The American Embassy School
🇮🇳 Delhi NCR · Founded 1952 · American / IB · Ages 3-18 (Pre-K to Grade 12)
A long-established American international school built around Delhi's diplomatic community, offering an American high-school diploma alongside the IB Diploma, accredited by MSA-CESS and CIS.
Curricula
American, IB
Age range
3-18 (Pre-K to Grade 12)
Languages of instruction
English
Annual fees
SGD USD 22,820-39,490/year (2026-27): Pre-K 22,820; KG-Gr5 32,260; Gr6-8 37,470; Gr9-12 39,490
Enrollment
1,119
Boarding
No (day school)
IB authorised
DP
Accreditations
Middle States Association (MSA-CESS), Council of International Schools (CIS)
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
The American Embassy School (AES) has educated Delhi's international and diplomatic community since 1952, moving to its current Chanakyapuri campus in 1963 and adopting its present name in 1973. It is a non-profit, coeducational day school serving Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, with a published divisional enrollment of roughly 1,119 students across its Elementary (506), Middle (281), and High School (332) divisions.
The academic model is American at its core, leading to an American high-school diploma with Advanced Placement options, while older students may also pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Instruction is in English, and the school provides formal English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, including a dedicated EAL pathway for high-school students in Grades 9 and 10 that replaces a World Language course.
Quality assurance rests on international accreditation rather than a government inspectorate: AES is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS) and is a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), and it is authorized to deliver the IB Diploma Programme. India operates no Ofsted-style graded inspection band for international schools, so the accreditation dimension is rated 'A' on the strength of verified MSA and CIS standing rather than any published government grade.
Fees sit at the premium end of the Delhi market. For 2026-27, annual tuition runs from USD 22,820 at Pre-Kindergarten to USD 39,490 in Grades 9-12, before substantial one-time registration fees and optional add-ons. The school positions itself squarely toward globally mobile, US-curriculum-seeking families - particularly diplomatic and expatriate households - rather than as a value option for local enrollment.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationA — Excellent
Rated 'A', not 'S', because India publishes no government graded inspection band (no Ofsted-equivalent rating) for international schools, so no verbatim graded band exists to support an 'S'. The 'A' reflects verified, current international accreditation: AES is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS) and is a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), with both appearing in the school's own affiliations and corroborated by an independent directory.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- Long institutional track record - operating in New Delhi since 1952 with a stable Chanakyapuri campus since 1963.
- Dual academic pathways: an American diploma with Advanced Placement plus the authorized IB Diploma Programme.
- International accreditation through both MSA-CESS and CIS, providing recognized external quality assurance.
- Structured English as an Additional Language support, including a dedicated EAL pathway in Grades 9-10.
- Strong fit for a globally mobile, multinational community, with a sizeable student body across all three divisions.
Trade-offs
- Premium fee structure (up to USD 39,490/year) places it among the most expensive options in Delhi.
- Large one-time registration fees (USD 16,500 for PK4-Grade 12) add a significant entry cost.
- No publicly verified IB average score or AP results figures were found, limiting outcome transparency.
- Day-only school with no boarding, constraining access for families outside the immediate Delhi area.
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Diplomatic and expatriate families seeking an American curriculum in Delhi.
- ✓Globally mobile families needing both AP and IB Diploma options under one roof.
- ✓Students requiring structured English as an Additional Language support.
- ✓Families prioritizing internationally accredited (MSA-CESS, CIS) provision.
Not Ideal For
- ✕Families seeking a lower-cost or value-priced international school.
- ✕Households needing boarding or weekly residential provision.
- ✕Families wanting a British or national (CBSE/ICSE) curriculum.
- ✕Those who require published, verifiable IB or AP outcome data before enrolling.
Curriculum
AES delivers an American curriculum leading to an American high-school diploma with Advanced Placement, and also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for high-school students. Instruction is in English. AP availability is corroborated by independent directories; the school's own high-school page explicitly references students pursuing the IB Diploma.
Fees
For school year 2026-27, annual tuition is quoted in USD: Pre-Kindergarten USD 22,820; KG-Grade 5 USD 32,260; Grades 6-8 USD 37,470; Grades 9-12 USD 39,490. Additional published fees include an Application Fee of USD 800, a Registration Fee of USD 10,000 (PK3) or USD 16,500 (PK4-12), an EAL Support Fee of USD 2,900 (Grades 1-10), and an Extended Services Program at USD 27,400 (starting August 2026-27) plus grade-level tuition. The school lists a June 2026 reference rate of USD-INR 95.50.
Admissions
Coeducational day admission spans Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Entry carries an Application Fee (USD 800) and a substantial one-time Registration Fee (USD 10,000 for PK3, USD 16,500 for PK4-Grade 12). EAL support is available for students who need English language assistance, including a dedicated pathway in Grades 9-10.
Campus Life
AES is a non-profit, coeducational day school on its long-established Chanakyapuri campus in New Delhi's diplomatic enclave, in use since 1963. Its community is drawn heavily from Delhi's international and diplomatic population, with a published divisional enrollment of roughly 1,119 students across Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: AES publishes a High School Profile and annual reports via its Publications and Media page, but no public IB average score or AP results figures were located, and no university placement or matriculation list was verified.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
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