Lakeside School - Horgen vs SIS Swiss International School Männedorf-Zürich

	L Lakeside School - Horgen Zug, Switzerland	S SIS Swiss International School Männedorf-Zürich Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 24,600 - 27,720	Fees / year CHF 25,860
Age range	Age range 3 - 12 years	Age range 3 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language German, English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Lakeside School Horgen is located in the center of Horgen at Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen. Getting to school is easy by public transport: a 2-minute walk from Horgen train station, a 10-minute walk from Horgen Oberdorf train station, and a 10-minute walk from the Meilen-Horgen ferry.	Location Seestrasse 57, 8708 Männedorf, Switzerland; near Lake Zurich; easily reachable by public transport.
Stages	Stages Early Years (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten); Primary School (Grade 1 to 6); Bilingual Matura (upper school through Swiss Matura).	Stages Kindergarten and Primary School.
School type	School type Day School on one campus.	School type Private bilingual day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than twenty nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Student support rooms for individual language and learning support in small groups.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Full-day day school with supervision from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; includes lunch, morning and afternoon supervision, homework support and flexible drop-off/pick-up times.
Bus service details	Bus service details School Bus (Küsnacht) with door-to-door and shuttle services	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & entrance fees - Registration (application) fee: CHF 500 (non‑refundable). - Deposit (payable on signing the contract): CHF 2,000 for the first child, CHF 1,000 for the second child, CHF 500 for each additional child. The deposit is held against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit according to the school's deposit policy. Tuition fees (monthly and annual) — Pre‑Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Primary (Grade 1–6) - Pre‑Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesdays half day): CHF 2,050 per month / CHF 26,400 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten (5 mornings per week): CHF 1,310 per month / CHF 15,720 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional morning (per morning): CHF 260 per month / CHF 3,120 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional afternoon (per afternoon): CHF 210 per month / CHF 2,520 per year. - Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. - Kindergarten option with an additional free afternoon (Tue or Thu) or other half‑day patterns: examples listed at CHF 2,150 per month (CHF 25,800 per year) and CHF 2,200 per month (CHF 26,400 per year) depending on the chosen pattern. - Primary School (Grades 1–6): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. Sibling discount: 5% on tuition for the second child and 10% for each subsequent child. Day Care, After‑school and optional services (examples) - Day Care (examples of monthly / yearly pricing and time slots): - Morning care (typical early slot): CHF 245 per month / CHF 2,940 per year (example option). - Afternoon Day Care (5 days per week, shorter slot): CHF 490 per month / CHF 5,880 per year (example option). - Full after‑school extended care (5 days to 18:30): CHF 735 per month / CHF 8,820 per year (example option). - Single morning/afternoon session and Wednesday‑afternoon rates are available at specific per‑session prices. - Spontaneous/occasional Day Care: charged hourly (example CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous bookings) and invoiced separately. Hot lunch and school bus - Hot lunch (monthly examples): CHF 200 per month (4 days/week, excl. Wed) or CHF 250 per month (5 days/week, incl. Wed); annual equivalents CHF 2,400 / CHF 3,000 respectively. - School bus (where available and charged): typical example CHF 300 per month / CHF 3,600 per year (train‑station shuttle integrated in tuition at some locations; paid bus routes noted as an additional cost). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and recurring charges are stated as monthly amounts and are payable in advance at the beginning of each month. The school issues invoices and applies its stated monthly billing schedule. Prices are subject to change per the school's published fee schedule. Boarding - Boarding is not offered at this campus; the school operates as a day school with Day Care and after‑school options. Other costs and charges - School fund (one‑off or standing contribution): CHF 1,000 (listed as Schulfond on early years pages). - Extra‑curricular / leisure courses and certain activities (e.g., external providers for After‑School Clubs, holiday care, class trips) are charged separately when applicable. - Occasional charges for spontaneous Day Care or special services are invoiced separately (example: CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous Day Care bookings). Refund and cancellation rules (fees) - The registration (application) fee of CHF 500 is non‑refundable. - The deposit is retained as security against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit subject to the school's deposit policy and any minimum attendance period conditions specified in the contract. Specific deposit refund conditions (timing and forfeiture in case of late cancellation) are set out in the school's admissions/contract terms. Fee payment options - Invoices and the school's fee portal are used to manage billing and payments; recurring tuition is invoiced monthly in advance. Payment instructions (IBAN/QR reference or e‑billing and the parent fee portal) are provided on the school's invoicing/parent portal. Parents may follow the school's invoice instructions when making payments. If you need specific monthly versus annual amounts for any single program option or confirmation for a particular academic year, use the published fee schedule entries above for the current programme options and fee levels.	