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Dominican International School Taipei

Taiwan, Taipei

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 350
Type Co-educational, Online/Hybrid
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, English
Typical class size 20
Strengths Languages, Academic Enrichment, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

As published on the school's website, Dominican International School Taipei is a private, Catholic, English‑medium international school in Taipei that follows a modified American curriculum and is accredited by WASC. The school provides education from Pre‑Kindergarten (age 4) through Grade 12 and includes Religious Studies across its programme; English is the medium of instruction with EAL/EAP support. World languages and second‑language provision are published as Chinese (including Chinese as a Second Language from Grade 2), with Chinese instruction beginning in Grade 1, and Spanish and Japanese introduced from Grade 9 (high‑school foreign‑language options listed as Chinese/Japanese/Spanish). Notable facilities and services shown on the site include a staffed library with digital research subscriptions, a cafeteria and school clinic, school‑bus routes and an active IT/management systems team; the school also publishes an extensive athletics programme that competes in Taiwan international school tournaments and a range of Advanced Placement courses alongside university‑pathways guidance.

The Essentials

Dominican International School Taipei has 350 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
The Dominican International School Taipei (DIS) is located at 76 Tah Chih Street, Taipei 10464, Taiwan. The campus sits in Taipei's Zhongshan District (in the Dazhi area), within an urban, multi-national neighborhood. The address is listed on the school's admission page and is also referenced by local Catholic authorities as the DIS Taipei campus.

Stages
DIS serves students from Pre-K through Grade 12, i.e., a K–12 program. The school structure includes a Lower School and a Middle/Upper School division, with dedicated LS and MS/HS counseling support and a house system that underpins school life. Pre-K entry is 4 years old, with age-appropriate grade placement guided by admissions policies.

Type
DIS is a private, Catholic, English-medium international school. It is co-educational and governed by the Dominican Sisters, reflecting its Catholic, mission-driven identity.

Additional learning support
DIS provides procedures for students with Additional Learning Needs (SEN). If a student is suspected of having special needs, parents may arrange a screening by a qualified clinical psychologist; eligibility for continuation is reviewed, and students receiving direct services are evaluated annually.

Country affiliation
DIS follows a Modified American Curriculum and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an accreditation body associated with the United States. This provides a US-linked international-education affiliation.

Religious affiliation
The school is Catholic, run by the Dominican Sisters, with a Catholic identity embedded in its mission and campus ministry.

School day structure
The school day runs Monday to Friday from 07:55 to 15:35. Students must be in class by 07:55 for Morning Prayers, and there is an Assembly at 08:00 on Mondays.

Bus service
DIS offers a school bus service provided by Lian Cherng Bus Company. The plan is priced per semester: NT$16,500 for a one-way trip and NT$25,500 for a two-way trip. To register or inquire, contact Ms. Lee at the bus company (02) 2505-6667 or 0912-914-777.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
DIS Taipei operates as a day school. A School Bus service is available with per-semester pricing: One-way NT$16,500 and Two-way NT$25,500, serving multiple routes (Bus A–E).

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required for all students. The uniform scheme divides students by grade levels: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5 (Lower School), Grade 6 to 8 (Middle School), and Grade 9 to 12 (High School). Uniform items include woolen and summer pants, long- and short-sleeved shirts, a necktie, PE shirts and pants, a sports jacket, a vest, and a sweater.

Food Options
The cafeteria offers school lunches with Chinese and Western options. The cost per semester is NT$13,050.

House System
D'TORCH House System comprises five houses. Each house corresponds to a letter in D'TORCH, with its own motto, color, and cheer; points are earned monthly for participation in activities and positive behavior. The system fosters Dominican values and community.

Governance and Ownership
The school is private, Catholic and English medium. It is owned and governed by the Dominican Sisters, who belong to the Institute of the Religious Missionaries of Saint Dominic, a congregation of Spanish origin with the Motherhouse in Rome, Italy.
Fees
Annual tuition at Dominican International School Taipei ranges from NTD 354,246 to NTD 591,715 depending on year group. That works out at roughly NTD 354,246 to NTD 367,466 for the early years, NTD 493,688 to NTD 518,162 for primary, NTD 518,162 to NTD 583,764 for secondary, NTD 591,715 for sixth form. Expect an application fee of NTD 25,000 on enrolment. Fees are presented and billed on a per-semester basis (first and second semesters) with an annual total; payment is required before attending classes according to the designated...
Academics

Dominican International School Taipei teaches American Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
Dominican International School Taipei provides English-medium instruction from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 within a modified American curriculum that also includes Religious Studies. The program is designed to prepare students for higher education abroad, with articulation pathways primarily to North American universities and ongoing updates to fit Taiwan's context. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered for qualified high school students to pursue college-level work and potential credits. An English as an Additional Language (EAL) program serves students in Grades 2–8, using WIDA-based placement and annual progress assessments to support transition to the regular program. The curriculum includes electives and AP options intended to support admission to European universities as part of its international articulation. DIS serves foreign passport holders from Pre-K to Grade 12 and emphasizes a faith-based, multinational community.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Dominican International School Taipei's Guidance and Counseling program supports students' personal, social, academic, career, and global competencies through a four-component system (Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning, Responsive Services including counseling and crisis counseling, and System Support) and emphasizes confidential, student-centered counseling; it also partners with external services such as the Community Services Center for additional wellbeing resources.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding SEN.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
DIS Taipei offers an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program for grades 2–8 that is student-centered and activity-oriented, focuses on listening, speaking, reading and writing, uses the WIDA framework for placement, and conducts annual progress assessments to support entry into the mainstream program.

Mental Wellbeing
The Guidance and Counseling program supports students' mental wellbeing by providing preventive, developmentally oriented counseling for social and emotional growth, crisis counseling when needed, and collaboration with external partners such as the Community Services Center.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is addressed via the DIS Conduct and Discipline policy that aims to create a safe environment and safeguard human dignity, with School Counselors involved in disciplinary processes; the Sexual Harassment policy includes a formal complaint process; and the on-site Health Clinic provides primary care and emergency medical services.
Parent Experience

History
Dominican International School (DIS Taipei) is a Catholic, private, English-medium school owned and governed by the Dominican Sisters. It originated as the Dominican School in 1956–57 as a U.S. Department of Defense contract school for military dependents in Taipei, opening with 16 students and later expanding to a full campus. After the American forces withdrew in 1979, it became an international school open to all nationalities, while retaining a modified American curriculum. The Bureau of Education approved a complete high school program in 1995, with the first Senior High graduates in 1999, and the school undertook campus modernization and online curriculum development in the 2000s, including major building projects around 2013–14 and a transition to online systems by 2007. The school has celebrated milestone anniversaries, notably its 65th Jubilee in 2022 and ongoing accreditation milestones in 2023.

Community
DIS Taipei's community is diverse, with about 40 nationalities represented among students, staff, and families. The school's Catholic Dominican identity shapes campus life, including the D'TORCH ESLR framework and the D'TORCH House System, with related resources visible on campus. Annual jubilees and events mark the calendar, including the 65th Jubilee in 2022 and the 67th Jubilee celebrations in 2024. The school also hosts exchanges and teaching-practice programs, such as a 2019 teaching-practice visit by Chinese University of Hong Kong students.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Dominican International School Taipei has a parent involvement group known as Volunteer Involved Parents (VIP). The induction ceremony welcomes new VIP volunteers; for example, the 8 September 2025 ceremony followed a Mass and included an oath of office. VIP leadership comprises an elected team, including a Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Standing and Executive Committees. The induction includes a formal turnover of by-laws to mark the transition to new leadership and sustained collaboration between home and school. As of 2025, VIP officers included Chairperson Willis Lu, Vice-Chair Dan Clarke, and Secretary Janice Liu, among others. VIP activities are focused on supporting school programs and events and are documented on the school's events pages.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Dominican International School Taipei is a Catholic private English-medium school owned and governed by the Dominican Sisters. It serves Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and offers Advanced Placement. The school emphasizes gospel-centered education and includes campus life features such as the D'TORCH Museum and the D'TORCH House System.

