Moving your child into a school that teaches an American-based curriculum can be an adjustment if the child has only known and experienced Thai public schools or British international schools. Enrolling your child in a school they’re unfamiliar with can cause anxiety and unease. They may become frustrated or bewildered by some of the new rules and daily traditions of the new school.
One of the most important aspects of relocating to a new school is to encourage open communication with your child, particularly in the first few months after placement in a new school and class. This can alert you to any emerging issues and allows you to help them deal with any social problems that may arise.
BASIS is an international school in Thailand that understands the importance of placing children where they can excel. The table below shows the correct correlation between the child’s age range and the grades in schools using the Thai, British, and American international school systems of education.
Table of Age Ranges vs Grades
| Age on September 1 | Thai Schools | British International Schools | American International Schools |
| 1 | Pre-nursery | EY 0 (Pre-nursery) | Pre-nursery |
| 2 | Nursery | EY 1 | Nursery |
| 3 | Anubarn 1 | EY 2 | Pre-school |
| 4 | Anubarn 2 | EY 3 | Pre-school |
| 5 | Anubarn 3 | Year 1 | Kindergarten |
| 6 | Prathom 1 | Year 2 | Grade 1 |
| 7 | Prathom 2 | Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| 8 | Prathom 3 | Year 4 | Grade 3 |
| 9 | Prathom 4 | Year 5 | Grade 4 |
| 10 | Prathom 5 | Year 6 | Grade 5 |
| 11 | Prathom 6 | Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| 12 | Matthayom 1 | Year 8 | Grade 7 |
| 13 | Matthayom 2 | Year 9 | Grade 8 |
| 14 | Matthayom 3 | Year 10 | Grade 9 |
| 15 | Matthayom 4 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| 16 | Matthayom 5 | Year 12 | Grade 11 |
| 17 | Matthayom 6 | Year 13 | Grade 12 |
Our curriculum can be a little different from the standard American curriculum. The correlation between grades vs years is the same, but our programs are grouped differently.
Early Learning Program
Ages 2-3 Years
We recognize the importance of early childhood education in helping children develop the necessary skills and tools they’ll use to succeed throughout their education. Encouraging children to enjoy learning is also a vital part of our Early Learning Program.
Our program is designed to support and guide the children’s social and emotional development while stimulating intellectual growth. Our educators create an environment that encourages each child to explore the limits of their imagination and exercise their natural curiosity.
Primary School Program
Grade 1 to 5
Our primary school program was developed through the combined work of BASIS teachers with deep subject knowledge and experience and elementary education experts. Their collaboration produced a well-rounded educational program that includes fundamental language, mathematics, science, and social studies courses and exposure to the arts, foreign languages, and sports.
Our primary school program also encourages critical thinking and exploration and introduces the students to one of our core teaching methods. Unlike traditional single-teacher classrooms, at BASIS, the students transition between specialized Subject Expert Teachers (SETs) who provide them with intensive education in each core discipline. The students are overseen by a Learning Expert Teacher (LET) who guides and monitors their daily progress, ensuring they understand the material and have the support they need to excel in their studies by the time they reach the 5thgrade age of 10.
Middle School Program
Grade 6 to 8
Our middle school program focuses on the liberal arts and sciences while maintaining the subject work the students have learned in their primary school program. With courses in classic literature, physical geography, English, mathematics, the performing arts and more, our middle school program is designed to provide a link between the logical and pragmatic thinking of their earlier years and the abstract and creative thinking that will likely be demanded of them once they enter their high school years.
The students’ classes include foreign languages and biology, chemistry, and physics. Beginning in Grade 6, they can also select an elective course and a foreign language course in Grade 7 when the students are age 12. The classes are essential as the students prepare for entry into Honors and Advanced Placement© (AP) courses beginning in grade 9, the first year of the high school program.
High School Program
Grade 9 to 12
Our BASIS high school program focuses on preparing our students to attain the highest international achievements and benchmarks. Students can begin taking AP courses in Grade 9 when they’re age 14. AP courses offer college-level work and earn them college credit. This helps them prepare well-ahead of time for their university career. Most of our students complete their AP courses by grades 10 or 11 when they’re aged 15 and 16.
Our high school program also offers a variety of elective courses students can take to explore and discover their passions and interests. The elective courses include the arts, computer science, engineering, foreign language courses, and more. Students are also encouraged to explore extracurricular activities and take part in sports and clubs to complement their curriculum education.
Our senior year program links their high school education with their expected college experience. The BASIS program ensures that students are academically prepared and ready to take the next step in their education.
Visit Basis International School Bangkok
For more information about the enrollment and the programs and curriculum at our American school in Bangkok, Thailand, please contact us to arrange a tour of our BASIS International School Bangkok campus.