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You’re viewing the August 2026 edition of this ranking. See the latest edition →

Most popular international schools in Dili

· updated monthly

The five schools Dili parents researched most this year, chosen from the 8 international schools in the city. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between August 2025 and July 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.

8
International schools
in this ranking
$7.0K
Average school fee
For a 12 yr old
17.3
Average class size
Range 12 - 22

The 2026 ranking

Dili’s five most-researched schools

Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between August 2025 and July 2026.

1
P

Pelican Grammar School

Pelican Grammar School is in Aldeia Mane Mesak, Suco Manleuana, Posto Administrativo Dom Aleixo, Dili, Timor-Leste. It is part of AQUILA Education, led by CEO Dr Gerard Kho. The Cambridge curriculum covers Primary, Secondary and IGCSE, with Lower and Upper Secondary planned for 2025. The program emphasises multilingual mastery, science, mathematics, digital skills, creative arts, sports and sustainable SEE values. The campus features a Kindergarten Learning Studio, technology-enabled Primary and Secondary classrooms, a Makerspace, Multipurpose Labs, a Library, and dedicated spaces such as an Art Room, Dance Studio, Play Garden, Garden View Cafeteria, Education Innovation Center and Infirmary. Mandarin is taught via YCT/HSK; English is supported through EAL. Chromebooks are provided and digital literacy is embedded. The school runs AQUILA Foundation's Weekly Community Service Initiative and offers leadership and enrichment pathways. It supports learners to thrive in an interconnected ASEAN and global community and beyond.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages not listed
📖 Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
📍 Dili
2
M

Maharlika International School

Maharlika International School (MIS) in Fatuhada, Dili, Timor-Leste operates as a Philippine School Overseas and adapts the K-12 curriculum for Preschool through Senior High. The Preparatory program (Kindergarten 1–2) is accredited by East Timor's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports; accreditation for Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High is ongoing. Tetum is taught from Grade 1 to Grade 8; English, Filipino, Tetum, and Portuguese are offered through Language Arts across levels. The program runs from Preparatory to Senior High, with a General Academic Strand in Senior High designed to prepare students for college, focusing on Humanities, Social Sciences, and related subjects, plus modules on organization, disaster preparedness, and Empowerment Technologies. MIS moved to Rua Fatuhada in 2010 and is only PSO with a DepEd permit to adapt its curriculum. It hosts Outreach Program with Santa Bakhita Orphanage, provides scholarships, and includes Maharlikan Journalists, Student Council, and planned Sports & Culture Club.

$1.6K $22.6K
🏷️ $1,900 – 3,150 / year
😊 Ages not listed
📖 Bespoke Curriculum
📍 Dili
3
S

St. Jude Thaddeus International School

St. Jude Thaddeus International School is a K-12 learning community affiliated with the Philippine overseas system, delivering education from Playgroup through Grade 12. The curriculum emphasizes holistic development within an English-language framework that accommodates diverse learners and career orientation. Students benefit from a structured program that includes Music Class and Swimming, complemented by ongoing arts activities and opportunities to perform. Co-curricular life features community service, campus clean-up drives, and participation in national and cultural events such as Flores de Mayo and Independence Day celebrations, fostering civic responsibility and cultural awareness. Field trips broaden understanding, including visits to Timor-Leste's National Museum as part of history and geography tasks. Safety is prioritized through Earthquake and Fire Drills, while educational film sessions and flag-raising ceremonies reinforce shared values. The school champions leadership development and individualized learning, helping learners prepare for success inside and outside the classroom and guiding career-oriented pathways for their futures.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages not listed
📍 Dili
4
Z

Z&Z International School

Z&Z International School in Dili, Timor Leste, operates from Rua de Bebonuk, 20 de Setembro. The school serves children aged 2 to 12, offering Playgroup (2–3), Preschool (3–5), and Primary (6–12). The Cambridge International Curriculum guides the Primary program, with a focus on global citizenship and inquiry-based learning. English is taught with mother tongue support to help students maintain their language roots while developing competence in an international language of instruction. A safe learning environment supports curiosity, creativity, and confidence, with experienced, caring teachers who provide individualized attention. Facilities and programs are designed for early childhood and Primary learners, combining international standards with a supportive, affordable education. The school emphasizes leadership, critical thinking, and collaborative learning in the Primary phase, alongside arts-informed activity and a daily emphasis on language development and well-being. The school also prioritizes competitive monthly fees and a supportive community that welcomes international families into Timor Leste.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages 2 to 12
📖 Cambridge (Primary)
📍 Dili
5
D

Dili International School

Dili International School (DIS) in Pantai Kelapa, Dili, Timor-Leste, serves Preschool through Grade 12 (ages 1–18). The Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is offered in the early years, while the senior programme follows the Australian Curriculum, with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) as the graduating certificate. DIS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Multilingual education features in Preschool and Primary, with Secondary providing Global Pathways and VCE. The campus comprises a 3,500 square metre Primary/Secondary site and a 2,000 square metre Early Learning Centre, with three grassed playing fields, a basketball court, table tennis and handball facilities, and two shaded playgrounds. All classrooms have computers and air conditioning. The school serves about 21 nationalities, and 100% of applicants are offered university placements. Its history traces to 2002, with expansion in 2003 and IB/VCE accreditations thereafter.

$1.6K $22.6K
🏷️ $1,600 – 22,600 / year
😊 Ages 1 to 18
📖 IB (PYP), Australian Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
📍 Dili

What’s on offer

Curricula & languages in Dili

The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 8 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.

Most popular curricula

Number of schools teaching each curriculum.

Cambridge
2
IB
1
American
1
Australian
1
Other
3

Languages of instruction

Number of schools teaching in each language.

English
5
Portuguese
1

Size & classes

How big are the schools, and the classes?

School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.

Class size

Schools grouped by typical class size.

Avg 17.3
1
1
1
10–1415–1920–24

Average class size is 17.3 students · based on the 3 schools that report it.

What it costs

Annual fees in Dili

Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.

Fees at a glance

Across the 4 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in USD.

Minimum
1
Average
7,032
Maximum
13,500

Schools by fee band

How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.

$1.0 – 6.8K
2
$6.8K – 13.5K
2

Keep exploring

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