Lakeside School - Kusnacht vs SIS Swiss International School Zürich-Wollishofen

	L Lakeside School - Kusnacht Zug, Switzerland	S SIS Swiss International School Zürich-Wollishofen Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 20,400 - 27,600	Fees / year CHF 25,860
Age range	Age range 3 - 12 years	Age range 4 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 200	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 2000
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Küsnacht, canton of Zürich, Switzerland. The campus is located in Küsnacht with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich. Getting to school is convenient by public transport: a ten-minute walk from the Küsnacht-Goldbach or Zollikon train stations. A school bus runs from the Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations at no extra cost, and door-to-door service can be arranged depending on location. Bus routes are established each June for the next academic year.	Location Located between the city and Lake Zürich, SIS Zürich-Wollishofen sits in a charming garden complex where two buildings are combined. The bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historic building, while the bilingual primary school, library and cafeteria are in the modern building. The school is easily accessible by public transport and offers a central, green location with views of Landiwiese park and Lake Zürich.
Stages	Stages Pre-Kindergarten; Kindergarten; Primary School	Stages Kindergarten; Primary School
School type	School type Private, non-profit bilingual day school	School type Private educational institution
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 197 enrolled students; 40+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support In-house language and learning support rooms for small-group instruction	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 —
Bus service details	Bus service details School bus from Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations at no extra cost; door-to-door service possible depending on location; routes set each June for the next academic year	Bus service details A school bus is available.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Entrance Fees - Registration (Anmeldegebühr): CHF 500.- (non-refundable). - Deposit (security deposit payable when the contract is signed): CHF 3,500.- for the 1st child / CHF 2,500.- for the 2nd child / CHF 1,500.- for each further child. The deposit is retained if the school contract is terminated less than 16 weeks before the child's agreed start date; otherwise the deposit is refunded on exit after settlement of any outstanding amounts. - For Pre‑Kindergarten programmes a school fund (Schulfond) charge applies: CHF 1,000.-. Sibling deposit scale shown on Pre‑K information: 1st child CHF 2,000.- / 2nd child CHF 1,000.- / from 3rd child CHF 500.- (specific Pre‑K registration/deposit information is published with the Pre‑K programme). Tuition fees by programme and year group (month / annual equivalents where published) - Pre‑Kindergarten (full programme; Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,050.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 24,600.-). - Pre‑Kindergarten (five mornings per week): CHF 1,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 15,720.-). Additional morning: CHF 260.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 3,120.-). Additional afternoon: CHF 210.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 2,520.-). - Kindergarten (full programme; Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 27,720.-). Options with an additional free afternoon shown at CHF 2,150.- or CHF 2,200.- per month (annual equivalents CHF 25,800.- and CHF 26,400.- respectively). - Primary school (1st – 6th grade; full programme; Wednesday morning only): CHF 2,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 27,720.-). Additional day‑care, lunch and extra-curricular charges - Day Care (sample rates published): morning care (07:30–08:45, five days) CHF 307.- per month (annual CHF 3,684.-). After‑school care options (15:45–17:30) CHF 429.- per month (annual CHF 5,148.-); (15:45–18:30) CHF 678.- per month (annual CHF 8,136.-). Single sessions and Wednesday‑afternoon options also listed with published per‑session rates. - Hot Lunch (catered lunch; VAT excluded): Monday–Friday (including Wednesday) CHF 250.- per month (annual CHF 3,000.-); Monday–Friday (excluding Wednesday) CHF 200.- per month (annual CHF 2,400.-); Tuesday & Thursday option CHF 100.- per month (annual CHF 1,200.-). - Holiday care and semester leisure courses are charged separately; published materials note guaranteed minimum holiday‑care weeks and that some leisure courses incur additional fees. - School bus: a guaranteed spot on the school shuttle from the nearby Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations is provided without additional cost; door‑to‑door pickup may be organised depending on routing (published routing is established each June). Specific door‑to‑door provisions and routes are handled by the school. Billing schedule and payment terms - Regular tuition and service charges are stated as monthly amounts and are payable in advance at the start of each month. Published materials show monthly amounts and annual equivalents. Price changes are reserved by the school. A sibling discount applies: 5% for the second child and 10% from the third child. Boarding - Lakeside School Küsnacht operates as a day school (day programmes, day care, after‑school provision). No boarding fees apply. Other costs and typical extras - School fund (Schulfond) charge associated with Pre‑K registration: CHF 1,000.