Fee details Registration / Application Fee - One-time registration fee (non-refundable): CHF 600 for the first child; CHF 500 for each additional child. Payment of this fee secures the child's place. Tuition fees (2025/26 academic year) - Annual tuition (per student) for Kindergarten 1–2: CHF 12,930 per year. - Annual tuition (per student) for Primary Years 1–6: CHF 12,930 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing frequency: School fees are billed in advance per semester. - Payment options for timing: Fees may be paid either as a single payment at the beginning of the semester or as six monthly instalments. Choosing six monthly instalments carries a 2% surcharge (the instalment amount shown is the annual fee plus the surcharge divided across six payments). School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated. Sibling discount - A sibling discount of 10% of the school fees applies to the younger child(ren) when more than one child from the same family is enrolled. Optional additional costs - Lunch (optional): - Kindergarten and Primary 1: Full week (5 days) CHF 1,200 per semester; One day per week CHF 240 per semester; Single meal booking CHF 16 per meal. - Primary 2–6: Full week (5 days) CHF 1,350 per semester; One day per week CHF 270 per semester; Single meal booking CHF 16 per meal. - After-school care (optional, 16:00–18:00): Full week (5 days) CHF 2,400 per semester; One day per week CHF 480 per semester; Single booking CHF 18 per hour. - Clubs and extracurricular activities: costs vary by club; fees are charged separately – contact the school office for specific club prices. Boarding / Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: SIS Männedorf-Zürich operates as a private bilingual day school (kindergarten to Year 6) and does not offer boarding facilities. Refunds and adjustments - The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable. Tuition for students who join mid-term is charged on a prorated basis. No other refund policy details are listed with the fee schedule provided. Fee payment options (timing and instalment structure) - Timing options: one payment at the beginning of the semester, or six monthly instalments with a 2% surcharge. School fees are billed in advance per semester; mid-term admissions are prorated. Notes on additional potential costs - The published fees cover tuition only; additional costs that may apply separately include optional lunch, after-school care, clubs, and any personal items or externally supplied materials. Specific charges for school trips, special courses, uniforms (if required), textbooks, or specialist services are not listed in the fee schedule and are invoiced separately where applicable.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options Lunch is provided on site. The school also offers flexible services including before- and after-school care and flexible drop-off and pickup times to support families.
House system	House system The school has two dedicated buildings: the Kindergarten House and the Primary School House.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The school is a private educational institution financed solely from school fees and does not receive subsidies from the Swiss national or cantonal governments.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Lakeside School Horgen offers a bilingual curriculum from Pre-Kindergarten through Primary School and into the bilingual Swiss Matura path in partnership with Freies Gymnasium Zürich. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has English-speaking and German-speaking teachers, exposing children to both languages. In Primary School, instruction is delivered in English and German, with one native English-speaking and one native German-speaking teacher sharing responsibilities; there is an English week when all subjects are taught in English and a German week when they are taught in German; specialist subjects are taught in either language. The program follows Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and is enriched by international curricula. The bilingual Matura path offers continued study at the bilingual Gymnasium or ProGymnasium through the FGZ partnership, with an almost exam-free admission to the bilingual Gymnasium via Vorbereitungsklasse 6 (V6) after Grade 6, subject to passing the V6 entrance exam. Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad.	Curriculum details Bilingual primary education is based on the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum as well as with SIS-developed curricula. Continuity from Kindergarten to College.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Across its Swiss Matura pathway, Lakeside School Horgen reports that about 60% of students enter a Gymnasium after Grade 6, with many going to bilingual Freies Gymnasium Zürich or monolingual public Gymnasien; Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation, contributing to strong higher-education progression.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad. The school bases its program on Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and integrates international curricula to support academic pathways. The FGZ partnership and V6 entrance exam structure facilitate transitions to Gymnasium-level education, and Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation for Gymnasium entrances.	Higher education progression Continuity from Kindergarten to College.
