The International School of Amsterdam, founded in 1964, continues to be a leader in education for international understanding – inspiring our diverse community to students to learn for life and learn with purpose.
To educate for international understanding.
To create a community of lifelong learners who value inquiry, critical and creative thinking, take informed risks, and act with integrity and compassion.
Welcome to the International School of Amsterdam’s Annual Report for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, as we prepared to celebrate our 60th anniversary, we reflected on what makes ISA truly special: our incredible community. More than ever, community was at the heart of everything we did. From hands-on learning experiences to super-dynamic athletics tournaments and impactful service initiatives, it has been beautiful to witness how we care for, celebrate, and lift each other up.
Our commitment to nurturing connections and fostering a sense of belonging continues to drive everything we do. Throughout the year, our #CommunityAtTheHeart campaign reflected how ISA has become a place where students not only grow academically but also learn to be compassionate, global citizens who are ready to shape the future. I am immensely proud to be part of this vibrant and supportive community.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on building upon our successes and strengthening our academic programmes, supporting well-being, and nurturing the strong bonds that define ISA. I hope this report provides insight into the incredible achievements of our students, faculty, and staff over the past year, and how our shared vision continues to shape the next generation of leaders and thinkers.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to the ISA mission. Together, we will continue to grow, thrive, and inspire.
Warm regards,
Dr. Bernadette P. Carmody
ISA’s financial strategy is set to ensure the long-term sustainability of the school, while maintaining a strong focus on enhancing students’ educational experiences, wellbeing, and success. This is achieved by hiring and retaining highly qualified, passionate educators and maintaining state-of-the-art facilities that offer an exceptional learning environment. By maintaining a capital reserve, we support the continuity of our legacy.
To ensure that all income is effectively allocated, at the end of each school year, an independent Dutch firm audits the school’s financial records, with the results approved and authorised by the Board of Trustees and the external auditor.
1,296
During the 2023-2024 school year, a total of 1,296 students were enrolled; this is the total number of students enrolled during the academic year, regardless of the start date of matriculation.
The International School of Amsterdam generated an income of 37.6 million Euros in the 2023-2024 school year compared to 35.6 million Euros in the 2022-2023 school year.
Although the school was able to keep the increase in tuition fees below the official Dutch rate for the cost of living, which had risen to 10%, the average tuition increase approved by the Board of Trustees for the 2023-2024 school year was 6% to maintain operating costs.
2023-2024
ISA offers programmes Co-Curricular Activities and Athletics to add diversity to students’ learning experience. This is an important social element to the lives of the students from Pre-School to Grade 12. Starting from Grade 5, students can also tryout to become a team member on one of several seasonal Athletics teams. While students compete to win, the main focus is to learn about sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication and leadership – all valuable life skills.
Both programmes emphasise enjoyment, participation and individual improvement. The various activities offer students the opportunity to be physically active and develop skills and knowledge in their chosen area of interest.
Upper School Learners have the opportunity to join a range of studentled clubs, initiatives and programmes, including the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, Model United Nations, Student Newspaper, Music Academy, Gender & Sexuality Alliance and Green Team.
The programmes emphasise enjoyment, participation and both team and individual improvement.
We are delighted to share the outstanding IB results of the Class of 2024. For ISA students, these results reflect two years of dedication and mark an important milestone as they transition from ISA to the next phase of their journey.
The Class of 2024 demonstrated remarkable resilience and a strong sense of community while navigating the challenges of their final years at ISA. They celebrated their achievements together at the official ISA graduation ceremony, held just before the summer break.
Once again, ISA students exceeded expectations, performing well above the global IB average. We are incredibly proud of each student and wish them all the best as they take their next steps, while welcoming them into our ever-growing global alumni network.
Here are some highlights from the combined successes of the classes of 2023 and 2024:
ISA students exceeded expectations, performing well above the global IB average.
