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International School of Iceland

Iceland, Garðabær

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Icelandic
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 104
Type Co-educational
Opened 2004
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IB (MYP), Italian Curriculum
Taught languages Icelandic, Danish, Spanish, Mandarin
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

International School of Iceland (ISI) is an English- and Icelandic-medium international school in Garðabær, Iceland. The Primary School follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with two streams for grades 1–6: English Stream and a bilingual Icelandic–English Stream. The core subjects include English, Icelandic (bilingual stream only), mathematics, IPC thematic units, gym, swimming, art, music, theatre, design, coding, and other STEAM activities. Learning targets align with Icelandic standards or the AERO Common Core Plus benchmarks. ISI is an authorized IB World School offering the Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 7–10 and the Personal Project. The campus features a dedicated Mjölnir Martial Arts gym, a Learning Support Team, and Google Classroom/Managebac for learning management. The school embraces fieldwork through IPC and IPC unit integration, and uses MAP assessments for external measurement. ISI is accredited by the Middle States Association since 2017 and emphasizes inquiry, language development, and student wellbeing and resilience.

International School of Iceland, Þórsgrund 2, 210 Garðabær, Iceland

The Essentials

International School of Iceland has 104 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English, Icelandic.

Location
Garðabær, Iceland (Greater Reykjavík area). Address: Þórsgrund 2, 210 Garðabær.

Stages
Primary School; Middle Years Program (IB MYP)

Country affiliation
United States
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is provided through a subscription service (Skólamatur). Registration for the subscription opens on August 20, 2026.

Governance and Ownership
Private, not-for-profit international school. Licensed to operate by the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and the Garðabær municipality. It is a U.S.-assisted overseas school with ties to the U.S. Office of Overseas Schools and Project AERO.
Fees
Application fees
- No specific application or non‑refundable registration fee amount is published in the school's public admissions materials; applications are submitted through the school's admissions process.

Tuition fees (structure by category)
- Tuition is charged according to family circumstance rather than a single flat rate. Families are classified into categories: Non‑Residents (no Icelandic kennitala / residency), Residents whose tuition is paid by a company (municipality voucher adjustments apply), Residents paying out of pocket (may apply for financial assistance), and Residents of Garðabær (a special municipal agreement affects rates). No per‑grade or per‑term numeric tuition amounts are published in the school's public fee information.

Tuition detail by year group / per term
- The school does not publish a public fee table with numeric tuition by year group or per term for the 2026/27 or prior academic years. Families are informed of exact per‑student tuition amounts and applicable municipal voucher adjustments directly through the school's admissions/finance process.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- No standard public billing schedule (for example: annual, semester, or monthly installment timetable) or formal payment‑terms document with deadlines and penalties is published on the publicly accessible school pages. Billing schedules and accepted payment arrangements are handled directly by the school's finance office.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The school operates as a day school serving students in the Greater Reykjavík area; there are no published boarding provisions or boarding fee schedules.

Other costs and typical additional fees
- Lunch: there is a school lunch subscription link listed among the school's resources, indicating a separate lunch charge or subscription service for meals.
- Extracurriculars, field trips, specific course materials, school events, and optional services (for example after‑school care or special programs) are likely to carry additional charges, but no standard published price list for these items is available publicly.
- Uniform: no published mandatory uniform fee or uniform policy with pricing is available in the public materials.

Refund information
- No public, detailed refund policy or standard refund amounts for tuition, deposits, or extracurricular fees is published on the school's publicly accessible information pages. Refund terms (if any) are managed through the school's admissions/finance procedures.

Fee payment options (payment methods)
- The publicly available contact information lists the school office phone number and an administrative email; specific accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, online payment portal, etc.) are not published on the public pages. Families should arrange payment method details directly with the school's finance office.

Summary of findings and gaps
- The school's public materials describe how tuition rates are determined (by residency and payer category) and note processes such as municipal voucher eligibility and financial assistance, but do not publish numeric fee schedules, per‑year or per‑term tuition amounts, application fees, billing calendars, payment methods, refund rules, or itemized additional charges for the 2026/27 academic year (nor for the immediately prior year) in the public pages reviewed. For exact amounts, billing schedules, and payment options, those details are provided to families through the school's admissions and finance office.
Academics

International School of Iceland teaches IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IB (MYP), Italian Curriculum.

