German International School Washington D.C. vs Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School

	G German International School Washington D.C. Washington Dc, United States	W Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School Washington Dc, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $16,430 - 31,830	Fees / year $0 - 24,104
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 500	Pupils 701
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language Mandarin, English
Opened	Opened 1961	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The GISW campus is at 8617 Chateau Drive, Potomac, MD 20854. The school sits in a residential area near Washington, D.C. A Shuttle Bus Service runs from the Bolger Center, 9600 Newbridge Dr., Potomac, MD 20854, to the GISW campus, with multiple buses facilitating morning and after-school transportation.	Location Two campuses in Washington, DC: Elementary Campus at 220 Taylor Street NE and Early Years Campus at 4350 First Street NE, DC 20017. The campuses are in Ward 5, near the Brookland-CUA Metro station.
Stages	Stages Preschool (ages 2–4) with morning groups and an optional Afternoon Program and Extended Care; Elementary School from entry level through 4th grade with German curricula and English lessons at U.S. standards; Grades 5 through 12 earn the German International Abitur and a U.S. High School Diploma.	Stages PK3–5
School type	School type Independent, bilingual.	School type Public Charter School
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Special education services and English Language Learner support are provided.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure School hours are 8:05 a.m.–3:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:05 a.m.–1:05 p.m. on Friday. Extended hours run from 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. before school and 3:40 p.m.–5:45 p.m. after school on MTWTh (and 1:05 p.m.–5:45 p.m. on Fridays).
Bus service details	Bus service details Shuttle Bus Service from Bolger Center, 9600 Newbridge Dr., Potomac, MD 20854 to GISW and back. Three buses shuttle in the morning; the first leaves Bolger Center at 8:40 am. After classes, the first bus departs GISW between 11:35 and 11:40 am and returns to the Bolger Center. Direct drop-off or pick-up at GISW on Saturday mornings is not allowed; a parking pass is required to park on GISW grounds; buses are the default option for students and drivers with passes.	Bus service details Bus service via DDOT route D74 (Brookland-CUA).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Overview (fees listed below apply to the published 2025/26 schedule) Application & enrollment fees - Application fee (non‑refundable): USD 150. - New student enrollment fee (non‑refundable, per student): USD 2,500. A reduced enrollment fee of USD 1,400 applies for students moving from GISW Preschool to the School Entry Level (SEL). - Contract deposit (non‑refundable at signing; deducted from billing statement): USD 1,000 per student. - School Society membership fee (per family, per school year): USD 150. - Technology fee (per student, grades 1–12, per school year): USD 200. - Class account fee (per student, per school year): USD 150. Tuition — annual amounts by program and year group (full‑year tuition shown; two columns reflect the published early‑contract rate and the standard rate) - Preschool (5 days, Mon–Fri) — 2‑year‑old programs: - Morning Program only (8:00–13:15): USD 20,223 (early/required contract date) / USD 21,223 (standard). - Morning + Afternoon Program (8:00–14:45): USD 23,928 / USD 24,928. - Morning + Afternoon + Extended Care (8:00–16:45): USD 29,967 / USD 30,967. - Preschool — 3/4‑year‑old programs: - Morning Program only (8:00–13:15): USD 16,430 / USD 17,430. - Morning + Afternoon Program (8:00–14:45): USD 20,135 / USD 21,135. - Morning + Afternoon + Extended Care (8:00–16:45): USD 26,174 / USD 27,174. - School Entry Level (SEL) through Grade 12 — School day (includes afternoon program until 15:15): - SEL: USD 24,166 / USD 25,166. - Grades 1–6: USD 25,418 / USD 26,418. - Grades 7–12: USD 26,293 / USD 27,293. - SEL through Grade 9 — School day with Extended Care (15:15–16:45): - SEL: USD 29,703 / USD 30,703. - Grades 1–6: USD 30,955 / USD 31,955. - Grades 7–9: USD 31,830 / USD 32,830. - Extended Care drop‑in fee (Preschool–Grade 9), per instance: USD 50. Billing schedule and payment terms - Accepted payment schedules: annual (single payment), semi‑annual (two equal installments — typically August and January), or monthly (ten equal installments — typically August through May) processed through a tuition management system. Installment schedules divide the published annual tuition into equal payments for the chosen schedule. Credit card payments may incur a convenience fee charged by the tuition processor in addition to tuition. - Payment