International School Basel

IB Academic Performance at ISB

The International School of Basel has established a strong track record in IB Diploma results that consistently sits well above global benchmarks.

2025 Results

• 147 students completed the full IB Diploma out of 158 enrolled in DP
• Pass rate: 96.6%
• Average score: 34.4 (world average ~30)
• 17% of students achieved 40 or more points

2024 Results

• 122 students completed the full IB Diploma out of 133 in the year group
• Pass rate: 98%
• Average score: 35.4 (world average ~30.3)
• 19% of students achieved 40 or more points
• An additional 11 students completed DP course examinations averaging 4.0 per subject

Context

The world IB average hovers around 30 points, making ISB's consistent 34–35 average a meaningful indicator of academic quality. The school attributes this to its inquiry-based approach, small class sizes (up to 22 in junior school, up to 24 in senior school), and strong teacher expertise across the six IB subject groups.

Curriculum Breadth

ISB offers subjects across all six IB DP groups:

• Languages: English A, French A, German A, Spanish A (all HL/SL), plus B and Ab Initio options
• Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, SEHS, ESS
• Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (HL/SL) and Applications & Interpretation (SL)
• Arts: Music, Theatre, Visual Arts (all HL/SL)

Students must select one subject from each of the six groups, ensuring a well-rounded academic experience rather than early specialization. This breadth, combined with the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS components, produces graduates well-prepared for competitive university admissions worldwide.

ISB's Three-Campus Structure

The International School of Basel is unusual among international schools in that it operates three distinct campuses, each designed for a specific developmental stage rather than housing the whole school on one site. All campuses are served by Basel's tram line 11, making public transit the primary mode of student travel.

Aesch Campus — Junior School

• Address: Arlesheimerstrasse 7, 4147 Aesch
• Grades: Early Childhood 1 through Grade 5 (ages ~3–11)
• Access: Arlesheimerstrasse tram stop (Line 11, ~1 min walk)
• Phone: +41 61 715 33 34
• Facilities include a playground, library, and science lab appropriate for young learners

Fiechten Campus — Middle School

• Address: Fiechtenweg 72, 4153 Reinach
• Grades: Grades 7–8 (ages ~12–14)
• Access: Reinach Süd tram stop (Line 11)
• Phone: +41 61 567 34 00

Reinach Campus — Senior School (Main Campus)

• Address: Fleischbachstrasse 2, 4153 Reinach
• Grades: Grades 9–12 (ages ~14–18)
• Access: Reinacherhof tram stop (Line 11)
• Phone: +41 61 715 33 33
• The senior campus is the most extensively equipped, featuring:
  • 8 advanced science laboratories
  • Triple gymnasium with climbing and bouldering walls
  • 4 soundproof music studios + 2 large music rooms + professional recording studio
  • Fully equipped dance studio
  • Auditorium (Aula) seating 560
  • Culinarium cafeteria seating 250
  • Dedicated robotics workshop, 2 art studios, 2 design/technology labs, food technology lab
  • Outdoor artificial-turf soccer pitch, basketball courts, street workout park

Campus Philosophy

Separating age groups across dedicated campuses allows each site to be purpose-designed for the developmental needs of its students — something larger all-in-one campuses struggle to achieve. The tram connectivity makes the multi-campus model practical for a school community drawn from across the Basel region.

Philosophy and Mission at ISB

The International School of Basel was founded in 1979 by Janet Galli to serve Basel's expatriate community, particularly families connected to the region's prominent pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Today it stands as one of the few non-profit international schools in Switzerland offering the full IB continuum.

Organisational Structure

ISB operates as a not-for-profit foundation, which means that fees are reinvested into the school's facilities, staffing, and programmes rather than distributed to shareholders. This structure underpins the school's long-term commitment to educational quality over commercial returns.

IB Continuum Philosophy

The school's educational identity is built entirely on the International Baccalaureate framework:

• IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) — Early Childhood through Grade 5
• IB MYP (Middle Years Programme) — Grades 6–10
• IB DP (Diploma Programme) — Grades 11–12

This coherent continuum means that a student who joins ISB in Early Childhood and stays through graduation will have spent their entire school career within a single, consistent pedagogical framework — one that emphasises inquiry, critical thinking, international-mindedness, and student agency.

Bilingual Dimension

Since August 2022, ISB has offered a dual-language English/German PYP stream in the junior school (EC1–Grade 3), reflecting the school's rootedness in the German-speaking Swiss community and its desire to connect students to the local culture.

Community Demographics

With students from approximately 64 nationalities and roughly one-third of families from North America (US, UK, Canada) and under half from Europe, ISB represents a genuinely diverse international community. This diversity is itself treated as a pedagogical resource — students learn alongside peers from starkly different backgrounds, developing the intercultural skills valued by IB's international-mindedness framework.

Admissions at ISB

Open Rolling Admissions

ISB operates a rolling admissions model, accepting applications throughout the academic year with no fixed application deadline. This flexibility is particularly suited to expatriate families who may relocate to Basel at short notice due to corporate transfers or diplomatic assignments.

However, prospective families are advised to apply early, as classes do fill up and the school may place applicants on a waitlist when capacity is reached. The FAQ page explicitly advises applying promptly to avoid waitlist situations.

No Formal Entrance Exams

ISB does not require formal entrance examinations such as IGCSE, A-Level results, or standardised tests as entry criteria. Instead, admissions assessments are informal and age-appropriate:

• Early Years/Primary (ages 3+): Children must be toilet-trained. No formal test; school assesses readiness through an orientation or settling-in process.
• Middle/Senior School: English proficiency is evaluated; an interview or informal assessment in English and core subjects may be conducted. Students with limited English are welcomed and supported through the EAL programme.

English Language Support Included in Fees

A standout feature of ISB's admissions philosophy is that EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is included in tuition fees — not charged as a supplement. This means families from non-English-speaking backgrounds are not financially penalised for needing language support, lowering a barrier that exists at many international schools.

Required at Offer Stage

Upon receiving an offer, families must pay the one-time Development Fee of CHF 4,500 to confirm their place. This fee applies to both new and returning students.

Typical Documents Required

• School transcripts / report cards
• Immunisation records
• Passport/ID documentation

Key Takeaway for Families

ISB's admissions culture is inclusive and flexible — designed to welcome internationally mobile families regardless of prior curriculum background or English fluency, while maintaining academic standards through IB-aligned assessment once enrolled.

Community and Culture at ISB

Basel's International Character

Basel is home to some of the world's largest pharmaceutical and life-sciences companies — Novartis, Roche, and many others — drawing a constant stream of internationally mobile professionals and their families from across the globe. ISB was founded precisely to serve this community in 1979, and the school's composition still reflects Basel's corporate-expat demographic.

Student Body

• Approximately 1,250 students from 64+ nationalities
• Roughly one-third from North America (US, UK, Canada)
• Just under half from Europe (including Switzerland)
• Swiss local families represent a minority of enrolments

Multi-Generational Connections

Many ISB families are not first-time international school parents — they may have attended or sent children to IB schools in other countries before arriving in Basel. This creates a community that is generally comfortable with school transitions and culturally attuned to the IB philosophy.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

ISB emphasises a caring, inclusive environment. The school provides:

• On-site medical care at each campus
• School psychologist support
• EAL programme included in fees
• SEN (Special Educational Needs) learning support in a mainstream setting
• No school uniform, reinforcing an informal and open campus culture

Language as Community Bridge

The introduction of the bilingual English/German PYP stream in 2022 reflects ISB's conscious effort to integrate more deeply with the local Swiss-German-speaking community — a shift that broadens the school's appeal beyond purely expatriate families and strengthens ties to the region.

Events and Traditions

An annual Open Doors Day is held each spring, giving prospective families an opportunity to visit campuses, meet teachers, and experience the school community firsthand. The end-of-year graduation ceremony has grown alongside student numbers — the Class of 2025 was the school's largest ever at 158 graduates.