International School of Düsseldorf vs ISR International School on the Rhine

	I International School of Düsseldorf Dusseldorf, Germany	I ISR International School on the Rhine Dusseldorf, Germany
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €19,100 - 21,570	Fees / year €14,140 - 21,050
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, German Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 950	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened 1968	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISD is located in the heart of Düsseldorf, Germany. The main campus is Niederrheinstrasse 336, 40489 Düsseldorf, Germany. It is a K-12 IB flagship school in the heart of Düsseldorf.	Location ISR is located in the Düsseldorf/Neuss area of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. The main campus is Konrad-Adenauer-Ring 2, 41464 Neuss. An international Kindergarten operates in Düsseldorf-Niederkassel and a German-speaking Kindergarten in Meerbusch-Büderich, extending ISR's reach across the region. The campus is accessible by car and public transport, and a school bus service operates across Düsseldorf–Neuss–Meerbusch.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten / Early Years Programme; Elementary School; Senior School (Middle Years Programme; Diploma Programme). ISD provides a full IB programme from Kindergarten through Grade 12.	Stages The school has an international Kindergarten, an international primary school, and an international middle and upper school.
School type	School type IB World School	School type The school is a private English-speaking international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Over 1100 children from 60 countries attend ISR.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support The school provides individualized support for students based on their abilities.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany	Country affiliation Affiliated with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and recognized as a private school.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure ISR is a full-day school.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Four bus companies provide school transport across the Düsseldorf–Neuss–Meerbusch region. Partners include Zweelo and Wabbels; the service is emission-free and serves approximately 90 children on 12 routes.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - A one-time, non-refundable Admission Fee (Admission Contribution) of €6,500 is required on confirmation of a place. - A non-refundable application/enrolment processing fee of €100 will be charged during the enrolment process starting 1 August 2025. Tuition fees (annual) by year group - Pre-school (3yo, Reception, Prep): €20,320 per year. - Grades 1–2: €20,320 per year. - Grades 3–5: €21,130 per year. - Grades 6–8: €22,740 per year. - Grade 9: €24,270 per year. - Grade 10 (includes MYP e-Assessment): €24,610 per year. - Grade 11: €27,010 per year. - Grade 12 (includes a graduation contribution): €27,450 per year. Note on per-term charging and pro‑rata adjustments - Tuition figures above are stated as annual contributions. Tuition is adjusted pro rata for students who begin or leave during the school year according to the school's published arrival and departure percentages. For students arriving after the start of the year, the contribution percentages by month apply (August and September 100%; October 95%; November 85%; December 75%; January 65%; February 55%; March 45%; April 35%; May 25%; June 15%). For students leaving during the school year, legally effective termination with three full months' notice produces reimbursements of 50% if termination is effective 31 December, 20% if effective 31 March, and 0% if effective 30 June. Because the school issues annual contributions and applies pro‑rata rules for mid‑year moves, separate published per‑term fee figures are not provided. Billing schedule and payment terms - The ISD financial year runs from 1 August to 31 July. Annual contributions are invoiced and must be paid no later than 30 days after receipt of the invoice. The Admission Contribution becomes due on issuance of its invoice and the student's start date can only be set after that payment has been received. Students who arrive or leave during the course of the school year will have tuition adjusted in accordance with the contract and pro‑rata schedule. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. ISD operates as a not‑for‑profit, independent, co‑educational day school; there are no boarding fees. Other costs and optional fees - After‑school activities and private programmes: Costs vary by activity and tutor (extra‑curricular activities, arts festivals, competitive sports team fees, private music lessons). - After‑school care (Cub Club): charged per day; the listed 2024–25 rate is €15 per day. - Cafeteria lunches: subsidised hot lunches are available; 2024–25 sample prices were €4.17 (Reception–Grade 2), €5.56 (Grades 3–5), and €5.95 (Grades 6–12). - Summer camps: typical five‑day camps in recent years cost around €250. - Mother‑tongue courses, private music lessons and certain trips/festival attendance are additional and priced individually. Refund information - The Admission Fee (Admission Contribution) is one‑time and non‑refundable. Annual tuition reimbursements for students who leave during the school year follow the published schedule: 50% reimbursement if termination is effective 31 December, 20% if effective 31 March, and 0% if effective 30 June (termination requires three full months' notice). Tuition for students who join after the academic year starts is charged on a pro‑rata basis according to the monthly percentage scale. Fee payment options - The school accepts payment by bank transfer to the ISD accounts specified on invoices; the official contribution schedule provides the bank names, IBAN and SWIFT/BIC details to be used for euro transfers. Payments are required in EUR unless otherwise stated on the invoice. Families must follow the invoice details when making payments. Brief summary of findings and limitation - The school publishes annual tuition by grade and a one‑time Admission Fee; it invoices annual contributions and applies pro‑rata rules for mid‑year arrivals and departures. The school's published materials do not provide a separate official per‑term fee table; per‑term amounts are therefore not directly published and would be calculated from the annual contribution or determined by the school's invoice schedule.	