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German International School of Silicon Valley - Mountain View Campus

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees $15,500 - 42,225
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 519
Type Co-educational
Opened 1999
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum
Taught languages Spanish, French, German, English
Typical class size 15
Strengths Languages, STEM, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) is an independent, nonprofit preschool–12 school with campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco, offering a dual-language education in German and English based on the Thuringian curriculum. The age range is 2 to 18. The school provides preschool–12 bilingual instruction with English and California standards integrated. Students graduate with both the German International Abitur and the California High School Diploma, enabling admission to universities in the United States, Germany and other European countries. The school is accredited by the German Government (ZfA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Classes are small, with student-teacher ratios averaging under 20:1 overall and about 10:1 in preschool. From grade 6, students can study additional languages (French in Mountain View; Spanish in Mountain View and SF). The curriculum emphasizes project-based learning, social-emotional development, critical thinking, and access to science and technology resources. Beyond academics, GISSV offers orchestras, choir, musical theater, clubs, and international exchange programs, fostering a global community.

310 Easy St, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States

The Essentials

German International School of Silicon Valley - Mountain View Campus has 519 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in German, English.

Location
GISSV has two campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area: Mountain View and San Francisco. The Mountain View Campus is at 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043. The San Francisco Campus is at 117 Diamond Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.

Stages
Mountain View: Preschool–12; San Francisco: Preschool–8.

Type
Independent, nonprofit preschool–12 school with two campuses.

Additional learning support
Inclusion Specialists work with students who benefit from extra support due to learning differences or physical challenges; they collaborate with teachers to adapt curriculum and provide small-group or individualized instruction. Counselors focus on social-emotional learning and overall well-being.

Country affiliation
Germany; dual-language education based on the German curriculum of Thuringia; accredited by the German Government (ZfA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

School day structure
Preschool options include 7:30 am–5:00 pm (Mountain View) or 8:00 am–5:00 pm (San Francisco). For Elementary, classes start at 8:00 am and generally end at 1:50 pm.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch service is provided for GISSV Saturday School Summer Camp by My Green Lunch, five days a week. The program offers multiple hot and cold entrees daily, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options; meals are prepaid online.

Governance and Ownership
GISSV is an independent nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors. The Head of School and a representative of the German Consulate General in San Francisco attend Board meetings as non-voting members. GISSV is accredited by the Conference of German Cultural Ministers, the German Foreign Office and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Fees

Annual tuition at German International School of Silicon Valley - Mountain View Campus ranges from USD 15,500 to USD 42,225 for 2026/27.

Application fee

- New student application fee (per child): USD 75.

One-time and annual school-wide fees

- Enrollment fee (annual, per child): USD 825.
- Society membership fee (annual, per family account): USD 150.
- Facilities fee (annual, per family account): USD 1,250.

Rebates and sibling discounts

- Loyalty rebate: USD 700 per child after five years of consecutive enrollment; USD 1,200 per child after seven years of consecutive enrollment.
- Sibling rebate: 10% off the lower of two tuitions; 20% off the lowest of three (or more) tuitions.

Annual tuition — Mountain View campus (2026/27 school year)

- Preschool & Kindergarten
- Preschool (Ages 2–3) 5‑day AM: USD 26,000.
- Preschool (Ages 3–4.11) 5‑day AM: USD 26,900.
- Preschool (Ages 3–4.11) 5‑day Full‑Day: USD 35,250.
- Kindergarten 5‑day AM (Ages 5–6): USD 26,900.
- Kindergarten 5‑day Full‑Day (Ages 5–6): USD 35,250.

- Grades 1–12 (Morning Program, 8:00 am–1:50 pm)
- Grades 1–4 (annual): USD 27,700.
- Grades 5–8 (annual): USD 32,200.
- Grades 9–12 (annual): USD 35,750.

- Afternoon Program (5 days/week; 2:00–5:00 pm)
- Grades 1–4 (annual): USD 6,600.
- Grades 5–8 (annual): USD 6,100.

Annual tuition — San Francisco campus (2026/27 school year)

- Preschool & Kindergarten
- Preschool 5‑day AM (Ages 3–4.11): USD 30,550.
- Preschool 5‑day Full‑Day (Ages 3–4.11): USD 40,000.
- Kindergarten 5‑day AM (Ages 5–6): USD 30,550.
- Kindergarten 5‑day Full‑Day (Ages 5–6): USD 40,000.

- Grades 1–8 (Morning Program, 8:00 am–1:50 pm)
- Grades 1–4 (annual): USD 31,850.
- Grades 5–8 (annual): USD 35,300.
- Grade 9 (added 2026/27): USD 35,750 (2026/27).

- Afternoon Program (5 days/week; 2:00–5:00 pm)
- Grades 1–8 (annual): USD 9,200.

Per‑term figures (calculation note)

- The published tuition rates on the school pages are stated as annual amounts for each program and grade band. The school notes that annual tuition may be prorated for students who start mid‑year; several annual fees are explicitly non‑prorated. The per‑term amounts below are an arithmetic division of the listed annual tuition by three (3) to provide an illustrative per‑term figure for database display where a per‑term field is required. This per‑term breakdown is an arithmetic inference (annual ÷ 3) and is shown only to provide consistent per‑term entries; the school publishes tuition as annual amounts.

- Example per‑term (Mountain View, Grades 1–4): Annual USD 27,700 → Per term (illustrative) USD 9,233.33 (27,700 ÷ 3).
- Example per‑term (San Francisco, Grades 1–4): Annual USD 31,850 → Per term (illustrative) USD 10,616.67 (31,850 ÷ 3).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The school lists the enrollment, society membership and facilities fees as annual charges (fees will not be prorated). Annual tuition is published by program and grade; the school states that annual tuition might be prorated for mid‑year starts.
- Visiting students pay a daily fee and must present payment in full by the first day of the visit; guest (non‑U.S. resident) students must pay tuition in full at enrollment (tuition will be prorated for guest students but annual fees may not be).
- The school's bylaws note that membership (required for attendance) may be terminated for non‑payment after a written reminder if fees remain unpaid for 30 days following that reminder.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable. GISSV operates two day campuses (Mountain View and San Francisco) and does not list boarding or residential options.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- Afternoon/extended‑care program fees (annual rates listed above) apply if enrolled in those programs.
- Parents should expect additional, separate costs for items such as spiritwear/uniforms (Spiritwear store), library and school supplies, field trips, exam fees, and optional extracurricular activities. A school Spiritwear/online store and a Library & School Supplies section are part of the school's published program resources. These items are generally billed or purchased separately from tuition.

Refund information

- For summer programs, the school publishes a specific refund schedule (examples: full refund within a short cancellation window after registration; staged refunds with decreasing percentages the closer to camp start date), and summer refunds are processed within business days as noted in the camp policy. Summer camp refund rules and schedules are explicit for camp registration.
- For visiting/guest student arrangements, visiting students pay per day and that payment is applied to tuition if they enroll full time; guest students must pay in full at enrollment (the site indicates tuition for guest students will be prorated).
- Annual enrollment, society membership and facilities fees are presented as non‑prorated annual charges; the school's published material indicates these annual fees will not be prorated.

Fee payment options

- The school uses an online parent/administration portal for account access and online payments. The school's giving/payments information confirms acceptance of credit card and eCheck (ACH) payments through its secure online payment system; the school also supports payments submitted through the school's parent portals. Historic payment instructions reference the school's online payment portal for one‑time fee payments.

Notes on timing and display for a database

- The listed tuition numbers are the school's published annual rates for the 2026/27 school year for each campus and program. The school states some fees will not be prorated while annual tuition may be prorated for delayed starts; guest students and visiting students have distinct payment requirements. Use the annual figures as the authoritative amounts and the per‑term figures above only as an arithmetic, illustrative division (annual ÷ 3) if a per‑term field is required by your database.
Academics

German International School of Silicon Valley - Mountain View Campus teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
GISSV provides preschool-12 dual-language education in German and English at two Bay Area campuses. All programs are bilingual and based on the Thuringian curriculum with English and California standards integrated. A multilingual curriculum begins in preschool and adds language courses in grade 6 (French in Mountain View; Spanish in Mountain View and San Francisco). The upper grades follow the German education structure and prepare for Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, German International Abitur and the California High School Diploma. Graduates earn two diplomas—the German International Abitur and the California High School Diploma—enabling admission to universities in the United States, Germany and other European countries. Student-teacher ratios average under 20:1 at school and about 10:1 in preschool; the school is accredited by the German government and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Student Teacher Ratio
Student-teacher ratios average under 20:1 at school and about 10:1 in preschool.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates earn two diplomas—the German International Abitur and the California High School Diploma—enabling admission to universities in the United States, Germany and other European countries.

Gifted and Talented
Differentiated learning opportunities with individualized learning plans support entering students; small class sizes facilitate personalized attention.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
At GISSV, every student is supported to succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally. The Student Support Team provides tailored assistance from preschool through secondary school to help students with diverse learning needs thrive in the classroom and feel fully included in the school community. Inclusion Specialists work with students who benefit from extra support due to learning differences or physical challenges. They collaborate with teachers to adapt curriculum, provide small-group or individualized instruction, and help create inclusive classroom environments. Counselors focus on social-emotional learning and overall well-being, supporting students with coping strategies, SEL programs, and guidance for navigating challenges, helping every child feel confident and connected.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Inclusion Specialists work with students who benefit from extra support due to learning differences or physical challenges. They collaborate with teachers to adapt curriculum, provide small-group or individualized instruction, and help create inclusive classroom environments. Our Student Support Team provides tailored assistance from preschool through secondary school to ensure learners with diverse needs thrive in the classroom and feel fully included. Our approach emphasizes that every student is valued and supported to reach their full potential.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
For children who enter our program with little or no knowledge of German or English, we offer strong language learning support in both DaZ (German as a 2nd language) and ESL (English as a 2nd language).

Mental Wellbeing
Counselors focus on social-emotional learning and overall well-being. They support students with coping strategies, SEL programs, and guidance for navigating challenges, helping every child feel confident and connected.
Parent Experience

History
The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) was founded in 1999 by six German and American families who desired a German and California accredited curriculum. The Mountain View campus welcomed its first 34 students in February 2000. In 2003, the school officially changed its name to German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV). A San Francisco campus opened in 2011 in the Presidio and moved to Castro in August 2020. The Berkeley/East Bay campus opened in 2007 and later relocated to Emeryville in 2017, where it now operates as East Bay German International School, an independent school.

Community
GISSV has a vibrant international school community thanks to small class sizes and a cohesive preschool–12 structure, with enriching events that involve all students, teachers and parents. The school operates across two campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco with bilingual German-English programming. The Parent Association coordinates volunteering, fundraising and signature events such as the Holiday Market in Mountain View and the Laternenfest in San Francisco.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Each GISSV campus has a Parent Association that works closely with the school administration and the Board of Directors. The PA includes representatives from each school division who meet with division heads to discuss issues. The PA coordinates parent committees and volunteers, and supports fundraising and signature events such as the annual Holiday Market in Mountain View or the Laternenfest in San Francisco. PA priorities include improving communication, fostering community, working with teachers, assisting with resolving issues, fundraising, encouraging volunteerism, and promoting GISSV. The PA uses the My GISSV portal for communication, including a PA newsletter and meeting minutes. Mountain View Campus contact: office@gissv.org; San Francisco Campus contact: sf-office@gissv.org.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
GISSV operates two campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco. All programs are bilingual and based on the German curriculum of Thuringia. The preschool–12 program emphasizes small class sizes and a strong student-to-teacher ratio, with project-based and differentiated learning. The curriculum includes science and technology resources to support learning.

Sports Facilities
Sports are part of school life at GISSV. The program emphasizes physical development and includes physical skills. A volleyball team is depicted among student activities. The school values sports alongside music, culture and arts.

Academic Facilities
The curriculum provides rich project-based and differentiated learning experiences. The program supports social-emotional competency, critical thinking, artistic expression and physical skills. It offers science and technology resources to support learning. Small class sizes and a high student-to-teacher ratio are reported. All programs are bilingual and based on the German curriculum of Thuringia.

Extra Curricular Facilities
GISSV offers experiences beyond the classroom, including events and after-school programs. The school fosters a strong sense of community with activities that involve students, teachers and parents. The two Bay Area campuses connect students to local environments through field experiences. Eco-School and other school-life programs are part of the extracurricular offerings.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The German International School of Silicon Valley offers a bilingual German–English education for preschool through grade 12. The curriculum blends a liberal arts foundation with dual-language instruction and a project-based, cross-curricular approach that supports independent learning. Graduates earn both the California High School Diploma and the German International Abitur, reflecting accreditation by WASC and the California Association of Independent Schools. The program emphasizes critical thinking, creativity and global perspectives.

Arts & Creative
The school provides opportunities in music, drama and arts, including Junior Orchestra and Senior Orchestra, and a cross-campus Choir. The Orchestra groups perform at school ceremonies and at public and official events, while the Choir engages middle and high school students, parents, teachers and community members. In after-school time, students can participate in Musical Theater, Orchestra, Choir, Art, Sewing, Creative Writing/Young Journalists, and a Lego-Robotics Club.

Cultural & Language
The school supports dual-language learning in German and English across two campuses (Mountain View and San Francisco). It hosts Saturday language and culture sessions at the Mountain View campus for the broader community. It organizes exchange programs with partner schools in Dresden, Chile and France, and hosts cultural events such as Laternenfest and the German Holiday Market.

Social & Hobbies
Afternoon Clubs offer a range of activities for elementary through high school, including Lego-Robotics, Musical Theater, Orchestra, Choir, Creative Writing/Young Journalists, Sewing and Art. Students can also participate in athletics such as soccer, tennis, cross-country and swimming, with middle/high school teams in local leagues and an elementary soccer team in the Sunnyvale Alliance league. These programs provide opportunities to pursue hobbies and collaborative projects beyond the classroom.

Community & Service
GISSV builds Global Community Stewardship through cross-cultural exchange and environmental stewardship, with involvement in community programs and partnerships with schools in North America, Germany and Mexico. Secondary-school extracurricular activities include service-oriented clubs such as the Interact Club, GISSV TV and Eco School.

Leadership & Professional
GISSV offers mentoring for grades 9–12, Internship Week in the 10th grade, and a Career Counseling program for high school students. Students can develop leadership and professional skills through the Entrepreneurship Club and Model United Nations, alongside other senior-level activities like High School Drama and Youth Orchestra.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports programs include Girls Volleyball and Co-ed Soccer, with additional options such as sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding. The school also supports cross-country running and other athletic activities as part of the secondary-school extracurricular landscape.
Languages

Language Provision
German and English are the languages of instruction; the curriculum is based on the German state of Thuringia, and the Abitur program is offered.

Bilingual Teaching
Preschool–12 dual language education in German and English across two Bay Area locations.

Immersion Programs
Dual-language learning with immersion in German and English across all grade levels.
Admissions

Admissions
The school welcomes students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds and serves students from two to eighteen years old. The enrollment period begins in January and February of each year for the upcoming school year, and new students may be admitted throughout the school year based on availability. Knowledge of the German language is required for all children who enroll after 1st grade, and there is a German Fast Track Program.

Scholarships
The school offers need-based financial aid for students entering grades K through 12. A professional third-party reviewer assesses household income/assets and each family's ability to pay. The school makes every effort to meet demonstrated need of admitted or enrolled financial aid applicants, but resources are not always sufficient. Applicants are encouraged to apply; however, there is no guarantee that aid will be fulfilled or that it will be fulfilled at the level requested. Because of high demand and deadlines, all documents must be submitted by the prescribed deadlines for returning and new students. Currently enrolled families must be up-to-date on tuition payments to be eligible. Aid decisions are communicated before enrollment, and all information is kept confidential. New students must submit a school application before financial aid is considered, and contact admissions for an access code. The next financial aid application period is for the 2026-2027 school year, with award decisions by April 30, 2026, and the school must receive all required enrollment documents beforehand. To apply, families use the Clarity platform; steps include starting the application, adding the school to the entry, entering financial information, paying a $65 Clarity fee, and completing the Enhanced Tax Verification if required. International families may need to provide translated income documentation.[source: turn2view0]
School Events
The school has not added events
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