processing: tuition installments and recurring payments are handled through Blackbaud Tuition Management; families receive an enrollment email and set up their payment method (bank account or credit card). Semi‑annual withdrawals occur in August and January; monthly withdrawals are processed on the 5th or the 20th of each month (depending on family selection). Returned check, change, and late payment fees apply as published. - Payment by check/wire is accepted; when paying by automatic deduction, bank routing/ABA and account numbers are required. If paying by credit card, a processor convenience fee will be billed separately. Bus, cafeteria and other recurring program fees - Bus (annual, service available mornings and afternoons at 15:20 and 16:55) — zone pricing by route: - Zone A: USD 2,707; Zone B: USD 3,198; Zone C: USD 3,669; Zone D: USD 4,160; Zone E: USD 4,751. Single ticket (one‑way): USD 15. - Cafeteria (annual fee for Preschool–Grade 12): USD 1,260. - Returned check fee: USD 50. Change fee: USD 50. Second replacement bus pass fee and other minor administrative fees apply as published. Late payment fees are charged monthly until the account is current. - Bookstore and sports uniform purchases: books, school supplies, and sports uniforms are available for purchase through the school bookstore; payments accepted in USD by major credit card, cash, or US check. Sports uniforms are required only for athletic teams where applicable. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable. GISW operates as a day school; there are no boarding fees. Other one‑time or occasional costs - New student enrollment fee (non‑refundable) as noted above: USD 2,500 (or USD 1,400 for Preschool→SEL transition). - Class account fee: USD 150 per student, per school year. - Technology fee for Grades 1–12: USD 200 per student, per school year. - Parents' or School Society membership fee: USD 150 per family, per school year. - Occasional program or activity fees (school trips, athletics team fees, special course fees) may apply; sports team uniforms are purchased separately through the bookstore. Returned check and administrative change fees apply as listed above. Refund information and withdrawal terms - Tuition and fees are non‑refundable if a student leaves the school before the end of the school year. In cases of special hardship or family relocation that requires withdrawal during the school year, the school will consider a partial refund of prepaid tuition and/or waiver of remaining installments; decisions are made according to school policy and require a written request submitted within 10 days of withdrawal. Attendance for any part of a month is billed for the full month; leaves of absence require full payment of tuition and fees for the period. Fee payment options (methods accepted) - Automatic bank account withdrawal (ACH) or automatic credit card charge via Blackbaud Tuition Management (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). A convenience fee applies for credit card payments and is billed separately. Families may also pay by check or wire transfer to the school; specific bank details are provided during tuition enrollment/registration for payments. (End of fee overview.)	Fee details Application fees - There is no application fee charged by Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School for entry; all new applications are submitted through the My School DC common lottery system (no per-school application charge). Tuition fees (by year group / school year) - For District of Columbia resident students attending Washington Yu Ying PCS: there is no tuition and no mandatory school attendance fee; the school is a public charter school and does not charge tuition or mandatory payments for DC resident enrollment. - For non-resident students (i.e., students who are not DC residents) a non-resident tuition charge may apply. The OSSE Nonresident Tuition Payment Scale for school year 2025–2026 (used where applicable) lists annual non-resident tuition amounts by grade group as follows: 2025–2026 rates — Pre-K3: USD 20,194; Pre-K4 & Kindergarten: USD 19,591; Grades 1–5: USD 15,070; Grades 6–8: USD 16,276; Grades 9–12: USD 18,385. For public charter schools an additional facilities fee applies (USD 3,850 for SY 2025–2026). These non-resident and facilities amounts are billed in addition to any applicable program-specific charges for students who qualify as non-residents. (If 2026–2027 OSSE nonresident rates are needed, those should be checked when published; the figures above are the OSSE SY 2025–2026 schedule.) Per-term / per-year detail - DC resident students: Annual tuition per student = USD 0 (no per-term tuition). Mandatory per-term or per-year tuition charges are not assessed for DC resident students. - Non-resident students: the OSSE schedule above is expressed as an annual amount