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Bishkek International School

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KGS 980,000 - 2,053,000
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 450
Type Co-educational
Opened 2011
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages Russian, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

Bishkek International School (BIS) is a non-profit, community-run international school in Kyrgyz Republic, serving 400 students aged 2 to 18 from 34 countries. BIS is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 3-10), the Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11-13) and the Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16-18). For 14-16 year olds, BIS provides the Cambridge IGCSE to prepare for the DP. English is the main language of instruction, with English Language Acquisition programs and opportunities to learn Kyrgyz, Russian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. The school is accredited by NEASC and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Science for national certificates. Its campus features two libraries, three science labs, art room, a music room, a maker-space, fourteen classrooms, plus outdoor facilities including a full-size basketball court, grass field and adventure playground. BIS emphasizes community governance and involvement, opened in 2011 after being established by the community.

67a Bronirovannaya, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Essentials

Bishkek International School has 450 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location

67 A Bronirovannaya St., Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It is in central Bishkek, in a quiet residential area away from traffic fumes and major roads. The school is within central Bishkek and accessible by local transport.

Stages

Preschool (ages 2-4); Primary School (Grade 0-5, PYP); Middle School (Grade 6-8, MYP); High School (Grade 11-12, DP) with Cambridge IGCSE for 9-10; English is the main language of instruction.

Type

Non-profit community school

Additional learning support

Learning Diversity, Inclusion & Counseling Department with a full-time Learning Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, 2 school counsellors, and one full-time Learning Support teacher; the LDIC team can design Individual Education Programmes (IEP) or ISP and may involve external professionals; counselling and transition support are provided.

Country affiliation

Kyrgyz Republic

Religious affiliation

Secular

School day structure

School hours run from 7:45 to 17:30, Monday to Friday.

Bus service

Seven bus routes connect Central and South-East Bishkek; buses arrive at school by 7:45 and depart at 16:40; each bus has a BIS staff supervisor.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

The school does not have a school uniform.

Food Options

The school has a fully equipped kitchen and dining hall with full-time catering staff providing morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. Lunch and snacks are included in the tuition. Vegetarian menu and Preschool menu are available.

House System

The House System exists to promote healthy competition based on inclusion and teamwork. BIS has three Houses for Primary, Middle and High School representing land, water and air; new students are assigned to a House during the first term, and a Head of House coordinates activities. Students elect Captains and Vice-Captains in the first two weeks of the term.

Governance and Ownership

The school is fully non-profit with transparent governance and operations. It has no major donor or sponsor and operates as a non-profit public foundation with no investors. School fees fund education costs and scholarships; the Parents Committee is actively engaged in school governance.
Fees

Annual tuition at Bishkek International School ranges from KGS 980,000 to KGS 2,053,000 for 2026/27.

*Application / enrolment fees*
- Initial enrolment (administration) fee: USD 300 per family, payable at time of first application.
- Place reservation deposit: USD 1,000, non‑refundable but deductible from the first fee payment; required at enrolment (not required for institutions paying the Capital Fund Fee).
- Textbook deposit (refundable on leaving, provided all school books are returned in good condition): Primary: USD 200; Middle School: USD 500; High School: USD 500.

*Standard tuition — annual amounts by year group (SOM)*
- Preschool (PS1–3, age 2–4): SOM 980,000 per year.
- Primary (Grade 0–5, age 5–10): SOM 1,847,000 per year (standard annual fee including Capital Fund Fee).
- Middle School (Grade 6–8, age 11–13): SOM 1,913,000 per year (standard annual fee including Capital Fund Fee).
- High School (Grade 9–10, age 14–15): SOM 1,981,000 per year (standard annual fee including Capital Fund Fee).
- High School (Grade 11–12, age 16–17): SOM 2,053,000 per year (standard annual fee including Capital Fund Fee).

*Alternative annual tuition where the Capital Fund Fee (CFF) is waived — annual amounts (SOM)*
- Preschool: SOM 980,000 per year.
- Primary (CFF waiver): SOM 1,307,000 per year.
- Middle (CFF waiver): SOM 1,373,000 per year.
- High 9–10 (CFF waiver): SOM 1,441,000 per year.
- High 11–12 (CFF waiver): SOM 1,513,000 per year.

