For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.
The International School of Beijing is an independent, co-educational day school offering an international curriculum for the children of expatriate families. Established in 1980, ISB was the first international school in the city and continues to embrace the challenges and rewards of the future of education. The school maintains its reputation for academic excellence as it explores new models of teaching and learning. Through a tailored, connected, real-world curriculum known as Learning21@ISB, experienced and passionate teachers provide students with exceptional opportunities to grow as individuals, as scholars, and as contributing members of the community. ISB strives to nurture confidence and intellectual curiosity of its students through experiential learning and innovative applications of knowledge and skills.
Founding date: January 1980
School type: International school
Grades offered: Pre-K to Grade 12
Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes
Accreditations: ISB is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) from Europe, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in the US, and the National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT) in China. ISB is an IB World School since 1991 with the full IB Diploma Program or IB Course options for students in Grades 11 and 12. ISB is an active member of The East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), participates in the International Schools Athletic Conference (ISAC), the Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC) and the Global Online Academy.
Tuition fees (2013-2014* academic year):
Pre-K3 (half day): RMB 73,650; RMB 11,660 (capital levy fee)
Pre-K4 (full day): RMB 134,670; RMB 11,660 (capital levy fee)
Kindergarten: RMB 157,830; RMB 14,070 (capital levy fee)
Grades 1-5: RMB 157,830; RMB 33,710 (capital levy fee)
Grades 6-8: RMB 169,350; RMB 33,710 (capital levy fee)
Grades 9-12: RMB 186250; RMB 33,710 (capital levy fee)
*These are the fees for 2013-2014 school year. Please visit the website for the latest information.
Lunch fee: RMB 17-25/day, features range of Western, Chinese and vegetarian meals
Transportation fee: RMB 8,710-14,120 (depending on distance)
Age range: 3-18
Number of students: Approximately 1,900
Nationality of students: US, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and more
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? No
Primary teaching language: English
Other languages taught: English (ESOL), Chinese, French and Spanish
Class size: 12-22
Teacher/student ratio: 1:9
School hours: 8.15am-3.25pm
After-school activities: Athletics, choir, orchestra, film, photography, theater, debate club, Model United Nations, service clubs, wushu, arts and crafts, and more
School facilities: Two purpose-built sports domes sit side-by-side on an area of over 8,500sqm. The campus also hosts four fully-equipped gymnasiums (one with a climbing wall); baseball and softball diamonds; two full-sized turf soccer fields and an aquatics center with a 25m pool with diving boards. The campus holds 12 state-of-the-art science labs in Elementary, Middle and High School, a dedicated visual arts wing in Middle School and High School and art studios in Elementary School. The Performing Arts wing consists of a 600-seat theater, black box theater, a rehearsal space and studio stage. The campus also houses two library-media centers with more than 82,000 volumes and over 160 magazine subscriptions. ISB supports a one-to-one MacBook laptop program for each Grade 2-12 student with wireless network and internet available throughout the school. A pharmaceutical grade (H-14) air filtration system is effective throughout the campus to create a clean and healthy learning environment.
Total area: 133,500sqm
School nurse or doctor available? Yes, available for each school division.
Contact: 10 Anhua Jie, Shunyi District (8149 234 ext 1047, admission@isb.bj.edu.cn) www.isb.bj.edu.cn 顺义区安华街10号
Word from a Parent:
“Finding the right school was our greatest concern when we considered our first expat assignment in 2013. We wanted our children to be in an academically-rigorous program with a strong community atmosphere, and were looking for an environment that would encourage a world view and allow our children to grow as leaders and innovative thinkers. Having three children, one at each level of the school, we wanted curriculum alignment with US middle schools, high schools, and colleges. ISB shares these goals with us. The Experiential Learning program is a great example of a strong curriculum with opportunities for students to build and apply new skills in new settings. The community is rich in opportunities to get involved. A wide variety of after-school enrichments and sports keep our children busy. We wanted to ensure they would experience the richness of China’s traditions and have been delighted with the integration of Chinese culture into the curriculum at ISB.”
Katie Quillin (US), mother of three ISB students (ages 15, 12, and 10)
For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide email editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on participating in our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com. To pre-register for the School Choice Fair click here.
Photo courtesy of ISB
