I feel like international school and affordable don’t belong in the same sentence. They’re expensive because they cater to rich expats.
Of course, ‘affordable’ is relative. However, some international schools are more affordable than others. As is the case here.
I know some expats left Taiwan because even though they’re rich, due to tuition at international schools it was cheaper for them to live in the states despite the high cost of living.
Many foreigners just send their kids to local schools. Much more affordable and they integrate with the local culture.
My daughter goes to a local school. Partly for integration reasons and partly for financial reasons. I could afford a second tier international school, but it would be a big financial hit for me.
Not everyone is willing to integrate their children with locals, you pay for the right to keep them segregated at international schools.
As for academic pressure, this is more a parenting issue.