QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU EVALUATE A SCHOOL
Selecting a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. It can be challenging to know the right questions to ask while evaluating your school options. In order to make the process easier, we’ve created this list of essential questions that will help you acquire information you need to make an educated decision about the best fit for your child. Good luck with your school search!
GENERAL 1. What is the school known for?
The International School of Minnesota is known as a challenging academic school with a rigorous collegepreparatory curriculum including daily world language instruction within a diverse, international learning environment. Our school is also recognized for its strong performing and visual arts program offerings. We are committed to educating all students who are willing to learn and therefore believe in non-selective admissions policy. The result is an academic community of collaborative learners who excel across academics, arts, and sports; and upon graduation are bi-lingual, with a distinctive global perspective, prepared for college and success in our changing world.
2. What types of children succeed at the school?
Our students vary in their talents, interests, cultural perspective and goals but every child at ISM shares the desire to learn and achieve their personal best. In our school, talented and gifted students soar with challenges that inspire them to reach above and beyond; students who benefit from a smaller environment thrive with abundant opportunities to participate and grow, while students searching for their own space find acceptance and blossom. Our students embrace opportunities to explore and develop habits for life-long learning.
3. What communities/school districts does the school draw students from?
Located in Eden Prairie, we draw from the surrounding communities in the Western and Southern suburbs. Our school attracts families who value a diverse, international community. Our ISM family includes local Minnesotans, multi-cultural families, non-native families whose children are first generation Americans, Native Americans, international students studying on F-1 U.S. visa as well as international students whose parents are expatriates working for multi-national corporations in the Twin Cities.
4. How can parents be involved at the school?
Parents have many opportunities to get involved at ISM. Our Parent Connection sponsors many events such as International Day, Winter Market and family BINGO nights. Field trip chaperones, art adventures presenters, performing arts and sports booster clubs, DEAR (drop everything and read) times which involves reading with your child, or assisting students in taking Accelerated Reader quizzes on the computer, and ROBOTICS are popular volunteer opportunities.
5. What leadership opportunities are available to students?
Our proprietary Student Life OrganizationÂŽ (SLO) utilizes a prefect system to engage students in leadership roles and responsibility. Through Student Life, students at ISM contribute to their school community by
participating in decisions and daily facilitation of academics, discipline, school management, activities, and sports. SLO is the complement to a student’s academic experience by practicing ‘real life’ skills such as teamwork, leadership, time management, conflict resolution, marketing, writing proposals, and budgeting. It’s a great way to get involved!
6. Is there any religious affiliation?
We are non-sectarian and do not teach any belief system but do expose students to all cultures striving for religious knowledge resulting in mutual respect and understanding among Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Native Dakota spirituality, Atheist and Agnostic students. We embrace our similarities and differences encouraging students and families to share cultural and religious traditions and holidays.
7. What measures or programs are in place to prevent bullying?
ISM has adopted the Olweus Bulling Prevention Program which has received honors from the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. Wise Skills Character Development builds a positive school-wide culture of character with emphasis on respect, responsibility, positive attitudes, self-discipline, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship, conflict resolution and fairness. The goal of the program is to change the norms around bullying behavior by empowering bystanders and to restructure the school setting so that bullying is less likely to occur or be rewarded.
COST OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION 8. What does tuition include?
Tuition fees for Preschool through Grade 9 are comprehensive including textbooks, required field trips, most retreats, and activity nights. Fees for Grades 10 through 12 include the same list with the exception of books which are billed separately based on student course selection. Extended day before and after school programming for PS through Grade 5 is included in tuition. All students are welcome in the building from 7am to 6pm.
9. On top of tuition, what fees or additional charges can I expect during the year? • Uniforms are required and can be purchased new at Donald’s Uniforms or Lands End at varying prices. • The Parent Connection at ISM sells used uniforms (washed and in good condition) throughout the year at nominal fees ranging from $10-$25 per item. • Optional lunch service is not included in tuition (New Horizons is the provider) and costs around $1,140$1,275 annually for preschool through grade 5; and $1,240-$1,375 for upper school (grades 6-12). Single term sign-up is also available. • The cost for books in Grades 10 – 12 average $500. • Busing is also an optional fee-based service with a fee structure based on route demand. 2015-2016 annual bus fees averaged $2,975. • Fees for performing arts range from $80 -$295. • Optional sports fees range from $75 - $250 per term depending upon the sport. • Students who wish to live in the on-campus boarding hall (open to both domestic and international students) have a separate fee for this option. International students also have a separate fee for medical insurance through a provider.
10. Is financial aid available?
The International School of Minnesota offers a limited amount of need-based financial aid each year for domestic students in Grades 1 through 12. New families who are applying to the school and for financial aid may apply for financial aid by the 15th of the following month after starting a school application.
ACADEMICS 11. How does the school meet individual students’ academic needs?
As a part of the SABIS® School Network, ISM utilizes its proprietary curriculum and its academic monitoring systems (AMS) to ensure student success. Our Academic Quality Controllers (AQCs) are dedicated administrators who manage the academic progress of each student providing increased rigor for students in need of additional challenges and early intervention for students in need of additional instruction. The AQCs know their students and their learning styles working with teachers and parents to meet individual needs. In addition, mandated study groups; a strong participation ethic in classrooms; peer tutoring; reading and spelling buddies; dedicated silent study areas; homework labs; summer enrichment courses and many opportunities to participate in academic based clubs like math league, robotics, and Destination Imagination all work to ensure individual academic needs are met.
