Ruamrudee International School Ratchapruek (RIS) is an American curriculum all-through school with a dedicated campus for students in Pre K2 to Grade 12, with Phase II opening in the 2023-2024 school year.

Founded in 1957, Ruamrudee International School (RIS) is one of Bangkok’s oldest and most established schools. This all-through suburban Catholic school is spread across three campuses in Bangkok, where it teaches an American modified curriculum to 1,200 students.

The Minburi campus serves elementary, middle school, and high school students in purpose-built facilities on 29 acres. The school's Ratchapruek campus in Bang Kruai serves students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 10, and will be adding Grade 11 and Grade 12 in 2024-25 and 2025-26. The RISE Campus enrols early years students aged two to six. 

One of Bangkok’s oldest and most established schools, RIS is a 65-year-old not for profit school with around 1,200 students. Founded and led by the Redemptorist Fathers of Thailand, RIS is first and foremost a Catholic school that promises to provide “an interfaith, inclusive, and academically rigorous education for students”. That said, students of all faiths attend the school; while the majority of students are Thai nationals, the school is popular with American, Indian, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Korean nationals.

The academic year runs from August to June and is divided into two semesters: August to December and January to June. The diverse team of international faculty is led by Head of School, Ms. Sudarat Attanatawin, and Principal, Mr. Robert Ledlie. 

An American education

Ruamrudee is a Thai word meaning ‘Union of Hearts’, and there’s strong sense of community, service to those in need, and moral development at the school. The school's student learner outcomes, the Principles of Phoenix combine knowledge, skills, and values with an inclusive, yet rigorous and holistic, curriculum. 

Pre-Kindergarten is a Reggio Emilia-inspired enrivonment that emphasises children discovering their unique voice and perspective through sensory activities, play-based learning, and caring relationships. 

In elementary school, students have core classes including English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies as well as a rotation of specialist subjects like art, music, Thai, physical education, and library. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. In middle school, students have specialist teachers in all subjects and are able to select their own elective courses in art, music, engineering, technology, recreation/physical education, and modern languages.

High school students complete the American high school diploma, with the option to pursue advanced coursework through Advanced Placement or, eventually, the IB Diploma Programme. 

An American education means a holistic, balanced curriculum that enables students to choose as many courses as possible and empowers students to demonstrate their learning in a multitude of ways.

Beyond the classroom

The school’s PE and arts programmes extend far beyond the school day. RIS belongs to the Bangkok International School Athletic Conference (BISAC) and fields 70 teams in both domestic and international athletic competitions. Sports include badminton, cheerleading, basketball, cross country, swimming, and football. Students are given plenty of opportunities to tread the boards in school productions and festivals, and showcase their talents in art exhibitions. The school also has a variety of choirs, orchestras, and bands for students to join.

Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings, and RIS runs an extended day programme (EDP) that includes sports, visual arts, performing arts, creative curriculum, language classes, and more. You’ll also find high school students meeting during lunch and after school for one of the many clubs; many of these focus on community service and charity work, such as the Habitat for Humanity and UNICEF clubs.

RIS embraces its multiculturalism, which is reflected in its calendar of events including Songkran, Chinese New Year, and the international food fair celebrations. Many of these events are organised by the very active (and welcoming) Parent Auxiliary group.

The campus

RIS has a purpose-built PreK Pod at the Ratchapruek campus with classrooms, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a soft-play motor room, and a swimming pool. Other facilities at the campus for its older students include an indoor salt water swimming pool, a learning zone, library, and "progressive student-centred classrooms".

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