Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
Nationalities
| Number of students |
1700 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
40 |
| Most common nationality |
US, South Korea, Canada, Australia |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
100% international |
Languages
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
English as an Additional Language |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Chinese, Spanish, French |
Classroom
| Max. number of students per class |
Early Years: Maximum 12 students per class
|
| Average number of students per class |
12-22, depending on the grade level |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
ISB one-to-one MacBook laptop program for each student in Grades 2 through 12. They learn the modern skill of design thinking, they study science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM), and they use educational technology to support creativity. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes. |
Academics
| External examinations or assessments available |
IB Diploma (Grade 11 and 12), SAT |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes |
Student support
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
As an inclusive school, ISB serves students with diverse learning needs (mild, moderate, intensive). ISB also offers Learning support services and personalized learning. |
| Learning support offered |
Learning support services help students with learning challenges to become more independent learners. Specialists help students to strengthen their work habits and work on the remediation of skills so that students can benefit from the school curriculum. Classroom and learning support teachers work with parents to address the specific needs of students. In some cases, students require short-term interventions or accommodations and are offered learning support for up to a semester. When students require learning support over a longer period of time, ISB creates an Individual Learning Plan. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes |
Admissions
| Entry evaluation for students |
Admissions decisions are based on a variety of evaluative procedures including a review of official school transcripts, records, and similar documents. The Admissions committee may request that your child complete additional assessments. |
| Waiting list |
Depends on the grade level. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
Rolling enrollment |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
School day
| School start time |
8:15 |
| School finish time |
15:25 (Wednesday 14:25) |
| School bus service available |
Yes |
| School provided lunches |
Yes |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
A range of Western, Chinese and vegetarian meals are available. |
| Uniform required |
No |
Extracurricular activities
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
200+ activities offered including athletics, choir, orchestra, film, photography, theater, debate club, model united nations, service clubs, arts and cafts, and more. |
| Sports activities included |
Physical education |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
Facilities
| Facilities at the school |
12 science labs, 2 student cooking labs, 2 theaters, a Black Box theater, rehearsal space, and studio space. Two library-media centers with more than 82,000 volumes and over 160 magazine subscriptions. In addition, ISB has an Early Years Learning Center, Elementary School Arts Center and Theater, Middle and High School Performing Arts Center, and Middle and High School Art and Design Center. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
4 gymnasiums (1 with a climbing wall), baseball and softball diamonds, 2 soccer fields, a 665-seat stadium with a running track and rugby pitch, and an aquatics center with a 25-meter pool and diving boards. ISB also has two purpose-built sports and recreation domes enclosing six tennis courts and a wide range of indoor/outdoor sports and fitness areas. |
About the school
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
We are an inspiring international community in Beijing, where thinkers and leaders find their place in the world and serve others. So that our learning is at its best, we build strong relationships and set high expectations together. We are committed to challenging and joyful learning with the freedom to explore. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
At ISB, we strive to make learning challenging and joyful for our students and of most benefit to them when they graduate into our fast-changing world. A lot of schools choose to follow a set curriculum that has been tried and tested by other schools and that will remain in place for a long time. We take another approach. ISB is not tied to any one curriculum and therefore we are free to cherry-pick the best standards from around the world and design our own courses. We are committed to keeping up with research and best practice in education. As expert educators, what we know now about how best to teach is very different to what teachers in the previous generation knew. This means that good teaching today is far removed from what the parents of our students would have experienced at school. ISB’s international curriculum empowers students with purpose and compassion. We recognize the power of innovation, and our commitment to continuous improvement means that we’re always on a path of change and updating how we teach. We look to new practices backed up by research when we’re creating learning environments that will inspire your children. At ISB, students think about things in an interdisciplinary way. They learn the modern skill of design thinking, they study science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM), and they use educational technology to support creativity. |