Fee details Application fees - No fixed, publicly listed application, assessment or one-time registration fee amount is published; the school requires completion of an applicant questionnaire and provides the specific admission-related charges after the application is processed. Tuition fees (by year group, per term and per year) - ISR does not publish a public, grade-by-grade fee table showing exact per-term and per-year amounts. Fees vary by grade level and campus. - Third-party listings report typical annual tuition ranges for ISR in the region at approximately EUR 13,000 to EUR 20,000 per year depending on the student's grade/program; those listings do not provide an official per-term breakdown from the school. Use the listed annual range only as an indicative guide because no official per-term/per-grade schedule is published publicly. Billing schedule and payment terms - No standard public billing schedule (for example fixed invoice dates or a published instalment calendar) is provided in the school's publicly available fee materials. The school states that tuition funds all operations and that specific fee amounts are communicated to families through the application/admissions process. Boarding fees (if applicable) - The school's public fee information does not include a published boarding programme fee schedule. Some external listings include boarding figures (for example one third-party listing shows an annual boarding amount for older grades), but there is no boarding fee table published in the school's public fee materials. Other costs and typical additional charges - Additional costs commonly associated with attendance that are referenced in public materials and third-party summaries include: school meals/catering, school-bus transport, textbooks and learning materials, examination fees (external examinations where applicable), extracurricular activity fees, and school uniform or merchandise. Specific prices for these items are not presented in a public fee table. - Summer-school and short programme charges are published for those separate programmes; a published past Summer School contract shows programme fees by package and a stated enrollment cancellation fee of EUR 50 for that programme. These programme charges are separate from standard tuition. Refund information - No public, detailed refund or withdrawal schedule for regular tuition (percent refunds by notice period) is published in the school's publicly available fee material. A published Summer School contract includes a specific small cancellation fee for that programme, but a comprehensive tuition refund table is not published in the publicly available fee pages. Fee payment options - The school's public fee pages do not publish a definitive list of accepted payment channels (for example which credit cards, electronic payment portals or the exact bank-transfer details are used). Payment methods and invoicing arrangements are provided to families through the admissions/accounting process. Summary statement for database use - ISR operates on tuition funding that varies by grade and campus; the school does not publish a public, grade-by-grade per-term and per-year fee schedule. Approximate annual tuition ranges reported by third-party sources are EUR 13,000–EUR 20,000, and some third-party listings include separate boarding figures for older grades. Specific application, instalment, refund and payment-method details are communicated to applicants through the school's admissions/accounting process rather than in a public fee table.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school has no uniform requirement. A dress code applies to all students. For sports, ISD teams wear the ISD sports uniform, which can be purchased from the ISD Store.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Subsidised hot lunches are available in the elementary and senior school cafeterias via the lunch card system. Fresh vegetables, side salads, and fresh fruit accompany meals, with a full vegetarian option each day. Packed lunches are welcome, and the senior school cafe offers sandwiches, panini, fruit salads, and other snacks; purchases are made with the lunch card.	Food options Meals are prepared daily on-site by ISR's catering team, with two daily lunch options (at least one vegetarian); pork is not used, poultry or beef is included, and fish is served weekly. A salad bar and fresh fruit are available, with desserts twice a week, and menus align with the German Nutrition Society guidelines. There is also a kiosk offering healthy snacks.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The ISD Board of Trustees governs the school. The Board consists of seven elected members, up to three appointed members, and up to three ex-officio members, with ex-officio including the school director and a representative from the US Consulate General in Düsseldorf.	Governance and ownership The school is owned and operated by ISR International School on the Rhine GmbH, with Peter Soliman as the sole managing director. Supervising authorities are the Ministry of School and Education of North Rhine-Westphalia for the School and the Landschaftsverband Rheinland for the Kindergarten.