International School of Beijing (ISB)

The International School of Beijing was the first international school in Beijing and today is recognized as a leading learning community. In its earliest stages, our school was made up of eight students and two certified teachers in the hallway of a diplomatic apartment compound. In 1980, amid the growth of other diplomatic communities, the US Embassy joined with the British, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand embassies and formally founded ISB.
In 1991, ISB became the first school in Beijing to offer the full Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate. In 2007, ISB won full marks from three important accrediting agencies: the Chinese National Council on Curriculum and Textbooks (NCCT); the Council on American and International Schools Abroad (CAISA) of the US-based New England Association of Schools and Colleges; and the Council of International School (CIS), an international, globally focused accrediting agency specializing in international education worldwide.
In January 2002, ISB was permitted to accept expatriate students outside of the diplomatic community. Since then, ISB has flourished and quickly became a respected international school with programs and accreditation worthy of the breadth and depth of its vision.
Today, our school is made up of approximately 1,715 students from Early Years (EY) 3 to Grade 12, with around 50 different nationalities represented in our diverse student body. The school continues to lead in its innovative approaches to learning and educator development.
We are proud of the community we have become over the past 40 years, built on the firm foundations put in place by those administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents who have been part of our school over the last four decades. Our commitment is to continue this legacy to ensure we provide excellent learning and opportunities for our students in the years to come.
ISB is an extraordinary school, with a history of excellence spanning 40 years. Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values are fulfilled by passionate, highly qualified educators who all want the best for every student, from Early Years through grade 12.
ISB is dedicated to implementing and sustaining programs proven to be most effective for student learning and well-being. We respond to the changing needs of students in higher education and the world which awaits them. A defining characteristic is our commitment to great teaching influenced by the latest research, and the flexibility to choose learning standards from different educational systems around the world.
Of utmost importance is the school’s strong sense of community and vibrant, culturally diverse campus, where learning is engaging for our roughly 1,700 students representing around 40 countries. Research-based programs, high-quality teaching, and outstanding and ever-improving facilities mean students at ISB are being prepared for success in a world that keeps changing at a breathtaking pace.
Communication and collaboration are skills instilled in our students throughout their education, with a significant proportion of their learning taking place outside the classroom, through engagement with the wider community. Students are engaged in a variety of learning opportunities, enabling them to discover innate abilities, learn teamwork, exercise initiative, and, ultimately, find a productive place within the ISB community and the wider world.
ISB enjoys a proven track record of excellent learning outcomes, with students attending colleges around the world which are most appropriate for them. Our commitment to realizing students’ potential is built around nurturing the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of each child. ISB programs equip students to be productive, healthy and fulfilled young adults, whatever future they choose.