ACG School Jakarta, Private school ACG Jakarta

• Year founded: 2004.
• Location: Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Number of students: 270.
• Type of education: co-education.
• Type of institution: private international day school.
• Language of instruction: English.

A private international school in the Pasar Minggu area of South Jakarta, whose history began with ACG English School in Kelapa Gading. Later, ACG opened a full-fledged international school in South Jakarta offering education from Kindergarten to Year 13. The school grew gradually: first opening a primary programme and receiving authorization for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, then adding middle and senior stages, joining the Cambridge International system and gaining the right to offer the Diploma for upper school students, and eventually becoming a member of the Council of International Schools.

Today, children aged 3 to 18 study here — from Kindergarten to Year 13. In primary school, learning is built on an inquiry-based approach and interdisciplinary projects; in middle school, students transition to the Cambridge programme; and in upper school, they prepare for international examinations and university applications.

ACG School Jakarta is part of the Inspired Education group, which connects it to an international network of educational institutions, exchange programmes, and summer courses. For families, the school provides a convenient, unified pathway within a single campus: from the early years of education through to the final year and applications to overseas universities.

At ACG School Jakarta, the learning approach gradually changes as the child grows older.

• In the lower grades, there is a lot of hands-on practice, play, observation, visual materials, and short research assignments. Children learn to ask questions, explain their findings, work in groups, and connect different subjects within a single theme. In primary school, the foundation is set by inquiry-based units: students explore a topic through reading, writing, arithmetic, natural sciences, art, physical activity, and discussion. This format helps children see the connections between subjects and apply knowledge in simple projects.
• In middle school, the share of subject-specific lessons increases, classes are taught by specialist teachers, assignments become longer and more complex, and there is more written work, presentations, laboratory observations, and preparation for exam formats.
• In upper school, learning becomes more academic: students choose subjects aligned with their future specialization, write research papers, prepare for external exams, and receive guidance on individual university pathways. The school assists with material review, internal assessments, personalized recommendations, and even the preparation of academic documents.

• The history of ACG School Jakarta began with ACG English School in Kelapa Gading; later ACG opened an international school in South Jakarta.
• The school has a uniform with a batik pattern: the design features a gecko and orchids — details connected to the nature and culture of Indonesia. Primary students wear dark blue batik shirts, while older classes wear light blue ones.
• In 2018, Radio Wolf was launched at the school: students write scripts, conduct interviews, find topics, and record audio materials using Rodecaster Pro equipment.
• Since 2019, a Model United Nations has been operating. Participants analyze international issues, prepare speeches, and draft resolutions following Model UN rules. That same year, the Yearbook Committee was established: students collect photos, write texts, edit materials, and publish a digital yearbook each year by July.

Students live off campus — with their family or legal guardians in Jakarta — commuting to classes every school day. This format assumes that parents independently arrange the child's accommodation: this may be their own home, a rented apartment/house near the school, or staying with relatives.

For daily commutes, the school offers a bus service. Confirmed pick-up zones: Pondok Indah, Kuningan, Senayan, Dharmawangsa, and Kemang. Additional routes are opened when there are at least five students; the transport service is paid separately each semester.

Meals are handled by the school canteen: during morning and afternoon breaks, students can get hot meals and light snacks. The menu is developed by a Jakarta-based catering company — the school sends it to parents in advance by email and publishes it in school newsletters every two weeks. A child may bring a packed lunch and snacks from home. Additional restrictions apply to younger classes: candy, chewing gum, and carbonated drinks, as well as food sharing between students, are prohibited in Kindergarten and Primary. Ordering food from cafes and restaurants is only permitted with a teacher's authorization.

Extracurricular life at ACG School Jakarta revolves around sports, arts, clubs, student leadership, and school initiatives. The sports program includes basketball, football, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and athletics: school teams compete in ASAC, JASIS, and JAAC tournaments, with matches held after school on weekdays and weekends.

In the creative area, music, the ACG choir, concerts, and lower school productions stand out. For students more drawn to media, the school runs Radio Wolf: it launched in 2018 and provides excellent hands-on practice in scriptwriting, interviewing, research, and audio recording using Rodecaster Pro equipment.

Since 2019, Model United Nations has been active: participants prepare opening speeches, discuss international issues following UN model rules, and draft resolutions. That same year, the Yearbook Committee was established — a student team that gathers content, edits texts, works with photos, and publishes the school's digital yearbook by June.

A separate area is school leadership: students can participate in the Student Council, represent class interests, help organize events, and take on roles in sports teams. The Eco Warriors environmental group conducts awareness activities within the school, promotes the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, and participates in Earth Day, Clean Up Jakarta Day, and Hari Bersih Indonesia.

Field trips are primarily linked to the elementary school program: children travel to cultural and historical sites near South Jakarta for lessons and exploration. Near Pasar Minggu is Ragunan Zoo — a large zoological park in South Jakarta, connected to themes of animals, ecosystems, and nature conservation. For cultural and history lessons, Setu Babakan is an excellent destination — a Betawi cultural district with a museum, traditional houses, crafts, and local cuisine.

