International Schools in Germany

There are compelling reasons why you might choose to send your children to one of Germany's many fine international schools.

Many English-speaking expatriates are educating their children at Germany's international schools, and an education at such a school has numerous advantages.

There is, of course, instruction in the native language. And, since the student body is usually quite international, they expose the young people to a variety of cultures. They also do a better job than most German schools of introducing the students to computers, and the program of sports and extracurricular activities is more like what they are accustomed to at home.

Physical plants and facilities are usually quite modern, clean and comfortable, with new equipment more conducive to learning. And the curricula among international schools is uniform, allowing ease of transfer. They usually are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and normally offer the International Baccalaureate. They may also offer the American high school diploma, British A Levels and, sometimes, the GermanAbitur.

The costs vary from school to school and in some cases may approximate what a US college education commands: as much as €16,000 per high school student per year. Preschool and elementary school grades may cost 30 to 50 percent less. Additional costs could include transportation, lunches, class trips and various special activities.

Here is a selection of some of the schools.

Bavarian International School

The Bavarian International School was established in 1990 to offer a full day English language education to children from the international community in the north of Munich.

Set in a green and peaceful park-like environment, the historic mansion known as Schloss Haimhausen has been renovated and adapted into Upper School classrooms and offices. Adjacent modern, purpose-built facilities house Middle and Lower School classrooms, science rooms, computer suites, libraries, a track and field and sports hall complex, and a 510 seat Performing Arts Center with excellent acoustic, lighting and sound facilities.

The school is accredited for Pre-school through 12th grade. BIS is approved by the government of Bavaria and fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the European Council of International Schools, and is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counselling, subscribing to NACAC's Statement of Principles of Good Practice.

The Lower School is authorized to teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and in August 2009 Middle School started to implement the International Baccalauerate Middle Years Programme as a candidate school.

Maximum class size in Lower School has been set at 20 in Pre-Reception, and 24 in grades Pre-Reception to 5. Maximum class size for both the Middle School (grades 6-8) and the Upper School (grades 9-12) is 24 students, and the average class size school wide is 19 students.

BIS has been authorized to administer the IB Diploma Program since 1995. The school strongly encourages and supports all Upper School students who possess the necessary aptitude and motivation to complete the requirements of the IB Diploma Program in Grades 11-12.

One of the things that parents value most about BIS is its friendly, small school feeling, and strong sense of community. Today the BIS community represents 45 nationalities and 27 diverse languages among its enrolment of 780 students and full time teaching staff of 81 teachers. The school's website is at www.bis-school.com.

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Berlin Brandenburg International School

Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS), founded in 1990, is a coeducational English language day and boarding school serving the internationally-minded community of Germany's capital region and beyond. The school is a limited-liability, non-profit entity. The BBIS campus is located in the village of Kleinmachnow, bordering the southwest of Berlin, on a large, quiet wooded hill known as the Seeberg.

BBIS offers an international education programme. An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, BBIS is fully authorized by the International Baccalaureate organization in Geneva, Switzerland to teach all three IB programmes covering the 3 to19 age range. The school is also fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).

From Early Childhood to grade 12, BBIS is truly an international school, with about 660 students representing 55 different nationalities. In grades 11 and 12 students have the opportunity to earn the IB Diploma, a qualification recognized by top universities throughout the world, or a BBIS High School Diploma accredited by MSA.

The school's commitment to academic excellence is matched by a belief in educating the whole person. BBIS offers excellent facilities and an extensive extracurricular programme for students of all ages. Classes are small, usually with fewer than 18 students, thus enabling the teachers to know each student well and address his or her individual needs. In addition, specific support is provided for students with special needs and those for whom English is not a first language.

The BBIS boarding facility, located in Potsdam-Babelsberg about 20 minutes from the BBIS campus, houses 20 international BBIS students from grades 6 through 12. It is the first international, English-language IB World Boarding School in all of Germany. In summer 2010 the boarding facility will move onto the school campus in Kleinmachnow and will then offer space for up to 35 students. For more details please visit www.bbis.de.