by grade band (annual total). Where charged, the OSSE annual total and the charter facilities fee are the baseline tuition-related amounts; billing frequency (term/month) for non-resident invoicing follows the enrollment agreement and OSSE/authorizer billing procedures. Billing schedule and payment terms - There is no school tuition billing for DC resident students. - Optional and program fees (for example: before- and after-care, paid meals for non-eligible students, and fee-based extracurricular activities or individual field trips) are billed separately from enrollment and are collected by the responsible program or vendor. Washington Yu Ying uses the REEF aftercare registration system for before/after-school care and E-Funds for lunch and fee payments; those systems manage their own registration and billing schedules and payment terms. Before- and after-care is offered on a sliding-scale / voucher basis when eligible; families are billed according to the vendor's published schedule when they register for those services. Parents should expect program-level billing (monthly or per-session) for aftercare and per-event billing for optional activities. Boarding / residential fees - Washington Yu Ying PCS does not operate a boarding program. Boarding fees are not applicable. Other costs and optional fees - School uniform: Not required. There is no mandatory uniform fee. - Meals: Breakfast is provided free to all students through the federal School Breakfast Program; paid lunch or snacks for families who do not qualify for free/reduced benefits are managed through the school's meal program and paid via the school's lunch payment system. Families should complete the Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) application if they believe they qualify for reduced or free meals. Meal charges, when applicable, are billed through the school's lunch payment system. - Aftercare / extended-day programs: Before- and after-school care is offered and is fee-based; fees are charged and collected through the school's aftercare vendor/registration system (REEF/EZChildTrack) and are subject to that vendor's rates and payment rules. Sliding-scale and voucher options are noted as available. - Field trips and voluntary activities: The school may charge fees for voluntary activities such as field trips or certain enrichment programs; such charges are activity-specific and billed separately when those activities occur. - Other incidental fees: The school maintains an online payments link for lunch and miscellaneous school fee payments (E-Funds). Any incidental or optional fee assessed to a family (for example, lost-library materials, optional program supplies, or community-event tickets) would be billed through the school's established fee-payment channels. Refund information - There is no tuition to refund for DC resident students. Refund practices for optional, paid programs (aftercare, paid lunches, field trips, enrichment classes) are determined by the specific program or payment vendor and by the school's program policies; families should follow the refund and cancellation policies published by the program provider at the time of registration for that program. Examples of the program vendors used for billing at the school include REEF (aftercare) and E-Funds (lunch & fees payments). Fee payment options - Online payment through the school's E-Funds Lunch & Fees Payments portal is used for meal and miscellaneous fee payments. - Before- and after-care registration and payment are processed through the REEF / EZChildTrack parent portal. Payment methods available there include the portal's accepted online payment methods (as provided by that vendor at registration). - For non-resident tuition billing, invoicing and permitted payment methods follow OSSE/authorizer billing procedures for out-of-district tuition (as applicable). Summary (key points for parents) - Washington Yu Ying PCS does not charge tuition or mandatory attendance fees for DC resident students; there is no per-term or per-year tuition to be paid by resident families. - Non-resident students may be billed OSSE's nonresident tuition by grade band plus a charter facilities fee (the OSSE SY 2025–2026 schedule provides the most recent published example of those amounts). - Optional services (aftercare, paid meals for non-eligible families, field trips, enrichment) have separate fees and are billed through the program vendors (REEF, E-Funds, etc.). Sliding-scale and voucher help for aftercare is available where eligible. If you need a single-line summary for a database entry: “Washington Yu Ying PCS: No tuition or mandatory fees for DC residents; non-resident tuition may apply per OSSE non-resident schedule (e.g., SY25–26 rates) plus charter facilities fee; optional paid programs (aftercare, meals, field trips) billed separately via REEF/E-Funds.”