*Four-term payment option (summary and instalments)*
- Four-term payment total = 10% higher than the Standard Annual Fee. Instalment schedule: (1) 20% of the four-term total due before 30 June; (2) 20% due before 24 October; (3) 30% due before 24 December; (4) 30% due before 24 March.
- Examples (four-term total and instalments shown in SOM):
- Preschool (annual SOM 980,000): four-term total SOM 1,078,000 — instalments: 1) SOM 215,600; 2) SOM 215,600; 3) SOM 323,400; 4) SOM 323,400.
- Primary (annual SOM 1,847,000): four-term total SOM 2,031,700 — instalments: 1) SOM 406,340; 2) SOM 406,340; 3) SOM 609,510; 4) SOM 609,510.
- Middle (annual SOM 1,913,000): four-term total SOM 2,104,300 — instalments: 1) SOM 420,860; 2) SOM 420,860; 3) SOM 631,290; 4) SOM 631,290.
- High 9–10 (annual SOM 1,981,000): four-term total SOM 2,179,100 — instalments: 1) SOM 435,820; 2) SOM 435,820; 3) SOM 653,730; 4) SOM 653,730.
- High 11–12 (annual SOM 2,053,000): four-term total SOM 2,258,300 — instalments: 1) SOM 451,660; 2) SOM 451,660; 3) SOM 677,490; 4) SOM 677,490.

*Ten-month (monthly) payment option*
- Ten monthly payments = 12% higher than the Standard Annual Fee. The initial payment (first month) must be paid before 30 June to secure a place; the remaining nine equal monthly payments are due before the 24th of each preceding month.
- Examples (monthly payment = (Standard Annual Fee × 1.12) ÷ 10):
- Preschool: SOM 109,760 per month.
- Primary: SOM 206,864 per month.
- Middle: SOM 214,256 per month.
- High 9–10: SOM 221,872 per month.
- High 11–12: SOM 229,936 per month.

*Sibling, discount and other concessions*
- Sibling discounts: 5% for the first younger sibling; 15% for additional younger siblings by agreement.
- Platinum discount: a 20% discount from the Standard Annual Fee / Monthly Fee / Term Fee is available to individually funded students after completing three full academic years at the school; this discount continues until the student completes school at BIS. No sibling discounts are available with the Platinum Discount.

*Other compulsory / optional fees and surcharges*
- School bus (annual, all school days, to and from school): SOM 72,000 per year; 10% sibling discount applies.
- English as an Additional Language (EAL) tuition (where applicable, based on pre-admission testing): USD 2,000 per year from Grade 4 and up.
- Inclusive Education Support Fee: may be required for students with an Individualized Education Plan at level 3 or above, in accordance with the school's Inclusive Education Policy.
- Remote learning surcharge (where remote learning with teacher support is implemented): USD 10,000 added to the full annual fee (available only when a minimum number of remote students is met).
- No uniform is required; students must wear appropriate clothing for the school day.

*Late payment and payment timing rules (billing schedule and terms)*
- Standard Annual Fee: must be paid before 30 June, or within five days of enrolment if joining later. A place in school is guaranteed only when at least 10% of the annual fee is paid (except for institutions paying the Capital Fund Fee who are guaranteed when enrolled).
- Four-term instalment dates: 1) 20% before 30 June; 2) 20% before 24 October; 3) 30% before 24 December; 4) 30% before 24 March.
- Ten-month payments: initial (first month) payment before 30 June; remaining nine equal monthly payments due before the 24th of the preceding month.
- Late payment charges: USD 300 for a single late payment, increasing by USD 300 per month for any delay beyond 30 days. Late payment charges for the first payment due on 30 June are only applied after the late‑payment grace date shown in the fees schedule. A student's place is not guaranteed until required payments or deposits are received.

*Refunds and refundable deposits*
- Place reservation deposit (USD 1,000) is non‑refundable but is deductible from the first fee payment.
- Textbook deposit is refundable when leaving BIS provided all books are returned in good condition (Primary USD 200; Middle USD 500; High USD 500).
- No other automatic tuition refund provisions are listed in the standard fees schedule; late fees are applied as stated above.

*Boarding*
- The school operates as a day school only; boarding facilities are not provided.

