Senior School Profile - International School of Duesseldorf

MISSION
Our goal is to provide the students of the International School of Düsseldorf
with the best possible programme of academic and personal development
in a challenging and supportive environment.
THE SCHOOL
The International School of Düsseldorf, an independent, non-profi t, universitypreparatory
school, was founded in 1968 to serve the educational needs of
the international community in and around Düsseldorf. The school has
approximately 1,050 students enrolled from Reception through Grade 12.
The 649 students enrolled in the Senior School represent 46 nationalities,
with German (25%), American (17%), Japanese (11%) and British (10%)
comprising the four largest groups. The language of instruction is English.
ACCREDITATION
The International School of Düsseldorf is accredited by the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of
International Schools (CIS).
fACULTY
The Senior School faculty consists of 97 teachers representing 19
nationalities. 54 hold Master’s degrees or the equivalent and 3 hold PhD’s.
The student-faculty ratio is 7 to 1 with an average class size of 15.
CURRICULUM
The International School of Düsseldorf is an International Baccalaureate
World School offering all three IB programmes: Primary Years (Preparatory-
Grade 5), Middle Years (Grades 6-10) and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-
12). Students in grades 9-12 follow a university-preparatory programme
leading to the IB Diploma, IB Certifi cates and/or the ISD High School Diploma.
ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
English as an Additional Language students usually spend three semesters
in the EAL programme, with an average of three to four EAL classes per
day. While in the programme, students also attend mainstream
mathematics and science classes at grade level. Depending on profi ciency,
these students follow a full schedule of mainstream classes after one to
four semesters. After completing the EAL programme, students must
attend mainstream classes for one full year in order to graduate.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
ISD offers a vast array of sporting, cultural, service and personal enrichment
activities including:
n Fine and Performing Arts n Global Issues
n Athletics and Team Sports n Model United Nations
n Student Athlete Advisory Board n Student Council
n Environmental Projects n Speech and Debate
n Judicial Board n Sound and Lights Team
n Ambassador Team n Yearbook Team
n Habitat for Humanity n Project Tanzania
n Choir n Band
n Math Competitions n Music Ensemble
n International Honor Society n ISDifferences
n Gaming Club n Green Team
n Mentoring Programme n Student Academic
n Mother Tongue Language Advisory Committee
Lessons
ISD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS
To be awarded the International School of Düsseldorf High School Diploma
a student must have:
n Completed four years of education in grades 9-12 or their equivalents.
n Successfully completed 9th and 10th grades. At ISD this normally
means having followed years 4 and 5 of the MYP programme including
at least three options with no more than two fi nal academic achievement
grades below 3 in either year.
n Senior School Profi le | International School of Düsseldorf
n Earned a minimum total of 40 points over grades 11 and 12, with no
more than four fi nal academic achievement grades below 3, of which no
more than two may be earned in 12 th grade.
In addition, each student should have:
n Taken at least one year of mainstream English.
n Taken three consecutive years of the same foreign language unless an
exception is made by the principal.
n Studied German to a minimum competency level equivalent to ISD’s
“Advanced German” (normally three years).
EVALUATION SCHEME
ISD conforms to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
system, with grades ranging from 7 (high) to 1 (low). No intermediate (+) or
(-) grades are given. This grading system is used for all internal assessment,
external assessment and for transcripts. Achievement is evaluated twice a
year, in January and June. The fi rst grade indicates progress until the end
of December, while the second indicates achievement for the whole course.
Most courses last a full academic year.
Grade The student has demonstrated:
n A consistent and thorough understanding of the required
knowledge and skills.
n Ability to apply required knowledge and skills routinely in a
7
wide variety of situations.
n Consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation
where appropriate.
n Frequent originality and/or insight as appropriate.
n Work of high quality on a regular basis.
6
5
4
3
2
1
n A consistent and thorough understanding of the required
knowledge and skills.
n Ability to apply required knowledge and skills in a wide
variety of situations.
n Consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation
where appropriate.
n Frequent originality and/or insight as appropriate.
n A consistently good understanding of the required knowledge
and skills.
n Ability to apply required knowledge and skills in a variety of
situations.
n Regular evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where
appropriate.
n Occasional originality and/or insight as appropriate.
n Satisfactory general understanding of the required
knowledge and skills.
n Ability to apply required knowledge and skills effectively in
typical situations.
n Occasional evidence of the skills of analysis, synthesis and
evaluation where appropriate.
n Limited achievement against most of the objectives, or clear
diffi culties in some areas.
n Limited understanding of the required knowledge and skills.
n Ability to apply required knowledge and skills fully in typical
classroom situations only with support.
n Very limited achievement against all objectives.
n Diffi culty in understanding the required knowledge and skills.
n Inability to apply required knowledge and skills fully in typical
classroom situations, even with support.
n Minimal achievement in terms of the objectives.