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school does not require a uniform.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school provides lunch through SageDining. Meals are prepared daily with allergen labeling on the online menu and in the cafeteria. Lunch must be signed up for during the admissions process and is served daily in the cafeteria for Grades 1 through 12; preschool meals are prepared daily in the cafeteria with preschoolers eating in classrooms.	Food options The school provides lunch; it participates in the DC Youth Meals Program; free/reduced lunch forms are available; lunch payments are processed online.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The German International School Washington D.C. is governed by the German School Society, composed largely of GISW parents. Membership is open to adults 18+ who agree with the Society's purpose and pay an annual fee. The Board of Directors consists of nine members and oversees affairs not requiring Membership decisions; the Board includes the Head of School, the Director of Administration, a representative of the German Embassy, and the Chairs of the Parents' Association and Employees' Association.	Governance and ownership The school is governed by a Board of Directors, including a Board Chair Quinton Ng; it operates as a public charter school in Washington, DC.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Preschool: Ages 2 through 4; morning groups with the option of staying for the afternoon program and for extended care. Elementary School runs from School Entry Level through 4th grade with a modern learning environment, German curricula, English lessons at U.S. standards, and lab science. Grades 5 through 12 graduate with the U.S. High School Diploma and the German International Abitur, opening doors to universities worldwide. STEM/MINT is offered to allow students to specialize in rigorous mathematics and science curricula focused on problem-solving and research.	Curriculum details The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) within an immersive Chinese-English model. PK3 and PK4 have 100% Mandarin instruction with no English classroom instruction. Kindergarten and Grade 1 have Mandarin instruction for all subjects with 75% Mandarin and 25% English in core subjects, and English Language Arts is taught for 180 days. Grades 2–5 have a 50/50 Mandarin-English model with all subjects taught through 90 days Mandarin and 90 days English, delivered on an every-other-day language model.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates earn both the German International Abitur and a U.S. High School Diploma, enabling admission to universities worldwide.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented STEM/MINT Education offers specialized mathematics and science curricula focused on problem-solving and research.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning Counselor Grades 1-4 provides students with opportunities to address problems and conflicts during office hours. Social learning takes place daily across the school. GREIF stands for group-oriented, respectful, empathetic, interested, and friendly. The elementary team uses GREIF tokens to reward students who demonstrate these values. Tokens can be exchanged for small gifts; in Grades 1–2, students earn a gift after 10 griffins, and in Grades 3–4 after 15 griffins. The counselor coordinates parent meetings and collaborates with the secondary school counselor to support students' social and emotional development.	Social & emotional learning The school maintains a caring and family-like atmosphere, where community members know one another deeply and support one another.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), if applicable.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Language enrichment is embedded in daily life in the Preschool, with daily sessions helping children acquire German or English as a second language and learn about German and U.S. cultures. The two programs for language acquisition in early childhood, Finki, ich & wir and Hocus & Lotus, are designed to be playful and age-appropriate. The enrichment modules are integrated into daily life and can be combined in diverse ways to meet different development levels. An Overall Language Concept extends language learning from the Preschool through high school graduation.	English as an additional language The school teaches in English and Mandarin as part of an immersive Chinese-English model.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The Counselor for Grades 5–12 provides individual and group counseling, classroom guidance, student observation, responsive counseling, college counseling, referrals, and parent and teacher support. The counselor coordinates programs dealing with drug awareness and assertiveness training, peer mediation, and crisis intervention. The Counseling section also offers guidance resources with crisis hotlines and community resources for mental health support. The counselor can be reached at counselor@giswashington.org.	