| International school | Homeschooling | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily structure and routine | Set hours, uniforms or dress codes, and a fixed school calendar give kids a predictable daily rhythm and clear breaks between family time and school time. | Days are built around your own schedule. Some families run tight timetables, others learn in short bursts between errands, surf sessions or work calls, so structure depends entirely on the parent. |
| Social life and friendships | Kids see the same classmates daily, join school teams and clubs, and build friendships that carry on outside class hours. | Social life takes more effort to arrange: homeschool co-ops, sports clubs, playgroups and neighbourhood friends fill the gap, and Bali's nomad communities make this easier than in many other countries. |
| Curriculum and academic pathway | Follows a recognised curriculum (British, American, IB or similar) with transcripts, exams and a clear route into universities abroad. | Curriculum is chosen by the parent, from boxed programs to online schools to unschooling. Quality and rigor vary widely, and parents are responsible for tracking progress. |
| Flexibility for travel and family time | Term dates and daily attendance limit how often you can travel or take spontaneous trips during the school year. | Learning can travel with the family, so mid week surf trips, visa runs or visits home don't mean missed school days. |
| Parent time and involvement | Once drop-off and pickup are handled, parents get long, uninterrupted stretches of work time during the day. | Teaching, planning lessons and supervising work takes real hours out of the parent's day, which is hardest for solo parents or those running a business. |
| Cost level | Tuition is a major line item and sits on the higher end of family budgets in Bali, usually billed per term or year. | Costs are lower overall since there's no tuition, though curriculum subscriptions, tutors or co-op fees add up depending on how structured you go. |
Choose International school if…
Choose international school if you want your kids in a structured daily routine with a recognised curriculum, built-in friendships and long stretches of free work time for yourself.
Choose Homeschooling if…
Choose homeschooling if your family values travel flexibility, a lower cost load and hands-on control over what and how your kids learn, and you have the time to put into it.
Still weighing it up for your family?
Ask the Knowmads family guide