Egypt has long been regarded as an education hub across North Africa and the Middle East. In recent times, the Egyptian government has been investing more in public education while moving away from a centralized system to give individual institutions more freedom and autonomy. While public schools in Egypt continue in their transitional phase, private international schools remain in the top category.
Cairo has the highest concentration of international schools in the country featuring incredible educational standards and world-class facilities. The capital is the centre of commerce, healthcare, and politics. With that comes the largest expat community in Egypt. The top schools in Cairo are situated in affluent areas such as New Cairo, Maadi, and Sheikh Zayed City among others.
Our ranking of Cairo’s top 10 schools is designed to give parents an impartial recommendation based on a number of criteria such as but not limited to; history and experience, academic achievements and exam results, teaching quality, student behaviour and discipline, parent reviews, safety and security levels, campus and facilities, extra-curricular activities and value for money.
Our ranking is revisited on an annual basis and updated according to the results of our evaluation. We also take into consideration how each school is addressing recent developments and current affairs. For example, our most recent study includes an investigation into the precautions schools are taking to keep students and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1CAC – Cairo American College
Cairo American College (CAC) is an independent co-educational school offering an unrivalled American education from prekindergarten all the way up to grade 12. CAC is situated in Maadi—a peaceful Cairo district and a favourite among expats. With a history of success spanning more than 75 years, CAC is well and truly one of the best American international schools not only in Egypt but also in the Middle East. The majority of CAC teachers are experienced, enthusiastic and caring. They are approachable and always ready to take time out of their busy schedules for their students. CAC continues to be one of the few schools in Egypt to give equal importance to both academics and athletics. The student body is one of the most diverse in the region and CAC does an admirable job of creating a family-like community that leaves no space for intolerance or racism. CAC offers the SAT and ACT assessments, as well as the IB Diploma. The students score brilliantly on a regional level and enter leading universities across the globe.
Curriculum: IB Diploma, SAT, ACT
Where: Maadi
Contact: +20227555555, Website
2MET – Metropolitan School
Metropolitan School may be one of the younger schools in Egypt but that didn’t stop them from earning a spot on our list. This brilliant school in New Cairo scored magnificent results in all of our inspection criteria. The campus is spacious, secure, well-maintained, and absolutely spotless. Most of the teachers are foreigners brought in to apply western education standards – and we’re not complaining! The teachers we interviewed oozed knowledge and experience. Our undercover observations proved that they treat the children with care and respect while keeping them engaged and interested in their studies. Academically, this school applies the American Curriculum to an impressive degree. In fact, this is the first school in Egypt to embed entrepreneurship into the core program – a bold move but one we absolutely love. Overall, Metropolitan School is a true contender for the best school in Egypt for children aged between 3 – 16.
Where: 7 Khaled Ibn Al Waleed St, New Cairo
Contact: 16489, Website, Facebook
3DEO Kairo – Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule
DEO is arguably the best German school in Cairo. The school was founded back in 1873 by the Protestant congregation of Cairo. Their graduates include the Sawiris brothers, Amr Hamzawy, Aida El Ayoubi and Mohamed El Sawy. Today, DEO’s students continue to honour the school’s rich history with excellent academic results. The parents we spoke to couldn’t be happier with the decision of sending their children to DEO. The German curriculum is a tough one by all means, but DEO ensures their students are given ample attention by maintaining small class sizes. The 190+ German teachers do their job with aplomb. They teach discipline and encourage critical thinking. DEO’s charity work is remarkable, providing food and supplies to the homeless.
Curriculum: German Abitur
Where: Dokki
Contact: +20237481645, Website
4MBIS – Maadi British International School
MBIS is one of the most well-established and successful schools in Cairo, offering a first-class education to tiny expats from 40 nationalities. And when we say tiny, we mean it, as this school caters to children aged 2 to 13 years. The teaching staff is predominantly British and the class sizes are small giving your children the attention they deserve. As for the campus, it’s well-maintained, safe and secure. Staying true to their British nature, MBIS encourages its students to explore and question everything. Laying the foundation for a critical and independent mind will greatly benefit your children if they move on to a school like BISC, which is famed for its philosophical discussions and gripping debates at the IB level. In short, if your children are starting school for the first time, or below the age of 13, we think MBIS is a great place for them.
Where: Maadi
Contact: +200227058671, Website
5Sahara Schools
Sahara Schools have been pioneering the education sector since 1990. Sahara New Capital is the latest example of their pioneering innovation and commitment to providing a world-class education. Sahara New Capital follows the UK National Curriculum Framework, which is brilliant on its own but improved further by partnering with top institutions in health, sports, music, art, and culinary arts. The partnerships, exceptional curriculum, and outstanding teachers mean that Sahara New Capital produces some of the most well-rounded, disciplined, and brightest graduates in Egypt, if not the Middle East. The school is not only renowned for its academic performance but also for its culture. The overwhelming majority of students are kind and compassionate. They are tolerant and welcome students of all races. Sahara’s New Capital campus is arguably Egypt’s finest learning environment with its stunning design, spacious premises, cutting-edge technology, and stimulating atmosphere. In short, Sahara New Capital builds on a legacy steeped in innovation and knowledge, ready to usher in a new era of excellence in education.