Mental wellbeing REEF is a before and afterschool care program, where students continue to develop traits of the IB Learner Profile utilized during the school day, and Yu Ying focuses on the development of the whole student.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The Health Room serves preschool through twelfth grade and operates weekdays 7:45am–3:15pm. The health care team includes a Health Care Manager, an Administrative Assistant, and counselors for the Elementary School and the Upper School. Absences due to illness are reported to the Health Room via the provided email or phone contact. Before admission, health forms are submitted, and after admission families receive access to Magnus Health to store medical documents; immunization requirements are listed and updated for entry and ongoing compliance. Basic immunizations include MMR and Varicella, with additional requirements for vaccines as students progress through grades SEL–12. Magnus Health login is used to upload documents and update emergency contacts. Anti-bullying policy and safeguarding-related resources are included in counseling materials and resources.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview GISW has a compact campus life with essential facilities to support daily routines. The school runs a bus program serving Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with morning service and afternoon dismissals at 3:10 pm and 4:45 pm; an early release bus route is available at 12:30 pm on short days. The Cafeteria, operated by SageDining, serves hot meals daily for Preschool through Grade 12 with allergen labeling on the menu. The Bookstore sells school books, supplies, and GISW merchandise, and the Health Room supports students from preschool through 12th grade.	Facilities overview The school operates two campuses. The Early Years Campus serves PK3 through Kindergarten and is located 0.2 miles from the Elementary Campus at 220 Taylor Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, where Grades 1–5 are taught. The Elementary Campus sits on a three-acre site with a 43,000-square-foot LEED-certified building. Founders Forest is a one-acre outdoor nature center on campus to support environmental learning. REEF provides before- and after-school care on-site.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities GISW provides Preschool, Elementary, and Grades 5 through 12 with STEM/MINT offerings. Elementary School features a modern learning environment, German curricula, English lessons at U.S. standards, and lab science. GISW graduates with the U.S. High School Diploma and the German International Abitur. The STEM/MINT program provides rigorous mathematics and science curricula focused on problem-solving and research. The FastTrack Program accelerates German language acquisition for students up to Grade 5, and NEWBEES offers support for new families.	Academic facilities The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and an immersive Chinese-English language model. PK3–PK4 have 100% Mandarin instruction; K–1 have about 75% Mandarin with 25% English; Grades 2–5 have a 50/50 Mandarin/English model with instruction in Mandarin and English on alternating days.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities GISW offers STEM/MINT Extracurricular activities, including Course Science for Experts, Neuroscience, Students Experiment, and Project Science Journalists. Competitions include Jugend präsentiert, Math Olympiad, Kangaroo of Mathematics, Pi Day, Pangea, Brain Bee Competition, Computer Science Beaver Competition, and FIRST LEGO League.	Extra curricular facilities REEF is the before- and after-school care program on campus.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History GISW is an independent bilingual German-American school serving the Washington, D.C. area, founded in 1961. It has delivered German-American education for more than 60 years. Students graduate with both the German International Abitur and a U.S. High School Diploma. It is part of the global network of German Schools Abroad, with more than 130 schools worldwide. Its motto is 'Independent. Bilingual. Weltoffen' (Open to the world).	History In 2008, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School was founded by a small group of parents dedicated to establishing a world-class Chinese immersion school in the District of Columbia. From the founding, Yu Ying has been the only school of its kind in the D.C. area. The school is driven by the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework within an immersive Chinese-English model.