-. - Enrollment or programme administrative charges for sport, excursions, specialised courses and some extracurricular programmes may be invoiced separately when offered; holiday‑care weeks and some leisure courses are charged in addition to base fees. Hot lunch, day‑care and single‑session charges are itemised as above. - Uniforms are not listed among mandatory fees in the published programme and pricing materials for the Küsnacht campus. Specific activity‑related equipment or course materials, if required, are invoiced or communicated per programme. Refunds and cancellations (entrance fees / deposit rules) - The registration fee CHF 500.- is not refundable. - The deposit is due at contract signature and is refundable on exit after settlement of any outstanding charges, subject to published notice and forfeiture rules (for example a deduction/forfeiture if the contract is terminated within the published notice period before the agreed start date). Specific published deposit amounts and notice conditions are stated in the entrance‑fees documentation. Fee payment options - The school accepts electronic and card‑based payment channels through supported payment providers listed in the school's payment and privacy information; published payment options include PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Stripe and Klarna (as well as the school's invoicing/accounting platforms). Payment is typically handled by bank transfer or the school's accepted electronic payment methods. Summary statement - Monthly tuition amounts and the corresponding annual equivalents are published for Pre‑K, Kindergarten and Primary (1–6) and for day‑care and hot‑lunch options; fees are billed monthly in advance and are subject to the school's published deposit, registration and refund rules.	Fee details Registration / Application fee - One-time registration fee, non-refundable. Payment of this fee guarantees a school place. - First child: CHF 600. - Each additional child from the same family: CHF 500. Tuition fees (per semester) and annual equivalents - Billing schedule: school fees are billed in advance per semester. On request, arrangements can be made to pay the school fees in monthly instalments (see instalment line below). School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated. - Kindergarten 1 and 2: - Per semester (one payment at the beginning of the semester): CHF 12,930. - Instalment option: CHF 2,198 per month for 6 months (6 monthly instalments; 2% surcharge). - Per academic year (two semesters): CHF 25,860 if paid by semester; instalment total per semester is CHF 13,188 (CHF 2,198 × 6), equivalent to CHF 26,376 per academic year when using the instalment option. - Primary (Primary 1 to Primary 6): - Per semester (one payment at the beginning of the semester): CHF 12,930. - Instalment option: CHF 2,198 per month for 6 months (6 monthly instalments; 2% surcharge). - Per academic year (two semesters): CHF 25,860 if paid by semester; instalment total per semester is CHF 13,188 (CHF 2,198 × 6), equivalent to CHF 26,376 per academic year when using the instalment option. Sibling discount - A sibling discount of 10% on the school fees is applied for the second, third, etc. child from the same family while multiple children are enrolled. The reduction applies to the younger child(ren). Before- and after-school care (optional) - Morning care (7:00–7:30 a.m.): - Full week (5 days): CHF 700. - One day per week: CHF 140. - Single booking, per hour: CHF 18. - Afternoon care (4:00–6:00 p.m.): - Full week (5 days): CHF 2,400. - One day per week: CHF 480. - Single booking, per hour: CHF 18. School bus (optional) - School transport is offered on defined routes; places are limited and routes may change. - Zone fares (listed as one-way ride and round-trip): - Zone I (Zürich city limit to Kilchberg): CHF 9.50 one-way / CHF 19.00 round-trip. - Zone II (to Adliswil and Rüschlikon): CHF 11.50 one-way / CHF 23.00 round-trip. - Zone III (to Thalwil): CHF 13.50 one-way / CHF 27.00 round-trip. - Zone IV (to Horgen) — afternoon only: CHF 18.00 one-way / CHF 36.00 round-trip. Clubs and extracurricular costs - Clubs and extracurricular activities are offered; specific costs for clubs are available from the school office on request. Boarding / residential provision - The school operates as a day school and does not offer boarding accommodation. Refunds and prorating - The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable. - School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated to reflect the shortened period of attendance. Billing schedule and payment terms (summary) - Fees are invoiced in advance per semester. On request, a six-month monthly instalment plan is available for a 2% surcharge on the instalment total. Mid-term admissions are billed on a prorated basis. Fee payment options - Fees are issued by invoice according to the billing schedule above; the school provides instalment arrangements on request. Specific accepted payment methods are indicated on invoicing documentation.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Day School; boarding not offered.	Boarding arrangements Day school
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Hot Lunch is offered; lunches are nutritious and delicious.	Food options Lunch is offered.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Governing body is The Lakeside School Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Foundation reinvests profits into the school; the Board of Trustees oversees governance.	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 Primary School runs from Grade 1 to 6 and provides a bilingual foundation. Bilingual Matura offers upper-school options up to the Swiss Matura.	Curriculum details Teaching follows the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. In the bilingual primary school, a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher work with students, using their native languages to communicate. Language acquisition begins early and is guided by experts in a natural environment, leading to lifelong competence.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
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 The school values shape the school culture and promote the social and emotional development of students.	Social & emotional learning Bilingual experience is central to the school's approach. The school follows an independent and value-centered approach to learning. It functions as a day school community that supports social interaction and belonging. Diversity is valued, and the school maintains a strong network across SIS schools. Continuity from kindergarten to college and learning enhanced by technology support long-term development.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Student support rooms provide individual language and learning support in small groups.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language English-speaking and German-speaking class teachers work with classes; once a week they take their classes to the in-house library.	English as an additional language The children are supervised by one German-speaking and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with the students. English and German play equal roles in school communication in the classroom and day-to-day life. Students spend about half of their time in German and half in English. There are opportunities for supervised after-school activities that further immerse students in language. Teachers are native speakers who use their mother tongue in class, in the lunchroom, and at events.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Social and emotional development is integral to the school culture, and parent conferences discuss a child's academic and social development.	Mental wellbeing Student life provides a welcoming environment where children can spend time together, make friends, and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. The school offers lunch, homework supervision, before- and after-school care, flexible drop-off and pickup times, and a school bus to support families and safe routines. The campus is central and green, with gardens and parks nearby that provide space for outdoor activity and well-being.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding Schutzkonzept applies to SIS Zürich-Wollishofen as the cantonal protection concept for Volksschulen Zürich, covering Kindergarten and Primary School. The responsible person is the headteacher Ryan Howard. The document outlines general rules, distancing, hygiene, school events, special teaching forms/supervision, employer obligations, and isolation/quarantine measures. It notes that federal and cantonal guidelines apply, that the school does not order tests, and that it informs staff and parents about data usage and visitor access. It requires 1.5-meter distancing for adults; masks indoors for adults; external visitors must wear masks; and isolation/quarantine measures are to be followed as advised by medical authorities.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Campus Küsnacht houses kindergarten, primary school and the auditorium in a single building with a view of Lake Zurich. The auditorium is used for lunch together and for events such as assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. There are dedicated spaces for activities including group rooms for collaborative learning, a music room with many instruments, and a crafts, design and technology room with workbenches for textile and technical design. An exclusive in-house library is accessible to students, with weekly trips for reading and borrowing, and each class has its own small library. There is ample space to play and exercise, from a football pitch to basketball hoops and extensive play structures. After-school clubs include activities such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting.	Facilities overview Two school buildings are combined in a charming garden complex between the city and Lake Zürich. The bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historical building, while the bilingual primary school, library and cafeteria are in the modern school building. The school is surrounded by its own garden and a large nearby park area with views of the Landiwiese park and Lake Zürich. It has easy access to public transport and occupies a central, green location.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities On-site facilities include a football pitch and basketball hoops, with extensive play structures for outdoor activity. The space supports a variety of physical activities.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Group rooms support collaborative learning. A music room houses a large selection of instruments. A crafts, design and technology room provides workbenches for textile and technical design. Student support rooms offer individual language and learning support in small groups. An exclusive in-house library is available for classes, with weekly library visits and class libraries for student use.	Academic facilities The classrooms and special-purpose rooms are equipped with contemporary infrastructure and advanced teaching technology. The bilingual primary school teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum, supplemented with elements of the British curriculum as well as curricula developed by SIS. The children are supervised by one German- and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with their students. A library is part of the campus and the cafeteria is on site in the modern building. A school bus service provides safe, timely transport.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities After-school clubs include Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. These clubs extend learning beyond the school day. Holiday Care provides a supervised holiday programme in a familiar setting. The Lakeside School Küsnacht campus offers a variety of after-school and holiday programs to engage students.	Extra curricular facilities Lunch is offered and homework supervision is provided. Before- and after-school care is available. Flexible drop-off and pickup times are offered. A school bus is provided for transportation. Exciting activities are offered, even during school holidays.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History SIS Zürich-Wollishofen is a private bilingual day school in Zürich offering education from kindergarten to Year 6, with approximately 220 students and more than twenty nationalities. The bilingual educational concept has been implemented here since 2000. The school sits between the city and Lake Zürich, in a garden complex with two buildings; the bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historic building, while the bilingual primary school, library, and cafeteria are in the modern building. The address is Seestrasse 271, 8038 Zürich, Switzerland.
Community	Community Kindergarten, primary school and auditorium are in the same building with a view of Lake Zurich. In the auditorium, lunch is eaten together and gatherings include assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. Exclusive in-house library access provides weekly visits to the library for English-speaking and German-speaking classes, and each class has its own small library. After-school life includes clubs such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting, and there is ample outdoor space with a football pitch, basketball hoops and play structures.	Community The school community is characterized by a vibrant and nurturing multicultural environment and represents more than twenty nationalities. The day school offers lunch, homework supervision, before- and after-school care, flexible drop-off and pickup times, a school bus, and activities even during school holidays. Classrooms and specialist rooms are equipped with contemporary infrastructure and advanced teaching technology. Upcoming events include an Open House on March 26, 2026, and stories document Swiss traditions such as Räbeliechtli-Umzug.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association There is a Parents' Club Küsnacht. The parent community is active as part of Lakeside School Küsnacht. There is also a Parents' Club Horgen for the Horgen campus.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Primary School provides a bilingual foundation with instruction in English and German. The school building houses kindergarten, primary school and an auditorium with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich, and spaces include group rooms for collaborative learning as well as a music room with a wide range of instruments. There is an in-house library that students access; English-speaking and German-speaking teachers take classes there weekly, and each class has its own small classroom library. There is ample space to play and exercise, with a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures.	Academic & intellectual Clubs provide activities that complement the regular academic programme and can be booked for one semester. Before- and after-school care includes homework supervision to support learning beyond classroom hours. The school offers a bus service to provide reliable transport to and from the campus. Lunch is available as a supervised communal meal in the cafeteria, helping to maintain daily routines.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative A Music Room provides a large selection of instruments. A Crafts, Design and Technology room has workbenches for textile and technical design. Group rooms support collaborative learning, and the auditorium hosts assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. The auditorium also serves as a gathering space for lunch and events.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English-speaking and German-speaking teachers accompany classes to the in-house library weekly to read and borrow books. Each class has its own small library that is always accessible to students. In Primary School, students are instructed in English and German. The bilingual environment supports language development across the curriculum.	Cultural & language The bilingual primary school uses German- and English-speaking teachers to communicate with students in their native languages. Instruction is based on the cantonal curriculum and is complemented by elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. The school participates in Swiss cultural traditions such as Räbeliechtli-Umzug, with Kindergarten through primary 2 students taking part. The school also engages in signature events that involve SIS schools around the world.