International School of Phnom Penh

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Private, non-profit, co-educational. school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP)

Location

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Coordinates| 11°30′47″N 104°55′47″E﻿ / ﻿11.513073477628511°N 104.92969625176264°E﻿ / 11.513073477628511; 104.92969625176264
Information
School type| Private, non-profit, co-educational.
Motto| An IB World School Serving International Students in Phnom Penh[1]
Established| 1989
Director| Eileen Niedermann
Principal| Jonathan Smedes (Deputy Director)
Principal| Katie Ham (secondary school)
Principal| Elizabeth Ford (elementary school)
Website| http://www.ispp.edu.kh/
Aerial photo of ISPP International School of Phnom Penh

The International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP) is an international school located at the Mean Chey district in the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is a private, non-profit, English language, coeducational day school that offers educational programs starting at early years 1 through Grade 12. The school was founded in 1989. Around 900 students were enrolled for the year 2024 who represent 50 countries.

## History

[edit]

ISPP was started in 1989 by a group of families working for NGOs (non-government organization). The first six students, aged three to seven, met part-time in a home taught by a parent.

In 1990, a villa was rented and ISPP took the first real steps to become a normal day school. A curriculum was developed and a Kindergarten to Grade 4 program was set in place. Student numbers gradually increased at the start of the school year reaching 11 pupils. ISPP's Charter was then written and approved, establishing it as a parent-owned and operated non-sectarian non-profit school.

By 1995, the full-time expatriate faculty numbered 14, and the student body 230. In February, following in-service training, the school developed an innovative approach to effectively meet the needs of the EAL learners at ISPP. A Biology laboratory was established for the secondary school along with the continued expansion of the Computer Lab and the Media Center.

Early in 1996, a formal learning support program was developed and a full-time learning support teacher was employed later that year. A strategic plan was also developed for the integration of technology into the ISPP curriculum. A technology committee was established to facilitate this plan.

In 1998 the school was a K–8 school with 30 students. That year Finansa Ltd had offered that ISPP take over a school owned by the company, International School of Cambodia (ISC), but according to the company, ISPP declined.[2]

In 1998–99, the school presented for its final international accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) following three years' provisional accreditation. The full accreditation visit took place in March 1999 and in May, the school was told that it had received a full 6-year accreditation at its first attempt. ISPP had then become the only fully internationally accredited school in Cambodia at the time.

In 1999–2000, the decision to become an IB World School was taken. The International Baccalaureate Organization carried out an authorization visit and approved the school as an IB Diploma school. In 2001, the school was also authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme of the IB. The authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme was given in September 2004.

During the academic year of 2004–05, the school was also accredited by the CIS and the WASC.

Finally, in 2009–10, the faculty produced a comprehensive self-study for the joint 5-year CIS/WASC/IB accreditation visit, which took place in April 2010. Subsequent accreditation visits have taken place in 2015 and 2021 to solidify ISPP's accreditation status with CIS, WASC and IB.

In 2014, the secondary school moved to a new, purpose-built campus south of the city centre. The elementary school joined in 2015, and both schools were housed on a single campus for the first time.

## Campus

[edit]

Its current campus is on Hun Neang Boulevard,[3] in Mean Chey Section.[4]

The former campus of ISPP was in Boeung Keng Kang I, Chamkar Mon Section (now in Khan Boeng Keng Kang since 2019).[5][6]

## Organization

[edit]

The school operates under an agreement with the Royal Government of Cambodia through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

## Curriculum

[edit]

ISPP is an International Baccalaureate World School, offering three IB programmes – Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes. The school's Early Years Programme (pre-kindergarten) is part of the PYP. Music, art, computer studies, physical education, swimming, and Khmer language classes are part of the curriculum for all grades. ISPP provides learning support, EAL support, and counseling services. The school runs an after-school program with a range of activities and language options. The School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS).

The school year consists of 2 semesters, each of 2 terms, extending from early August to mid-December and from early January to early June.

## Faculty

[edit]

There are approximately 110 faculty members. The faculty is multinational in makeup, with the majority coming from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

## Facilities

[edit]

Since 2015, the school has been located completely on a purpose-built campus on Hun Neang Boulevard, Phnom Penh. The 6-hectare campus includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 430-seat theatre, two libraries, a cafeteria and café, three basketball courts, and full-sized football pitches/sports fields. Classroom facilities include well-equipped science labs, music and art rooms, computer and media labs, and a design and technology workshop.