Community	Community FRIENDS of the GISW is the volunteer booster club for GISW, established in 1969. The Newbees are dedicated parents who help new families settle in. An Alumni network connects former students, families, teachers, and staff. The campus life section highlights Open House events and features a Griffin Chatbot that answers questions about GISW.	Community The school has earned DC PCSB Tier 1 ratings for nine consecutive years. It serves 750+ students in PK–5 and has 2000+ YY alumni. Sixty-three percent of faculty hold advanced degrees, and the school is recognized as one of the most diverse schools in the United States. The building is LEED-certified and it has been designated a Green Ribbon School.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association FRIENDS of the GISW is the volunteer booster club of the German International School Washington D.C. It was established in 1969. The site invites readers to join the FRIENDS. It is a community group that participates in GISW events and activities. It is listed on GISW's site alongside other community groups such as The Newbees and Alumni.	Parent teacher association Yu Ying maintains a Yu Ying Parent Association with a dedicated site for parent activities. The association organizes longstanding traditions such as the Annual Gala and Fuel Free Fridays. There is a Parents Association Listserv for communication among families.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Authentic-STEM Projekt: Ninth-grade students solve real mathematical problems with international teams of scientists, students, and experts from German and American companies. Vogelprojekt: Environmental projects on campus enrich science instruction. Makeathon 2025: Makeathon projects bring young people from different countries and cultures together to develop innovations and solve problems. STEM/MINT: The STEM/MINT program allows GISW students to shape their profile in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology.	Academic & intellectual The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme to develop internationally minded learners. The PYP emphasizes inquiry-based learning and global perspectives. Yu Ying operates within a bilingual Chinese-English model, supporting language development across subjects. Learners and teachers work to develop the IB learner attributes: communicators, risk takers, open-minded, thinkers, knowledgeable, balanced, inquirers, principled, reflective, and caring.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Musik: All children love music; the kindergarten promotes movement and music, with biweekly official music sessions. German songs support language learning and English songs help us understand our environment. We dance and engage in musical counting and movement games, sometimes using simple Orff instruments, and we sing traditional German songs alongside contemporary English pieces. Kindergarten children march to the music circle with enthusiasm.	Arts & creative Specials classes connect students with expert teachers in performing arts, garden arts, music, and physical education. Elementary Visual Arts and Performing Arts are integrated into the program, with dedicated teachers for music and theatre. Students explore creative expression through dance, drama, instruments, and hands-on art projects. The program emphasizes experiential making and creative collaboration.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Bilingualism: Your child learns and grows in a bilingual environment—German and English—for a global future. Internationally connected: GISW is part of a global network of over 130 German international schools, signaling quality and worldwide orientation.	Cultural & language Immersion in Mandarin Chinese is woven into the IB framework. The immersion model includes full Mandarin instruction for PK3–PK4, and a mixed-language approach for older students, with substantial daily exposure to both Mandarin and English. Grades 2–5 use a 50/50 Mandarin and English structure on alternating days, while earlier years blend Mandarin and English across core subjects. The school is an International Baccalaureate World School.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies FRIENDS of the GISW is the school's volunteer booster club. NEWBEES are engaged parents who help new families settle in. Alumni stay connected after their time at the school and gather as a community.	Social & hobbies REEF is the before- and after-school program, running Monday through Thursday from 3:40 to 6:00 pm, with an elective menu that includes activities like sewing, painting, architecture, lacrosse, and other sports. Younger children follow a planned rotation, while older students choose from a variety of classes. Fridays feature a half-day schedule with REEF Fridays and frequent local-field trips to places such as Smithsonian museums.
Community & service	Community & service FRIENDS supports GISW through volunteer activities. NEWBEES provide orientation and assistance to new families joining GISW.	Community & service YY Values emphasize caring, diversity, and high expectations, with service embedded in the Caring attribute. The community is described as nurturing and family-like, and the school hosts community events such as Lunar New Year celebrations and KidFest. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led by an Executive Director, with board meetings monthly and an annual public meeting.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional 25 Years of MINT-EC – School Leadership Conference 2025 reflects GISW's engagement with STEM/MINT leadership and collaboration with national and international partners.	Leadership & professional Executive Director leads the two-campus school, supported by a Senior Leadership Team. A volunteer Board of Trustees provides governance and strategic oversight, meeting monthly and holding an annual public meeting open to the school community.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Kindergarten emphasizes play-based learning and lots of time outdoors. The kindergarten operates five groups with two-year-olds to four-year-olds in morning sessions from 8:00 to 13:15, with many children staying in aftercare until 14:45 or 16:45. The program also offers intensive language support in German and English, and a mix of half-day and full-day placements.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Founders Forest is a one-acre outdoor nature center on campus, part of a LEED-certified building that emphasizes natural light and fresh air. The campus environment supports sustainability and environmental learning. REEF aftercare offers structured activities aimed at social-emotional well-being, and Friday field trips broaden students' experiential learning.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught: German and English. German curricula are used, and English lessons are provided at U.S. standards. The school offers a bilingual environment with language support through the FastTrack Program. Students graduate with both the German International Abitur and the U.S. High School Diploma.	Language provision The school teaches Mandarin and English. The bilingual environment is designed to develop reading, writing and thinking in Chinese and English. It operates as an International Baccalaureate World School (IB PYP).
