Comparing 3 schools side by side in USD.
Gov. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City, Philippines 6000. The campus is located on a main avenue in Banilad, Cebu City. It is accessible by local transport and serves as the combined site for Play House Preschool and BRIGHT Academy.
BRIGHT Academy offers Grade School, Junior High School, and Senior High School. Play House Preschool provides the early-years program. BRIGHT Academy and Play House share a single campus that includes the upper levels and senior high programs.
Private, non-sectarian, and co-educational. No boarding facilities are listed.
No publicly published details about Additional Learning Needs (SEN) provisions are listed on the school pages.
Philippines. The school is recognized by the Department of Education (Region VII) and is authorised to accept foreign students.
Non-sectarian; there is no formal religious affiliation disclosed.
First Bell is at 7:55 am and Last Bell is at 2:25 pm.
A school bus service operates with three routes. Route One, Route Two, and Route Three start from Silver Bay and make 15-minute-interval stops at Woodsmith, Campus Bay, and San Anders Point. Morning pickups occur around 7:30–8:15 am depending on the route.
The school is private and non-sectarian. It is recognized by the Philippine Department of Education in Region VII.
Bright Academy combines Play House Preschool (Nursery 1–2; Kinder 1–2) and BRIGHT Academy (Grade School through Senior High) at Banilad, Cebu City. It provides Grade School (Grades 1–6), Junior High (Grades 7–10), and Senior High School (Grades 11–12). The school is DepEd-recognized, with the Elementary Course (Grades 1–6) recognized on 12 March 2007 and the Secondary Course (Grades 7–12) recognized on 27 December 2007; a Senior High School Permit was granted on October 29, 2015. The curriculum follows a Balanced and Values-integrated approach aimed at total development and to foster critical and creative thinking. Online learning is delivered through Google Classroom as the learning-management system for Play House and BRIGHT Academy.
Bright Academy supports social and emotional learning by enhancing emotional intelligence and self-confidence through curricular and co-curricular activities, within a warm environment created by caring and competent teachers and staff.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision or whether it is a specialist SEN institution.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision.
Mental and physical well-being are emphasized as part of the school's safety measures and curricular approach.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding and child protection policies.
1. Complete the Admissions Form. Provide accurate information about the student and guardians. Submit the form to initiate the process and allow the Admissions Officer to review your application.
2. Submit the necessary documents. Provide all documents as requested by the Admissions Officer. Missing items can delay the processing of your application.
3. Wait for Confirmation from the Admissions Officer. The Admissions Officer will review your submission and communicate next steps. You may be asked for additional information or to schedule a conversation.
4. Fill Out the Online Enrollment Form. Complete the enrollment form once you have confirmation. Review your child's intended grade placement and enrollment terms. Sign or submit any required confirmations as instructed.
5. Pay Enrollment Fee. Pay the enrollment fee to finalize enrollment. If needed, confirm the accepted payment methods with the Admissions Officer. You will receive an enrollment confirmation after payment.
The site does not publish current scholarship programs. There is a note about fee concessions and discounts in older pages (2020-2021), indicating temporary relief measures during the pandemic, but no ongoing scholarship program is described.
There is no published waitlist or pool system for Bright Academy Cebu on the admissions pages. The site describes a direct application process and steps but does not mention a waiting list or pool.
CAS is located in Makati City, Philippines, on the 2nd Floor of LPL Mansions, 122 Leviste Street, Salcedo Village. The campus sits in a central, mixed‑use district and is across from Makati Sports Club, which supports easy access for commuting families. The Makati site is the school's primary campus for Preschool through High School.
Preschool (P1–P3, JK), Primary School (SK, G1–G8), and Secondary School (G9–G12) are all housed at a single Makati site. The school operates along an integrated K–12 structure with language immersion offerings starting in the Preschool years.
The Canadian American School is an independent, co‑educational school. It operates as a day school serving Preschool through Grade 12.