*Fee payment methods / practical payment channels*
- Bank transfer details and USD/SOM account information are issued for BIS payments; the school also uses the local Elsom e‑wallet number for SOM donations/payments in local currency. Electronic bank transfers in USD (with correspondent bank SWIFT instructions) have been used for BIS accounts. Parents should use the bank account or payment details provided on formal fee invoices or invoice/finance communications when making payments.
Academics

Bishkek International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum

Bishkek International School is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3-10, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11-13, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16-18. For students aged 14-16 BIS provides the Cambridge IGCSE programme to prepare for the DP. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Science for national certificates. English is the main language of communication and instruction, with English Language Acquisition programs and opportunities to learn Kyrgyz, Russian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. The school offers a broad learning program including PE, Art, Music, Dance and a wide range of extracurricular activities. BIS serves around 400 students from over 34 countries aged 2 to 18.

Student Teacher Ratio

The school has a low student-teacher ratio.

Higher Education Progression

The IB Diploma Programme provides entry into many universities worldwide.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The counselling team provides emotional and mental health support to students. Counselling sessions, parent meetings, teacher advice and classroom presentations address children's emotional and social wellbeing. The counsellors create a safe and supportive environment for students to discuss concerns and to develop coping skills. School counselling is an integral part of the total education system, helping students form healthy goals, mindsets and behaviours and to develop collaboration, perseverance, time management and self-motivation. Transitions within and between schools are supported to reduce stress, and university and career counselling assists students with planning for life after high school.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

BIS has the Learning Diversity, Inclusion and Counseling Department, including a full-time LDIC Coordinator, two School Counsellors, and a full-time Learning Support teacher, with part-time input from other staff. The team identifies specific learning needs through observation and information from teachers and parents and conducts preliminary assessments to determine strengths and weaknesses. They design and monitor Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Individual Student Profiles (ISP) and advise educators on effective classroom strategies and differentiation. Some students may require external specialists, and BIS may recommend external assessments at the parents' expense. The LDIC services include direct in-class or pull-out support and professional development for teachers and information for parents.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English is the main language of communication and instruction at BIS, enabling students to access opportunities at international universities and multinational employers. For English learners BIS has a strong English Language Acquisition program, from one-on-one support to full immersion of learning in English. BIS also emphasizes language learning, including opportunities to learn Kyrgyz, Russian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin.

Mental Wellbeing

The counselling team at BIS provides emotional and mental health support for students. They offer counselling sessions, parent meetings, teacher advice, and classroom presentations as part of addressing children's emotional and social wellbeing. They support individual and group sessions and can refer to outside agencies when needed. Counsellors aim to create a safe and supportive environment where students can discuss concerns and develop coping strategies.
Parent Experience

History

BIS was established by the community for the community to provide high quality international education at a reasonable cost and to foster community involvement and a broader impact on education in the Kyrgyz Republic. BIS was legally registered on December 1, 2010. The first School Advisory Council meeting was held on May 16, 2011 in the Ministry of Education with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Roza Otunbaeva. The building was identified in June 2011 and purchased in July 2011 using founders' grant contributions, founders' loans and a bank loan. The school opened on September 1, 2011 with 20 students aged 2 to 10. Governance by the community has been a constant feature.

Community

The BIS community defines the school's identity; the school was established by the community for the community and emphasises working together. The Parents Committee is actively engaged in school governance and BIS practices a culture of open parent and school communication. Everything BIS has achieved is a result of the joint commitment of parents and staff, and the community believes that together we can do this. We invite every parent and guardian to be an active member of BIS, contributing ideas, time and energy to the BIS community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Every parent and guardian of BIS students is a member of the BIS Parents Association, with no fees or obligations to join. The Parents Association Management Committee (PAMC) communicates regularly and plans the bi-annual All Parents Meeting and school fundraising events, meeting quarterly with the BIS Management Board to align objectives. The PAMC works with BIS management to welcome new families, organize social and fundraising events, discuss issues raised by parents, and provide feedback and support to the school. Seetha Malik Kotadia is President of the Parents Association; Ainura Emilbekova is Vice-President. The PAMC comprises a group of dedicated parents who contribute to BIS's community and governance.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

The school has 400 students from over 34 countries aged 2 to 18. The campus includes two libraries, three science labs, an art room, a music room, a maker-space, fourteen classrooms and a new café. Outdoor facilities include a full-size outdoor basketball court, a real grass field and an adventure playground with treehouses, zipline and climbing walls. The buildings are designed and constructed for earthquake standards, fire safety and student security.

