Top international school in Phnom Penh
History
Since our inception in 2012, the Canadian International School of Phnom Penh (CIS) has been committed to providing world-renowned education for the leaders of tomorrow. Over the years, our community has flourished. What began as a small schoolhouse has grown into a three-campus school serving hundreds of students from over 30 countries. Guided by our mission and curricula, we are a safe international community that nurtures the Whole Child.
Three Campuses, One Vision
Bassac Garden (est. 2012)
Nestled in the heart of a residential area, CIS Bassac Garden opened its doors as an early years school. Our Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes combined totaled 11 students–one of which was the only Grade 1 student for the first semester.
In a few short years our enrollment grew to 145 learners. To meet the growing educational and spatial needs of our community, we decided to expand to a second location.
Koh Pich (est. 2015)
We packed our boxes and moved the olders students across the Rainbow Bridge to CIS Koh Pich. This campus opened as an elementary school (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5) and steadily expanded by adding a grade level each year. In 2023 the first cohort of Grade 12 students will graduate from the school.
Olympia City (est. 2019)
CIS’s newest campus, CIS Olympia City Preschool, is a play-based wonderland for children from ages 18 months to 4 years. This location is Cambodia’s first and only purpose-built Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood facility. From the classroom to the washroom, all facilities and resources were designed with the child in mind.
Cultivating leaders, one student at a time.
Curricula
Reggio Emilia
CIS utilizes the Reggio Emilia approach to educating young learners from nursery to junior kindergarten. This allows the child to take control of their learning and explore the world around them through play. Our early childhood educators act as co-constructors and the children lead the learning experiences, demonstrating independence and the emergence of taking initiative.
What is Reggio Emilia?
Alberta Provincial Education (Canadian Curriculum)
Alberta Education curriculum is taught from senior kindergarten onward. This curriculum is instituted and standardized by the Ministry of Education in Alberta, Canada. Alberta Education is focused on inquiry-based learning and scores high in the Programmes of Student Assessment (PISA) tests each year. independence and the emergence of taking initiative.
As stated on Alberta Education’s website, the provincial government is making life better by investing in education – one of the most important investments we can make in our future. The Ministry has the following responsibilities:
- develop curriculum and set standards evaluate curriculum and assess outcomes teacher development and certification
- support students with diverse learning needs
- fund and support school boards
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit and Francophone education
- oversees basic education policy and regulations
We are one of 17 Alberta Education-accredited international schools. To learn more about our curriculum, click here.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
We’re a recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to Grade 11-12 students. The two-year programme allows students a significant choice of subjects and levels of study, within a framework that emphasizes links within and across disciplines, promotes an understanding and appreciation of human diversity and commonality, and empowers students to take initiative in the classroom and in the community.
Our graduation pathways provide students with the following diploma options:
- Alberta High School Diploma
- Alberta High School Diploma with selected IB Courses
- Alberta High School Diploma with the IB Diploma
Distinction
The CIS Advantage
- CIS Phnom Penh is the only Canadian-accredited international school in Cambodia.
- Canadian education continues to score high on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test. Since 2000, Canada has consistently been among the top 10 highest ranking countries in the world.
- CIS Grade 6-9 students take the same standard exams as students in Alberta, which is the Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs).
- A student who graduates with a Canadian high school diploma can attend over 200 universities worldwide.
- All graduates receive a high school diploma that is accredited by the Alberta Ministry of Education and the Kingdom of Cambodia Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
- CIS is the only school in the country that is reviewed for accreditation by a foreign ministry on a yearly basis. Schools are typically reviewed to renew accreditation every 3-5 years.
- All CIS educators hold teaching credentials with an average of 6 years of teaching experience.
Bilingual Education
CIS is home to the certified French and Mandarin bilingual programs that give students authentic exposure to the target language. Our French bilingual program received the LabelFrancEducation distinction from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Developed by experienced language teachers, our bilingual programs were designed to assist students in achieving academic success; connect students to their ancestral heritage through language acquisition; promote global citizenship; and provide a career advancement tool. For more information, click here.
World-Class Facilities
In 2018, CIS Koh Pich underwent an ambitious expansion plan and added world-class facilities to accommodate the growing needs of our community. This includes makerspaces, the Black Box Theatre, fitness centre, sports complex, Learning Garden, Butterfly Garden and a 23-meter swimming pool.
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Visual and Performing Arts
Now that on-campus learning has resumed, we’re excited about the masterpieces our students will create in the art and music studios as well as on stage in the black box theatre. Our first performance in the black box theatre was dedicated to preserving intangible Khmer (Cambodian) heritage. The Princess Bupha Devi Dance School graced our stage with an unforgettable Khmer Classical Dance performance.
Physical Education and the Athletics Program
Due to COVID-19 health and safety measures, our physical education and athletics programs are suspended until on-campus learning resumes. For the time being, our students engage in low-intensity activities at home in virtual sessions led by our physical education teachers.
Lifelong learning starts here.
Our community is growing, and we still have room for more. Learn more about our community or book a tour below.
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