International School in Zurich

Zurich International School:
Situated just south of Zurich in Wädenswil, northern Switzerland, Zurich International School is a leading, non-profit international day school based on American models offering a comprehensive education program for students aged 2 to 18 in the greater Zurich and Baden areas. Over 1,300 students from more than 45 countries attend one of the school’s five campuses. ZIS offers Advanced Placement courses (AP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB).

ZIS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation World School and is accredited by both the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the U.S. ZIS is also officially approved by the Departments of Education of the Cantons of Zurich and Aargau.

Mission and Philosophy:
We are a learning community of students, faculty, staff, and parents. At ZIS, educational excellence commits us to
Learn, Care, Challenge, Lead.

Learn
• We learn by creating meaning, developing habits of mind, and acting on values.
• We teach to multiple learning styles.
• We learn to understand and to become imaginative thinkers.
• We believe that effective teaching leads to meaningful learning, and that effective teachers continue to be learners.

Care
• We value diversity and plurality of voices.
• We are committed to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
• We provide a caring environment for the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of our students.
• We care for the world around us and our planet.

Challenge
• We challenge our students and teachers to share the responsibility for learning.
• We challenge our students to exceed their own academic expectations.
• We challenge ourselves to be open to risk, change, and innovation.
• We challenge ourselves to ensure the success of each student.

Lead
• We lead through best practice and educational innovation.
• We enable students, faculty, and staff to become confident and responsible leaders.
• We lead with a clear sense of direction and purpose.

- Programs from pre-school to grade 12
- Curriculum follows Amercian College Preparatory Models with Advanced Placement Courses and English, history, foreign languages, mathematics, science, creative arts, and physical education
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB)
- Primary Years Program
- Middle School Program
- Upper School Program
- English is the main language of instruction with German and French taught as second languages
- ESL (English as a Second Language) Program

Student life at ZIS is grounded in the Mission and Philosophy ‘Learn, Care, Challenge, Lead,' with a wide variety of age-appropriate co-curricular activities being offered which speak to one or more of these principles.

The program is progressive through the school and provides opportunities for personal and social development for all students by introducing them to different interests and experiences. Students are encouraged to participate in a number of activities in the lower grades, then given the opportunity to build on the foundation of their experience and extend and enrich their interests as they move into the Upper School.

The program includes performing and visual arts, competitive and recreational sports, outdoor education, governance and leadership opportunities, service and outreach work.

ZIS believes that cultural excursions and school trips represent excellent learning opportunities and so field trips are integral to the curriculum.

From our youngest students spending a morning visiting the local area as part of their Unit of Inquiry into Sharing the Planet, to our older students spending five days in Florence to study the Renaissance, all our students have the opportunity to learn through firsthand experience. Our host country Switzerland offers a range of cultural, geographical and outdoor learning opportunities. Being in the heart of Europe means our older students are also able to travel further afield easily.

Students in Pre-School to Grade 2 go on a number of day field trips during the school year and then from Grade 3 upwards, students have overnight trips within Switzerland and beyond. As well as curricular trips, students enjoy winter field trips of sledding, ice skating and skiing, as well as trips to represent ZIS in drama and Model United Nations as well as at sports and music events.