Chadwick International

The Curriculum Framework

Chadwick International is a fully authorized IB World School offering all three IB programmes across its Pre-K to Grade 12 continuum:

• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): For Village School students, fostering inquiry and transdisciplinary learning
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP): For Grades 6-10, developing skills and international-mindedness
• IB Diploma Programme (DP): For Grades 11-12, offering HL and SL subjects across all IB groups

This unbroken IB continuum means students develop within a consistent pedagogical framework from their earliest years through graduation — a significant advantage for deep learning and genuine IB-mindedness.

Dual Diploma Option

A distinctive feature of Chadwick International is that all graduating students earn either the IB Diploma or the Chadwick Diploma — a US-accredited diploma that follows the American academic model. Students who do not achieve the IB Diploma qualification (a minimum score of 24 out of 45) may still graduate with the Chadwick Diploma, provided they complete the Extended Essay or Senior Project requirements. This dual pathway ensures that students are supported toward graduation regardless of their IB examination outcome.

Subject Offerings

The IB DP curriculum at Chadwick International spans all six IB subject groups:

• Language & Literature: English, Korean
• Language Acquisition: English B, Korean B, Mandarin B, Spanish B
• Individuals & Societies: History, Economics, Psychology, and others
• Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology (HL and SL)
• Mathematics: Various IB Math courses
• Arts: Visual Arts, Music

In addition, the Upper School offers electives in Drama, Robotics, and Computer Science.

Admissions Selectivity

Admission is explicitly described as "highly competitive." The admissions committee evaluates a comprehensive application including academic transcripts, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores (SSAT is expected for applicants to Grade 6 and above), written assessments, and student interviews. Character and leadership potential receive explicit weight in the evaluation — reflecting the school's mission-aligned approach to student selection.

Students applying from outside Korea may complete their interviews online, making the school accessible to internationally mobile families.

University Outcomes

While Chadwick International does not publish detailed university placement statistics, the school notes that its graduates have been accepted to 115 international college destinations — indicating broad geographic and institutional diversity in university placements. The school's strong IB results and US diploma accreditation position graduates competitively for universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Korea, and beyond.

The Faculty and Class Size

With an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Chadwick International maintains genuinely small learning communities. This ratio supports the school's inquiry-based model, where teachers facilitate rather than lecture and where individual student development receives meaningful attention.

Education as Adventure

At the heart of Chadwick International's identity is a compelling educational philosophy: learning is not a destination but an ongoing adventure. The school's official description articulates this directly — "Education at Chadwick International is an ongoing adventure that transforms bright students into extraordinary global citizens."

This philosophy permeates every aspect of the school's design, from the IB curriculum framework it employs across all 14 grade levels (Pre-K through Grade 12) to the physical campus itself, which includes outdoor challenge courses designed to push students beyond their comfort zones.

The Mission and Core Values

Chadwick International's mission is both aspirational and specific: "Chadwick Schools develop global citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge, and the ability to lead." This mission is grounded in five core values that the school expects students and staff to embody:

• Respect — for self, others, and the environment
• Responsibility — for one's actions and community
• Honesty — in all interactions
• Fairness — in judgment and behavior
• Compassion — toward all members of the community and beyond

These values are not merely posted on walls; they are integrated into the IB learner profile attributes and the school's pastoral programs.

The IB Framework as a Vehicle for Philosophy

Chadwick International is one of relatively few schools worldwide authorized to offer all three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for younger students, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for middle school, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12. This full IB continuum is central to the school's philosophy of nurturing inquiry-driven, internationally minded learners from early childhood through secondary education.

The inquiry-based methodology of IB aligns naturally with the school's philosophy of experiential learning. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make connections across disciplines, and reflect on their learning processes — all hallmarks of the IB approach.

Character and Leadership Over Outcomes

Unlike many international schools that foreground university placement statistics, Chadwick International's public messaging emphasizes character and leadership development. The admissions process itself reflects this — the school explicitly evaluates applicants' character and leadership potential alongside academic transcripts and test scores. This signals a school culture where being a good person matters as much as academic performance.

Sister School Connection

Chadwick International was founded as a sister campus of Chadwick School in Rolling Hills, California — a school with over 75 years of history. The Roessler-Chadwick Foundation, which operates both schools, ensures that Chadwick International inherits and adapts the parent school's educational DNA for a genuinely international, multicultural context in East Asia.

Origins in Songdo's Vision

Chadwick International's founding story is inseparable from the larger story of Songdo International Business District — South Korea's ambitious project to build a smart city from scratch on reclaimed land near Incheon. When the Korean government established the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) to attract multinational corporations and foreign talent, high-quality international education was identified as an essential ingredient. Chadwick International was one of the first major international institutions to answer that call.

The school opened on September 7, 2010, under Korea's special legislation for foreign-education institutions — becoming the first institution of its kind to operate in the Seoul metropolitan area. At opening, approximately 280 students enrolled in grades through Grade 7, with the plan to expand one grade per year until the full K-12 program was in place.

Building the Campus

The physical campus matched the ambition of the project. Built on a 71,000 sqm (approximately 7.1 hectares) site in the heart of Songdo's central avenue (Art Center-daero), the building rises six stories (one basement, five above ground) and encompasses roughly 500,000 square feet of floor space. From day one, the campus included facilities that would be considered exceptional even by the standards of established international schools: an indoor 25m swimming pool, two full-size gymnasiums, a main performance theater, a black box theater, dance studios, fitness facilities, libraries, science labs, and outdoor challenge courses.

Institutional Milestones

Growth was rapid and consistent:

• 2010: School opens with ~280 students, Grades Pre-K to 7
• 2013: Achieves full IB World School authorization for all three programmes (PYP, MYP, DP)
• 2015: Earns WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation
• 2023: Enrollment exceeds 1,450 students from more than 50 nationalities

The school's relationship with its Californian parent institution — Chadwick School in Rolling Hills — remains central to its identity. The Roessler-Chadwick Foundation ensures curriculum continuity and shared values across both campuses.

Legacy

Today, Chadwick International stands as one of Korea's most prominent international schools, recognized for its rigorous academics, world-class facilities, and commitment to developing globally minded young people. Its location in Songdo — itself now home to major UN agencies, global corporations, and a large international residential community — makes it a natural hub for expatriate families in the greater Incheon-Seoul corridor.

Setting the Scene

Chadwick International occupies one of the most distinctive campuses in international education in East Asia. Located on Art Center-daero — the central boulevard of Songdo International Business District — the school's modern six-story structure is a landmark in a city that was itself built from scratch as a model of 21st-century urban planning.

Songdo is a deliberately international environment: home to the Green Climate Fund, numerous UN agencies, multinational corporate offices, and a large expatriate residential community. Students at Chadwick International effectively live and study in one of the world's most intentionally global urban environments.

The Physical Campus

The 500,000 square foot (approximately 46,450 sqm of floor space on a 71,000 sqm site) campus was purpose-built for international education at the highest level. Key facilities include:

Sports & Wellness

• Indoor 25m, 6-lane aquatics center
• Two full-size gymnasiums (basketball, volleyball, etc.)
• Dance and fitness studios
• Outdoor sports fields
• Outdoor challenge/adventure course (Challenger Course)

Arts & Performance

• Main theater (large-format performances and assemblies)
• Black box theater (intimate dramatic productions)
• Music practice rooms and choir rooms
• Visual arts studios

Academic & Technology

• MS/US Design Lab and Robotics Lab (3D printing, engineering)
• Village School Library and MS/US Library
• Telepresence room for remote learning and global connections
• Computer programming labs

Community & Dining

• Village School Cafeteria and MS/US Cafeteria
• Bell Tower Lawn and outdoor garden spaces

Atmosphere and Culture

With students from over 51 nationalities and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the campus atmosphere is described as internationally vibrant yet personally attentive. The small class sizes mean teachers know their students well. The school's three-campus structure within the building — Village School (early years/elementary), Middle School, and Upper School — creates distinct community spaces while sharing the extraordinary shared facilities.

The campus design reflects the school's philosophy: spaces for collaboration, creation, performance, and reflection exist alongside traditional classrooms, sending a clear message that education here encompasses far more than sitting at a desk.

Getting There

Despite Songdo's relatively new development, access is reasonable. From central Seoul, direct express buses (M6405/M6724) run to Songdo. The nearest metro station is Incheon Subway Line 1's Campus Town Station (Exit 4), approximately 10 minutes by taxi. The school operates its own bus routes serving Seoul and Pangyo areas, with 2023-24 annual bus fees of approximately KRW 4,850,000.

A Genuinely International Student Body

Chadwick International's community of approximately 1,461 students represents over 51 nationalities — a diversity that is not incidental but central to the school's educational model. Located in Songdo, one of Korea's most internationally integrated urban environments, the school draws children of expatriate professionals, diplomats, and international business executives, alongside a proportion of Korean families.

Under its founding framework, Korean passport holders can represent up to approximately 30% of the student body, ensuring that the international character of the community is preserved while remaining accessible to local families.

Athletics

Chadwick International offers more than 15 major sports programs, with competition primarily through KAIAC (Korean American Interscholastic Activities Conference). Sports offered include:

• Soccer (Dolphins team won the 2019 KAIAC Cup)
• Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball
• Swimming, Track & Field, Cross Country
• Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis
• Fencing, Ice Hockey

The school's state-of-the-art athletics facilities — indoor pool, dual gymnasiums, outdoor fields — support both recreational and competitive participation from village school age through upper school.

Arts and Performance

The arts are a serious enterprise at Chadwick International. The main theater and black box theater host regular dramatic productions, and music programs include choir, chamber music ensembles, jazz band, and pop band. Visual arts, dance, and film programs complement the performing arts offerings. The dedicated arts facilities ensure that students have professional-grade spaces in which to develop their creative talents.

Service and Global Citizenship

Consistent with the IB's Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirement and the school's mission of developing global citizens, service learning is woven throughout student life. The school's "Greener is Cleaner" environmental initiative has earned recognition, and students participate in Model United Nations, community service clubs, and various global awareness programs.

Student Organizations

The breadth of student clubs and organizations reflects the community's intellectual curiosity and diverse interests:

• Academic: Model UN, Science Club, Math Olympiad, Debate Team
• STEM: Robotics Club, Coding/Programming Club, Engineering Club
• Language & Culture: Korean Language Club, Mandarin Chinese Club, Spanish Club
• Community: Student Government, Yearbook, Chess Club
• Music Exchange: "Shares" music exchange program

Parent Community

The school maintains active parent engagement through events including open houses for prospective families and regular communication about student programs. The multinational parent community is itself a resource, bringing diverse professional expertise and cultural perspectives to school life.