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies There is a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures for outdoor activity. After the bell rings, a diverse program of After School Clubs is offered, including Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Students have opportunities to participate in sports and creative activities after school to stay active and engaged.	Social & hobbies A range of clubs is offered for students of all ages, allowing them to develop skills that complement their school work. Clubs can be booked for a semester, and costs are not included in tuition. The school provides a holiday club during school breaks, offering week-long activities including sports and trips under supervision. Before- and after-school care provides space for recreation and social interaction after class.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing There is plenty of space to play and exercise on campus, including a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures. After School Clubs support physical and mental wellbeing through activities such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Getting to school is convenient with a short walk from nearby train stations and a door-to-door school bus service from key origins.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Lunch is offered as a supervised communal meal in the school cafeteria. A school bus service provides safe transport to and from school. Before- and after-school care is available, with activities after 4 p.m. A holiday club runs during school breaks with sports and trips under adult supervision.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The languages of instruction are English and German. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class is taught by one English-speaking and one German-speaking teacher, exposing students to both languages. In Primary School, students are instructed in English and German, with cross-language planning between a native English-speaking teacher and a native German-speaking teacher. German-language development remains strong in bilingual settings, and students with other language dominances also achieve strong English reading and writing skills.	Language provision German and English are used in instruction. Language acquisition begins early, guided by experts, and occurs in a natural environment. In the bilingual primary school, teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Lakeside School Küsnacht offers bilingual education in English and German. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has one English-speaking and one German-speaking class teacher working together. In Primary School, instruction is in English and German, with a native English-speaking and a native German-speaking teacher sharing responsibility and coordinating planning. The class has an English week when all subjects are taught in English, followed by a German week; Specialist subjects are taught in either language.	Bilingual teaching Bilingual kindergarten and bilingual primary school (German and English). The children are supervised by one German-speaking and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with students.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs English and German are used in speaking and writing in every subject. The programme is fully immersive with equal instruction in both languages (50:50). Our teachers are native speakers of either English or German.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Registration is online; you can register your child online for Lakeside School Küsnacht or contact us if you have any further questions. Fees and registration are managed via the Fees & Registration page, where offers and prices are calculated dynamically as you build an individual program. The Küsnacht campus offers Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Primary School; additional services include Day School, Day Care, Hot Lunch, School Bus Küsnacht, After School Clubs, and Holiday Care.	Admissions 1. Getting in Touch: The first step is to get in touch via the contact form, by email, or by phone. You are welcome to visit an Open House to experience daily school life and meet the school leadership. Further information is provided, initial questions are answered, and the next suitable step for your child is discussed. 2. Consultation: A personal consultation is arranged to get to know each other. Questions are answered and the school and its educational concept are introduced, with a possible building tour to give a brief insight into classroom life. If an on-site visit is not possible, consultations can be conducted virtually, by phone, or via email. 3. Trial Days: If it feels right for both sides, one or more trial days are arranged. Trial days let your child experience everyday school life and determine comfort in the environment, and the process is non-binding. If trial days aren't possible, an alternative solution is explored. 4. Registration: You receive the registration form—digital or printed. If you decide in favour after consultations and trial days, complete the form in full and submit it to the SIS school of your choice. Support is available if you have questions. 5. School Contract: The school contract is prepared after registration, with information about the enrolment fee. After the contract is signed and the enrolment fee is received, the child is officially registered at SIS Switzerland and their place at the school is reserved.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist If a year group or class is full, SIS schools maintain waiting lists. To secure a place, inquire about capacity early, preferably in the spring.
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