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school has a full IB Continuum curriculum, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Elementary School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the Senior School, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in the Senior School. The PYP covers eight years of schooling from age 4 to 11 and is inquiry-based. The MYP includes eight core subjects, life-skills classes, and interdisciplinary electives; in Grade 10 students complete a Personal Project and participate in Service as Action. The DP comprises six subject groups (Studies in Language and Literature; Language Acquisition; Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; and the Arts) plus the Diploma Programme Core (Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay; Creativity, Activity, Service). ISD offers about 54 DP courses and more than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme.	Curriculum details ISR offers an international, college-preparatory curriculum. English and German are core; from Grade 6 a third language is offered (French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese). In Grades 9–10, students take IGCSE courses; in Grades 11–12 most students begin the two-year IB Diploma Program. To graduate, students earn 26 credits in Grades 9–12 to obtain the ISR High School Diploma. The Cambridge Pathway underpins the upper school curriculum and guides preparation for universities worldwide.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Over 1,000 students and around 160 teaching staff, giving an approximate student-to-teacher ratio of about 6:1.
Exam results	Exam results Diploma Programme results (2025) show strong performance: 44/45 is the maximum score achieved; 22% of DP students earned 40+ points; the average score across DP students was 35 (world average 30.6); 57% scored more than 35; 43% of diplomas awarded were bilingual; more than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme.	Exam results IB results are well above world and German averages; graduates have gone on to study at top universities worldwide and in Germany. In the past three years, 100% of students who wished to enter German universities did so by meeting German IB requirements for the Allgemeine Hochschulreife.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates are admitted to top universities worldwide, with Class of 2025 offers across diverse majors at institutions in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, and more; ISD notes admissions to universities in the QS World University Rankings top 200, Times Higher Education world rankings, and Russell Group universities. More than 90% of students in Grades 11–12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme, and ISD provides counselling to support university admissions.	Higher education progression ISR graduates have studied at top universities around the world and in Germany; the program prepares students to meet the entry requirements of universities in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and other regions.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning ISD provides support for physical, emotional, and social wellbeing for students, parents, and staff. A team of school counsellors offers comprehensive support at all grade levels. Life Skills for grades 6-10 deliver a flexible, experiential curriculum focused on adolescents' social, emotional, and personal growth. Pastoral Care includes counselling in the Elementary and Senior Schools to promote educational, emotional, and social welfare and to support transitions and social skills. SMART Moves Ambassadors help new students integrate socially, and transition mentoring provides one-on-one support for newcomers.	Social & emotional learning The school places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development, helping children communicate their needs and build relationships with peers. The pedagogical team includes staff dedicated to student wellbeing, including Wellbeing Counsellors and a school nurse. Students have weekly Wellbeing Advising sessions with the Wellbeing Counselling team, focusing on self-awareness, respect, online safety, and related skills. The guiding principle is "We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters" and underpins daily practice.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) ISD guides and encourages students to meet their potential while acknowledging and addressing learning differences. Targeted support is provided and strategies are taught to transfer learning across classroom settings. An individualised education plan (IEP), containing learning goals broken down into learning outcomes, is developed for each student. A referral process yields a full psycho-educational assessment with recommendations for specific accommodations and modifications. ISD regularly collaborates with students, parents, teachers, and other professionals to design the best possible support plan. The program includes activities to develop memory, organisation, and study skills, health and well-being, and literacy and numeracy.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The English as an Additional Language (EAL) team supports students whose first language is not English to acquire the linguistic competence needed to succeed in mainstream classes. EAL is delivered in an authentic, comprehensible environment that is challenging. The curriculum recognises diverse backgrounds and provides a progressive course focusing on the structures and functions of language with emphasis on communication. Students are assessed on participation, oral work, and teacher observation. Students can exit the programme when fluency and accuracy reach the required standard to succeed in the mainstream classroom. Students are encouraged to access their mother tongue to support content while learning.	English as an additional language The school is English-speaking. A third language is studied from Grade 6 with a choice of French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese. In Meerbusch, there is a bilingual program for kindergarten that supports English language development through play.