American Pacific International School

What American Pacific International School does

American Pacific International School (APIS) is a private international school operating two campuses in Chiang Mai, Thailand, delivering the complete International Baccalaureate continuum — Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) — to students from Pre-nursery through Grade 12. Founded in August 1997 by Kritsanant Palarit, the school has expanded from a Main Campus in the Samoeng Mountains (Grades 1-12, established 1997) to include a purpose-built Primary Campus (APISP, Pre-nursery through Grade 6, established 2014), serving over 400 IB students representing more than 20 nationalities with 64 qualified, certificated staff. APIS is one of only two IB Continuum Schools in Chiang Mai and one of six in Thailand, holding additional accreditations from ACS WASC and Thailand's ONESQA, and memberships in WIDA, NWEA, ISAT, ERACOS, and the Chiang Mai Athletics Conference (CMAC).

The school's core product is the IB continuum itself, supplemented by a Residential/Boarding Program, English Language Learning (ELL) support and an intensive English Academy (EA) for ages 10-14, Learning Support services, Counseling, competitive athletics (APIS Dragons), After School Activities (ASA), a Summer Program, and digital library services built on Follett Destiny, JSTOR, and TumbleBookLibrary. Educational technology is delivered through a stack of third-party platforms: Toddle for parent-student communication and portfolios, Seesaw for student portfolios, Zoom for distance learning, AirVisual air quality monitors for health and safety during Chiang Mai's smoky season, and Google Analytics for website operations. APIS does not operate any proprietary AI/ML systems; technology is used for delivery, administration, and safety rather than as a differentiator.

Revenue is generated through subscription-based tuition fees for day and boarding students billed on a multi-year contract cycle, one-time entrance and registration fees, and supplementary fees for the July Summer Program and English Academy. Distribution is entirely direct: applications are submitted to each campus's admissions office, with on-campus tours, interviews, and placement testing as the primary conversion touchpoints. Marketing relies on the school's website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, the Parent Support Group (PSG), and the CMAC athletics visibility layer. Ownership remains with the founding Palarit family, with Bua Palarit as License Holder and Pam Palarit as School Manager; no external private equity, venture, or institutional capital is identified in the source materials.

Name

American Pacific International School

Legal name

American Pacific International School

Website

https://apis.ac.th

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

American Pacific International School is a private IB Continuum School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, operating two campuses that deliver the full PYP, MYP, and DP programs to 400+ students from Pre-nursery through Grade 12, including a residential boarding program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education (IB Continuum)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB), Language Development & ESL/Multilingual Learner Materials (Dual-Language, ELL) (EDACAJAI), Special Education (IEP/504) & Student Support Case Management (EDAFAEAI)

Keywords

• International baccalaureate education
• K-12 international school
• Boarding school program
• English language learning
• IB continuum school

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiang Mai

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Day School): Tuition fees charged for day school students from Pre-nursery through Grade 12 across both Main Campus and Primary Campus, following an academic year billing cycle.
2. Boarding / Residential Program Fees: Residential life program fees for weekly or full-time boarding students, including meals (breakfast, dinner) in addition to day student lunch and snack services.
3. Summer Program Fees: Fees charged for the July Summer Program offered at the Primary Campus, with optional residential participation.
4. Entrance and Registration Fees: One-time entrance and registration fees due upon school agreement finalization and before student entrance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

American Pacific International School (APIS) is a private IB Continuum School in Chiang Mai, Thailand offering day and boarding education from Pre-nursery through Grade 12. The core offering includes the three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP), delivered across two campuses and supplemented by ELL, residential boarding, athletics, counseling, and after-school activities for an international student body of 20+ nationalities.

