International Education in Cairo

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Egypt’s public education system is a leader in Africa and the Arab world. Since the 1990s the Egyptian government has invested heavily in the development of the education system, from pre-school all the way up to university level. As a result Cairo is now an education hub, not just for Egypt, but for northern Africa and even the Middle East too.

International schools in Cairo are equally well regarded, and with plenty of diplomatic activity in the city there is a large and active expat community. So if you were considering spending a few years in the home of the Pyramids, your child’s education needs will be more than covered.

English-speaking curricula and European curricula are very well represented in Cairo’s international schools, but be aware that those from other parts of the world - particularly Asia - are not. The majority of schools cater for children from age 3 or 4 right up to 18, but some offer primary education only. If you plan on staying in Cairo long-term be sure to check this and factor it into your school search.

Cairo has been expanding rapidly over the past few decades, with new urban developments created outside the original city to ease congestion and crowding. Because of this, there are a few different clusters of international schools throughout Egypt’s capital.

Maadi is a highly popular district for expats and has an array of international schools. Sheik Zayed city, one of the newest developed areas west of Cairo centre, is where you’ll find some of the newly established schools. There is a smaller cluster of schools in central Cairo, but the biggest choice can be found in ‘New Cairo’, essentially a second city east of Cairo covering 30,000 hectares.

International schools in Cairo are generally geared towards students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. The vast majority of students will be from the expat community - as Egypt has a very good public education system, locals have little reason to send their children to international schools. For expats however, the language barrier at local schools is a significant hurdle. International schools also offer better consistency in education and curricula should you move elsewhere after a few years.

The admissions process is much like international schools in other parts of the world. If English is not your child’s first language they may need to sit a language test. You will be expected to provide previous grades for your child, and you should most definitely expect waiting lists. No matter where you’re moving from or how long you’ll be staying, you should apply to your chosen school as early as possible before your move.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Cairo according to our users. However, there are another 88 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Cairo based on your requirements.