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing ISD provides levels of support focusing on physical, emotional, and social wellbeing for students, parents, and staff. A team of school counsellors offers comprehensive support at all grade levels. Life Skills for grades 6-10 focus on wellbeing, including mental, social, emotional and physical health. The Counselling Department mission is to develop each student's academic, social, and emotional competencies through a developmentally appropriate counselling and Life Skills curriculum. Pastoral Care includes elementary counselling to promote welfare and transitions, and senior-school counselling to address life events and other concerns.	Mental wellbeing Wellbeing Counselling is provided by qualified staff to support students' mental health and wellbeing. Wellbeing Counsellors meet with students individually or in small groups to address topics such as conflict management, test-taking anxiety, stress, friendship issues, sadness, and self-esteem. Counselling is confidential and follows safeguarding procedures, with risk considerations referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead when necessary.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding ISD is committed to safeguarding and providing a safe, welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. ISD Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures are established in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and local German law. Child protection work is informed by the International Task Force on Child Protection, a branch of the Council of International Schools. ISD has appointed a Safeguarding Lead and two Safeguarding Coordinators to promote the education and training of staff as related to child protection under German school law and to ensure that all suspicions of abuse are promptly reported and appropriately responded to.	Safeguarding ISR has a Safeguarding Policy that defines safeguarding as protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of health or development, ensuring safe and effective care, and taking action to enable the best outcomes. The policy outlines training and induction for staff, the roles of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputies, and clear reporting pathways across all school life. Appendix D details Wellbeing Counselling, and safeguarding procedures require staff, students, parents, volunteers, and visitors to cooperate; confidentiality is maintained where appropriate, with safeguarding considerations taking precedence when needed.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview ISD's 10-acre campus houses senior school and elementary buildings, multiple purpose-built playgrounds, and a strong outdoor learning programme that has transformed green spaces into learning gardens. The senior school Sports and Community Centre contains modern practice courts for basketball and volleyball and two competition-size basketball courts with spectator seating. The campus also features three libraries, seven science laboratories, five computer rooms, a design technology room, centres of excellence for visual and performing arts, a 350-seat theatre, and three cafeterias. The ISD sports fields are nearby and host national and international teams.	Facilities overview ISR Campus in Neuss spans 150,000 m² with a state-of-the-art school building, a three-court sports hall, and multiple school yards. The extensive outdoor areas include beach volleyball, basketball and soccer fields, a large track and field facility, numerous tennis and padel courts, and an archery range. Learning and recreation spaces, green spaces, and specially designed outdoor activity zones enrich campus life for sports and collaborative learning. The High Tech Campus provides digital tools and immersive learning experiences in classrooms, with a library and other facilities supporting academic life. The campus also includes a cafeteria and music rooms to support student wellbeing and the performing arts.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities ISD offers a comprehensive sports programme and participates in NECIS competitions, including soccer, volleyball, cross-country, basketball, swimming, and track and field for middle and high school students. The Senior School Sports and Community Centre has modern practice courts for basketball or volleyball and two competition-size basketball courts. The ISD Sportsverein (Sports Club) provides competitive opportunities across football, basketball, volleyball, swimming and track and field. After-school activities and nearby ISD sports fields support a broad athletic program.	Sports facilities ISR offers an extensive range of sports facilities, including a purpose-built, state-of-the-art sports hall that can accommodate up to three PE classes simultaneously with dividing curtains and floor markings for badminton, basketball, handball, football, indoor hockey, and volleyball, plus an indoor climbing wall. The adjoining sports complex provides grass and cinder football fields, a running track, a long jump and triple jump sandpit, and athletics equipment. There are multiple tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, basketball courts, and football pitches on campus for outdoor sports.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Three libraries, seven science laboratories, five computer rooms, a well-equipped design technology room, and centres of excellence for the visual and performing arts. The campus also includes a 350-seat theatre.	Academic facilities High Tech Campus includes high-tech screens in classrooms, E-books, virtual reality goggles, 3D printers, and modern computer rooms. Technology complements traditional learning materials to deepen subject understanding, including VR experiences in lessons. The ISR Library has over 25,000 books, with Antolin and Accelerated Reader reading programs supporting German and English literacy. A Book Club for Grade 5–6 meets weekly as part of SEA, and a Physics/Chemistry/Biology question bank is available on PCs. The campus includes two music rooms with instruments and computers with music software for composition and recording.