Family & Schools

International schools in Kraków: ISK and CIS fees and curriculum

Short answer: ISK lists 74,868 zł a year for ages 5-18 (American/IB); Cracow International School lists 35,000-40,000 PLN in high school (Cambridge), plus entry fees.

Published 13 Oct 2026, 18:28 CEST · By Expats Poland Editorial Team

Families who move to Kraków and want English-language schooling mostly look at two private schools: the International School of Krakow (ISK) and Cracow International School (CIS). They follow different systems. ISK offers an American-style programme with the International Baccalaureate, and CIS follows the British Cambridge pathway. This guide compares what each school says on its own website about curriculum, fees and enrolment. The fee numbers below were read from the schools' official pages in October 2026, and schools can change them, so confirm with the admissions office before you plan a budget. Public schools are free and are covered in our general guide to school enrolment for foreign children in Poland.

International School of Krakow (ISK)

ISK describes itself as the only not-for-profit, fully internationally accredited PreK to Grade 12 school in southern Poland. According to the school's website, it is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization, supported by the US Department of State's Office of Overseas Schools, and a member of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association. Graduates earn an American high school diploma, and its news page posted IB exam results on 14 August 2026.

The admissions page lists what the school says it offers:

small learning cohorts and a low student-to-teacher ratio,
social, emotional and wellbeing programmes,
a wide range of sports and activities, and international student travel,
certified international teachers in every classroom,
design and technology programmes.

ISK is at ul. św. Floriana 57 in Lusina, Kraków. Its news page lists an open house on 3 October 2026 and says admissions were open for 2026/27 from May 2026. If you arrive later, ask the admissions team whether places are free in your child's grade.

ISK fees

The school's tuition and fees page lists two tuition levels:

Early Years (ages 3 and 4): 45,683 zł a year
Grades 0 to 12 (ages 5 to 18): 74,868 zł a year

New students also pay a one-time registration fee: 2,500 zł for Early Years and 6,350 zł for Grades 0 to 12. The school says the fees include books and materials, a school-owned Chromebook, field trips, world-language programmes in French, Spanish and German aligned with the CEFR, performance fees, university counselling and full-time medical care from a school nurse. The page does not state the academic year the amounts apply to, so ask the school for the current schedule.

Cracow International School (CIS)

CIS runs a non-public primary school and a non-public high school. The high school is described as an international secondary school with a British pathway for students aged 14 to 18, taught entirely in English. The first two years (Years 10 and 11) are the Cambridge IGCSE, with a Science or a Humanities and Social Sciences pathway. In Years 12 and 13 students move to Cambridge AS and A Levels and choose three or four subjects.

The school says it holds accreditations from Cambridge International Education and Oxford AQA, and is an official Cambridge Examination Centre (PL027), a Cambridge English Preparation Centre and an accredited Pearson Edexcel Examination Centre. Students sit the Cambridge exams at the school, and take mock exams and receive predicted grades before the final session.

The high school is at the Błonia branch, ul. Wyczółkowskiego 7. There is also an Olsza branch at ul. Sokołowskiego 19 and 19A. The enrolment office is open from 7:30 to 15:30 on 789 033 010, and the e-mail is info@cischool.edu.pl.

CIS fees for 2026/27

The school publishes these amounts for the 2026/27 academic year:

Primary school: a one-time administrative fee of 4,200 PLN and 36,000 PLN annual tuition, paid in 10 monthly instalments.
High school, Cambridge IGCSE: a one-time administrative fee of 6,200 PLN and 35,000 PLN annual tuition, paid in 10 monthly instalments.
High school, Cambridge AS and A Levels: a one-time administrative fee of 6,200 PLN and 40,000 PLN annual tuition, paid in 10 monthly instalments.

The school does not provide student transport. The high school has no boarding, so accommodation and travel are the parents' responsibility. CIS says families in financial hardship can apply for a partial or full scholarship, and that applications are reviewed within 14 working days of a complete set of documents.

How CIS high school enrolment works

The school describes two stages: a language test and an analysis of the student's earlier results. Documents depend on the previous school. Students from Polish primary schools bring the grade 7 certificate and mid-year grade 8 results. Students from foreign schools bring a diploma, certificate or report with grades and skills from the previous school year. Students from Polish high schools bring the certificate from the last completed grade and current results. Foreign students are assigned to classes on the basis of separate regulations. The enrolment text on the page refers to the 2024/25 school year, so ask which dates apply now.

How the two compare

System: ISK follows an American-style programme with IB authorisation. CIS follows the British Cambridge pathway.
Ages: ISK takes children from age 3 to 18. CIS runs a primary school and a high school (ages 14 to 18), so ask CIS about the ages in between.
Yearly tuition from the websites: ISK, 45,683 zł for ages 3 to 4 and 74,868 zł for ages 5 to 18, plus registration. CIS, 36,000 PLN in primary and 35,000 to 40,000 PLN in high school, plus the administrative fee.
Extras: ISK says its fees include books, a Chromebook and field trips. CIS pages do not list inclusions, so ask what is extra.

Questions to ask before you apply

Which year do the fees apply to, and when do they go up?
Is there a waiting list for my child's grade?
What is included: books, devices, trips, exams, lunch?
Does the diploma lead to the university route you want, in Poland or abroad?
What support is there for a child who joins mid-year?

Frequently asked questions

How much does an international school in Kraków cost?

On the schools' own pages, ISK lists 74,868 zł a year tuition for ages 5 to 18, and CIS lists 36,000 PLN in primary school and 35,000 to 40,000 PLN in high school. Registration or administrative fees are extra.

Which school offers the IB?

ISK says it is authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization. CIS offers Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels.

Can my child join in the middle of the year?

Ask the school. Public schools in Poland admit children during the year, and private schools set their own rules.

Is there financial help?

CIS says families in hardship can apply for a scholarship, reviewed within 14 working days. Ask ISK about its policy.

Do the schools provide transport?

CIS says it does not provide student transport. ISK does not state this on the pages we read, so ask.