Not Just for Expats: An International Education, Right Here in Düsseldorf
When ISD was founded in 1968, it began with a practical need.
A small group of American families living in Düsseldorf wanted an English-language education for their children. What began as the American International School of Düsseldorf grew from those early beginnings into the International School of Düsseldorf we know today: a community of more than 1,000 students representing nationalities and cultures from around the world.
More than five decades later, we are more international than ever.
But there is one misconception we still hear surprisingly often:
“I thought international schools were only for expats.”
They aren't.
International doesn't mean you have to come from somewhere else
ISD is an international school, but our students do not need to have arrived in Düsseldorf on an international assignment.
Many of our families are local. Some are German. Some are multilingual or multicultural families who have lived here for years. Others simply want a different kind of education for their children.
For families living in Düsseldorf and the surrounding region, that means an international, English-language education may be much closer than they realise.
Students at ISD can follow the complete International Baccalaureate Continuum through to the globally recognised IB Diploma, learn alongside classmates from around the world and become part of an international community – without leaving Düsseldorf.
Choosing a school goes both ways
We believe choosing a school should be a considered decision.
Families choose ISD, but we also take care in getting to know the families who want to join us.
Our admissions process is personal. It includes conversations with our Admissions team, individual campus tours and a review of each student's educational background and needs.
This is not simply about filling a place in a classroom.
We want families to understand what they are choosing: our values, our educational philosophy, the IB curriculum and the community that comes with it. Equally, we want to understand the child and family considering ISD and whether we can provide the right environment for them.
We are protective of that process because we believe what has developed here over more than 50 years is genuinely special.
When a family joins ISD, we don't want them to feel like another number on a spreadsheet. We want them to become part of the community.
Local families make an international school more international
An international community is strongest when it brings together different experiences and perspectives.
Our local families are an important part of that.
They bring a connection to Düsseldorf and Germany into classrooms filled with children whose families may come from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa or the Middle East.
Children grow up learning that there is rarely only one way to see the world.
And for local children, an international education does not mean losing their connection to home. It means adding another dimension to it.
They can grow up in Düsseldorf while learning in English, building friendships across cultures and developing an international outlook that can stay with them wherever their future takes them.
Why starting earlier can help
Students can join ISD successfully at different stages of their education, and our Admissions and educational teams support families through that transition.
But for local families considering an international education, there are advantages to exploring the option earlier.
Young children often acquire additional languages remarkably naturally through everyday interaction and immersion. Starting earlier also gives students more time to become comfortable learning in English and to develop within the IB approach to learning.
Instead of encountering inquiry, critical thinking, reflection and independent learning for the first time later in their education, these approaches can develop gradually as they grow.
And there is another side to starting early: the community.
Children build friendships. Parents build networks. Families become part of school life. Over time, an international school can become a remarkably local part of your family's world.
Link: Read more: More Than a Diploma – The Value of an IB Education →
International education isn't only for international families
ISD has changed enormously since a small group of American families created a school out of necessity in 1968.
Today, we are a diverse international community of more than 1,000 students, with a complete IB education, extensive opportunities in academics, sport and the arts, and a campus in the heart of Kaiserswerth.
Our roots may be international.
But you don't need to be an expat to belong here.
If you live in Düsseldorf or the surrounding region and have ever wondered whether an international education could be right for your child, come and find out.
Visit the campus. Meet our community. Ask questions. Understand the IB. See what an ordinary school day actually feels like.
You may discover that the international education you were looking for has been right on your doorstep all along.