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities ISD offers more than 90 co-curricular options, including robotics, coding, and chess; ceramics, digital art, jewellery making, and ukulele; and Mother Tongue Programme in Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Martial arts, dance, and gymnastics are available. Cub Club provides after-school care for elementary students from 15:45 to 18:00, with full-day and half-day care on select non-student days.	Extra curricular facilities ISR offers Student Leadership Council, Student Extracurricular Activities, and international programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and Model United Nations. These programs foster leadership, teamwork, service, and global engagement. Clubs and activities cover arts, debate, and community service, providing opportunities for students to pursue interests beyond academics. Participation in these activities complements classroom learning and supports personal development.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Founded in 1968, the International School of Düsseldorf is a not-for-profit, independent, co-educational day school located in the heart of the international community of Kaiserswerth. ISD has a proud tradition of providing an innovative, holistic education that encourages all students to be successful and responsible in a rapidly evolving world. Student well-being is the foundation for success at school and beyond. Our exceptional faculty work collaboratively to provide a challenging and supportive environment where all students are encouraged to discover their passions and develop their talents. We work in partnership with parents recognising the important role that families play in the education of their children, with the goal of inspiring all students to become confident, creative and compassionate lifelong learners in an inclusive international community.	History ISR was founded in 2003 by the Rhein-Kreis Neuss, the City of Neuss, the Chamber of Commerce Mittlerer Niederrhein, and leading international companies. It was established as a place of educational excellence, diversity, and international spirit. The Advisory Board today includes many of the original founders, ensuring their vision continues to shape the school. ISR is situated in the Düsseldorf–Neuss–Meerbusch region and is funded entirely by tuition fees, with no state financial support.
Community	Community ISD fosters a welcoming, supportive community for expatriate families and staff, helping members feel at home and connected. Community events are planned by students, staff, and many parent volunteers and reflect the diversity and multiculturalism of the ISD community. International Markets are a popular monthly event where parents and partners display and sell food and items reflecting their talents and cultural heritage. The International Fest is ISD's largest community gathering since 1980, with more than 25 booths, an international village, stage performances, and a Parade of Nations.	Community ISR Community & Alumni Network connects hundreds of alumni worldwide and offers the opportunity to strengthen and maintain the bond between former students and ISR. Through the alumni portal, they can share academic and professional achievements, view job postings, establish professional connections within the ISR community, and stay informed about school news. The network provides access to a comprehensive mentoring program, allowing alumni to connect with parents, teachers, and partners of ISR for guidance on various topics. Alumni spotlights and stories showcase the reach and achievements of ISR graduates.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The ISD Annual Fund provides additional financial support to the school. It is supported by parent volunteers and the Philanthropy & Fundraising Committee. Funds support a wide variety of projects and initiatives, enabling the school to do more. Friends of the Arts is a parent volunteer group that helps bring ISD's creative productions to life, including designing costumes, building sets, managing front-of-house, and supporting event logistics. Volunteers contribute to campus events and activities through various volunteer programmes.	Parent teacher association ISR has a very active Parent Network. If your child joins ISR you are automatically a member of the Parent Network. The three goals are to create a healthy parent community in school where families feel at home, to provide ideas/feedback to help ISR become one of the best schools in Germany, and to create a platform for exchanging best practices between school and parents. The network is organized via Class Representatives, with parent spokespeople for each class; they organize evenings for parents to meet and support the teacher on school-related activities and serve as the first contact for new families. If you would like to get involved, contact pn@isr-school.de.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual ISD offers a rich and varied co-curricular programme designed to inspire creativity, build confidence, and instil a lifelong love of learning. STEM-focused clubs include robotics, coding, and chess to develop problem-solving and critical thinking. A broad range of activities beyond sports and the arts supports transferable skills such as collaboration, resilience, critical thinking, and cultural awareness. There are over 90 options to choose from.	