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International school vs National Plus school for families

Families moving to Bali with school-age kids usually land on this decision early, since it shapes both the budget and who their kid's friends will be. International schools run a foreign curriculum fully in English for a mostly expat student body. National Plus schools follow the Indonesian national curriculum with extra English classes, in a classroom that mixes Indonesian and expat kids.

By the Knowmads Bali family — parents on the ground in Bali · Updated 28 July 2026

International schoolNational Plus school
Curriculum and languageFollows an international curriculum such as IB, Cambridge, or an American-style program, taught fully in English from day one.Follows the Indonesian national curriculum with English layered on top, so Bahasa Indonesia stays part of daily school life.
Classmates and communityClassrooms are mostly expat and third-culture kids, which makes it easy for a new family to plug into an existing international parent network.Classrooms mix Indonesian and expat kids, so children build local friendships and pick up everyday Bahasa Indonesia faster.
Class size and paceClass sizes tend to be smaller with more one-on-one teacher time and a project-based, discussion-heavy pace.Class sizes run larger and the pace leans toward memorization and structured testing, matching the national system's style.
Extracurriculars and activitiesA wide range of after-school options: swimming, surfing, arts, and organized sports leagues against other international schools on the island.Activities exist but are usually fewer and less structured, so families often fill the gap with outside clubs or private lessons.
Facilities and campusCampuses are usually purpose-built, with dedicated sports fields, pools, and air-conditioned classrooms.Facilities are more modest and vary a lot school to school, sometimes open-air classrooms rather than dedicated labs.
Cost levelTuition sits at the higher end and is often the single biggest line in a family's monthly budget.Tuition is noticeably lower, which is the main reason many long-term expat families choose this route.

Choose International school if…

Choose International school if you want an English-only curriculum that transfers cleanly to schools back home or elsewhere, a ready-made expat parent network, and you can absorb the higher tuition.

Choose National Plus school if…

Choose National Plus school if you want your kids to grow up speaking real Bahasa Indonesia, mixing daily with local families, and you'd rather keep school costs down.

Still weighing it up for your family?

Ask the Knowmads family guide