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Berlin British School

Providing an International Education for the Berlin community

The Berlin British School, based in the Berlin Charlottenburg district, has been offering British schooling for over 15 years. It started by offering pre-school, nursery and primary education in English, before rapidly expanding to encompass the full range of secondary education. These days at its three locations it accommodates around 400 children aged between 3 and 18 from some 40 nationalities. "Nurturing enquiring minds" is the school’s motto - a philosophy embraced by all members of the school community. The school’s mission statement reflects the promotion of a culture of life-long learning where each member is given the opportunity to reach their full potential, sharing in the happiness, well being and success of their fellows, and embracing the diversity of cultures within the community.

Small sized classes of up to 22 children allow the teachers, who are mostly native speakers, to care for the individual needs of the children. The School’s curriculum provides an education based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Educational content, targets and performance assessment are applied without neglecting the individual learning needs of every child. Extra English lessons are provided for children who acquire English as an additional language, and German classes are offered for all, at levels to suit both non-native and native German speakers. Interactive whiteboards in each classroom enhance the learning experience across the curriculum. Sports are an integral part of school life and together with music play a major role in extra-curricular activities.

Website: www.berlinbritishschool.de.

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International School of Bremen

The International School of Bremen was founded in 1998 with three pupils. It now has more than 330 students from Early Learning through to Grade 12. It is located in the quiet residential Schwachhausen district, close to the city center. Bremen is a well established city with all modern amenities and a medieval center. It is considered the science center of Germany and hosts two universities.

The mission of the school is to serve the educational needs of families who are internationally mobile or are internationally minded.

Students in the elementary section follow the International Primary Curriculum. Secondary students prepare first for getting the IGCSE at 16 and then study for the International Baccalaureate in Grades 11 and 12. Class size is small and the school prides itself on a calm caring approach to learning.

The school is recognized as an Ersatzschule and is a full member of the Council of International Schools and ECIS. Its website is at: www.isbremen.de/.

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International School of Düsseldorf

The International School of Düsseldorf continues to grow, reflecting a finding of the German Government that the Rhein-Ruhr area, centering on Düsseldorf, shows the fastest increase in English-speaking expatriates. Last year it celebrated its 40th anniversary. Its 34,500 square meter campus is situated near the Rhine in the suburb of Kaiserswerth.

The school enrolls 1000 students from 49 nations, and a faculty of 120 from 21 countries provides instruction from reception (age 4) to grade 12. Eighty percent of the faculty have degrees beyond the BA. Facilities include three libraries, seven science labs, a visual arts center, a performing arts center, an information technology center, a design technology center, a 400-seat theater and three cafeterias.

Sports and other extra-curricular activities are an important part of the students' life. There are off-campus athletic fields including a clubhouse. ISD competes internationally within the Northwest European Council of International Schools. In 1995, ISD founded a Sportverein (Sport Association), which has some 50 teams and competes at local level.

ISD is an International Baccalaureate world school. In addition to being accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization, ISD also has the accreditations of the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It also has the vaunted Nordrhein-Westfalen Ministry of Education seal of approval.

Instruction is in English but the German language is a requirement, starting in Preparatory. Other languages taught are French, Spanish, Japanese and a large number of mother tongues. A large team of volunteers enrich ISD's educational efforts and support the new families on their arrival. For full details, please visit www.isdedu.de .

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Frankfurt International School / International School Wiesbaden

The Frankfurt International School (FIS), founded in 1961, is by far the largest international school in Germany, with a student population of over 1,800 from more than 50 countries. It employs over 300 well-qualified and experienced faculty and staff from almost 30 different countries. The school is organized into four school divisions: the Primary Division age 3 to Grade 1, the Elementary Division Grades 2-5, and the Upper School Grades 6-12, all of which are in Oberursel. The International School Wiesbaden (ISW) operates as a branch of FIS at a separate campus in Wiesbaden for students age 3 to Grade 6.

FIS/ISW is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, and it is a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). It takes an inquiry-based approach to learning utilizing the Primary Years Program and the IB Diploma Program. English is the language of instruction, but German is mandatory. English as a Second Language is taught as well as Dutch, Swedish, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and French.

FIS/ISW is committed to educating the whole child. Therefore it offers a well-rounded curriculum with strong academics, athletics, performing arts and visual arts programs as well as a broad range of extra-curricular activities, clubs and service projects. The school also invests heavily in information technology and operates an advanced information technology support system at all campuses with over 500 computers, classroom SMART Boards, sophisticated software, and wireless LAN. The excellent facilities include a Science, Design and Technology, and Performing Arts Center which opened in 2007.

FIS is recognized as an allgemeinbildende Ergänzungsschule. The website can be found at www.fis.edu.

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Metropolitan School Frankfurt Metropolitan School Frankfurt

Metropolitan School Frankfurt is a mid-sized international all-day preschool, primary school and soon secondary school teaching the International Baccalaureate Programme for children older than three. Metropolitan provides an international education for approximately 300 students from 32 countries with 28 different languages. We are going to grow to 600 students over the next couple of years.

Classes are small and taught by native English speaking BA/MA teachers with a child centered, inquiry based pedagogy based on the PYP Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Instruction is in English but the German language is a requirement, starting in Kindergarten. There is early morning care starting at 8:00 and an extensive after school enrichment programme as well as afternoon care until 5:30.

The spacious school campus is centrally located within the Frankfurt city area and contains a parent parking lot, a modern three-wing school building with 30 classrooms, a science lab, a multimedia center/IT room, interactive smart boards, a school library and special early morning care and afternoon care rooms. Across the large playground there are further functional rooms, the school kitchen and lunch room facilities that seat 300 children.

Metropolitan School Frankfurt has been authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and is a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Association of German International Schools (AGIS).

The school benefits from its special authorization status and funding granted by the German School authorities ("Ersatzschule"). That allows Metropolitan to offer very competitive fees.

Website: www.m-school.de

Munich International School

Commitment to high quality education in a truly multicultural setting characterizes Munich International School (MIS). Founded in 1966, MIS currently meets the educational needs of 1200 students in programmes beginning with early childhood through grade 12. Students and teachers from fifty nations and cultures collaborate and learn together every day.

The beautiful 26-acre campus lies near scenic Lake Starnberg and hosts 'Schloss Buchhof', a 130-year old castle, Bavarian-style buildings with spacious, light-filled classrooms, computer and science laboratories, two libraries, art and music rooms, a cafeteria, three gymnasiums and a 450 seat performing arts center. Outdoor facilities include various sports fields, tennis courts, three playgrounds, a school garden and a nature trail.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, MIS was one of the first schools authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Program. From Early Childhood to Grade 5 transdisciplinary themes guide the development of skills and learning. Intercultural Awareness, Communication and Holistic Learning are the key concepts of the Middle Years Program in Grades 6 to 10. These foundations are essential to international education and seek to promote students who are aware of themselves and those around them, students who can communicate effectively and who do not seek knowledge for its own sake but rather to become inquiring and lifelong learners. In the final two years, the IB Diploma Programme, students are prepared for higher education. Two guidance counselors encourage career planning to make students aware of the education and skills necessary to pursue lifetime goals. MIS IB Diploma graduates attend some of the finest colleges and universities around the world.

In order to offer students the greatest benefits from their experience of living in Germany, MIS offers German language instruction to all students. This encourages our student body to communicate effectively and participate in local culture events.

In order to take advantage of the experience of living in Germany and Europe, there is a wide range of field trips at all school levels. Sports activities such as soccer, skiing, volleyball, basketball, track and field, tennis, cross-country and softball play an important role. MIS competes in several international school competitions and participates in local leagues. Students may also select from a variety of activities in the fine arts, ranging from painting, drawing and ceramics to handicrafts, drama, and dance. There are several School choirs, bands as well as an orchestra. Students participate in the International School Theater Festival, the Speech and Debate Team, Math Competition as well as other exciting international school tournaments.