Academic & intellectual SEA offers over 90 activities for students, teachers, parents, and outside instructors. Academic-oriented options include KUMON/Math Club, Reading Clubs, Chess, and language clubs such as Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Turkish, and Spanish. Model United Nations provides opportunities to practice research, public speaking, debating, writing, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership. In Grades 1–6, SEA activities are chosen during Period 9, giving students the chance to extend topics beyond the standard curriculum.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative ISD offers extensive arts and creative opportunities, including ceramics, digital art, jewellery making, and ukulele. The Performing Arts and Theatre programme lets students explore acting, movement, voice, and production, with collaborative, hands-on learning and opportunities for public performances. The Sound & Lights Programme trains students in lighting design, live sound, and stage management and is supported by Friends of the Arts volunteers who contribute to costumes, sets, and event logistics.	Arts & creative Art activities are offered through an Art Program where students experiment with various forms and techniques. Works of art are regularly exhibited in the school and presented at events such as the ISR International Spring Festival, ISR Open House, and ISR Family Fun & Sports Day. Musically inclined students participate in a robust music program with a wide variety of instruments and private lessons in cooperation with a local music school; students showcase their talents at two major concerts per year and other performances. There are opportunities in drama, choir, orchestra, and rock band as part of the SEA offerings.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Mother Tongue Programme supports native-language development with courses in Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.	Cultural & language Language clubs include Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Turkish, and Spanish. The school hosts cultural events and activities such as the Halloween party in partnership with the American International Women's Club of Düsseldorf, and the St. Martin's Parade. The ISR International Spring Festival is a featured event, and ISR Family Fun & Sports Day is another cultural-school event. Grades 5 and 6 also participate in events such as St. Martin's Parade.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Outside the classroom, ISD offers student groups and activities that develop teamwork, leadership, and advocacy skills, and encourage social awareness and community engagement.	Social & hobbies SEA includes a wide array of hobbies and social activities, including Chess, Reading Clubs, Rock Band, and various dance, music, and sport clubs. ISR hosts school events such as ISR Family Fun & Sports Day and Open House. Grades 5–6 have Movie & Study Nights, Winter Wonderland Ball, Lock-In, and End of Elementary School Celebration. Grades 1–6 participate in day trips to extend topics covered in lessons.
Community & service	Community & service Community engagement is supported through student-led initiatives and active parent involvement in school productions, with Friends of the Arts volunteers contributing to costume design, set building, and front-of-house operations.	Community & service ISR students engage in extensive community service through CAS projects, with numerous local and international charity initiatives. Examples include engagement with the dementia center St. Augustine Group through artistic and musical performances, and donations to Regenbogenland Hospice and other charities. Volunteers also support food banks, Red Cross, orphanages, shelters, and elderly care, and participate in tutoring and community outreach. The CAS program and ISR Student Leadership Council (SLC) foster ongoing service and leadership across school activities.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Student groups provide leadership opportunities and ambassador-like roles that develop teamwork and advocacy skills.	Leadership & professional Starting in Grade 4, the Elementary School Leadership Council provides real-life leadership responsibilities. An Elementary Student Council (ESC) operates in Grades 1–6 to give students leadership opportunities and a voice in school decisions. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award offers an annual program for older students to develop leadership, volunteering, and personal growth through self-selected activities. The Model United Nations (MUN) Executive Team organizes internal simulations, giving ISR students opportunities to lead, research, and present.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing ISD runs a comprehensive sports programme, with NECIS and city-wide competitions, after-school activities for all ages, and summer sports camps. Cub Club provides after-school care with arts and crafts, music, team sports, and free play, running daily from 15:45 to 18:00. The ISD Sportsverein offers structured training and competitive opportunities across various sports, supported by an after-school activities programme that complements academics.	Lifestyle & wellbeing ISR has a modern sports hall, a climbing wall, and outdoor facilities including a turf pitch, supporting a wide range of sports. Physical Education comprises two lessons per week totaling 90 minutes, with sport blocks typically lasting 4–6 weeks. School Holiday Programs include a February/March Winter Break ski/snowboard trip and a June/July ISR Sports Camp. Cooperation with PSV Neuss 1961 provides access to additional sports disciplines with professional trainers.