Sports Facilities

The school has a full-size outdoor basketball court. It also has a real grass field for outdoor sports and physical education.

Academic Facilities

The school has two libraries, three science labs, an art room, a music room and a maker-space. There are fourteen classrooms. All buildings are designed and constructed for earthquake standards, fire safety and student security.

Extra Curricular Facilities

The extracurricular programme includes rock-climbing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, film-making, cooking and crafts.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

About 60 extracurricular activities are offered each academic year at BIS. The ECAs include coding club, debate club, and RoboGarden, as well as tutoring supports such as Homework club and Raz-Plus reading assistance. These activities extend learning beyond the classroom.

Arts & Creative

Arts ECAs include choir, guitar, and the school band, as well as ballet and dance. Craft activities include baking club, crafts, handmade card-making, and fashion style, and story writing is also offered. These options provide numerous avenues for creative expression throughout the year.

Cultural & Language

Fun Chinese club is offered as a language-based ECA. BIS emphasizes language learning and multilingualism, offering Kyrgyz, Russian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. These programs support cross-cultural understanding through language study.

Social & Hobbies

Social and hobby ECAs include board games and chess, reading club, karaoke, knitting, and jewelry making. LEGO and puzzle games are also listed among BIS ECAs.

Community & Service

All BIS students participate in community projects, with the MYP Community Project focusing on serving the community through service learning. Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is integrated into the IB Diploma Programme.

Leadership & Professional

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is part of the Diploma Programme and includes projects requiring initiative, collaboration, problem solving and decision making. The Extracurricular Activities page lists a debate club and a school band among BIS ECAs.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Sports ECAs include badminton, basketball, rock climbing, soccer, cross country, volleyball and swimming. Ski club and fitness-oriented activities such as Cosmic Yoga are also offered.
Languages

Language Provision

The school teaches Kyrgyz, Russian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin as additional languages. English is the main language of instruction. An English Language Acquisition program provides support, from one-on-one tutoring to full immersion of learning in English. Multilingual students are encouraged to study at least two additional languages beyond English.

Immersion Programs

English is the main language of communication and instruction. For English learners, the school offers an English Language Acquisition program. The program ranges from one-on-one support to full immersion of learning in English.
Reputation

Accreditations

IB World School: BIS offers the IB Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–13 and the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–10. Cambridge International Examinations accreditation: BIS is accredited to offer the Cambridge IGCSE programme for ages 14–16 to provide a basis for entry to the IB Diploma Programme. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Council for International Education accreditation: Provides international accreditation for BIS High School Diploma. Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic accreditation: BIS provides national school completion certificates following the state examination.
Admissions

Admissions

1. Make initial contact with BIS admissions to learn about BIS programs, admission requirements, and grade placement. The Admissions team answers questions and guides families through enrollment and transition to BIS. 2. Start the enrolment process by completing this enrolment form. This initiates the enrollment process for BIS. The enrolment form is the first step in enrolling a child at BIS. 3. Review the fee structure by examining the tuition schedules for 2025/2026 and 2026/2027. The schedules are titled 'BIS tuition fees 2025/2026' and 'BIS tuition fees 2026/2027'. 4. Visit the School & Taster Days. 5. Explore scholarship opportunities for high school students. Scholarships are advertised each spring; applicants must perform well in Math, English, and Sports exams, and succeed in interviews while demonstrating financial need; in 2024/25 there were 25 scholarship students with fee discounts ranging from 50% to 90%.

Scholarships

BIS offers scholarships for high school students who cannot afford BIS fees. Scholarships are widely advertised every spring. Applicants must perform well in Math, English, and Sports exams, as well as in interviews, while demonstrating financial need. In the 2024/25 academic year there were 25 scholarship students, with fee discounts ranging from 50% to 90%; ten current scholars will graduate with the Class of 2025 and be replaced with new scholars in Grades 9-11.
School Events
The school has not added events