The International School of Monaco

Academic Culture at the International School of Monaco

The International School of Monaco (ISM) is one of a small number of schools worldwide authorised to deliver all four International Baccalaureate programmes — the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP) — providing a genuine IB Continuum education from age 3 through 18.

Exceptional IB Diploma Results (2025)

ISM's 2025 IB Diploma results were exceptional by any measure:

• Average score: 36.7 — more than 6 points above the global average of approximately 30.5
• 100% pass rate — every candidate earned the Diploma
• 25 students scored 35 or above (approximately 90% of the cohort)
• 5 students scored 40 or above (approximately 17% of the cohort)
• One student, Etienne Franzi, achieved a perfect 45/45 and earned a Bilingual Diploma, going on to study engineering in London
• 96% of students were accepted to their first-choice universities

These results place ISM firmly among the top-performing IB schools in Europe.

Bilingual and Multilingual Framework

Academic instruction is delivered primarily in English, with French as the co-language of instruction across all year groups. This bilingual commitment is embedded from Kindergarten, and the school supports students from over 63 nationalities, offering EAL support for those developing their English proficiency. Additional languages including Spanish and others are offered at secondary level.

University Destinations (Class of 2024)

The Class of 2024 achieved remarkable university placement outcomes:

• 18 placements at QS Top 50 universities
• 46 placements at Russell Group universities in the UK
• Over $850,000 in scholarships awarded to graduating students

Destinations include leading UK universities (Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL) and top institutions in Europe and the USA, reflecting the strength of ISM's university counselling programme.

Teaching and Assessment Philosophy

ISM's academic culture prioritises enquiry-based learning within the IB framework. Assessment is criterion-referenced and externally moderated via IB examination boards. The school's four Core Values — Integrity, Learning, Caring, and Respect — underpin every dimension of academic and personal development. The school's mission specifically highlights multilingualism and global responsibility as outcomes of its educational approach.

Pastoral Culture and Student Wellbeing at ISM

ISM has built a pastoral infrastructure that goes well beyond the academic — the school holds the Optimus Wellbeing Award for Schools, reflecting a formal, verified commitment to student mental health and holistic development.

The House System

All students from primary through secondary are assigned to one of four houses:

• Shackleton
• Grimaldi
• Baret
• Earhart

The house names are notable: they honour both Monégasque heritage (Grimaldi — Monaco's ruling family) and pioneering global figures, reflecting the school's values of exploration, diversity, and resilience. The house system fosters cross-year friendships, healthy competition through sporting and cultural events, and a strong sense of belonging within the school community.

Health and Wellbeing Team

ISM employs a dedicated wellbeing infrastructure:

• 2 qualified School Counsellors who provide daily pastoral support and are part of the Inclusive Team
• 3 qualified nurses across the school's Health Centres, plus a Health Coordinator
• Staff trained as qualified Mental Health First Aiders
• A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSL (Robert Henry) embedded in the school's leadership

This means the ratio of counselling and health support to students is among the most generous of any international school in the region.

Anti-Bullying and Safeguarding

ISM publishes an anti-bullying policy on its ISM Policies page and operates a formal reporting and intervention system involving School Counsellors. Parents are kept informed through published policy documents and regular communication. The school's approach is proactive rather than reactive — awareness and prevention programmes run throughout the school year.

Inclusive Education

Learning support is provided through the Inclusive Team, which includes Counsellors, the DSL, and specialist support staff. EAL (English as an Additional Language) provision is embedded for new students joining from non-English-speaking backgrounds — a necessity given the 63-nationality student body.

Community at the International School of Monaco

A Truly International Student Body

ISM enrols approximately 854 students (2025) from 63 different nationalities, making it one of the most nationally diverse schools in Europe relative to its size. No single nationality dominates — the community reflects Monaco's character as a principality that attracts wealthy families, diplomats, financiers, sports professionals, and entrepreneurs from across the globe.

This diversity is a deliberate feature of the school's identity. ISM's bilingual English–French model serves both English-speaking expatriate families and Francophone families equally, while the IB framework provides internationally recognised credentials that travel with students wherever their families relocate.

Demand and Waitlists

In September 2025, Nice-Matin — the leading regional newspaper — ran a feature article on ISM under the headline "Nous avons une longue liste d'attente d'élèves" (We have a long waiting list of students), noting that the school had never been more popular. The article reported the record enrolment of 854 students and 125 staff, and highlighted the challenge of accommodating continued demand.