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The language of instruction in all classes is English, with EAL support for students up to grade 10 who are not yet fluent in English. German is compulsory from Prep to Grade 10; non-native speakers study German B / Language Acquisition, and advanced students may enrol in German A / Language and Literature, with German ab initio available for Diploma Programme Language Acquisition in Grades 11-12. In the Senior School, a third language is offered: Spanish (non-native speakers), French (non-native speakers) or Japanese, with Japanese requiring native or near-native proficiency. A range of mother tongue classes is offered weekly after school to maintain and develop students' first languages, including Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish; other languages may be added if there is sufficient interest.	Language provision English is the language of instruction. German is taught as a core language and follows the North Rhine-Westphalia curriculum. From Grade 6, a third language is introduced with options including French, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese. Kindergarten provides English instruction with weekly German lessons to support early bilingual development.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching ISR uses English as the language of instruction across the school. German is taught as a core language with weekly German lessons beginning in kindergarten. A bilingual IB Diploma track is offered, with many students achieving native-level proficiency in two languages. Starting in Grade 6, a third language is studied, with options including French, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations ISR is an IB World School, a Cambridge Examinations Centre, and a Cognia-accredited institution; PSAT exams are conducted on site.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Submit an inquiry or start your application via ENQUIRY FORM. A member of ISD's Admissions Team will contact you to learn more about your child(ren) and your family, answer questions, and offer a personal Zoom meeting or an in-person tour of our campuses. The ENQUIRY FORM is accessible from the Admissions page. 2. Attend Virtual Open House sessions to learn more about ISD, meet members of our team, and explore what makes our learning community unique. Registration is available; Session 2: Tuesday 20 January 2026 \| 18:30 – 20:00 CET; Session 3: Wednesday 18 March 2026 \| 09:00 – 10:30 CET. 3. ISD accepts new students throughout the year and processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis; vacancies regularly arise throughout the school year. 4. New students are normally placed in their age-appropriate group based on a cut-off date of 01 September. 5. The language of instruction in all classes (apart from German and World Languages) is English; Students up to grade 10 receive tailored English as an Additional Language support; German classes are compulsory for Prep to Grade 10, and in the Senior School a third language may be studied (Spanish, French or Japanese).	Admissions The ISR International School on the Rhine is an English‑speaking private school serving kindergarten through grade 12 in the Neuss–Düsseldorf region of North Rhine‑Westphalia. Enrollment is possible at any time during the academic year, and virtual meetings and assessments are available. Placement into a grade is determined by academic attainment, with age acting as a limiting factor; kindergarten has no academic requirements but children must be three by June 30 to start in August and must be able to speak and follow simple instructions and be toilet-trained. Students in grades 1–2 meet with the Elementary School Head and complete worksheets. The admission process is personal and informative and includes the following steps: 1. Applicant's Questionnaire (families may apply year‑round; starting in late winter or early spring for the following school year is recommended due to space availability); 2) Campus Tour at ISR Neuss (to learn about the curriculum and meet admissions staff); 3) School Records (transcripts, assessment results from the previous two years, and any psychological/neurological evaluations); 4) Knowledge Check (grades 3–11 take tests in English, Mathematics, and German; grades 10–11 also test in Social Science and General Science and may have a third language; grades 8+ are interviewed by the School Director and/or Academic Head; durations range from about 30 minutes for grades 1–2 to 3 hours for grades 3–9; 10–11 may take one to two days); 5) Offer of Placement (provided after review of knowledge checks, academic background, social and emotional development, and aptitude); 6) Enrollment Contract (enrollment is possible year‑round).
Scholarships	Scholarships ISD maintains a Financial Assistance & Scholarship programme with a limited number of Financial Assistance scholarships available each year, offered as tuition-fee reductions for eligible students. The student and at least one parent must be resident in Germany, and applications are submitted using the Financial Assistance application form (in English or German) with the required documents. The deadline for applications is April each year for assistance in the following year, and the Financial Assistance Committee meets no later than May to review applications. The level of assistance is based on a family's gross annual worldwide income, including all positive earnings; child benefits/family allowances are considered as part of the assessment. Renewal is possible but not guaranteed, and all applications are treated confidentially.	Scholarships ISR regularly offers scholarships to applicants who have achieved very good academic standards and/or are from low‑ to middle‑income families. Qualification is determined by means of an entrance knowledge check that is taken after a preliminary evaluation on the basis of documents (school reports, recommendations, etc.). The decision about the number of new scholarships and possible modifications to the scholarship requirements is made annually in April/May for the following school year. Download ISR's scholarship application packet.
Waitlist	Waitlist Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. However, vacancies regularly arise throughout the school year.	Waitlist —
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