Curriculum
Primary School Program uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). The school offers two programs for grades 1-6: English Stream and Bilingual Stream (Icelandic-English). The Primary School Program includes English, Icelandic (bilingual program only), mathematics, IPC thematic units, gym, swimming, art, music, theatre, design, coding, and STEAM, and learning targets in other subjects align with AERO Common Core Plus standards and benchmarks or the Icelandic curriculum standards. The International School of Iceland is an authorized IB World School and offers the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 7-10. ISI is accredited by the Middle States Association since 2017.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters social and emotional learning through a joyful community of confident, creative, and respectful learners. A Positive Discipline approach provides a framework for building respectful relationships, effective communication, personal responsibility, and a sense of belonging. Core values at ISI are Respect, Creativity, and Self-Efficacy, which underpin students' social and emotional development.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ISI has a Learning Support Team and a Student Support Team that identify students in need of additional support and coordinate resources. The teams develop services including counseling and personalized learning plans and guide differentiation and accommodations. Policies on student support and well-being are reviewed to ensure ongoing identification and support for students with additional needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
ISI offers an international education in English for the Greater Reykjavik area and a bilingual Icelandic-English program for students in grades 1-6 who live in Iceland. The English Stream is designed for families who are temporarily assigned to Iceland and typically stay about three years.

Mental Wellbeing
The Well-being Team (Lausnateymi) provides ongoing proactive support and monitoring of student well-being and responds to reports or referrals for support. The team coordinates with external agencies as needed and ensures confidentiality. The school provides health support through a School Nurse and offers Personal Development programs to empower students.

Safeguarding
ISI maintains a Child Protection Policy to safeguard student well-being. All staff must report suspected incidents of abuse or neglect to the Well-being Team or Head of School, with cases handled in accordance with Icelandic law and international accreditation standards. The Well-being Team leads proactive and reactive safeguarding, with staff training and regular reviews of procedures. The policy covers background checks for staff, clear reporting steps, and collaboration with child protection authorities locally and in home countries.
Parent Experience

Community
The Vision is to create a Joyful community of confident, creative, and respectful learners. The Mission is to create an academically stimulating and supportive environment, and to value multilingualism and nurture international-mindedness. Students, staff and parents and community members are encouraged to participate in all aspects of school life, and parents are partners in education.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The International School of Iceland is located at Þórsgrund 2, 210 Garðabær, Iceland. The Primary School Program includes English and Icelandic (bilingual program), mathematics, thematic units from the International Primary Curriculum, and a broad set of subjects including gym, swimming, art, music, theatre, design, coding and STEAM. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program for grades 7-10. A Martial Arts gym, named Mjölnir, provides a dedicated dojo space with mats and equipment donated to the program. The Learning Support Team and digital learning tools such as Google Classroom and Managebac support teaching and student learning.

Sports Facilities
The Primary School program includes gym and swimming as core components. A dedicated Martial Arts gym, Mjölnir, supports martial arts activities with mats, kicking pads and shields donated to the club. The Martial Arts Club began in 2024 and includes Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Kickboxing and related activities. Physical and Health Education is part of the IB MYP subject groups.

Academic Facilities
The Primary School program uses the International Primary Curriculum, and learning targets align to either the Icelandic curriculum or the AERO Common Core Plus standards. The school offers two programs for grades 1-6: English Stream and Bilingual Steam. ISI is an IB World School offering the Middle Years Program for grades 7-10. It uses Google Classroom and Managebac for classwork and reporting, and MAP assessments for external measurement. The school has a Learning Support Team providing services for students and a focus on personalized learning plans.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities include a municipality-run Klakinn youth club for students in grades 8-10. The Student Council organizes events for MYP students throughout the year. ISI Middle School students take a year-end trip, and 10th graders are invited to a full-day mystery trip at the end of the school year. A Martial Arts Club started in 2024 offering Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Kickboxing and other styles, using the Mjölnir Martial Arts gym.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is used in the primary years, and ISI became a full member of Fieldwork Education's IPC in 2007. IPC emphasizes a blend of academic, personal, and international learning and uses them through themed units that connect subjects. Units last between four and eight weeks and link knowledge, skills, and understanding to real-world contexts, encouraging enquiry and critical thinking. In the Middle Years Program (IB MYP), ISI culminates with the Personal Project, which was implemented fully in 2022-23 to support independent inquiry and creative products.