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school provides bilingual education in German and English.	Bilingual teaching The school offers Mandarin-English bilingual education with immersion. PK3/PK4 have 180 days of all subjects in Mandarin with no English instruction. PK/K Grade 1 have Mandarin for all subjects and 180 days of English Language Arts, with 75% Mandarin and 25% English classroom instruction, and daily instruction in both Mandarin and English. Grades 2-5 deliver all subjects with a 50% Mandarin / 50% English classroom instruction on an every-other-day language model.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs FastTrack Program: Accelerated German language acquisition for students up to Grade 5; personalized support for quick integration.	Immersion programs Immersion model by grade: PK3/PK4 – 100% Mandarin classroom instruction (180 days). K/Grade 1 – 75% Mandarin, 25% English (180 days Mandarin; 180 days English Language Arts) with instruction in Mandarin and English daily. Grades 2-5 – All subjects split 50/50 (90 days Mandarin and 90 days English) with an every-other-day language model.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards null
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations null
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Create an account on GISW's application portal to start the online application. Submit the required information and supporting documents via the portal. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to availability. The fee schedule includes an Application Fee of $150, a New Student Enrollment Fee of $2,500 (with contract signing and non-refundable), and a Contract Deposit of $1,000 (added to tuition, non-refundable). 2. After the Admissions Office reviews the application, the decision is posted in the application portal. The typical processing time is four to six weeks. GISW cannot accept new students in Grade 12. Application checklists cover Preschool (2, 3, 4-year-olds), Grades K-4, and Grades 5-11. 3. If admitted, sign the enrollment contract in the application portal. The contract submission is due 10 days after receipt. For questions, contact the Director of Enrollment Management, Ms.	Admissions To enroll, families apply through the My School DC lottery. Yu Ying participates in the My School DC common application and common lottery, which means only applications submitted through My School DC are accepted. New students must complete the Yu Ying online registration form via PowerSchool (you'll receive instructions in a separate email) and submit a copy of the child's birth certificate. You must also submit the DC Residency Form and proof of DC residency via DocuSign; the DocuSign message will include instructions on online completion and document attachment. Before the first day of school, submit additional forms including the DC Universal Health Certificate, the DC Oral Health Assessment Form, up-to-date immunizations, and any applicable Medical Dietary Accommodations Form or Milk Substitution and Philosophical Dietary Accommodations Form; provide an IEP if applicable. Immunizations must be current to attend in person. Siblings of current Yu Ying and DCI students may receive enrollment preference if they live with the current student in Washington, DC and are related by blood or adoption, or are a step-sibling. Equitable Access Preference: Yu Ying is open to all and sets aside seats for at-risk students (homeless, in DC foster care, or eligible for government benefits such as SNAP or TANF) to improve their chances of matching with Yu Ying when they select the school as a top choice in the My School DC lottery. The page notes a helpful My School DC lottery video and provides an “Apply Now” link for the process.
Scholarships	Scholarships GISW offers need-based financial aid through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) provides the need analysis used to determine awards. Awards typically range from 10% to 40% of tuition, with a maximum of $4,000 per student for Preschool. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; those submitted by February 20, 2026 are guaranteed a response by March 27, 2026 via email.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
	View full profile →	View full profile →