What Sets ISI Apart

What sets us apart from our competitor schools?


Full commitment to the International Baccalaureate

  • Different from other US high schools that offer the IB Diploma, ISI is totally committed to the International Baccalaureate philosophy and approach, with no other programs or courses competing for our attention.  Every ISI teacher is trained by attending official IB workshops, where they have the opportunity to share in worldwide best practice.  
  • Every teacher has constant access to the IB curriculum development website, and to the worldwide network of IB teachers.  
  • Whenever we organize special events or activities, we are conscious of the manner in which they contribute to the holistic philosophy of the IB, and ultimately strengthen student learning.  
  • This dynamic IB environment has a transformational effect on many students, encouraging them to achieve at outstanding levels.  
  • An additional advantage of the IB Diploma is that it is run by an external agency, and has a high degree of reliability, accountability and therefore credibility on an international scale.

Internationally Transferable

  • By integrating international standards of academic achievement in its program ISI facilitates the transfer of students from overseas schools and their transfer back to their own system, or to another international school overseas
  • This allows their parents greater flexibility in accepting overseas career assignments.

Ambitious

  • ISI is proud of its Indiana roots, but encourages its students to be ambitious in their choice of college.  
  • The High School education that we offer, and specifically our emphasis on the International Baccalaureate Diploma, allows students to consider overseas universities as well as US institutions, and to be favorably viewed by those universities.  
  • Our college counseling provision is especially extensive, beginning in Grade 9, and very focused on encouraging our students to be ambitious, while still ensuring a good individual fit.

A Special Community

  • ISI has a special focus on the family.  
  • We understand the challenges that families face who move to a new country with their children.  
  • This includes the social-emotional issues of “Third Culture Kids” (children who grow up outside of their original culture), of “second language learners” (students having to acquire a second language in order to access their education), and of “trailing spouses” (wives or husbands who accompany their partner overseas, but are not the main breadwinner, and who may not even have authorization to work in the US).  
  • We focus on building a warm and welcoming international school community, which benefits both foreign and local families.

Unique in the Midwest

  • While a number of schools across the Midwest seek to reflect an international commitment, no other major city in the Midwest has an international school of the caliber of ISI.  
  • Across the entire US only a small number of schools aspire to the same international school aims - and have similar programs, accreditations and memberships.  
  • ISI is an important differentiator for Indianapolis and central Indiana in seeking to attract companies and talent.
  • ISI’s Upper School Principal is a workshop leader for the IB Middle Years Program, and is invited to train public school teachers across the USA. He has organized a local MYP Coordinators support group (ISI is the only private school in this support group).  
  • ISI is establishing itself as a center of excellence for the International Baccalaureate.

Center of Excellence in Foreign Language and Intercultural Learning

  • ISI’s approach to world languages and international awareness, through its immersion model in the elementary school, the employment of native speakers and an extensive foreign exchange program, places ISI at the forefront of language learning.  
  • Most ISI students become bilingual, and many are fluent in a third language.  
  • Our close cooperation with the Spanish and French ministries of education brings additional support and attention.  
  • At the February 2008 Indiana Summit on International Education attended by some 250 Indiana business, community and education leaders, the effective teaching of modern foreign languages was identified as a prerequisite for Indiana’s participation in tomorrow’s global economy.  
  • ISI is a leading exponent of world language teaching, and is happy to share its expertise with the broader education community. 

Role Within The Community

  • ISI is establishing itself as a center of excellence for the International Baccalaureate
  • ISI’s Upper School Principal is a workshop leader for the IB Middle Years Programme, and is invited to train public school teachers across the USA
  • ISI students carry out community service projects within the community as an integral part of their IB education
  • IB hosts guest lectures in the fields of the IB Diploma Theory of Knowledge component and in science and engineering, which are open to the public
  • ISI continues to cultivate and maintains close links with local government, major companies, businesses, foundations and agencies in Indiana, primarily through its Board membership.  
  • Thanks to the efforts of Indiana policy makers and business and community leaders, Indiana is one of the most successful states in the USA in attracting overseas business.
  • ISI plays a significant role in enhancing the attractiveness of central Indiana to overseas companies and their top talent, and is making an outstanding contribution in educating Indiana students to be leaders and key workers in the state and global economy

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02.28.2011

More confirmation that bilingualism is good for you!

I have mentioned several times in articles and talks the mounting evidence that children raised and

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02.02.2012

Spring and Summer Soccer Camps

Registration is now open for West Ham United International Academy Player ID Camp in April and the 2nd Annual ISI-West Ham United Soccer Camp in June.