This oversubscription is a consistent feature: ISM officially advises families to apply up to three years in advance, and the March application deadline for the following academic year is firmly enforced.

Expatriate and Mixed Community

The school serves primarily the expatriate community of Monaco and the broader Côte d'Azur region, but also welcomes locally-based international families of mixed nationalities. Monaco's unique profile — a tiny principality with an outsized concentration of high-net-worth residents — means ISM's community includes children of diplomats, professional athletes (Formula 1, tennis, football), and international business leaders.

Parent and Family Engagement

ISM maintains active parent communication through newsletters, policy publications, open days, and parent–teacher conferences each term. The school encourages parental involvement in school life, consistent with its IB community-building values.

History of the International School of Monaco

Foundation (1994)

ISM was founded in 1994 as Monaco's first private international school, established to meet the educational needs of the Principality's rapidly growing expatriate population. From its inception, the school adopted a bilingual French–English curriculum aligned with Anglo-Saxon academic standards — a model that was distinctive and forward-looking for its era.

The founding vision was to create an institution where children of the internationally mobile community in Monaco could receive a globally recognised education without interruption to their academic progression, regardless of where their families might move in future.

IB Authorisation and Growth

ISM became an IB World School on 11 December 2000, initially gaining authorisation for the IB Diploma Programme. Over subsequent years, the school expanded its IB authorisation to cover all four programmes:

• PYP (Primary Years Programme) — early years to primary
• MYP (Middle Years Programme) — lower secondary
• DP (Diploma Programme) — upper secondary
• CP (Career-related Programme) — upper secondary alternative pathway

This full IB Continuum status places ISM among a small elite of schools worldwide offering seamless IB education from age 3 through 18.

Campus Development

In 2024, ISM relocated to its new Testimonio II campus, a modern purpose-built facility that significantly expanded the school's capacity and educational infrastructure. The move was necessitated by the school's sustained enrolment growth, which by 2025 had reached a record 854 students.

CIS Accreditation

In January 2024, ISM was re-accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), one of the most rigorous international accreditation bodies. CIS re-accreditation confirms that ISM meets globally benchmarked standards across all dimensions of school operation.

Partnership with King's College School Wimbledon

ISM has developed an educational partnership with King's College School Wimbledon, one of the UK's leading independent schools. This collaboration supports continuous professional development and school improvement, connecting ISM to the wider network of elite British independent education.

What Makes ISM Unique

The Only International School in Monaco

The International School of Monaco occupies a singular position: it is the only international school in the Principality of Monaco, serving the entire internationally mobile population of one of Europe's most famous and exclusive addresses. This monopoly position, combined with Monaco's growing resident population, explains the school's sustained oversubscription and long waiting lists.

Bilingual IB Continuum from Age 3

Very few schools globally offer the full IB Continuum (PYP + MYP + DP + CP) with genuinely bilingual English–French instruction from Kindergarten through to pre-university level. ISM's model prepares students not only for IB examinations but for fluency in two of the world's most widely spoken European languages — a considerable advantage for university applications and careers across Europe and beyond.

Academic Performance in Global Context

ISM's 2025 IB Diploma average score of 36.7 is extraordinary — it is more than 6 points above the global average of approximately 30.5. With a 100% pass rate and 96% first-choice university placement, the school is performing at a level comparable to the best IB schools in Switzerland, the UK, and Singapore.

Optimus Wellbeing Award

ISM has received the Optimus Wellbeing Award for Schools, a formal external recognition of its commitment to student mental health. This award distinguishes ISM from the many schools that address wellbeing informally, placing it among a certified cohort of schools that have undergone structured external evaluation.

The Testimonio II Campus (2024)

ISM's 2024 move to the Testimonio II campus — a new, modern facility at 43 Avenue Princesse Grace — gives the school physical infrastructure commensurate with its academic reputation: specialist science laboratories, arts studios, a cafeteria (ISM Cuisine), gymnasium (TELEM GYM), and outdoor spaces, all within Monaco's stunning Mediterranean setting.

Class of 2024 Scholarship Achievement

The Class of 2024 secured over $850,000 in scholarships from universities worldwide — a remarkable collective achievement that speaks to both the calibre of ISM students and the effectiveness of its university counselling programme.