Education in the British Virgin Islands

There are several fee-paying schools that make up the mainstream educational offering available to families in the British Virgin Islands. These include Cedar International School, Century House Montessori School and St. George’s School. In this article, we provide a summary of the private school options available, as well as the benefits of tutoring and homeschooling in the BVI context.

Cedar International School

Founded in 1990, Cedar International School is the BVI’s only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, authorised to offer the full IB continuum. It offers a globally focused curriculum and is known for its diverse student body and strong preparation for university admission. The school provides a wide range of co-curricular opportunities and hosts students and staff from over 40 nationalities.

  • Location – Kingstown, Tortola

  • Head – Scott Crawford, M.Ed.

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~250

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 3–18

  • Curriculum – International Baccalaureate

  • Day fees – ~$23,220

  • Website – cedar.vg

BVI Seventh-day Adventist School

The BVI SDA School was founded in 1954 and expanded to secondary education in 2007. It combines faith-based teaching with practical education, including an innovative Agricultural Science programme. The school has achieved a 100% pass rate in CSEC Agricultural Science exams since 2014.

  • Location – Sea Cows Bay, Tortola

  • Head – Wade Tobin

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~300

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 5–17

  • Curriculum – BVI national curriculum (CSEC)

  • Day fees – ~$6,000

St. George’s School

St. George’s is an Anglican-affiliated school that has educated generations of BVI students. It offers a UK-style education from Reception through Fifth Form. With campuses in Road Town and Palestina Estate, it emphasises Christian values, community service, and holistic student development.

  • Location – Road Town and Palestina Estate, Tortola

  • Heads – Cherilyn Anderson-Rogers (Primary), Dana Ambrose (Secondary)

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~200–250

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 4–16

  • Curriculum – UK-based (GCSE/CSEC)

  • Day fees – ~$6,000

Century House Montessori School (CHMS)

Established in 1998, CHMS is the BVI’s only authentic Montessori school. It offers a peaceful, self-directed learning environment for young children, with mixed-age classrooms and a curriculum centred around Montessori materials and pedagogy.

  • Location – Diamond Estate, Tortola

  • Head – Danielle O’Doherty

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~60–80

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 1½–12

  • Curriculum – Montessori

  • Day fees – ~$17,400

  • Website – montessoribvi.com

Ciboney Centre for Excellence

Ciboney Centre, based on Virgin Gorda, offers a full early years to secondary education programme. It is known for small class sizes, individualised instruction, and strong arts and athletic offerings. It follows the BVI national curriculum and has a reputation for academic excellence at an accessible fee level.

  • Location – The Valley, Virgin Gorda

  • Head – Laura Fox

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~140

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 1–18

  • Curriculum – BVI national curriculum (CSEC)

  • Day fees – ~$7,000

  • Website – ciboneycentre.vg

Agapé Total Life Academy (ATLA)

ATLA is a Christian school affiliated with the Agapé Total Life Center church. It provides nursery and primary education and recently expanded into secondary. It uses the Abeka Christian curriculum and offers dual-enrollment opportunities with US colleges.

  • Location – Anderson Estate, Tortola

  • Head – Lynette Smith

  • Day or Boarding – Day

  • Pupils – ~50–60

  • Gender – Co-educational

  • Ages – 3–13 (expanding to 18)

  • Curriculum – Abeka (U.S.-based Christian)

  • Day fees – ~$5,000

  • Website – atlacademy.org

How does homeschooling compare to mainstream schooling options?

Homeschooling in the BVI is legal but requires prior approval from the Ministry of Education. Parents must submit an educational plan and receive consent from the Chief Education Officer before starting. Children must follow a registered programme and complete national assessments.

What are the benefits of homeschooling in the BVI?

The main advantages of homeschooling in the BVI include flexibility, individualised learning, and curriculum customisation. For high-achieving students, it can offer a more tailored pathway to competitive university entrance. For families whose children have Special Educational Needs or neurodivergent profiles, homeschooling provides structure and support often unavailable in mainstream schools.

With only one dedicated special needs centre (Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre) in the territory, homeschooling offers a viable solution for students requiring adaptive instruction. While socialisation and access to facilities remain challenges, many families offset these through extracurricular activities and online resources.

Schools selection and homeschooling with Chapkin Edwards

If you would like to discuss BVI schooling options, homeschooling or tutoring services, please contact us here. We provide tailored guidance to ensure your child receives the best possible education – whether in school or at home.

Josh Chapkin