For larger outings, Jakarta offers Taman Mini Indonesia Indah — a park with pavilions from different provinces, museums, and recreational areas. Another popular destination is Museum Layang-Layang Indonesia in South Jakarta, a kite museum with a thematic collection.

For leisure and informal school outings, students can visit parks, sports grounds, shopping centers, cinemas, and exhibitions. The Kemang, Pondok Indah, and Senayan districts offer convenient venues for meetups, sports, creative activities, and parent events.

• ACG School Jakarta covers the entire school journey: from early years to graduation.
• The curriculum combines three international formats: the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Cambridge International in middle school, and the Diploma Programme in upper grades.
• The school community is small: 270 students from 31 countries. This intimate scale helps maintain personal contact between teachers, children, and families.
• After classes, students can choose activities based on their interests: sports, music, the school radio Radio Wolf, Model UN, a digital yearbook, the Eco Warriors environmental project, or participation in student government.
• Upper school students receive support with university selection, applications through UCAS and Common App, recommendation letters, predicted grades for admissions, and working with the Unifrog platform.

The campus is located in the Pasar Minggu district of South Jakarta. All levels are housed on the same grounds: junior, middle, and senior classes share a common campus. For the convenience of students and parents, there are well-arranged access roads and safe drop-off and pick-up zones. The academic infrastructure includes 30 classrooms, two science laboratories, a library, music and art rooms, a dance studio, and a design and technology classroom. On the grounds there is a Musholla — a prayer room for students and staff.

For sports activities, there is a multipurpose hall, a swimming pool, a covered playground, and a mini-football field; primary school students additionally have access to a swimming pool and a padel court. For middle school students, science laboratories, sports areas, music studios, a library, and a learning resource center are available.

The campus is situated in the urban part of South Jakarta. A school bus provides transportation connections to the Pondok Indah, Kuningan, Senayan, Dharmawangsa, and Kemang districts.

The academic year begins in August and ends in June. It is divided into four terms, with breaks in between: a short autumn break, longer winter holidays, and a spring break. Indonesia's public and religious holidays are also included in the schedule.

Additional expenses:

• registration fee,
• annual school development fee,
• school uniform,
• learning materials,
• technology fee,
• transportation,
• meals, accommodation,
• English language support,
• individual academic support (if required),
• Cambridge IGCSE and Diploma Programme examination fees,
• Diploma materials,
• online courses (if this format is chosen),
• fee for Residential Learning off-site educational activities.

After the documents are submitted, the admissions committee contacts the family to clarify details and agree on the next steps, after which an interview is conducted with the school's principal or a member of the administration. If necessary, the child is offered a language assessment to determine their level of English proficiency.

If the school reaches a positive decision following the review, the family is sent an official offer letter, a contract, and an invoice. To confirm the place, the documents must be signed and returned, and the required payments made.

ACG School Jakarta accepts applications throughout the academic year, so a child can begin studying not only in August but also mid-year, provided places are available.

The senior school of ACG School Jakarta is focused on admission to foreign universities. In Years 12–13, students complete a diploma program, choose subjects according to their future specialization, prepare a research essay, build a portfolio of achievements, and earn academic recommendations.

The school helps senior students with the choice of countries, universities, and programs. For applications to the United Kingdom, UCAS is used; for the USA — Common App; for selecting universities and planning admissions — the Unifrog platform. Students receive assistance with recommendation letters, predicted grades, and academic transcripts. Through the Inspired network, students gain access to additional university counseling partners. Arete Educational Consulting assists with SAT preparation, university selection, essays, and admissions strategy. Finally, The Classroom Door works with academic subjects and exam preparation.

After graduation, students continue their studies at universities in Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, and Australia.

To apply, the following are required:

• passport or birth certificate of the child,
• current school reports,
• a photograph,
• results of tests and external exams, if already available,
• examples of academic work for senior grades, if the school requests additional materials.

All candidates undergo an interview with the principal or a senior administration representative: it assesses not only the academic level, but also the child's attitude toward learning, personal responsibility, and motivation. If necessary, a separate English language assessment is arranged for the applicant.

ACG School Jakarta offers academic scholarships for students entering Year 12. The program is designed for strong Indonesian candidates living in Jakarta: the school considers grades, academic potential, English language proficiency, personal motivation, and achievements in arts, culture, or sports during the selection process.

The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and the annual school development fee for the duration of study in Years 12–13. All other expenses remain the family's responsibility: school uniform, after-school activities, transportation, meals, examination fees, and other additional payments. The number of such scholarships is limited, so not all candidates receive them, even with high results. A scholarship applicant must:

• live in Jakarta,
• not be enrolled at another ACG school at the time of application,
• have a high level of English proficiency,
• have strong academic results,
• share the school's values and the Diploma student profile.

The application is submitted together with the enrollment documents. The candidate prepares a student resume with supporting materials, two letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word essay explaining what the student will gain from studying in this program and how their participation will benefit the school community. The final stage is an interview with the school principal.

The scholarship is reviewed annually. The student must maintain a high academic level, as the school may discontinue funding if results are unsatisfactory.

The Nsouli Scholars Programme is also available separately — a global scholarship program from the Inspired group: it is designed for 50 outstanding students at a time (across the entire network) and provides full funding to study at Inspired schools.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision