The American International School of Lagos (AISL) na the oldest international school for Nigeria, dem found am 1964 to teach the pikin of US embassy worker and oil-company expat. Na the only school for Lagos wey get Middle States Association (US) accreditation, and dem authorise am to give IB Diploma alongside the American AP curriculum. Pikin dem na around 60% expat (35+ nationality), 40% Nigerian. Fees na USD — typically $20,000-$45,000 every year depending on grade.
Fee breakdown
Tuition range
₦28.0M–63.0M
/yr · 2025/2026
First-year total estimate
₦63.0M
tuition + extras
Fees by year group
2025/2026 session — quoted per pikin per year.
Year group
Tuition
Weekly boarding
Full boarding
KG
₦28,000,000
Day only
Day only
Primary
₦36,400,000
Day only
Day only
JSS
₦50,400,000
Day only
Day only
SSS
₦63,000,000
Day only
Day only
L
Lagos.Cool Editorial
2 May 2026 · 2 min read
About dis school — American International School of Lagos
AISL position for the Lagos market dey different: dollar-denominated fee and US accreditation make am like an American school wey dey operate for Nigeria, no be Nigerian school wey dey use American book. The result na one-of-a-kind market. Parents wey pick AISL na because pikin go later go US university — the school dey send 90%+ of leavers to North American university. For those buyer, the dollar fee na feature, no be bug: e hedge against naira depreciation and align the family with the eventual college bill.
Strengths & trade-offs
✓ Strengths
✓Oldest international school in Nigeria (founded 1964)
✓Only Middle States-accredited school in Nigeria
✓Full IB Diploma + American AP dual pathway
✓90%+ leavers into North American universities
✓17-acre VI campus with grid-independent solar+battery
✓Regulation baseball diamond (rare in West Africa)
✓Multi-cultural cohort (~35 nationalities)
✗ Trade-offs
✗Fees in USD ($20K-$45K/year)
✗Priority to US passport holders + corporate partners
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (US)
• International Baccalaureate Organisation
• College Board (AP)
• Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria
University destinations
StanfordNYUCarnegie MellonMcGillUniversity of TorontoImperial College LondonAmherstWilliamsPomonaUPenn
Admission process
AISL dey do rolling admissions but most application na for August intake. You go submit: last three years school record, two teacher recommendation, recent standardised test (MAP or similar), and $300 application fee (no refund). Pikin wey get US passport dey go first, then sibling of current pupil, then expat hire of partner company (Chevron, Mobil, embassy), then the open Nigerian applicant. Reception and Pre-K na the easiest entry point; Grade 9 na the hardest.
Extracurricular
BaseballBasketballSwimmingFootballAthleticsMusic ensemble + orchestraDramaRoboticsModel UNDebateCommunity serviceDuke of Edinburgh Award
School fee na only part of the bill. See wetin family dey actually pay:
Capital development fee (first year)$5,000
School bus (all zones)$2,000–$4,500/yr
Uniform set + sports kit$300–$600
AP/IB exam fees$500–$1,200/yr
Athletics/clubs$200–$1,500/yr
International field trip$2,000–$5,000
Campus & facility
The 17-acre Victoria Island campus na purpose-built American style — separate elementary, middle, and high school building, regulation baseball diamond (rare for West Africa), two swimming pool, 600-seat theatre, robotics and maker space, and college counselling office wey get three full-time counsellor wey sabi US admissions. The high school library subscribe to 200+ academic database. The whole campus dey run on im own solar and battery system, no need NEPA.
AISL get US accreditation and most teacher na US-trained expat. The school dey pay salary, accreditation fee, curriculum licence, and most cost for dollar. If dem bill for naira, family go suffer every month from forex movement. The dollar fee align parents with the school real cost.
Yes — about 40% of current pupil na Nigerian. No nationality restriction, just strict academic admissions standard and queue wey dey prioritise US passport holder and corporate partner family.
Yes — AISL na one of three IB World School for Lagos and the only one wey dey offer both IB Diploma and American AP track at the same time. Pikin go choose at start of Grade 11. Most AISL leaver dey take IB; small number dey prefer AP depending on the university dem want.
For recent year: Stanford, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, McGill, University of Toronto, Imperial College London, and plenty US liberal-arts college (Amherst, Williams, Pomona). The college-counselling team dey target school wey get strong financial aid for international applicant.
Yes — fence dey round the perimeter, double-gate vehicle entry with under-vehicle inspection, armed Nigerian Police for the gate, and private security 24/7. Diplomatic missions dey audit AISL security every year before dem allow their staff enrol pikin.