How Much Is ICS Addis Ababa — and What Are the Alternatives?

The International Community School (ICS) is Addis Ababa’s best-known — and most expensive — international school. If you are weighing it up, here are the published 2025/26 numbers in plain terms, plus alternatives worth a look.

ICS fees, in plain numbers (2025/26)

Early Years (3–4): about USD 11,760 half-day, around USD 19,130 full-day.
Kindergarten and Grades 1–5: about USD 29,520 a year.
Grades 6–8: about USD 33,480; Grades 9–12: roughly USD 35,120–36,520.
A one-time capital fee of around USD 10,000 (grade-dependent), plus a USD 300 application fee.
Fees are paid in USD, with small reductions from the third child onward.

These are the figures published for 2025/26; always confirm the current fees with the school, as they change every year. Even so, they show why ICS sits at the very top of the market.

Why it costs that much

You are paying for the IB curriculum, a large international faculty, extensive facilities and strong demand from the diplomatic and corporate community. For families who need exactly that, it can be worth it.

Lower-cost alternatives worth a look

Plenty of mid-market Cambridge and British schools deliver an international standard for a fraction of the all-in cost. Nucleus is one — a Cambridge school in Mekanisa (age 2 to Grade 8) with transparent, birr-friendly fees and no surprise capital-fee jumps. Request our fee sheet for exact figures.

Aim for value, not just a lower price

Does the curriculum travel where you might go next?
Is the campus genuinely secure and well-supervised?
Are the teachers qualified and likely to stay?
What is the true all-in first-year cost?

The most expensive school is not automatically the best one for your child. Compare on value, visit in person, and choose with your eyes open.