Arts & Creative
The Primary School program includes art, music, theatre, STEAM, design, and outdoor education. Arts and design are integrated with IPC units to foster creative expression across the curriculum. In the Middle Years Program, art and music are included as core subject areas in the IB framework, supporting student creativity and performance. ISI supports creative work across the school through these disciplines.

Cultural & Language
ISI offers an international education in English for the Greater Reykjavik area, and a bilingual Icelandic-English stream for grades 1-6 for students living in Iceland. The Primary School provides two streams, English Stream and Bilingual Stream; the English Stream is for families temporarily located in Iceland, while the Bilingual Stream serves Icelandic or bilingual students with instruction in Icelandic and English. The English Stream includes an Icelandic Language/Culture class to introduce Icelandic language and culture. As ISI transitions to the IB MYP, Language A is English and Language B is Icelandic, with Icelandic language enrichment offered in two core classes per year.

Social & Hobbies
In spring 2024 ISI started a Martial Arts Club introducing Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Kickboxing and other styles to spark interest and encourage learning outside of school. The school also hosts a municipality-run youth club (Klakinn) for grades 8-10, which operates two evenings a week and runs events throughout the year. The ISI Middle School has a Student Council that organizes events for MYP students throughout the year. Student Led Conferences are an important event at ISI.

Leadership & Professional
The ISI Student Council organizes events for MYP students throughout the year. The IB MYP Personal Project provides students with an opportunity for independent, age-appropriate exploration, planning, and presentation of their learning. ISI participates in leadership-focused programs and events, including ECIS leadership initiatives and related activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Primary School curriculum includes gym, swimming, and outdoor education as part of the program. A Martial Arts Club started in spring 2024 to promote physical activity and discipline. Well-Being is a focus at ISI, with events such as Prevention Week emphasizing well-being and quality time for families. Extracurriculars include year-end trips and other activities that promote physical and social development.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English and Icelandic. The English Stream includes Icelandic Language/Culture; the bilingual program includes Icelandic language.

Bilingual Teaching
Two primary school tracks are offered: English Stream and Bilingual Stream. The English Stream is for families whose stay in Iceland is typically short; The Bilingual Stream is for families living in Iceland permanently or for an undetermined length of time. The Primary School Program includes English and Icelandic (Icelandic Language/Culture is taught in the English Stream; Icelandic language is included in the bilingual program).

Immersion Programs
Icelandic language instruction is integrated into the curriculum. The English Stream includes an Icelandic Language/Culture class; Icelandic language is included in the bilingual program.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Determine program and entry level. Primary School offers two streams: the English Stream for families temporarily located in Iceland, and the Bilingual Stream for Icelandic or bilingual students who live in Iceland. The English Stream is intended for families temporarily located in Iceland, including foreign-service dependents, families sent to Iceland by a business for a contracted period, and visiting scholars. The Bilingual Stream requires proficiency in Icelandic, and instruction takes place in Icelandic and English. The choice of stream depends on residency status and language needs, and the school aims to place children in a program that best fits the family's plans. 2. Middle School admission (grades 7-10). The International School of Iceland is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB-MYP). It is an IB World School. IB World Schools share a philosophy of high-quality, challenging international education and ISI aligns its program with IB standards. 3. Admission forms. An online admission form is linked in the Admissions section; the form is hosted on Google Forms (forms.gle). Applications require completion of the form and submission of any requested documents. The school may request additional information as needed. 4. Application intake and merit-based review. The school accepts students throughout the academic year as long as a place is available. Each application is considered on its own merit, with the objective to ascertain that the prospective student would benefit from the school. The Admissions Team meets weekly during the regular school year to review applications, respond to emails, arrange and conduct online and in-person meetings, and communicate with current and previous schools. The process is thorough and may require time to complete. 5. Processing timeline. Families are asked for patience as steps are completed and the team guides them through the process. The team aims to keep applicants informed of progress and any additional requirements. Final decisions are communicated once the review is complete.

Scholarships
ISI offers financial assistance options. Non-residents pay full tuition and are not entitled to a municipality voucher. Residents paying out of pocket can apply for a Financial Assistance form to be eligible for a discounted rate. Residents with tuition paid by a company have the municipality voucher subtracted from full tuition, and residents must apply to their municipality annually to maintain eligibility. Residents living in Garðabær have a different tuition and fee structure and should contact ISI for clarification.
School Events
The school has not added events
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