K-12 International Schools Market Report 2026

The K-12 international schools market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $62.95 billion in 2025 to $67.2 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing expatriate population growth, rising demand for globally recognized education credentials, expansion of international school networks, growing mobility of international workforce, increasing preference for english-medium education.

The K-12 international schools market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $84.68 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of digital learning platforms, rising demand for flexible schooling models, expansion of cross-border online education offerings, growing focus on personalized learning approaches, increasing investments in international education infrastructure. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of globally standardized curricula, growing emphasis on multilingual education models, rising demand for hybrid and blended learning formats, increased focus on student wellbeing and global citizenship, expansion of online international schooling options.

The growing demand for international schools is expected to drive the expansion of the K-12 international school market in the coming years. International schools are educational institutions that provide curricula and programs designed to accommodate students from diverse cultural backgrounds, often following internationally recognized standards. This demand is increasing due to factors such as globalization, expatriate mobility, the desire for globally recognized education, and an emphasis on cultural diversity and international-mindedness. In K-12 settings, international schools offer globally recognized curricula and serve diverse student populations from various cultural backgrounds. For example, in January 2024, the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Resource Center (CCIRC) Inc., a Canada-based company providing legal counsel on immigration matters, reported that in 2023, immigration officials processed approximately 1,025,000 study permit applications for international students, including extensions, up from about 838,000 applications in 2022. Therefore, the rising demand for international schools is contributing to the growth of the K-12 international school market.

Leading companies in the K-12 international school market are focusing on developing top-tier international schools to meet the rising demand for globally oriented education. These high international schools provide K-12 students with globally recognized curricula, emphasizing academic excellence, cultural diversity, and global citizenship to attract expatriates and internationally minded local students. For example, in October 2023, Lighthouse Learning, a private educational institution in India, launched The School of Thought in Mumbai. This school offers a unique educational experience with the Cambridge Curriculum (CAIE) from Nursery to Grade 12 and features dynamic learning environments, such as Maker Labs, Visual & Performing Arts Arenas, and tech-equipped classrooms. Its distinctive programs, including the Critical Thinking Program, Maker and STEM initiatives, and Outdoor Adventure Sports, are designed to foster innovative thinking. Additionally, a dedicated Career Guidance Cell provides comprehensive support for university applications, career counseling, and profile building to promote holistic student development.

In October 2024, Wendel, a France-based investment company, acquired a 50% stake in Globeducate for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen Wendel’s position in the global K-12 education sector by leveraging Globeducate's network of high-quality bilingual and international schools to drive further growth and expansion. This strategic investment aligns with Wendel’s commitment to supporting sustainable, high-quality educational initiatives. Globeducate is a Spain-based international K-12 education group.

Major companies operating in the K-12 international schools market are GEMS Education, Maple Leaf Educational Systems, Nord Anglia Education, SABIS, Cognita Schools, ACS International Schools, Dulwich College International, Dwight School, Shrewsbury International School, Braeburn Schools, Yew Chung Education Foundation, American School of The Hague, International School of Los Angeles, Ermitage International School, Wellington College, Yago School, Dallas International School, American Overseas School of Rome, BEPS International School, St. Stephen's School Rome, Esol Education, Harrow International School, Oasis International Schools, Fairfax Christian School, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz

North America was the largest region in the K-12 international schools market in 2025. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the K-12 international schools market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the K-12 international schools market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The K-12 international schools market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as extracurricular activities, support services, counseling, and guidance. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The K-12 international schools market also includes sales of language textbooks, dictionaries, workbooks, and art supplies. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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