Community Service is an extremely vital part of the program at MIS and is a way in which students from all over the world can work in and with the local community and thereby gain and grow on a personal level through the giving and helping of others. For many years MIS' students, staff members and parents actively participate in fundraising activities for projects in Tanzania, Unicef and other organizations.

The international and multicultural community of MIS seeks to develop in young people an active and lasting commitment to international cooperation. The strong MIS community of students, teachers and parents work together closely to fulfill these goals and its mission as an IB World School.

For further information check the school website at www.mis-munich.de.

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Regensburg International School

Regensburg International School offers an English medium education to children from both the international and local communities in Regensburg and Eastern Bavaria. It supports the educational needs of globally mobile students as well as those of local students who are interested in an international education in an international environment. It is authorised by the Bavarian education authorities.

The school is committed to offering a high quality, challenging, international education. Its aim is to develop in each student the ability to think critically and creatively, and to become reflective and independent life-long learners who are socially responsible, concerned for the environment, and ready to face the complex challenges of the modern world.

RIS began in August 2009, admitting students to grades 1 to 4. In the next few years, it is planned that the school will expand, adding both a Pre-School (3-6 year olds) and classes from grade 5 to grade 12, with grade 11-12 students able to study for the IB Diploma, a leading, internationally recognized pre-university qualification and recognized in Germany as equivalent to the 'Abitur'.

Since October, the school has been accepted as a candidate school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the IB, beginning the trial implementation phase which is required as part of the application process for authorization to offer the PYP and to become an IB World School.

As well as English as the main language of instruction, there is strong support for German, taught both as a first language (Mother Tongue) and as a second language. The school day is from 8.00 to 15.15, with an optional after-school care programme till 17.00. Enrolment is possible anytime during the school year.

For further information, please visit the website at www.regensburg-international-school.com.

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St. George's International School

St. George's International School has been an integral part of the international community in Nordrhein-Westfalen since 1985 when it was founded by an English family in Cologne. Since then, St. George's has founded further schools in Duisburg (2002) and Aachen (2007). With over 1000 pupils in its three schools, St. George's success lies in its aim to offer children happy school years.

St. George's provides a full school day for pupils aged 3 to 18 and incorporates all school years including Nursery School and Reception Classes, Early Years, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School until A-Level or IB diploma. Both diplomas are accepted world-wide for university entrance.

Individual support and attention are placed on pupils in regard to their native school system thereby enabling them to return smoothly to their native country's system if necessary. 45 % of St. George's student body is comprised of German pupils and the rest comes from 35 different nations; hence integration is not only theory but is practiced on a daily basis. A school uniform further enhances integration and solidarity between pupils. All children are introduced and immersed in traditions, holidays and history of the local German culture.

It is St. George's aim to achieve the highest possible academic standard by means of small classes (maximum 20 pupils per class), a dedicated and enthusiastic staff and a positive atmosphere throughout the school. The student-teacher ratio of 7.5 to 1 allows for individual attention to be placed on each pupil's specific need, for stronger and weaker pupils alike. Non English speakers are given extra support through the ESL department. The first foreign language taught is German which is divided into German for native speakers and German for non-native speakers; the second foreign language taught is French. After school clubs are offered on a regular basis.

More information on the programs can be found at:
www.stgeorgesschoolcologne.de
www.stgeorgesschoolduisburg.de
www.stgeorgesschoolaachen.de

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International School of Stuttgart

The International School of Stuttgart is a CIS/NEASC-accredited, International Baccalaureate World School with over 20 years of experience and tradition in offering an international curriculum to a co-educational student body of over 600 from over 45 countries. Among its strengths are its student-centered and holistic approach to learning, its commitment to professional development and its emphasis on student pastoral care.

We cater for students from Kindergarten (3 to 5 years old) through 12th Grade and offer an Early Years pre-school programme, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in grades 1 to 5, the IB Middle Years Programme in grades 6 to 10 and the IB Diploma to the 11th and 12th grades. The teaching and learning is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds and school systems and the programmes facilitate students' re-entry into their national systems or transfer to other International Schools worldwide.

