doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
I

International School of Kenya

Kenya, Nairobi

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KES 19,870 - 43,350
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1000
Type Co-educational
Opened 1976
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), American Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish, Swahili
Typical class size 20
Strengths STEM, Sport, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

International School of Kenya (ISK) is a private, non‑profit international school in Nairobi serving ages 3 to 18. Established in 1976 through a partnership between the United States and Canadian governments, ISK offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in grades 11–12 alongside a four‑year ISK High School Diploma and a U.S. and Canadian‑influenced American curriculum framework. The school teaches English and integrates global perspectives across Elementary, Middle, and High School, with grade‑specific courses in English, science, mathematics, world languages (French, Spanish, Kiswahili), health, arts, and physical education. The 40‑acre campus features a competition swimming pool, four basketball courts, multiple playing fields, five tennis courts, and a new Track & Field facility (2023–24). The campus houses a 30,000‑book library, Design & Innovation spaces, a Design & Art Center, and a one‑to‑one technology program. Co‑curriculars include robotics, MUN, Green Initiatives, and extensive arts, music, and service programs. This combination supports diverse learners.

www.isk.ac.ke

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

International School of Kenya has 1,000 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
ISK sits on a 40-acre campus on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. The campus is located in Nairobi and the postal address is PO Box 14103 - 00800, Nairobi, Kenya.

Stages
Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12; Elementary School, Middle School, and High School divisions.

Type
Private, non-profit international school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
ISK has over 1,000 students representing more than 65 nationalities.

Additional learning support
Provides support for mild to moderate learning needs through Student Support Services.

Country affiliation
Created in 1976 through a joint partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada.

School day structure
School hours are 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 8:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Bus service
Yes, an optional Bus Service to locations in Nairobi and its surroundings.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Kenya ranges from KES 19,870 to KES 43,350 for 2026/27.

Applicable academic year

The following fee figures are the published International School of Kenya fee schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year and are shown in US Dollars.

One‑time / Entry fees

- Application Fee: USD 400. Applies only to new applicants; non‑refundable and payable in full on submission of the completed application.
- One‑time Capital Levy (new entrants K–12): USD 11,000 payable at enrolment; non‑refundable. A reduction of USD 500 is applied for each additional sibling from the same family. The Capital Levy is postponed for Pre‑K entrants until they join Kindergarten. No early‑payment discount on the Capital Levy.
- Life‑Centered Education (LCE) Program Fee (where applicable): USD 20,000, payable in addition to the grade‑level tuition for students enrolled in the LCE program (Kindergarten–Grade 12).

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑semester amounts)

ISK bills tuition on a per‑year basis and publishes that tuition is payable by semester (two equal payments). The annual and per‑semester amounts are shown below (per‑semester = annual ÷ 2):

- Pre‑Kindergarten: USD 18,870 per year (USD 9,435 per semester).
- Kindergarten: USD 30,800 per year (USD 15,400 per semester).
- Grades 1–5: USD 32,540 per year (USD 16,270 per semester).
- Grades 6–8: USD 33,965 per year (USD 16,982.50 per semester).
- Grades 9–10: USD 35,900 per year (USD 17,950 per semester).
- Grades 11–12: USD 37,330 per year (USD 18,665 per semester).

Annual continuing‑student levy and transport / food

- Annual Capital Levy (continuing students): USD 1,550 per year.
- Bus (school transport) fee: USD 2,200 per year. Reduction of USD 200 for each additional sibling; from the fourth sibling onward the bus fee is USD 1,600. (Per‑semester equivalent where required: USD 1,100 per semester for a single child using bus service.)
- Lunch service: Operates on a prepaid basis; sign‑up available for semester or year. (Cost varies by plan and is prepaid.)

Special / additional costs

- International Baccalaureate examination and exam‑related fees: Individual student costs range approximately from USD 300 (single IB exam) up to about USD 908 for a full IB Diploma candidate in the senior year. IB fees, DHL costs and Kenya National Examination Council fees are charged to families; parents are billed in October with payment due in November. Additional charges apply for late registration or changes after deadlines.
- Supplementary language classes: Core language instruction is included in tuition; occasional additional native‑language lessons offered via national community groups are charged to parents if arranged.
- Selected intercultural trips: Costs for inter‑cultural trips that require flights (within Kenya or international) are charged to parents; flight costs are the family's responsibility.
- Student materials / books / replacement items: Replacement costs for lost or damaged books are charged at actual replacement cost. (Textbook/book replacement policy is applied where relevant.)
- Uniforms and other optional charges: Uniforms or uniform‑shop charges are not listed as an itemised tuition line in the published fee schedule; families should budget separately for uniform purchase and replacement.

Boarding

- Boarding is not offered; the International School of Kenya operates as a day school. No boarding fees apply.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Billing cadence: Tuition is published as an annual fee and is payable by semester (two equal instalments). Pre‑payments for a full year may attract a 1% discount where published conditions apply (example on the 2025–2026 schedule).
- Payment plans: The Business Manager may negotiate payment plans in US Dollars with a surcharge of 0.5% per month, or in Kenya Shillings with a surcharge of 1% per month. A nominal fee is applicable to authorized payment plans.
- Penalties and default: A penalty of 2% per month is applied to outstanding balances that are not paid at the beginning of the semester or that miss payment‑plan deadlines; failure to make payment within 30 days of a deadline may result in student withdrawal.

