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International School of Düsseldorf

Germany, Düsseldorf

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €19,100 - 21,570
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 950
Type Co-educational
Opened 1968
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Dutch, Persian, Finnish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form, Preschool
Introduction

International School of Düsseldorf (ISD) is an independent, co-educational day school founded in 1968, located in Kaiserswerth, in Germany's international community. The school offers an IB Continuum curriculum, with the Primary Years Programme in the Elementary School, the Middle Years Programme in the Senior School, and the Diploma Programme in the Senior School. This structure is supported by about 54 DP courses, and more than 90% of Grades 11–12 students are enrolled in the Diploma Programme. ISD serves students aged 3 to 17 and places well-being at the foundation of learning. 10-acre campus houses multiple buildings, three libraries, seven science laboratories, five computer rooms, a design technology room, and dedicated centres for visual and performing arts, plus 350-seat theatre and three cafeterias. The Senior School Sports and Community Centre supports NECIS competition sports, and the school offers a broad co-curricular program, including robotics, performing arts, and a Mother Tongue Programme.

Niederrheinstraße 336, Niederrheinstraße 323, 40489 Düsseldorf, Germany

The Essentials

International School of Düsseldorf has 950 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

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.

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.

Type
IB World School

Country affiliation
Germany
Diving Deeper

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.

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.

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.
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Düsseldorf ranges from EUR 19,100 to EUR 21,570 for 2026/27.

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.
Academics

International School of Düsseldorf teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
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.

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.

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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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.

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.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
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.

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.

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.
Parent Experience

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.

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.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
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.
Facilities

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.

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.

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.

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 Activities

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.

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.

Cultural & Language
Mother Tongue Programme supports native-language development with courses in Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.

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.

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.

Leadership & Professional
Student groups provide leadership opportunities and ambassador-like roles that develop teamwork and advocacy skills.

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.
Languages

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.
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).

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.

Waitlist
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. However, vacancies regularly arise throughout the school year.
School Events
The school has not added events
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