Product overview

American Pacific International School (APIS) is an IB Continuum School offering a unified educational program across two campuses in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The core portfolio consists of three IB programs: Primary Years Programme (PYP, Pre-Nursery to Grade 6), Middle Years Programme (MYP, Grades 7-10), and Diploma Programme (DP, Grades 11-12), all delivered through student-centered, inquiry-based approaches. The school supplements its academic programs with a Residential/Boarding Program, English Language Learning (ELL) and English Academy (EA) for language support, Learning Support services, Counseling Services, APIS Dragons Athletics competing in CMAC, After School Activities (ASA), a Summer Program, and Library Services with digital resources. The IB continuum is delivered at both the Primary Campus (Pre-Nursery to Grade 6) and Main Campus (Grades 5-12), with students able to progress through all three IB programs at APIS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Program A July summer enrichment program offered at the Primary Campus with optional residential participation, available for the 2025-2026 academic year and with a 2026 application form published.
• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) An International Baccalaureate program for students aged 3-12 (Pre-Nursery through Grade 6), providing a student-centered, inquiry-based curriculum framework guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance. Delivered at the Primary Campus.
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) An IB program for students in Grades 7-10 at the Main Campus, providing a comprehensive educational experience with eight subject groups, interdisciplinary learning experiences, and the A.P.I.S. educational model, culminating in the Personal Project for Grade 10.
• IB Diploma Programme (DP) A rigorous two-year pre-university curriculum for students aged 16-19 (Grades 11-12), featuring six subject groups (three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level), Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirements.
• Residential / Boarding Program A boarding program offering both weekly and full-time residential options for students at the Main Campus, providing on-campus accommodation, meals (breakfast, dinner), supervised evening activities, and student-initiated residential programs.
• English Language Learning (ELL) Program A student-centered English language support program for non-native English speakers from Grade 1 through DP level, integrating social, communicative, academic language, and strategic competency development with WIDA assessment framework for placement and progress tracking.
• English Academy (EA) An intensive one-year English immersion program for students aged 10-14 at the Main Campus, designed for those whose English skills do not meet minimum admissions requirements. Includes instruction in English, Arts, Physical Education, and Music, with mandatory Residential Life Program participation.
• Learning Support Services Individualized academic support services including differentiated instruction, accommodations, interventions, and modifications, with a Learning Support Specialist working with counselors, teachers, and families.
• Counseling Services Academic, social-emotional, and college/career-focused counseling services supporting the IB learner profile, with dedicated counselors at both Main Campus and Primary Campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 IB students across both campuses from Pre-nursery through Grade 12
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Baccalaureate (IBO)coreOthersAPIS holds official IB World School status, authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). APIS is one of six IB Continuum Schools in Thailand and one of two in Chiang Mai. The IB organization provides curriculum frameworks, assessments, teacher support, and international accreditation.
• ACSWASC (Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges)coreOthersAPIS is accredited by ACS WASC, the American Schools in Southeast Asia & Oceania region, ensuring academic programs meet international standards of quality and rigor.
• ONESQA (Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, Thailand)coreOthersAPIS is accredited by Thailand's national education quality assessment body, meeting required standards for educational quality and continuous improvement.
• WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment)coreTechnology or IntegrationAPIS uses the WIDA assessment framework and standards for English Language Development, applying WIDA testing for student placement in ELL programs and measuring language proficiency progress across PYP, MYP, and DP programs.
• ToddlemajorTechnology or IntegrationAPIS uses the Toddle platform as its primary parent-student communication and school management system, including family app, student portfolios, and teacher-parent interaction tools.
• Chiang Mai Athletics Conference (CMAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPIS participates in CMAC as a member school, competing in three sports seasons per year (football, basketball, swimming, cross country, volleyball, badminton, futsal, track and field). APIS hosts the CMAC Junior Swim Meet and Senior Cross Country Running Events at its Main Campus. CMAC is co-organized with Pattrakorn International School.
• Schrole, Search Associates, GRCmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAPIS uses Schrole, Search Associates, and GRC (Global Recruitment Collaborative) for teacher recruitment, in addition to accepting direct applications. These are the primary channels through which APIS recruits qualified international educators.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prem Tinsulanonda International School (PTIS): PTIS is an IB Continuum School also located in Chiang Mai, offering PYP, MYP, and DP. It is the closest geographic direct competitor to APIS, competing for the same pool of international and Thai-foreign families seeking university-prep education in northern Thailand.
• NIST International School: NIST is a well-established IB World School in Bangkok offering the full PYP/MYP/DP continuum. As the original IB school in Thailand, it competes for the same IB-minded international families across the country.
• Ruamrudee International School (RIS): RIS is a private international school in Bangkok offering IB programs alongside other curricula. It competes for international families seeking premium IB education in Thailand and represents a benchmark for tuition pricing.
• KIS International School Bangkok: KIS Reignite is an IB World School in Bangkok offering PYP, MYP, and DP. Its boutique positioning and IB continuum overlap make it a close comparator on curriculum, scale, and target family segment.
• Chiang Mai International School (CMIS): CMIS is an international school serving the Chiang Mai expat community, offering a Western curriculum. It is the primary non-IB direct competitor for English-medium international education in APIS's home market.

Broad incumbents

• International School Bangkok (ISB): ISB is one of the largest and most established international schools in Thailand, offering multiple curricula including IB. As a market leader, it sets the ceiling on premium international school positioning in Thailand.
• Harrow International School Bangkok: Harrow Bangkok is a premium British-curriculum international school with boarding. It represents the premium tier that APIS benchmarks against for pricing, facilities, and brand positioning among affluent international families.
• Bangkok Patana School: Bangkok Patana is one of Thailand's largest international schools offering IB programs. It provides a relevant scale and operational benchmark for what an established Thai international school achieves at maturity.
• Shrewsbury International School Bangkok: Shrewsbury Bangkok is a premium British-curriculum school with riverside campus and boarding. It represents the high-end benchmark for what affluent international families expect from premium Thai international schools.

Regional players

• Singapore International School of Bangkok (SISB): SISB operates a network of premium international schools across Thailand (including Chiang Mai) using Singapore and IB curricula. Its Chiang Mai campus is a relevant regional peer competing for similar families in the same city.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjcFW9NY9ouzJM1zBgDuDKA
• Facebookfacebook.com/americanpacificinternationalschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/americanpacificinternational/?igshid=1j2c2ax8s2ux3

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Pacific International School