International School of Brussels

School in Brussels, Belgium

International School of Brussels

Location

Brussels

Belgium

Coordinates| 50°47′20″N 4°25′1″E﻿ / ﻿50.78889°N 4.41694°E﻿ / 50.78889; 4.41694
Information
Type| Private school
Motto| Everyone Included. Everyone Challenged. Everyone Successful.
Established| 1951 (1951)
Head teacher| James MacDonald
Faculty| 200
Number of students| 1,350
Campus| 162,134.62 m2 (40.06434 acres)
Mascot| Raid
Website| www.isb.be

The International School of Brussels (ISB) is an English-language international school in the Brussels municipality of Watermael-Boitsfort.

## History

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The International School of Brussels (ISB) was established in October 1951 under the name of American School of Brussels. Its initial purpose was to provide educational services to U.S. Department of Defense personnel and their families living in the vicinity. Commencing with a teaching staff of four and an enrollment of 27 students, aged 5 to 11, the school was first located in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. By 1953, as the student body grew to approximately 100, the institution relocated to the Château des Fougères in Watermael-Boitsfort and assumed its present name.[1]

In 1966, ISB expanded its infrastructure with the addition of a high school building. That was followed in 1967 by the construction of a new elementary school building. Initially, the entire school's operations were housed within the Château. On January 1, 1977, ISB became the 50th school globally to offer the International Baccalaureate program. That same year, it also organized its first International Festival.[2]

In February 2006, the school board decided to initiate fundraising efforts. This decision was made based on the conclusion that the tuition fees charged to its students were inadequate to meet the school's requirements. This decision signaled a greater emphasis on financial planning to support the school's operations and development.[3]

Chateau des Fougères

## Campus and facilities

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The International School of Brussels (ISB) occupies a 162,134.6 m² (1,745,202 sq ft) expanse of wooded land. The campus encompasses a variety of structures, including academic buildings, athletic facilities, and a performing arts center.[4] Specific campus features are:

* Early Childhood Centre (ECC): For students aged 2+1⁄2–8
* Elementary School (ES): For students aged 8–12
* Middle School (MS): For students aged 12–15
* High School (HS): For students aged 15–19
* Château des Fougères: A 19th-century building that houses administrative offices, along with a reception area for parents.
* Athletic Facilities: Comprises an outdoor track, two gymnasiums, and 15 hectares (37 acres) of playing fields and wooded areas.[3]
* Performing Arts Center: Functions as venue for concerts and theatrical productions.
* International Community Centre (ICC): Houses additional facilities and rooms for community activities.
* Additional Features: The campus includes a theater, an annex building, and multiple sports facilities for its extracurricular programs.

## Academics

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ISB offers a wide range of academic programs. It offers 45 International Baccalaureate courses to students. It has an Intensive Learning Support (ILS) program.[2]

## Tuition and finance

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Annual tuition fees at ISB vary based on grade level, ranging from €21,650 for preschool to €46,725 for grades 10-12. Specialized support programs incur additional charges.[5]

## Community

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As of 2024, ISB has an enrollment of around 1,300 students from 65 countries.[6] The school employs 229 faculty members representing 23 nationalities and 107 staff members representing 26 nationalities.[7]

## Leadership

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The board of trustees of ISB consists of approximately 18 members and three to four ex-officio members. There are also several honorary trustees, who are all volunteers. Given the school's population turnover rate of 25% annually, the board endeavors to maintain a balance between long-term and short-term members. Board members are appointed for three-year renewable terms, with a maximum length of service of nine years. Each member serves on either one of the standing committees or an ad hoc committee, depending on their area of expertise.[6] The Board is responsible for formulating the school's strategic direction and safeguarding its mission. This includes ensuring the school's accountability in all aspects of its mission, verifying the soundness of its financial basis, and taking all necessary steps to ensure its long-term viability.[8]

## Extracurricular activities

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ISB's extracurricular programs include:

* Athletics: Sports such as basketball, cross-country, football, volleyball, field hockey, and track & field. Notably, ISB is one of the few international schools that offer American football.[9]
* Arts: Music programs, theater productions, and art exhibitions.[10]
* Cultural Events: The annual International Festival serves as a celebration of the diverse cultures represented within the school community.

## Financial overview

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During the 2018-2019 academic year, ISB reported revenues of €54.17 million and expenses of €54.76 million, indicating a proactive approach to fundraising and financial management to maintain its facilities and programs.[11]

## ISB during summer

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ISB also offers summer camps, such as basketball, theatre, and soccer camps. [12]

## References

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1. ^ "Our Legacy". ISB. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022.
2. ^ a b "International School of Brussels".
3. ^ a b Conlin, Jennifer. "International schools get serious on funds." International Herald Tribune at The New York Times. Monday October 16, 2006. Retrieved on January 4, 2014.
4. ^ "Our Campus". ISB.
5. ^ "ISB Tuition & Fees | International School of Brussels". www.isb.be. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
6. ^ a b "Brussels, Belgium: The International School of Brussels: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet". United States Department of State. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
7. ^ "Our Faculty & Staff | International School of Brussels". www.isb.be. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
8. ^ "ISB Leadership | International School of Brussels". www.isb.be. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
9. ^ Godley, Rob (21 December 2024). "American Football". ISB.
10. ^ "ISB Arts | International School of Brussels". www.isb.be. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
11. ^ "This is ISB / 2019-2020 Annual Report". ISB.
12. ^ "Summer@ISB - International School of Brussels". www.isb.be. Retrieved 31 December 2024.

