Best schools in Kuala Lumpur and Johor considered by expats

A snapshot: schools in Kuala Lumpur and Johor considered (but not necessarily chosen) by English-speaking expats.

Schools with a full GSGI review are noted with next to their names.

(pending) means that the school is on our list to review.

By full GSGI review, we mean school write-ups that are completely selected, researched, visited and written by our own editors. Our final reviews take the good with the bad, warts and all, but we look for a preponderance of good before we drill down for in-depth details and descend on the school for an exhaustive visit. We are aware of the other schools on this page and we continually add or remove schools, as deemed appropriate.

International schools

Marlborough College Malaysia

Adapted National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; private non-profit; 900 students

An offshoot of Marlborough College in England, based in Johor Bahru on the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, 20kms from the Singapore border. Run on the same lines as its parent school with traditional boarding for students in year 5 upwards. Very impressive academic results at IGCSEs and with a consistent average score of over 35 points for International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates.

Click here to read our full review of Marlborough College Malaysia

These schools have been brought to our attention, but until we have more reports from parents, we are unable to consider reviewing them.

Alice Smith School (The) - Primary

EYFS/ National Curriculum for England; ages 3-11; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 810 students

Founded in 1946 by Alice Fairfield-Smith who decided to home-school her daughter and based on a site twenty minutes from the senior school. Classes taught in English by 100 per cent overseas teachers. Shortlisted for two categories at the 2019 International School Awards, winning the Pastoral Initiative Award. An Accredited Member of the Council of British Overseas Schools (COBIS).

Alice Smith School (The) - Secondary

National Curriculum for England/ I/GCSE/ A Level; ages 11-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 940 students

Grown into one of the most respected academic schools in Kuala Lumpur, with a very impressive 24 per cent of entrants scoring A* at A-Level recently. All the teachers are from overseas, as are 65 per cent of the students. An Accredited Member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).

Australian International School Kuala Lumpur

New South Wales curriculum/ New South Wales HSD; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 650 students

Founded in 2000 and located in the MINES Resort City at the southern end of Kuala Lumpur. Students from over 40 different nationalities and academically successful achieving the best New South Wales Higher School Certificate results outside Australia. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and now a ‘visible learning’ school.

British International School (The) Kuala Lumpur

National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A Level; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 1,200 students

Based in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and now expanded to three campuses. Founded in 2009 and since 2018 part of the global Nord Anglia Education group. Impressive A Level results with 75 per cent gaining A*-B at A Level recently. An Accredited Member of the Council of British International Schools, whilst under previous ownership.

elc International School

Adapted curriculum/ IGCSE; ages 4-16; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 750 students

Started as a secondary school in 1987, with a primary division added in 1992 and relocated onto a single campus in Selangor in 1997. Over three quarters of students gained IGCSEs at A*-A recently but alternative schools have to be found for graduates as the school does not teach post 16.

Epsom College in Malaysia

National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A Level; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; privately owned; 500 students

Founded in 2014 as the first international branch of Epsom College, an independent school in Surrey, England. Located on a 50 acre site to the south of Kuala Lumpur. The A Level results achieved recently were extremely impressive with nearly 40 per cent being awarded an A*. Students have moved on to leading universities in America and the UK, for example, Stanford, Cambridge and Durham.

EtonHouse Malaysia

PYP; ages 2-12; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 200 pupils

The first school in Malaysia of the EtonHouse international education group, currently with 120 schools in 12 countries across the Far East. Founded in 2010 on a green site in the centre of Kuala Lumpur and teaching the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

Fairview International School Kuala Lumpur

PYP/ MYP/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 600 students

Founded in 1978 and now one of five Fairview Schools in Malaysia with plans well under way to open one in Scotland. Three thousand children are enrolled at the Malaysian schools with the one in Kuala Lumpur offering an all-through International Baccalaureate education. Students can also work towards the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards.

Garden International School

Adapted curriculum/ IGCSE/ A Level; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 2,000 students

Founded in 1951, making it the first private school, catering for expats, in Malaysia and located in Mont Kiara, Segambut. Approximately 80 per cent of the teaching staff are English or Australian. Academically impressive, with 40 per cent of A Level students consistently achieving a minimum of three A*-A grades. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and also an Apple Distinguished school.

IGB International School

PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma/ IB Careers; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 460 students

Brand new school and the only one in Malaysia to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes. On a state of the art campus on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Swiftly accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL)

Adapted curriculum/ IB Diploma/ AP; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,700 students

Established in 1965, as a non-profit American school. Now located on a brand new campus opened in 2018, which has been awarded platinum Green Building (GBI) status, having been the first school in Malaysia to receive the Eco-School Green Flag. Currently accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Lycée Francais de Kuala Lumpur

French curriculum/ Brevet/ French Bac; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 730 students

First opened in 1962 but moved to its current campus in 2004. Part of the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad), a global network of around 500 schools, teaching the French curriculum. Students come from over 40 different countries and the majority are bilingual or trilingual by the time they graduate.

Mont' Kiara International School

PYP/ adapted curriculum/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 630 students

An American school founded in 1994 and located in Segambut. The International Baccalaureate Diploma scores recently were in the low to mid-thirties against a global average of just under 30. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Students with US passports are the largest group in the school.

Nexus International School Malaysia

International Primary Curriculum/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; privately owned; 730 students

Founded in 2008, this is one of the schools in Malaysia belonging to Taylor’s Education Group. The school has a boarding facility and is a member of the Boarding Schools Association. Emphasis on tech helped by being an Apple Distinguished school. Academically outstanding with over 30 per cent of International Baccalaureate Diploma students achieving a score of over 40 points (against the world average of 30). Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS).

Repton International School Malaysia

Adapted National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A Level/ IBDP; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 350 students

Opened in 2020 in Johor, on the borders of Singapore, by the international brand of the English public school Repton, following on from their four schools in the UAE and one in China.