistic picture for secondary-age children in Bali:

Situation	Realistic Options
Years 7–11 (IGCSE)	CCS (IGCSE + IB DP), GMIS, BIS (IB MYP)
Years 12–13 (IB Diploma)	CCS, BIS, GMIS
Years 12–13 (A-levels)	Very limited; SPARK School Bali offers A-Levels (small school, narrow subjects — verify); otherwise board overseas
Families needing multiple qualification options	Boarding school in Singapore, Australia, or UK

Boarding School as Part of the Plan

Many internationally mobile families treat boarding school not as a failure of the Bali plan but as an intentional life design. A pattern that works well:

1. Family relocates to Bali when children are in primary years (ages 5–11)
2. Primary education at Green School, CCS, or BIS
3. At age 13–15, child transitions to boarding school in Singapore, Perth, Melbourne, or the UK for secondary
4. Parents remain in Bali, the property generates rental income, and children benefit from both environments

This requires financial planning — good international boarding schools cost USD 40,000–80,000 per year — but for families who are property investors and/or running businesses from Bali, the model is entirely feasible.

Singapore boarding options include Overseas Family School and United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA). Australian options include a range of Perth and Melbourne schools with strong IB and IGCSE programmes. UK boarding schools are deeply familiar to British expat families.

See GCSE and A-levels from Bali for more on qualification planning from a Bali base.

Transition Planning: Timing Secondary Moves

For families currently in Bali on leasehold property, secondary transition needs to be planned against lease expiry:

• A 25-year leasehold acquired when children are young may extend well beyond secondary school age
• Consider whether the property will function as a rental investment once the family transitions to a boarding school model — and how rental income compares with boarding costs
• Global Investments can help model these scenarios as part of a broader property and education planning conversation

Healthcare for Secondary-Age Children

Teenage health in a tropical environment requires thoughtful planning. Mental health support, contraception services, and specialist adolescent care are limited in Bali relative to Singapore or major European cities. BIMC and Siloam provide solid general care. Medical evacuation insurance remains essential.

Sports provision is excellent — surfing, swimming, yoga, martial arts — but specialist team sports infrastructure (large athletics tracks, indoor facilities) is more limited than at major city schools.

How Global Investments Can Help

Property decisions in Bali, when children are approaching secondary age, need to account for the possibility of a family education plan that involves boarding school, a mid-programme school switch, or a future relocation to a larger secondary hub. Global Investments works with families on these multi-year scenarios, helping to structure Bali property investments that remain viable as a rental asset even if the family's configuration changes. Explore Bali property options, view current listings, or contact our team.

School provision, fees, and university admissions requirements change regularly. All information above reflects publicly available data as of 2026. Seek independent educational and legal advice before making relocation decisions.