Ruamrudee International School

A Legacy Since 1957

Ruamrudee International School (RIS) stands as one of Bangkok's most established international schools, with a history stretching back to 1957. Founded and continuously operated by the Redemptorist Fathers of Thailand — a Catholic religious congregation — the school was created primarily to serve the growing expatriate community in Bangkok while maintaining openness to Thai students seeking an English-medium education.

Over more than 65 years, RIS has evolved from a modest missionary school into a comprehensive, internationally accredited institution. The school achieved a landmark milestone in 1998 when it became an authorized IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside its established American curriculum. This dual offering has enabled RIS graduates to access universities across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Campus Development

The school's main campus in Minburi, eastern Bangkok, now spans 29 acres and features facilities that rival those of much larger institutions — including an Olympic-size swimming pool, two FIFA-grade artificial turf fields, a Performing Arts Center, two libraries, dedicated makerspaces, a culinary arts center, an audio-visual production studio, and on-campus boarding for middle and high school students.

Accreditations and Recognition

In addition to IB authorization, RIS holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which granted a six-year renewal in 2020 — a mark of the school's sustained academic quality. The school is also recognized by the Thai Ministry of Education and is a member of SEASAC for inter-school sports.

The school's religious heritage continues to shape its community values — on campus stands St. Thomas Aquinas Church, and the school maintains active service clubs linked to the Redemptorist and affiliated charitable foundations. Across six decades, this blend of academic ambition and values-based community has defined RIS as a distinctive institution in Bangkok's international education landscape.

A Proven Academic Framework

At Ruamrudee International School, academic culture is shaped by a rigorous, American-style college-preparatory curriculum that spans from Early Years through Grade 12. For high school students, this framework is deepened by two internationally recognized pathways: Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the IB Diploma Programme (authorized since 1998).

This dual-track system gives students the flexibility to pursue either or both qualifications, making RIS one of the few schools in Thailand to offer both programmes concurrently. Students may take individual AP courses for subject-specific recognition while simultaneously working toward the full IB Diploma — a combination that signals both breadth and depth to university admissions offices worldwide.

External Assessments and Benchmarking

RIS students sit a wide array of external assessments that provide objective benchmarks of academic progress and university readiness:

• MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) — for ongoing learning measurement
• PSAT and SAT — for US college readiness
• AP Exams — for subject-specific college credit
• IB Diploma examinations — for internationally recognized qualifications
• TOEFL — for English language proficiency certification

This multi-assessment approach ensures that RIS graduates have documentation of their academic abilities across multiple international standards.

University Outcomes

The results speak for themselves. The Classes of 2022 and 2023 sent graduates to universities across at least 15 countries, including the United States (Stanford, Yale, Brown, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania), the United Kingdom (UCL, King's College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Bristol, University of Manchester), Australia (University of Melbourne, UNSW, University of Sydney, Monash), Canada (McGill, University of Toronto, UBC), and many more.

The school reports a near-100% university acceptance rate for its graduates, reflecting both the quality of academic preparation and the strength of its college counselling programme.

Campus Overview

Located in Minburi, an eastern suburb of Bangkok, the main Ruamrudee International School campus occupies 29 acres of grounds — a significant footprint for a Bangkok school — providing students with extensive space for both academic and co-curricular activities. An additional Early Years campus (RIS Early Years / RISE) is located in the Kanchanapisek area.

Sports and Recreation

The campus is particularly well-equipped for sport. The centrepiece is the Olympic-size (FINA-standard) swimming pool, home to the school's competitive aquatics programme. Outdoor facilities include two FIFA-grade artificial turf fields for football and other team sports, as well as multiple multipurpose courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. A full-service fitness suite supports strength and conditioning training.

RIS competes in SEASAC and other international inter-school leagues, giving students exposure to elite-level competition across the region.