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 We value a close relationship with students and parents. Our students' well-being and academic success come from trusting relationships and shared responsibility between family and school. The small-school environment provides a nurturing and familiar setting for development. Creative Education promotes healthy self-esteem, social skills, and collaboration through Physical Education, Music, Drama, Crafts, Design and Technology. After School Clubs and physical activities support social engagement and well-being.	Social & emotional learning The SIS Männedorf-Zürich bilingual kindergarten offers a stimulating and supportive learning environment. Personal and Social Development is one of the six areas of the kindergarten curriculum. The English/German bilingual kindergarten uses an immersion method with 50% of time in English and 50% in German, with a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher supporting children in their native languages. The children are supervised by one German- and one English-speaking teacher who use their native language to communicate with their students. The full-day concept provides care from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with before- and after-school care, lunch, clubs and holiday activities to support social interaction and routine.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Student support rooms provide language and learning support in small groups.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language English and German are not merely two subjects; both are used in speaking and writing in every subject. Our teachers are native German or English speakers. We offer the Bilingual Matura.	English as an additional language The school teaches in English and German from kindergarten through primary, with daily immersion in both languages. In the bilingual kindergarten, 50% of activities are in English and 50% in German, guided by a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher. In primary, each class has two teachers—one German-speaking and one English-speaking—so German and English are heard and spoken in almost equal measure throughout the day. French is taught as a foreign language from Year 5. The language emphasis aims at strong bilingual fluency across the primary years.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing We value a close relationship with students and parents and emphasize well-being and academic success through trusted relationships and shared responsibility. The small-school environment creates a nurturing, familiar atmosphere. Creative Education promotes healthy self-esteem and social skills. After School Clubs and physical activities support well-being.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is supported by a nurturing, open, multicultural learning environment and a curriculum that emphasises Personal and Social Development in the early years. The immersion-based learning promotes social interaction and collaboration, contributing to students' emotional development. The school's day structure and extracurricular activities offer routine, security and opportunities for engagement that support wellbeing.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding E-safety is part of the kindergarten curriculum, reflecting safeguarding in digital contexts. The school fosters a safe and inclusive learning environment through age-appropriate digital literacy and protective practices embedded in the curriculum.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Campus Horgen is in the center of Horgen. The Kindergarten House has its own floor, a kitchen and bathrooms, and a garden with a playground. The Primary School House includes bright classrooms, group rooms, a music room, and a crafts/design/technology room with workbenches, plus a drama room with a stage and seating. An exclusive in-house library is available to students, and each class has its own small library; the German library is a two-minute walk away for weekly visits. There is an on-site gym hall with a climbing wall, and the campus is easily accessible by public transport (2 minutes from Horgen train station, 10 minutes from Horgen Oberdorf, and 10 minutes from the Meilen-Horgen ferry).	Facilities overview The SIS Männedorf-Zürich is a bilingual day school located near Lake Zurich, offering instruction in German and English from Kindergarten through the 6th year of primary school. The bilingual concept has been in place since 2009. Local and international families value the bilingual instruction and the all-day structure in this family-friendly region. The school enrolls about 132 students from more than 30 nationalities. It is located near the lake and is easily accessible by public transport, with a playground that has ample space for play and modern, versatile equipment.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities An on-site gym hall supports physical education. The gym includes a climbing wall. A garden with a playground and equipment provides space for outdoor activity.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The Primary School House features bright classrooms and small group rooms for collaborative learning. There is a music room with instruments. A crafts/design/technology room contains workbenches for textile and technical design. A drama room includes a stage and seating. Student support rooms provide language and learning support in small groups. An exclusive in-house library is available for students.	Academic facilities Instruction is bilingual in German and English from Kindergarten through the 6th Primarstufe, and bilingualism is not a prerequisite for entry. The immersion method enables learners to acquire language naturally. Learning is enhanced by technology across the curriculum. The program is designed to be continuous from Kindergarten through university entrance, aligning with SIS's bilingual concept.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities Morning and afternoon supervision, lunch, courses and holiday care are offered as part of the Day School program. After-school clubs provide engaging activities, including options during school holidays. The learning environment is open, multicultural, and supportive, with a structured and varied all-day program.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History The school is a private bilingual day school with approximately 120 students from kindergarten to Year 6, and the bilingual educational concept has been implemented here since 2009.
Community	Community The Lakeside School Horgen offers After School Clubs including Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding, and acting. The Escola app is used for communications; teachers, management, and office staff can be contacted via their own email addresses. A parents' evening is held for all classes at the beginning of the school year. Once a year, parent conferences are held to discuss a child's academic and social development; additional meetings can be requested by parents or class teachers.	Community The school community is characterized by a close-knit, vibrant and nurturing multicultural environment and includes more than twenty nationalities.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Primary School runs from Grade 1 to 6, setting the bilingual foundation. The Primary School House provides bright, spacious classrooms and dedicated group rooms, including a music room, a crafts/design/technology area, a drama room with a stage, and language/learning support rooms. An exclusive in-house library is available, with weekly library visits led by the English-speaking class teacher, and the nearby German library is visited weekly. Upper school offers bilingual Matura options all the way to the Swiss Matura.	