98%
ISA Pass Rate
2023: 98%
44 ISA Highest Score 2023: 45
30.3
World Average Score
Average points scored in the IB 2023: 30.2
35 ISA Average Score
Average points for those who passed the diploma 2023: 35
4.7
World Average Grade 2023: 4.7
5.47
ISA Average Grade 2023: 5.49
Australia (1%) Korea (1%)
Italy (1%)
France (2%)
Japan (2%)
United States (5%)
Canada (9%)
Spain (10%)
United Kingdom (14%)
University of Amsterdam: 20
Erasmus University: 17
Kings College London: 17
University College London: 17
IE University: 13
ESADE Business School: 12
Vrije University Amsterdam: 11
Leiden University: 10
Queen Mary University of London: 10
University of Bath: 10
University of Warwick: 10
London School of Economics: 9
New York University: 9
University of Exeter: 9
McGill University: 8
The Netherlands (27%)
Gap Year (21%)
For ISA students by total number of applications
Other European Countries: Germany, France, Switzerland (5%)
Canada (5%)
Spain (5%)
Gap Year (10%)
United States (14%)
Asia: Japan and Korea (4%)
Number of Students and Percentage
The Netherlands (33%)
United Kingdom (24%)
University of Amsterdam: 29
UCL (University College London): 17
The University of Edinburgh: 16
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: 15
University of Warwick: 14
University of Manchester: 13
Erasmus University Rotterdam: 13
King's College London, University of London: 13
Maastricht University: 12
University of Bath: 11
For ISA students by total number of applications
ISA is deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging and keeping our community informed, connected, and inspired. Our Communications Team embraces a variety of platforms, from our website and Veracross portals to social media channels, email newsletters, and digital publications, to ensure everyone stays updated on all things ISA. More than just sharing information, we aim to highlight the positive moments and, most importantly, tell the stories that make ISA a vibrant and united community.
Our annual campaign, #CommunityAtTheHeart, guided our efforts. As we embarked on our 60th year of educating for international understanding, we took a deep dive into developing community at ISA. From inspiring transformative learning to shaping sustainable futures, we nurtured meaningful connections and celebrated the strength of belonging.
4.5K
Accreditation, and the reflection, research, and implementation that go hand-in-hand with it, is an ongoing process.
ISA is undertaking a joint accreditation process with the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). After completing the Preparatory Stage in 2022-23, ISA opted for the Pathway 2 Deep Dive in 2023-24, as we already met the standards for continued accreditation.
The Deep Dive, focused on Wellbeing for Lifelong Learning, aligns with ISA’s strategic priorities and allows us to target key areas that will significantly impact student learning.
As Lissa, our Accreditation Officer, explains: “Accreditation, and the reflection, research, and implementation that go hand-in-hand with it, is an ongoing process. As we enter our 60th anniversary year in 2024-2025, ISA will continue to engage in reflections and conversations, with wellbeing as the main focus for the next school year. These Deep Dive Committees will continue their work through December, after which there will be a joint CIS/NEASC/IB visit. The key takeaways and learnings from this school year will feed into a new wellbeing strategy, which will be presented at the beginning of the new school year.”
The DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) Committee aims to create a sustainable framework for advancing DEIB initiatives. They are currently gathering data, including an anonymous staff survey on bias and racism, and next year, ISA will bring in a DEIB expert to deepen this work.
The Inclusion Committee has identified Universal Design Learning (UDL) as an instructional method that aligns with the IB curriculum. They are now working to implement UDL across the school and provide professional development opportunities for staff.
The PSHE Committee is developing a comprehensive curriculum for Personal, Social, Mental, and Physical Health. With the approval of two new frameworks and the hiring of a wellness teacher for Grades 7-8, the group is now aligning PSHE teaching with these standards.
The Workplace Culture Committee defined key elements of a positive workplace and is sharing recommendations with leadership to foster a stronger, more supportive environment for all staff.
Community at the heart.