Arts and Creative Spaces

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) serves as the hub for theatrical performances, music concerts, and whole-school assemblies. Visual arts are showcased in the Liguori Art Gallery, while the Audio-Visual Production Studio — complete with recording booths and green screens — gives students hands-on media experience. The Culinary Arts Center features a professional kitchen, supporting both academic food technology and the school's popular Culinary Arts Club.

STEM and Innovation

Dedicated makerspaces and a robotics laboratory give students practical engineering and design experience, supporting both the school's STEM clubs and IB/AP coursework.

Academic and Pastoral Spaces

Two separate libraries serve different divisions: the Elizabeth Library for Elementary School and the Griffith Library for Middle and High School. An on-campus school clinic provides daily health support, and Seelos Residence Hall provides boarding accommodation for students from Grade 7 upwards. The campus also houses a church (St. Thomas Aquinas), cafeterias, a coffee shop, uniform store, and bookshop, making it effectively a self-contained community.

A Values-Based Community

Rooted in the traditions of the Redemptorist Fathers, Ruamrudee International School places strong emphasis on character development, service, and community engagement alongside academic excellence. This values-led ethos permeates school life — from formal structures like the house system to informal student-run service clubs.

The House System

RIS operates a four-house system, with each house named after a figure from Thai mythology and assigned a colour:

• Yaksha (Blue)
• Naga (Green)
• Kinnari (Yellow)
• Garuda (Red)

The house system fosters inter-year relationships, healthy competition, and a sense of school-wide belonging that complements class-based communities.

Student Clubs and Service

With over 20 registered clubs and committees, RIS offers students a remarkably diverse range of co-curricular participation. Service clubs are especially prominent, reflecting the school's mission:

• Camillian Home Club — fundraising for orphans and disabled children
• Eco-Merits Club — environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation
• Cancelling Cancers — raising funds for immunotherapy research
• Habitat for Humanity — building affordable homes in Thailand
• Amnesty International Club — human rights advocacy
• Soi Dog Club — animal welfare fundraising
• Redemptorist Foundation Support — supporting the Father Ray Foundation's child welfare projects
• Red Cross Committee — health awareness and blood donation drives

Student Leadership

Leadership development is structured across year groups, with a High School Student Council (Grades 9–12), Middle School Leadership Team (Grades 6–8), and the National Honor Society (Grades 11–12). The Link Crew programme pairs senior students with incoming freshmen to ease the transition to high school.

Child Safety

RIS maintains a formal Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct and Policy, compliant with the Thai Child Protection Act, underscoring its commitment to student welfare and campus safety.

Admissions Overview

Ruamrudee International School operates a competitive admissions process for students across all grade levels. Entry is not guaranteed; applicants undergo assessments in English and Mathematics, and placement decisions are based on demonstrated academic ability and available space in the relevant grade.

The school applies a waitlist for certain grades when enrolment is at capacity, reflecting consistent demand for places. Late enrolment is considered on a case-by-case basis when space permits.

Fees

For the academic year in question, annual tuition at RIS ranges from approximately ฿548,400 to ฿1,442,000 depending on grade level, placing it among the higher-fee international schools in Bangkok. A one-time enrolment fee of ฿200,000 (non-refundable) is payable upon acceptance to confirm a student's place. A refundable deposit of ฿50,000 is also required at re-enrolment.

Scholarship: The Griffith Scholarship

RIS offers the Griffith Scholarship, a merit-based award covering up to 30% of annual tuition fees. The scholarship is open to both current RIS students and new applicants, and recognizes excellence in academics and/or the arts. Applications close on March 31 each year. This scholarship makes RIS more accessible to high-achieving students who may not qualify for standard financial aid.

Support Services

For students who are not yet fully proficient in English, RIS offers an English Language Development (ELD) programme providing pull-out and push-in support. A Special Needs Programme with dedicated psychologists and learning specialists supports students with learning differences. These programmes ensure that RIS's high academic standards are matched by genuine inclusivity and pastoral care.