An Exceptional Education Program integrates Special Education modifications and therapies. ESL support is available through the ESL program and the Center for English Language Learning.
The school uses a North American curriculum and has affiliations with Canada and the United States; it is recognized by the US Embassy in Manila and the Office of Overseas Schools.
There is no religious affiliation listed for the Canadian American School.
School days run Monday–Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; weekends are closed.
A school bus service is not published on the school's official materials.
The school is accredited by the Philippines Department of Education. Its education partner, Edgenuity (Imagine Learning), is accredited by Cognia Global Commission, and graduating seniors receive both a locally accredited CAS diploma and a US-based CGC diploma. The school is recognized as a World Consular School by the US Embassy in Manila, acknowledged by the Office of Overseas Schools, and serves as a Corporate Trustee of CANCHAM (Philippine Canadian Chamber of Commerce).
The Canadian American School offers a progressive, inclusive curriculum aligned with US Common Core standards for English Language Arts and Social Studies, and with the US Next Generation Science Standards for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, while Canadian standards guide Performing and Fine Arts, Music, and World Languages. The school awards a dual diploma—one Philippine diploma issued by the Department of Education and a US diploma provided through its Cognia-accredited Edgenuity Virtual Academy partnership. Preschool offers age-appropriate classes (Preschool 1 to Junior Kindergarten) with early immersion language exposure in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish. Lower School (Senior Kindergarten to Grade 5) uses US Common Core for ELA and Mathematics and NGSS-based Science/Technology, with Social Studies aligned to US NCSS standards and World Languages including French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Hebrew, plus an Inclusive Education Program. Middle School & High School (Grades 9–12) follow a college-preparatory model with AP options and a 23-credit graduation requirement across English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine & Performing Arts, Physical/Health Education, Technology/Wellness, World Language, and Electives.
The Canadian American School uses evidence-based practices to promote social and emotional learning for infants, toddlers, and early learners. Teachers are trained in using the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children, developed by the Center for Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, and follow its guiding principles. The guiding principles include supporting development, individualizing interventions, and applying strategies within natural routines, with attention to cultural and linguistic diversity. The Wellness Program focuses on raising students' self-awareness of abilities, strengths, talents and potentials; teaching strategies to manage one's body, behavior, emotions and relationships; and instilling respect, responsibility, and kindness through age-appropriate lessons and activities. It also offers individualized services for students facing challenges such as academic difficulties, anxiety, behavioral concerns, and students who might engage in self-harm, and connects with institutions that can provide further counseling and psychological assistance, while engaging teachers and staff in trainings to maintain their own well-being. The school also features a House System and After School Clubs as part of Student Life to support peer interaction and social development.
The Canadian American School operates an Exceptional Education Program that integrates Special Education modifications and therapies within the general curriculum and uses an inclusive education model. It collaborates with education professionals and other service providers (developmental pediatricians, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, physical therapists, etc.) to complete educational assessments and monitor program plans. A Student Intervention Team reviews records to determine what assessments are needed, followed by a Comprehensive Evaluation by a multidisciplinary team to identify strengths and needs and determine eligibility for services. An Individualized Education Plan is created, detailing present levels of academic performance, goals, accommodations, supplementary aids and services, and placement, with progress monitored through annual reviews or reevaluation. The Continuum of Services comprises Level 1 Full Inclusion, Level 2 Full Inclusion with Special Educator Support, Level 3 Partial Inclusion/Program Modification, and Level 4 Individualized Education Program; fees are determined case-by-case and may include supplementary supports such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Family Counseling, and other interventions.
The Canadian American School offers an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program that provides support for students whose first language is not English. Sheltered Instruction (Content-based ESL) is used to accommodate English Language Learners, with an ELL teacher assigned to evaluate and monitor language proficiency and progress and to develop a service plan in collaboration with classroom teachers. Eligibility begins with enrollment and identification of a non-English first language; initial assessments may include an English Language Proficiency Test for some entrants. Service levels range from Level 1 to Level 3 (newcomer level), with the cost of supplemental services determined by level, and students are reassessed annually and typically participate for one to two years before testing out.