ISS is the only school in the Stuttgart area that offers both a traditional English language programme and a bilingual programme. The dual language (English/German) programme at our satellite campus in nearby Sindelfingen has been designed to serve the needs of local German as well as internationally-mobile families and reflects recent research into additional language learning.

ISS has a consistently good record of college placement, with recent graduates attending universities such as the University of Toronto, the University of T&uum;bingen, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, Oxford University, University of California, Frankfurt International Business School, Melbourne University and the Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm.

ISS is housed in spacious, architect-designed accommodation and is well-resourced for an outstanding educational experience, including appropriate information technology for learning, laboratories, a gymnasium, media centre, art & technology studios, auditorium and cafeteria. We offer a wide-ranging sports and extra-curricular activities programme, and specialised college guidance and careers counseling. Our parents, as key stakeholders in the school, are an essential part in the education of children and an active Parent Teacher Association also helps relocating families to settle in, make new friends, find their way around and to feel part of the school and the local community.

A varied After School Sports and Activities Program offers students the opportunity to play soccer and basketball competitively in the local Stuttgart leagues and with other international schools as well as other activities including track and field, swimming, Hip-Hop, badminton, additional language learning and crafts. An instrumental program includes individual lessons in piano, violin, flute, drums, guitar, saxophone and clarinet. For further information visit www.international-school-stuttgart.de.

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Schule Schloss Salem

Schule Schloss Salem is Germany's best-known boarding school. In 1920, it was founded by Kurt Hahn, who later also founded Outward Bound and the United World Colleges.

Salem comprises four beautiful campuses, all within twenty minutes drive of one another on the northern arm of Lake Constance, near Germany's borders with Switzerland and Austria at the edge of the Alps. The School consists of three divisions on separate campuses for pupils of different ages. These are Hohenfels Castle (Lower School, approximately 90 pupils aged 10-12), Salem Castle (Middle School, approximately 290 pupils aged 13-17), and Salem International College (Spetzgart Castle and the Haerlen Campus, Upper School, approximately 320 students aged 16-19).

The academic program in years 5-7 is delivered in German. Intensive instruction in German as a foreign language is available for international students. Even students arriving at the school with no German are fluent within one school year. For international students already fluent in English there is an accelerated English program leading to the attainment of the British GCSE qualification.

From year 8 onward, Salem is fully bilingual and offers a dual curriculum. Students may either study in the International Classes (years 8-10) in which the language of instruction is English. The international Classes follow the curriculum of the State of Baden-Württemberg but also include features of the IB similar to the International Pre-IB-programmes. Approximately one third of the students in the upper years are in the IB system. A significant proportion are from an international background.

At Salem, involvement in extra-curricular activities and the life of the boarding community are emphasized as much as academic achievement. All students in the upper years must engage in at least one afternoon a week of community service. All students must also participate in a regular program of sports and/or outdoor pursuits. Participation in theatre, music and visual arts extra-curricular programs, while not mandatory, is strongly encouraged.

Approximately one-third of students are granted scholarships based on both need and merit. Students are well prepared for tertiary studies, with almost all graduates eventually attending the most selective German and international universities.

Schule Schloss Salem will be holding "Open House" days in 2010 and 2011. They will offer prospective students and parents a chance to see the school grounds and facilities as well as provide an opportunity to talk with faculty and staff. They are scheduled for 13 November 2010, 26 March 2011 and 14 May 2011. For more details, contact the school. Homepage: www.salem-net.de

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Other international Schools

Other international schools in Germany include the Berlin British School, Berlin International School, Metropolitan School Berlin, Black Forest Academy, Bonn International School, Independent Bonn International School, Dresden International School, Franconian International School, ISF Internationale Schule Frankfurt-Rhein/Main, Hamburg International School, International School Hannover Region, Heidelberg International School, Leipzig International School, Obermayr International School, International School Villa Amelienhof in Berlin, ISR Internationale Schule am Rhein in Neuss, Thuringia International School Weimar and John F. Kennedy School - Berlin.

There are two other websites that can be visited for information on international schools in Germany: The European Council on International Schools at www.ecis.org and The Association of German International Schools at www.agis-schools.org

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