## External links

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* Belgium portal
* Schools portal

* ISB website

* v
* t
* e

Secondary schools in the Brussels-Capital Region

City of Brussels|

* Athénée royal de Bruxelles (FR)
* Atheneum Brussel
* Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
* Athénée royal Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
* Athénée Robert Catteau
* Athénée Léon Lepage
* Athénée Adolphe Max
* Centre d’Education et de Formation en Alternance (CEFA; FR)
* Centre scolaire Eddy Merckx (FR)
* St John Berchmans College
* Institut des Arts et Métiers
* Institut Bischoffsheim
* Institut De Mot Couvreur
* Institut Diderot
* Institut Lucien Cooremans (FR)
* Institut Saint-Louis (FR)
* Lyceum Martha Somers
* Institut Regina Pacis
* Lycée Dachsbeck (FR)
* Lycée Emile Jacqmain (FR)

Anderlecht|

* Athénée royal Léonardo da Vinci
* Atheneum Anderlecht
* Collège Matteo Ricci
* Institut Redouté-Peiffer
* Nightingale, school voor verzorging

Auderghem|

* Athénée Royal d'Auderghem
* Centre scolaire du Souverain (FR)
* Ecole Secondaire Freinet
* The Japanese School of Brussels (lower secondary only)

Berchem-Sainte-Agathe|

* Technisch Atheneum Zavelenberg

Etterbeek|

* Atheneum Etterbeek
* Brussels International Catholic School (BICS)
* St Michael College, Brussels
* Institut Saint-Stanislas (FR)

Evere|

* Technisch Atheneum Victor Hortaschool

Forest|

* École Rodenbach (FR)

Ganshoren|

* Collège du Sacré-Coeur de Ganshoren

Ixelles|

* Athénée Charles Janssens (FR)
* Institut Saint-Boniface Parnasse (FR)
* Institut Saint-André
* European School, Brussels III

Jette|

* Centre Scolaire du Sacré-Coeur de Jette
* Collège Saint-Pierre (FR)
* Technisch Atheneum Jette

Koekelberg|

* Unesco Atheneum Koekelberg

Laeken|

* Athénée des Pagodes
* Athénée Emile Bockstael
* European School, Brussels IV
* Institut Paul-Henri Spaak
* John of Ruysbroeck College, Laeken
* Lycée Maria Assumpta (FR)
* Ecole Robert Dubois - Hôpital universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola (FR)

Molenbeek-Saint-Jean|

* Athénée Royal Serge Creuz
* Atheneum Toverfluit

Schaerbeek|

* Athénée communal Fernand Blum (FR)
* Institut communal d'enseignement technique Frans Fischer
* Lycée Emile Max
* Koninklijk Atheneum Emanuel Hiel
* École Josaphat (FR)
* Institut Sainte-Marie (FR)
* College Roi Baudouin
* Institut de la Saint-Famille d'Helmet
* College Roi Badoin Enseignement Technique et professionnel
* Institut Techn. Cardinal Mercie-Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur
* Institut Saint-Dominique
* Institut de la Vierge Fidèle

Uccle|

* Athénée royal d'Uccle 1 (FR)
* Atheneum Ukkel
* Bogaerts International School
* Collège Saint-Pierre (FR)
* École Decroly (FR)
* European School, Brussels I
* French Lycee in Brussels
* Russian Embassy School in Brussels

Watermael-Boitsfort|

* International School of Brussels

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert|

* Athénée Royal Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
* European School, Brussels II
* École Vervloesem (FR)
* Institut de l'Angélus

Woluwe-Saint-Pierre|

* Athénée royal Crommelynck (FR)
* Institut Don Bosco (FR)
* Institut Mater Dei
* Meertalig Atheneum Woluwe

This list is incomplete.
Some international schools serving expatriates in the region are in Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant: See International schools in Belgium

* v
* t
* e

International schools in Belgium

Brussels Capital Region|

* Lycée Français Jean Monnet
* The Japanese School of Brussels
* Russian Embassy School in Brussels
* European School, Brussels I
* European School, Brussels II
* European School, Brussels III
* European School, Brussels IV
* International School of Brussels
* Bogaerts International School
* Brussels International Catholic School

Flemish Brabant|

* International German School of Brussels
* British School of Brussels
* Brussels Elementary High School

Walloon Brabant|

* European School of Bruxelles-Argenteuil
* St. John's International School

| Closed|

* Scandinavian School of Brussels

|

Antwerp Province|

* Lycée Français International d'Anvers
* Antwerp International School
* European School, Mol

East Flanders|

* International School Ghent

Hainaut|

* SHAPE High School

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