Refund rules

- Tuition and deposits are non‑refundable after payment except in the single circumstance where a family has paid for a full year and withdraws prior to the commencement of the semester; attendance for any portion of a semester precludes a refund of tuition for that semester. Application fees and Capital Levies are non‑refundable.

Payment currency and how to pay

- Accepted currency: Payments are published in US Dollars. Kenyan citizens may pay in Kenya Shillings (evidence of citizenship required).
- Payment method summary: The school publishes that families should contact the Business Office for bank details and payment instructions; payments are processed through the Business Office. Payment plans, bank transfer instructions and other arrangements (including applicable surcharges) are managed by the Business Office. Contact: finance@isk.ac.ke or +254 20 209 1308/9.

Other financial assistance and notes on discounts

- Sibling and family concessions: The Capital Levy reduction noted above applies per additional sibling (USD 500 reduction per additional student for the one‑time Capital Levy). Bus fee sibling reductions are also published.
- Financial assistance: ISK offers limited tuition assistance bursaries (ranging from USD 500 up to 20% of a family's total tuition costs) for existing families, and may offer Capital Levy payment plans or partial Capital Levy waivers for new families in need; applications for assistance are handled through the Business Manager.

Key points for budgeting

- Expect initial one‑time charges for new students: Application Fee (USD 400) plus the One‑time Capital Levy (USD 11,000) for K–12 entrants, in addition to the annual tuition for the relevant grade.
- Ongoing annual costs include tuition (grade dependent), the annual Capital Levy for returning students (USD 1,550), optional transport (USD 2,200 before sibling reduction), prepaid lunch service, and IB exam or trip‑related charges where applicable.
Academics

International School of Kenya teaches IB (DP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
ISK provides education across Elementary, Middle, and High School within a framework centered on the International Baccalaureate. In High School, Grades 9–12 students work toward the ISK High School Diploma, with many pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12. Grade 9 follows a common course of study in English and Science, with Mathematics and World Languages (French, Spanish, Kiswahili), and wellness and creativity through health, art, drama, and music. Grade 10 continues core study with electives and a strong emphasis on experiential learning and IB preparation. The IB Diploma Programme is offered in Grades 11–12, with six externally assessed IB courses, the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge, alongside ISK's four-year High School Diploma. Graduation requires 24–28 credits across English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, World Languages, Physical Education, Health, Creative Arts, and Electives.

Student Teacher Ratio
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1.

Exam Results
The IB exams pass rate is 98.5%.

Higher Education Progression
ISK provides college counseling to support university selection and applications. The Class of 2025 received university acceptances across the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Europe, and rest of the world. Examples include University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of York, New York University, Princeton University, University of Michigan, McGill University, and University of Toronto.

Gifted and Talented
ISK has a Gifted and Talented policy and Highly Capable Learner (HCL) program; it is at the refining stage and not fully implemented, but structures exist and HCL models appear in some unit plans. Highly capable learners may skip grades or enroll in more advanced classes, and teachers have participated in related professional development.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
Step 1 - Create an Account. Begin by creating an account in the ISK application system, then return to the ISK Application Dashboard and select the appropriate year of entry. Step 1 also guides you to prepare for the online application submission. Step 2 - Submit an Online Application. Return to the dashboard to submit the online application for your child and ensure the year of entry is correct. Upload the requested documents: school reports from the previous three years translated into English, the Confidential School Report (sent directly to ISK via the dashboard), a Health Form, most recent MAP scores for Grades 3 and above, a current passport photo, and a copy of the student's passport bio data page. Include proof of payment of the US$400 non-refundable application fee and upload the Commitment to our Educational Philosophy form. Step 3 - Application Review and Next Steps. After submission, you will receive an email confirmation that the admissions team has received the application, and the status can be checked on the dashboard. The principal for each division makes all admission and grade placement decisions, with grade placement generally based on the student's age on September 15 and prior grade equivalence. Next steps include Entrance Assessments and Admissions Decisions, which determine whether ISK can provide the appropriate program for the student. The school also conducts orientation for new families at the start of each school year and for new admissions after mid-year.

Scholarships
ISK Scholarships invest in Kenyan youth who would otherwise be unable to afford tuition. The ISK Scholarship targets low to middle income Kenyan students and covers 100% of high school costs, including the IB Diploma program, school fees, admission fees, and bus fees, provided recipients maintain good academic performance and behavior. Applications are screened by a scholarship committee and awarded by April of each year, with financial need assessed via a Finance Disclosure form and supporting documentation. High School Scholarships for Kenyan citizens are based on merit and proven financial need and require Kenyan citizenship, English fluency, strong English-language academic achievement, leadership and service, being at least 14 years old by July, and completion of Grade 8 or Year 9 with eligibility to enter Grade 9 at ISK. The Beacon Scholarship is a separate Changemaker program with its own eligibility and funding structure. For scholarship inquiries, scholarships@isk.ac.ke. Scholarship Applications for the 2026-27 school year are closed.

Waitlist
Applicants who cannot be enrolled due to lack of space will be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available. Waiting lists may be formed as early as March for the forthcoming school year, and applicants are removed from the waiting list when space becomes available. If communicated that a child is on the waiting list, an email should be sent to confirm the wish to remain on the waiting list.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Kenya View all schools in Nairobi View all schools in Kenya IB curriculum schools in Kenya Open days & tours in Nairobi What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools
doris
linked-in-logo facebook-logo instagram-logo
About
Parent Guide
Transparency Charter
Privacy Notice Terms of Use Cookies Notice Cookie Preferences
© 2026 doris Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved.