International School of Boston

ISB is located at 45 Matignon Road, Cambridge, MA 02140. The historic Cambridge campus sits at the Cambridge–Somerville–Arlington border, minutes from downtown Boston. MBTA bus stops are within walking distance and two nearby Red Line stations (Alewife and Davis Square) are accessible on foot. ISB provides two bus options: its Private Bus Service and Cambridge Public Schools bus service for Cambridge residents.

Preschool through Grade 12

Independent, non-profit private day school

Total nationalities represented: 32. Nationality breakdown: United States 68%, France 23%, other nationalities 9%.

ISB provides Inclusive Learning and related student support services, including guidance, advisory programs, and access to health and wellness resources.

France (French Baccalaureate program homologué by the French Ministry of Education; ISB is connected to AEFE and related French education networks)

Upper School schedules start at 8:00 AM and end between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM, depending on course selection.

ISB offers two private bus routes via a transportation partner; Cambridge Public Schools bus service is available for Cambridge residents; campus is served by MBTA bus lines 87, 88, and 89 and is near Alewife and Davis Square stations.

ISB is a bilingual French-English school. From Maternelle through Upper School, the curriculum offers two internationally recognized diplomas: the French Baccalaureate or the International Baccalaureate (IB) taught in English. The Elementary/Maternelle program teaches in French and English; in Maternelle the French Ministry of Education curriculum is combined with Massachusetts Common Core Preschool and Kindergarten standards; Lower School has accreditation from the French Ministry of Education. In Middle School, classes are taught in French and English, with options to emphasize either language and to pursue IB or French Baccalaureate tracks. In Upper School, students choose between the French Baccalaureate or IB, with additional language options including Spanish, German, and Mandarin.

ISB's College Counseling Office supports students with higher education planning across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and parts of the Middle East and Asia. ISB students matriculate to many of the nation's and the world's top colleges and universities, with geographically diverse matriculation the most in New England.

Learning is a dynamic and holistic process that develops social-emotional skills, study skills, and learning habits.

The school teaches bilingual instruction in English and French; Preschool through Kindergarten explore both languages, and Middle School courses are offered in French or English with schedules that emphasize one language to support bilingual proficiency.

Mental wellbeing is embedded in the school's mission and culture, with emphasis on empathy, respect, open-mindedness, and resilience; inclusive community and service activities further support student wellbeing.

ISB has four steps in its admissions process: Inquire, Visit, Apply, Enroll. Step 1 Inquire: complete a brief inquiry form to join the mailing list and hear about upcoming ISB events. Step 2 Visit: ISB offers campus tours, on-campus and virtual Open House events, Secondary School Shadow Days, and virtual campus visits; local families are encouraged to participate in on-campus programming. Step 3 Apply: applications are submitted online through Ravenna with no application fee; priority review is given to applications received by January 15; siblings of current students receive priority if their application is submitted by December 15; January 15 is the application deadline for priority review and the financial aid deadline. Step 4 Enroll: decisions are released by March 10; enrollment confirmations are due by April 10; ISB accepts applications year-round depending on space and student qualifications; applicants admitted after April 10 will have one week to respond to an offer of admission. Application materials vary by grade (Preschool & Kindergarten, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School) with language considerations and testing requirements as described.

ISB offers financial aid based on demonstrated need. The financial aid application is separate from the admission application and uses Clarity; deadlines are returning families December 15, 2025 and new families January 15, 2026. Awards are grants (not loans) and are based on demonstrated need and available funding; awards may cover tuition and other costs such as books, transportation, clubs, and exam fees. Returning families' aid is typically released with reenrollment in February 2026; new families' aid is released with the admissions decision and enrollment contract on March 10, 2026. Financial aid awards are renewable with annual reapplication. Financial aid is not available for students requiring an I-20 or who participate in ISB's homestay program. ISB may offer French government scholarships (Bourses Scolaires Françaises) for eligible French citizens, and the ISB Financial Aid Program may supplement government funding. The school also offers a ten-month payment plan for families in the financial aid program.