The Wellness Program supports students' mental and emotional well-being with a focus on developing academic, social and emotional well-being. It emphasizes raising students' self-awareness of abilities, strengths and potentials and teaching strategies to manage one's body, behavior, emotions and relationships. It also aims to instill positive behaviors such as respect, responsibility, and kindness through age-appropriate lessons and activities, and provides individualized services for students facing challenges such as academic difficulties, anxiety, behavioral concerns, or self-harm, with connections to external counseling and psychological assistance as needed. Staff and teachers participate in ongoing trainings to maintain their own well-being and effectiveness.
A dedicated Child Safeguarding section appears under Health & Safety within the Student Life area. Publicly available information notes the existence of the Child Safeguarding component, but detailed safeguarding policies are not published on the page.
1. Attend a School Trial. School trials are typically scheduled for a class day, and during this time, prospective students sit in a full day to experience the learning environment. Families have the opportunity to ask questions about the school's programs and structure. The trial helps families assess fit before moving forward with the application process.
2. Submit an Application Form and settle the application fee. The complete Application Form is provided in the information packet or can be downloaded from the page. A nonrefundable Registration Fee and Testing Fees must be settled before the application is reviewed. The school publishes the 2025‑2026 Annual School Fees by program, showing new‑student totals from USD 11,800 (Preschool) to USD 19,300 (Grades 11‑12) with PHP equivalents; a Capital Development Fee of USD 2,500 is due upon settlement of fixed school fees. If paying on an installment plan, a current‑dated check plus two post‑dated checks for December 1 and March 1 are required; refunds are not provided for reduced attendance during a current trimester.
3. Skills Evaluation. Applicants from Senior Kindergarten (5‑year‑olds) and up participate in skills testing and/or English language proficiency tests. These tests are not Pass/Fail; their results guide instructional planning and identify any needs for additional support services. The school offers an English as a Second Language (ESL) program for students whose first language is not English, and students with identified needs may undergo a comprehensive evaluation that may involve related service providers.
4. Review and Acceptance. Applications are reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Only completed forms with Nonrefundable Registration Fees and Testing Fees settled will be reviewed. Acceptance decisions are usually issued electronically, with a formal letter and a School Fees Invoice attached.
No scholarships are advertised on the admissions or application materials.
CAS operates an open admission policy with year‑round applications. Applications are reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and acceptance decisions are issued electronically with a formal letter and School Fees Invoice.
Aguinaldo International School Manila is located at 1113-1117 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines. The campus sits in the central Ermita/Paco area, a densely built urban district with ready access to public transport and local amenities.
The school offers Pre-School, Elementary and High School, including a Senior High School program, with an SPED department available for students with additional learning needs.
Aguinaldo International School Manila is a private, international day school.
AIS opened a SPED program in 2015 to cater to students with special needs, and it maintains a dedicated SPED department; the Senior High School program began in 2016.
AIS does not have a formal country affiliation; it operates as an international school in Manila, Philippines.
No religious affiliation is listed for the school.
The school day runs from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, with operation including Saturdays.
AIS offers a school bus service; fares start from 4,000 PHP per month for two-way transportation, with the bus arrival at 7:15 am and departure at 4:00 pm.
AIS uniforms consist of a red AIS polo shirt, navy socks, and black shoes with a flat sole; boys wear beige pants or shorts and girls wear beige skirts. Uniforms must be purchased from the school bookstore. Fridays are school spirit days when students may wear jeans with a 'We Y AIS' shirt.
Students may bring healthy lunches to school or avail hot nutritious meals in the dining hall. The hot lunches include rice, vegetables, fruit and meat.
