Kedah has 7 registered private schools: 1 private primary, 2 private secondary, and 4 international schools. Most are concentrated in Alor Setar and Sungai Petani, the state’s two main urban centres, with a handful serving families in Kulim and Langkawi. Compared to the Klang Valley or Penang, the private school market here is small and tightly knit. Families tend to know the options well, and word of mouth carries real weight.
Private school curricula in Kedah
The most common curricula among Kedah’s private schools are Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels, each offered at two schools. Two schools also run the IB Diploma, which is notable for a state this size. It means families wanting an internationally portable qualification do not necessarily have to relocate to Penang or KL. The remaining schools follow the Malaysian national curriculum or combine it with religious studies. There is no single dominant pathway here; the small number of schools means each one carves out a fairly distinct identity.
Private school fees in Kedah
Published fee data for Kedah’s private schools is not currently available on this site. In practice, fees in northern states tend to sit below the national median for each school type. Families coming from Penang or KL often find the cost of private education in Kedah noticeably lower, though this also reflects smaller campuses and fewer co-curricular extras. For the latest fee information, check individual school pages or visit our fees overview for context on how private school costs compare nationally.
Choosing a private school in Kedah
Kedah is not a state where you browse 30 options and shortlist five. With only seven schools, the practical question is usually which curriculum and location combination works for your family. If you live in Sungai Petani, the commute to Alor Setar is manageable but daily; if you are on Langkawi, your choices are even more limited. Expatriate families posted to the northern corridor (often linked to the Kulim Hi-Tech Park) should start their search early, as intake sizes are small and mid-year entry is not always straightforward. Our school selection guide covers the key questions to ask during visits, regardless of state.