Academic & intellectual The school offers Ozobots programming and decorating as a robotics activity. The SIS Cup provides inter-school competitions that emphasize sport, teamwork and enjoyment. The school promotes international activities through Intercountry Activities with international mathematics days, a parcel swap, a story exchange, a photography project, and an IT activity with Ozobots, followed by a digital exhibition with sustainable art. The SIS Best Essay Award recognises the top three written final works by SIS graduates.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Music room with a large selection of instruments. Crafts, design and technology area with workbenches for textile and technical design. Drama room with a stage and spectator seating.	Arts & creative The school hosts art exhibitions of student artworks and runs creative projects such as art made from materials that would normally be discarded.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English-speaking class teachers support language learning and lead weekly library visits. The German library is nearby and is visited weekly by the German-speaking class teacher and students. There are dedicated student support rooms for individual language and learning support in small groups. The upper school offers bilingual Matura up to the Swiss Matura.	Cultural & language The school runs SIS international activities and Intercountry Activities to foster language diversity and cross-cultural exchange, including interschool projects and events. Annual traditions celebrate local and international festivals and practices, including Halloween, the Räbeliechtli parade, Samichlaus, a Christmas celebration, a summer festival, Fasnacht, a ski day, an expo, World Book Day, and Mother7s/Father7s Day breakfasts.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies After School Clubs are offered, providing activities after the school day. Clubs include Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Holiday Care provides a fun holiday programme in a familiar setting.	Social & hobbies The school offers after-school clubs and activities as part of a varied day, including flexible morning, lunch and after-school care and holiday clubs.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing An on-site gym hall is equipped with a climbing wall for physical education. The on-campus playground is well equipped and partially covered. After School Clubs promote physical and mental wellbeing through sports and creative activities.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The campus includes a cafeteria (Mensa), a gym/sportraum, a workshop and music room, and a library, plus a spacious outdoor playground. The school provides a flexible all-day program with lunch, morning and after-school care, homework supervision and flexible drop-off/pick-up times.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English and German are the languages of instruction with a balanced bilingual model. In Primary School, classes are held in two languages with English weeks taught by English-speaking teachers and German weeks taught by German-speaking teachers; all subjects are taught in the current language. French is taught in Grades 5 and 6. DaZ and EAL support, as well as Learning Support, are available.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school offers a fully immersive English and German (50:50) programme with equal instruction in both languages.	Bilingual teaching The school operates as a bilingual day school beside Lake Zürich. Bilingual experience is a core feature of SIS Männedorf-Zürich. Bilingual primary school teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum, with supplementary elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. Language acquisition begins early and is guided by experts in a natural learning environment.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Immersion occurs through an immersive bilingual model across the primary school. Classes alternate English weeks with English-speaking teachers and German weeks with German-speaking teachers so that every class experiences both languages. All subjects, including Mathematics and Environmental and Social Studies, are taught in the current week's language. Specialist subjects such as Physical Education, Crafts, Design, Technology (CDT), Music, Drama and Coding are taught in both languages by native English- and German-speaking teachers. French is taught in Grades 5 and 6. German as an Additional Language (DaZ), English as an Additional Language (EAL), and Learning Support are available. A Bilingual Matura pathway is available for upper levels.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Registration is completed online for Lakeside School Horgen. You initiate the process via the Lakeside School registration portal. The Horgen campus address is Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen. 2. Fees and the admissions procedure are described on the Fees & Registration page. This page provides information on tuition fees and the admissions procedure. Reviewing this page is recommended as part of planning your child's enrollment. 3. You can contact the Horgen campus by email or phone for admissions inquiries. The Escola app provides the primary channel for school communications with parents, and direct emails are available to teachers, management, and the office. Parent conferences are held once a year at the start of the school year.	Admissions Make the First Step: Get in touch with SIS Maennedorf-Zfcrich via our contact form, by email, or by phone. You may visit an Open House to learn about daily life and meet school leadership; we can provide further information and discuss the next suitable step for you and your child. Consultation: A personal consultation is arranged to answer questions, introduce the school and its educational concept, and, if possible, provide a tour of the building to offer insight into classroom life; virtual, phone, or email consultations are available. Trial Days: If the consultation is positive for both sides, one or more trial days are arranged to experience everyday school life; trial days are non-binding and can be substituted with an alternative solution if needed. Registration: If you decide to proceed after the consultations and trial days, you will receive the registration form (digital or printed); complete it in full and submit to the SIS school of your choice. The school will prepare the contract and send it with information about the enrolment fee; after the contract is signed and the enrolment fee is received, your child is officially registered and a place is reserved. Come and See: Open Houses are available to visit the school. FAQ highlights: Best time to enrol: Enrolments are accepted year-round if there is space; most children enroll in the spring (February to April) so they can start the school year in August. Age to enrol: Enrolment age varies by canton and location and is typically three or four years; please enquire at the school of your choice. Language: Enrollment is possible even if a child speaks only one or neither of the two school languages (German and English). Children learn both German and English by immersion, and German/English courses may be offered outside of class or as intensive courses depending on level. Entrance exam: For compulsory education, no entrance examination is required at SIS locations. Waiting lists: If a year group is full, SIS schools maintain waiting lists. Place securing: A place is reserved as soon as the enrolment fee has been received; the fee is listed on the respective school's price list.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist If a year group or class is already full, the SIS schools maintain waiting lists. To secure a place, enquire early, preferably in spring.
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