High School students in the common area

 

HIGH SCHOOL AT ISI

Meet our students

High School - Alisse
High School - Ashwin
High School - Peter
High School - Lucy

ISI High School prepares students by developing academic and social-emotional skills for success in college and beyond.

As Indiana’s only IB continuum World School, the ISI High School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 9 to 10 and the prestigious IB Diploma Programme (DP) for grades 11 to 12. 

In High School, students are finishing the final years of the MYP and moving into the DP. Their teachers are all subject area specialists and have IB training, and are trained to help with the transition to the MYP for students who weren’t previously at IB schools. Many of these teachers are accomplished in other facets of their life, bringing those talents to their classrooms.

Holistic Approach to Global Learning and Growth

With small class sizes, teachers can create engaging activities that emphasize critical thinking and knowledge application, allowing time for deeper feedback. They also make use of unique opportunities like community presentations and concerts. Students develop skills in research, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, while still enjoying a full range of athletics, arts, and extracurriculars.

High School students at ISI will:

  • Engage in complex problem-solving and analysis to enhance their ability to think critically and make informed decisions;
  • Develop passions and try new things through our robust athletics, arts, and extracurricular programming - all with open participation policies;
  • Explore and understand diverse cultures, perspectives, and global issues to develop a well-rounded, international-minded viewpoint;
  • Experience a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for university and beyond, with a balance of depth and breadth across six subject areas;
  • Receive coaching and assistance from our College Counseling Team throughout all four years of high school;
  • Participate in creative activities and projects that inspire original thinking and innovative solutions to problems.

High School students participate in the annual ISI Color Run fundraiser. 

ISI offers opportunities to join 14 IHSAA Athletic Teams annually. 

ISI is ranked the #2 school for STEM in Indianapolis, with 46% of graduated pursuing majors in STEM.

ISI students are given opportunities to travel domestically and abroad annually through Service and Culture trips.

All ISI students are sorted into a House and compete with others in academic, service, and physical competitions.

ISI athletics have an open participation policy, allowing students to try out new activities throughout their time at ISI.

Students can become leaders in athletics as team captains and team managers.

ISI students fundraise for an annual service trip, where students help to maintain a school in the Dominican Republic.

The annual Staff and Alumni vs Student Volleyball Game is one of the biggest school fundraisers.

Grade 11 and 12 Arts students have the annual opportunity to spend a week in New York City.

ISI holds an annual International Parade to celebrate the diversity and cultures that make up the community.

ISI is a part of the IHSAA Pioneer Conference.

ISI students have achieved a 100% college acceptance rate.

Annually, staff and students host cultural celebrations for the three ISI language tracks: French, Mandarin, and Spanish.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE MYP AND DP FROM OTHER PROGRAMS

Personalized Learning:
Both the MYP and DP offer flexibility in how content is delivered and assessed, allowing teachers to tailor learning experiences to individual student needs and interests. Students also participate in major projects like the Personal Project and Service as Action in the MYP and the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, and Service in the DP.

Critical Thinking:
There is significant focus on critical thinking development, which enables students to form their own viewpoints by exploring multiple perspectives and becoming nuanced thinkers. Students are given the opportunity to question their assumptions about various ideas, issues, and events in real-world contexts to improve their understanding of the complexity of knowledge.

Global Contexts:
Through their curriculum, students explore themes such as identities and relationships, orientations in space and time, and global interactions. This context-based approach encourages students to consider how their learning relates to global issues and cultures, promoting a deeper understanding of their role in the world and preparing them to engage with diverse perspectives.

Preparation for Higher Education:
Both programmes begin allowing students more independence in their learning and allow them to build skills critical for success in college and beyond. The DP is specifically designed to prepare students for university-level studies, with a strong emphasis on research skills, academic writing, and independent study. IB graduates are often highly sought after by universities worldwide.

School Day

The high school starts its day at 8:00 a.m., and classes end at 3:35 p.m. The student-faculty ratio for high school is around 9:1. Classes are small, typically having between 12 and 18 students. In addition to academic classes the timetable contains an X Block period on three days of the week where students can participate in a range of clubs and activities within the school day, allowing for students to explore new passions and become well-rounded individuals. 

100% College Acceptance

Since the first class to graduate from ISI in 2004, students have annually earned a 100% college acceptance rate.

This success can be linked to the IB Diploma Program curriculum completed by all ISI students in grades 11 and 12. This "gold standard" curriculum thoroughly prepares ISI students to succeed at the college or university of their choice – and 100% of our graduates go on to attend college

Diploma Programme Core

The core is made up of three required components, which aim to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills. 

Theory of Knowledge 

This course allows students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know. It prompts students to be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge and recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world.

The Extended Essay

An independent, self-directed piece of academic research on a subject of their choosing, finishing with a 4,000-word paper, designed to give students practical application of research and self-management skills needed to be successful in a university setting.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

With its holistic approach, CAS is designed for students to continue and strengthen their passion for creative and active pursuits or to try new ones. Students lead and engage with service learning activities either as single experiences or regular commitments.

School News

Student Culture Trip to Paris 2025

This spring, Grade 6 through 11 students embarked on an unforgettable eight-day journey to Paris, France. The trip was a unique blend of language learning, cultural immersion, historical exploration, and artistic engagement, all set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic cities.

Student Culture Trip to Puerto Rico 2025

This spring, Grade 6 and 7 students traveled to Puerto Rico for a vibrant blend of historical exploration, natural discovery, cultural immersion, and service learning. From the historic streets of San Juan to the lush rainforest of El Yunque, students experienced the island’s rich diversity and unique blend of U.S. and Caribbean influences.

30 Year Celebration Recap

From March 21 through 23, members of the ISI community came together for our 30th Anniversary Celebration, a special weekend marking three decades of international education in Indiana. The weekend was filled with opportunities to reconnect, reflect on our institution’s journey, and celebrate our collective achievements. We sincerely thank every member of the ISI community who joined us for this milestone celebration! 

Season Recap: Boys Varsity Basketball

The Boys Varsity Basketball team wrapped up a strong season, marked by growth, grit, and a solid postseason run. With many new players stepping up, the team built chemistry quickly and pushed all the way to the second round of sectionals

GoGryphons-MUN2025

From February 20-25, six students traveled to Boston for the Harvard Model Congress Conference, joining 1,700 students from around the world. This weekend, a team of 12 students attended the Indiana University Model UN Conference from February 28 - March 2.

Grade56BBallHEader

The Grade 5 & 6 Basketball season was all about improvement and perseverance. The team set personal goals to refine their ball handling, shooting, and play execution. Along the way, they faced challenges in staying focused and believing in themselves, but they never backed down.