When Does International School Start in Indonesia? A 2027 Guide

Indonesian national and private national-plus schools start their academic year in mid-July, running through to mid-June. International schools in Jakarta and other major cities don't share one single answer to "when does school start", instead splitting across three different models: a northern hemisphere August-to-June year, an Australian January-to-December year with four terms, or a July-to-June year that mirrors the Indonesian national calendar.

Which one applies to a specific school depends on its licensing and curriculum, so the honest answer for Indonesia is to check the individual school rather than assume a single national pattern for international education.

Why there isn't one answer here

Indonesia's own school year, set by the Ministry of Education, runs mid-July to mid-June for public and private national schools. Many international schools operating under SPK status, a licence that blends a foreign curriculum with Indonesian regulation, follow this same July start because their term structure is shaped by that licensing. Schools serving primarily relocating Western families more often run August to June instead, in step with their curriculum's home country. And a smaller group, often serving Australian and New Zealand families, runs January to December across four terms. All three are genuinely common in Jakarta, which is unusual compared to most countries in this series.

Term dates and key holidays

Because the calendar model varies by school, treat this as a general shape rather than a fixed pattern, and confirm directly with any school on your shortlist:

• Mid-year break: A break in December, timed differently depending on which of the three calendar models a school follows.
• Eid holidays: Indonesia's Eid al-Fitr break is set by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and shifts earlier each year on the lunar calendar, closing schools nationwide for around one to two weeks.
• Independence Day: 17 August is a fixed national holiday every year, observed regardless of calendar model.
• Nyepi: Indonesia's Day of Silence, observed nationally, closes schools for a day, timed by the Balinese lunar calendar.
• Plan ahead: Ask any school directly which of the three calendar models it follows before assuming term dates, since neighbouring schools in the same city can differ by months.

What to prepare, and from when

Five popular international schools in Singapore

1. IPEKA Integrated Christian School, Jakarta. Pearson Edexcel through to IB Diploma, around 1,000 pupils. IDR 30,000,000 to 243,000,000 a year (approx. USD 1,700 to 14,000) depending on grade, plus a separate one-time entrance fee.

2. Stella Maris School, Tangerang. Cambridge Primary through to IB Diploma, ages 2 to 18, around 1,550 pupils. IDR 21,000,000 to 32,000,000 a year (approx. USD 1,200 to 1,800).

3. Sekolah Bogor Raya, Bogor. IB Primary Years Programme through to Cambridge A Level, ages 2 to 18, around 850 pupils. IDR 44,100,000 to 141,225,000 a year (approx. USD 2,500 to 8,100).

4. Mentari Intercultural School Jakarta, Jakarta. Full IB continuum alongside the Indonesian National Curriculum. IDR 127,885,000 to 197,180,000 a year (approx. USD 7,400 to 11,400) depending on campus.

5. Pribadi Bandung Bilingual Boarding School, Bandung. Cambridge Primary through IGCSE, ages 3 to 18, day and boarding. IDR 25,000,000 to 42,000,000 a year (approx. USD 1,400 to 2,400) for tuition, plus separate entry and boarding fees.

Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.

Check school availability in Indonesia on doris

Schools in Indonesia may have waiting lists for certain year groups, so it helps to prepare well ahead of your preferred start date.

Start by exploring schools in Indonesia on doris and opening the profiles of those on your shortlist. You can review admissions details and, where available, check availability or send an enquiry to ask about places, waiting lists and application requirements. Include your child’s age and intended start date so the school can give you relevant guidance.

Start your school search early to give your family more time to explore options and prepare your application.

FAQ

What month does international school usually start in Indonesia? It depends on the school. Most start in either July or August, though a smaller group of Australian-curriculum schools starts in January instead.

What are the term dates for schools in Indonesia? Indonesian national schools run mid-July to mid-June in two semesters. International schools vary by calendar model, some mirror this, others run August to June or January to December, so exact dates depend on the individual school.

Does the international school year in Indonesia match the local school year? Sometimes. SPK-licensed schools blending a foreign curriculum with Indonesian regulation often follow the local July start, while others run entirely independent calendars.

When should we start applying for a 2027 start in Indonesia? Around 12 months ahead, particularly for popular Jakarta schools, and confirm which calendar model the school follows as early as possible.

Why do some international schools in Indonesia start in January? These are usually Australian-curriculum schools, following the same January-to-December, four-term year used in Australia and New Zealand, which suits families with ties to those countries.

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This guide was written by Aziza F, part of the doris editorial team. doris sources school data from institutions worldwide and speaks directly with parents navigating the school search process. Fee data reflects published and publicly available information for the 2026 to 2027 academic year and is reviewed annually. External sources: school academic calendars and fee pages, Indonesia Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.

Schools are listed for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.