Where: New Administrative Captial
Contact: +201050005008, Website, Facebook, Instagram
6BISC – The British International School, Cairo
BISC is one of the oldest private international schools in Cairo known for its academic performance that rivals the very best schools, not just in the Middle East but the entire world. The ‘biscuits’, as their students are affectionately nicknamed, are injected with a strong sense of British discipline from a young age. Tuition fees are high compared to the rest of the schools on this list but still cheaper than many private schools in the UK offering an education of similar quality. BISC is noted for its reputation of excellence based on the legacy of its former campus in Zamalek. Whilst their standards have dropped ever so slightly since their move to a new mega-campus in west Cairo, they are still regarded as one of the best schools in Cairo.
Curriculum: IB Diploma, BTEC in Business, IGCSE, GCSE
Where: Cairo-Alex Road, Beverly Hills
Contact: +20238270444, Website, Facebook
7MES – Modern English School
MES is one of the few schools in Cairo that offer its students the option to choose between the British and American curricula at secondary school. Children that pick the British path will end up with IGCSE and A Level certificates, whilst the American route culminates with the AP exams and a high school Diploma. Alternatively, braver students can opt for the daunting IB Diploma during their final two years. MES’ curricular choice offers flexibility and convenience. But they do not compromise on the quality of education, even with its 2-in-1 feature. The teachers at MES are just as good as any school on this list, and their facilities are superb. MES is not as expensive or as selective as the so-called Big Three (BISC, CAC, NCBIS), making it a decent alternative if you’re looking to send your child to a terrific school that won’t burn a hole in your pocket as big as some of the other schools on this list.
Curriculum: IGCSE, A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), IB Diploma
Where: 5th Settlement, New Cairo
Contact: +20226189600, Website
8AISE – American International School in Egypt
Two campuses, one in the 5th Settlement, and one in Sheikh Zayed, make AISE one of the most accessible, high-quality schools in Cairo. The students are challenged with a holistic and comprehensive American curriculum, giving them the opportunity to study at universities in the USA and beyond. Parents will be happy to hear that AISE offers the renowned IB Diploma but we doubt students will be as excited about that news. Facilities are nothing short of state-of-the-art when compared to the rest of the schools in Cairo. Unfortunately, behaviour and discipline have been points of concern for AISE in the past. But it seems as though the school has taken the correct steps to rid itself of this somewhat reputation-denting problem. Today, AISE offers its students all they need for a balanced and superior American-style education, putting the school well on par with CAC in many regards.
Curriculum: IB Diploma
Where: 5th Settlement & Sheikh Zayed City
Contact: +20226188400, Website (5th Settlement), Website (Sheikh Zayed City)
9The International School of Choueifat
Along with AISE, Choueifat is one of the top schools in Cairo with two campuses. One is situated in the 5th Settlement in the east, while the western campus is in the 6th of October City. Choueifat is part of the SABIS Network of schools, which is essentially a global education network that can trace its roots back to 1886 when the International School of Choueifat was founded in the village of Choueifat, a suburb of Beirut. Academic standards are high and delivered in a well-structured manner developed by years of experience by SABIS. Many parents will be pleased to learn that Choueifat adheres to a non-selective admission policy. The school is praised for its facilities which include indoor swimming pools, IT and science labs, oversized libraries, and a 600-seat theatre.
Curriculum: IGCSE/GCSE
Where: 5th Settlement, New Cairo & 6th of October City
Contact: +201006069004/1, Website (5th Settlement), Website (6th of October)
10NCBIS – New Cairo British International School
NCBIS is another brilliant international school that follows the British curriculum. The campus is situated in the east of Cairo, providing students with an exceptional learning environment. Academically, the school consistently performs very well thanks to a motivated student body, and the school’s ability to recruit top teachers from around the world. The cultural diversity at NCBIS is remarkable with more than 63 nationalities represented in the student body. Only BISC and CAC have been able to boast similar figures in the past. With the notoriously challenging but equally rewarding IB Diploma on offer, NCBIS cements its spot on our list of the top 10 schools in Cairo. Overall, NCBIS features great facilities, a friendly and international mix of students, and high-calibre teachers.
Curriculum: IB Diploma, IGCSE, GCSE
Where: 5th Settlement, New Cairo
Contact: +20227582881, Website