## Finances

[edit]

For the 2025–26 school year, annual fees at the International School of Phnom Penh are as follows:

* Early Years 1 / PEY: US$9,558
* Early Years 2: US$11,680
* Kindergarten to Grade 5: US$23,300
* Grades 6–10: US$27,544
* Grades 11–12: US$29,533

One-time fees include a US$250 application fee and a US$3,500 entrance fee (Kindergarten to Grade 12). Early Years students pay a deposit of US$750 per year, credited toward the entrance fee upon entry to Kindergarten. An annual re-enrolment deposit of US$750 is also required.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ School profileispp.edu.kh Archived 2010-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ Boyce, Debra (1998-03-10). "City School Rejects Business Merger Offer". Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
3. ^ "ISPP_on_the_map_July_2015.pdf" (PDF). International School of Phnom Penh. Retrieved 2020-05-14. "International School of Phnom Penh Secondary Campus Hun Neang Boulevard, Phnom Penh, Cambodia"
4. ^ "Property Tax Map". City of Phnom Penh. Retrieved 2020-05-06. – Map of Mean Chey Section – Compare map to Google Maps view of Mean Chey District.
5. ^ Brew, Melanie (2008-11-26). "I want to move to Boeung Keng Kang I". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2020-05-13. "Extending from Sihanouk to Mao Tse Tung boulevards and running between Monivong and Norodom boulevards,[for the neighborhood boundaries][...]Some of the best schools in town are in and around BKKI,[for schools named by the publication as in/around BKKI][...]"
6. ^ "Contact". International School of Phnom Penh. 2008-12-06. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2020-05-14. "Central Administration Office [...] 146 Norodom Boulevard PO Box 138 Phnom Penh Cambodia [...] Elementary School [...[ 191 Norodom Boulevard [...] Secondary School [...] 158 Norodom Boulevard"
7. ^ “School Fees,” *International School of Phnom Penh*, accessed June 23, 2025, https://www.ispp.edu.kh/jjoin-ispp/school-fees/.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* ISPP on Yellow Pages Cambodia
* Map of former and current campuses

* v
* t
* e

Phnom Penh

History|

* Fall of Phnom Penh
* 2003 Phnom Penh riots
* Phnom Penh stampede
* 2013–2014 Cambodian protests

Districts|

* Boeng Keng Kang
* Boeung Keng Kang I
* Tuol Svay Prey II
* Boeng Kak
* Chamkar Mon
* Chbar Ampov
* Chroy Changvar
* Dangkao
* Doun Penh
* template
* Kamboul
* Mean Chey
* Prampir Makara
* Boeung Prolit
* Prek Pnov
* Pou Senchey
* Russey Keo
* Sen Sok
* Tuol Kouk

Geography|

* Koh Pich

Landmarks|

* Landmarks in Doun Penh
* Central Market
* Chaktomuk Conference Hall
* Choeung Ek
* Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium
* Royal Palace of Cambodia
* Vann Molyvann House

Transport|

* Phnom Penh City Bus
* Lines and stations
* Phnom Penh International Airport
* Royal railway station

Education|

| Universities|

* American University of Phnom Penh
* Institute of Technology of Cambodia
* National University of Management
* Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia
* Paragon International University
* Phnom Penh Institute of Technology
* Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University
* Royal University of Agriculture
* Royal University of Fine Arts
* Royal University of Law and Economics
* Royal University of Phnom Penh
* University of Health Sciences
* University of Puthisastra

|

Primary and
secondary|

* British International School of Phnom Penh
* Canadian International School of Phnom Penh

* Harrods International Academy
* Home of English International School
* International School of Phnom Penh
* Japanese School of Phnom Penh
* Lycée français René Descartes de Phnom Penh
* Lycée Sisowath
* Mengly J. Quach Education
* Northbridge International School Cambodia
* Zaman International School

* v
* t
* e

International schools in Cambodia

Phnom Penh|

* Canadian International School of Phnom Penh
* Lycée français René Descartes de Phnom Penh
* Japanese School of Phnom Penh
* British International School of Phnom Penh
* American Intercon School
* Harrods International Academy
* Home of English International School
* International School of Phnom Penh
* Northbridge International School Cambodia
* Zaman International School

Siem Reap|

* International School of Siem Reap

* v
* t
* e

Chamkar Mon Section

Sangkats|

* Tonle Bassac

Geography|

* Koh Pich

Landmarks|

* Naga World
* Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Education|

* Canadian International School of Phnom Penh Koh Pich and Bassac Garden Preschool

This list is incomplete.
Boeung Keng Kang I and Tuol Svay Prey II were in Chamkar Mon Section until 2019.
International School of Phnom Penh was formerly in Chamkar Mon Section.
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