Academic Facilities
The school follows a modified American curriculum that includes Religious Studies to prepare students for higher education abroad, primarily North American universities. Instruction is in English, and Advanced Placement courses are offered.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Campus life includes Campus Ministry programs. The school operates the D'TORCH Museum and the D'TORCH House System as part of student activities and discipline.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school follows a North American articulation curriculum and updates it to meet the needs of students in Taiwan. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered to provide challenging academics and support articulation to universities in Europe and North America. The program includes a broad range of electives and standard subject offerings from Pre-K through Grade 12, including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Religious Studies, and Chinese, with ICT and Robotics integrated in many grades.

Arts & Creative
Music and Orchestra Programs support learning and performance. Visual arts and drama are also part of the curriculum across multiple grades, including drama offerings in early years and throughout the upper grades.

Cultural & Language
Foreign Languages Programs bridge cultures through language. An English as an Additional Language (EAL) program supports English proficiency. Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish are taught at various grade levels, including Japanese and Spanish in middle and high school offerings.

Community & Service
Grade Twelve includes a Community Service Project as part of the senior-year curriculum. The school emphasizes service through projects and related coursework.

Leadership & Professional
Advanced Placement (AP) programs are available to prepare students for leadership roles and higher education, with AP courses across disciplines such as history, sciences, mathematics, languages, computer science, economics and more. The curriculum positions students for articulation into universities worldwide, including North American and European institutions.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Religious studies are a core component, reflecting gospel-centered education. The program includes Health and Physical Education as part of the upper-grade offerings, supporting overall wellbeing and fitness.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the medium of instruction at DIS, a private, English-medium Catholic international school. An English Language Proficiency (EAL) program provides English language support. Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish are taught as foreign languages. AP courses include AP Chinese.

Bilingual Teaching
Dominican International School Taipei is English-medium; instruction is conducted in English. An English as an Additional Language (EAL) program supports students who are non-native English speakers. Foreign language offerings include Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish; Advanced Placement language options include AP Chinese.
Reputation

Awards
Publicly on the school website, there are no awards listed that have been given to the school as an institution in the past five years. The site does note accreditation (WASC/ACS) and Jubilee-year celebrations, but it does not publish school-level awards awarded to the institution itself in 2021–2025.

Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS) – A U.S.-based regional accrediting body that oversees international schools in East Asia; DIS Taipei holds a full six-year ACS/WASC accreditation through June 30, 2029, following an on-site visit conducted April 24–27, 2023. This accreditation signals adherence to recognized international standards for K–12 programs and transcripts.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admissions Process
- Step 1: Begin with the application. Prospective students should read and fill out the application form carefully, and for applications to Grade 5 and higher there is a requirement to write an essay based on prompts, which should be completed by the student without outside help. All admission documents must be collected and sent to the Registrar/Admission Officer at 76 Tah Chih Street, Taipei 10464, Taiwan, with original documents as required. Note that the school states a one-year residency is required for promoting (Grade 5) and graduating (Kindergarten, Grade 8) classes, so only first-semester applications will be processed for these grades; no admission for Grade 12 is offered. (Registrar contact details and submission address are provided on the page.)

Scholarships
3) Scholarships
- DIS Taipei does not offer financial aid or scholarships to students. The Frequently Asked Questions section clearly states that there is no financial aid available to any students. It also notes that DIS teachers may receive tuition assistance for their own children attending the school. Families should plan accordingly.

Waitlist
2) Waitlist/Pool
- The school maintains a waitlist when there is no space available in the requested grade level. Qualified applicants are placed on a Waitlisted status, and a Waitlisted Agreement Form is completed by the student and parent. The waitlist status expires on the last day of enrollment, and a waitlisted student must reapply for the next semester after expiration. This waitlist policy is explicitly stated under the school's Policies section.
School Events
The school has not added events
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