AIS Manila runs Pre-School, Elementary, and Senior High School. Pre-School levels are Nursery (3-4), Kinder (4-5) and Prep (5-6), with a curriculum covering language, arts, math, science and geography and an emphasis on early reading, writing and social development. Elementary curriculum centers on digital literacy, inventive thinking, interpersonal skills and the six facets of understanding (explaining, interpreting, applying, shifting perspective, empathizing, self-understanding) and extends the national curriculum with international standards to prepare students for American colleges and local universities. Core subjects Civics, English, Math and Science are taught in English in an in-house curriculum with small class sizes and differentiated instruction; non-core subjects include Filipino, Mandarin, Art, Music, ICT, PE and Home Economics, assessed by quizzes and performance tasks. The school follows the National K-12 grading system (A, P, AP, D, B) and recognizes achievement with merit certificates and medals. Senior High School offers a General Academic Strand under the DepEd Academic Track.
AIS Manila supports social and emotional learning (SEL) through the Guidance Department, which provides counseling, classroom observations, values education, career planning, and university guidance, and runs anti-bullying campaigns; advisory classes use developmentally appropriate modules to support wellbeing, and Wellness Week activities promote emotional wellbeing.
AIS Manila opened a SPED program in 2015 to serve students with special needs, featuring four SPED tracks (Mainstreaming, Academic Self-contained, Adaptive Self-contained, Functional Academics) and partnerships with occupational therapists, speech therapists, pediatricians and other providers; individualized education plans (IEPs) are developed with regular team meetings to tailor support.
The ESL program is open to non-native English speakers, with Beginners placed in full-time ESL, Intermediates integrated into mainstream classrooms with pull-out support, small class sizes, and a curriculum targeting listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
Mental wellbeing is supported by the School Counselor and Guidance Department through counseling, social skills support and advisory wellbeing content, and is complemented by Wellness Week activities to promote healthy lifestyles and emotional wellbeing.
Safeguarding is addressed via an Anti-Bullying Policy, in loco parentis supervision, and incident reporting; health measures include new-student medical checkups and annual dental checkups, with emergency treatment at Medical Center Manila, all within a closed campus supervised by staff.
1. Initial eligibility and document requirements. Aguinaldo International School (AIS) accepts students from all nationalities. Official transcripts and/or official report cards are required depending on the student's country of origin. Slots can be reserved online and followed up later with the completion of an application form and an entrance exam. Payment of school fees is required for official enrollment.
2. Application materials to submit. The forms required are the Application Form, the Student's Background Information Sheet, and the Parent Interview Form. These forms collect background information and help schedule necessary interviews. After you submit these forms, AIS reviews the materials to determine the next steps in the process. Make sure transcripts and other official documents accompany your submission if requested.
3. Entrance exams and grade placement. AIS administers an external aptitude test and an in-house Math/English test to determine grade placement. There is also a get-to-know-you component that assesses personality, learning style, creativity, and interests. The combined entrance exams take about two hours and can be scheduled between 8am–3pm, Monday through Saturday, in advance.
4. Enrollment payments and discounts. Payment of school fees is required for official enrollment. An early payment discount applies to payments made before June 1. An additional 10% discount is available for cash payments. A sibling discount is applied on the youngest child's tuition: 2 kids = 25%; 3 kids = 50%; 4 kids = 75%; 5 kids = 100%.
5. Scholarships available. AIS offers scholarships to new and/or continuing students beginning in Grade 7. There are two kinds of scholarships: Athletic (for competitive swimmers) and Academic (for valedictorians). To apply, request a scholarship application form at the admissions office.
6. Final steps and inquiries. After completing the required steps and being informed of placement, families proceed with enrollment and fee payment to secure the place.
AIS offers two scholarships beginning in Grade 7: Athletic (for competitive swimmers) and Academic (for valedictorians). Scholarships are available to new and/or continuing students, and applicants should request a scholarship application form at the admissions office.
AIS does not publish a waitlist or pool policy in its admissions materials. There is no publicly described waitlist process on the admissions page. Prospective families should contact the admissions office to confirm current waitlist status and availability.