12. What happens after school?
After school activities and enrichment opportunities abound for all ages at ISM. For PS through Grade 5, extended day programming includes homework time, supervised outdoor play, games and activities, arts and crafts, story time and afternoon snack. Fee based options include extended day classes such as yoga, karate, art and drawing, swimming and chess club. Private music lessons are available beginning in kindergarten through Grade 12. Homework labs are teacher-led to support students in need. Options for activities include performing arts (show choir, plays, musicals, orchestra, band); seasonal sport practice and games, many clubs and Student Life projects. Students also enjoy our game room for socializing and spend time in the library studying.
13. What languages are taught and when does foreign language instruction begin at the school, what is the frequency and are teachers native speakers?
Daily world language instruction is required and begins in Preschool and continues through Grade 12. Students choose between French or Spanish in the Lower School and Chinese is offered beginning in Grade 8. Preschool through Kindergarten instruction is 30 minutes per day; Grades 1 – 12 is 50 minutes per day. All world language instructors are native speakers of their language.
14. What standardized tests are administered?
Educational Records Bureau (ERB) exams are administered for students in Grades 1 and 2. ACT Aspire testing is administered for Grades 3 – 10. AP (Advanced Placement) exams are administered for the 19 AP courses offered giving students the opportunity to earn college credits. Le Grand Concours French exams and National Spanish Exams are administered to our world language students. Chinese students may participate in the Annual Midwest Chinese Bridge Speech Contest as well.
15. How are gifted students challenged?
Our curriculum reaches impressive, AP-level and post-AP-level heights in every content area (post-AP levels in several) and by the time they are in Grade 10, many of our students are tackling these very challenging courses. It is not unusual to have strong students choose to take five or even six such courses in their junior or senior years. Beyond that, though, our advanced classes are intimate enough where teachers often work with students individually to foster a particular area of passion or interest, and give them additional challenges to spur learning. Our lower school students are challenged to participate in our Accelerated Reader program where they progress at their own rate. Math Olympiad math contests throughout the year challenge our lower school students and Grades 4 and 5 can participate in our math team. Additional challenging extra-curricular opportunities for upper school students include US Math Team, Robotics, Mock Trial, and Debate.
16. How will I know how my child is doing in school?
The SABIS® Web School tool gives parents access to all student assessment scores to monitor academic progress. The Academic Quality Controller (AQC) is available to speak and meet with parents as individual needs require for students to reach their full potential.
ATHLETICS 17. Are athletics required at school?
Physical education is a mandatory part of the curriculum for PS through Grade 10 including weekly swimming lessons for students in Preschool through Grade 3. Extra-curricular athletics are not required, but many students play multiple sports with a variety of options available.
18. Does the school have a no-cut policy?
Yes, if a student registers for a team sport, he/she may play. ISM provides students with athletic opportunities that promote team work, fitness and fun.
19. In which grades do team sports begin at the school? • Competitive basketball begins in Grade 2. • Competitive soccer begins in Grade 4. • Competitive Track and Field begins in Grade 6 • Varsity sports – volleyball, cross country, baseball, Frisbee – begin in Grade 7. • Other sports clubs like golf and tennis begin in Grade 4 but occasionally younger students may be accepted. • Badminton begins in Grade 7 but is not a varsity level sport.
ARTS & MUSIC 20. Are arts required at the school?
We are passionate in our belief that through participation in the arts, students discover abilities and build confidence while honing life-skills in self-expression, poise, and stage presence. In the lower school, visual arts and music begin in preschool; instrumental music is introduced in Grade 4. In middle school, students in grades 6 – 7are required to take general music/choir to explore a variety of artistic outlets. Private instrument and voice lessons are offered after school for kindergarten – Grade 12 students. In high school, 1 ½ years of arts classes are required for graduation.
21. Who can participate in the arts program?
All students at The International School of Minnesota can participate in the arts. Whether it’s drawing a room-sized still life, acting in our Spring musical, building sets behind the scenes, performing in a choir or playing a musical instrument in band or orchestra, every student will make an artistic contribution at ISM.
22. In which grades do performing arts begin at the school?
Our youngest students in PS and PK are provided with opportunities to appear on stage during events such as our international day celebration. Kindergarten – Grade 1 participate in PAC Mice and our much anticipated Letterland performance. Grades 2-5 participate in PAC Rats and choir performances. Students in Grades 2 -12 have opportunities to participate in All School musical performances such as Shrek and The Little Mermaid. Our students are on stage at every grade level to provide opportunities to practice and hone public speaking and presentation skills.
COLLEGE GUIDANCE 23. How does the school support the college guidance process?
Our dedicated licensed college counselor meets with students during weekly advisory period beginning in Grade 9. Utilizing Naviance, a college navigation program, students are guided in a four-year program of self-exploration, investigation and research, the application/interview process and transition planning for college. Our counselor works individually with students to identify their colleges and universities of choice and align academic and extracurricular plans to maximize acceptance. Our teachers consider it a privilege to write letters of recommendation and are skilled at providing insight into student potential. In addition, our counselor and staff work closely with colleges and universities to develop awareness of our school. As a result, admissions offices recognize ISM as a premier college-preparatory school and consider ISM students to be among their finest candidates.
24. What is the school’s college counselor to student ratio? Approximately 1:30 with each graduating class.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 25. What resources does the school have to support children?
Our Academic Quality Controllers (AQCs) plan support services for students for remediation and enrichment of specific subjects or skill areas. The SABISÂŽ AMS system tracks student performance enabling early intervention for additional instruction, peer tutoring or teacher-led after school study groups. Our International Student Coordinator assists our international student as they safely navigate academic and cultural adjustments in the United States.
26. What learning differences can the school support?
Students are assessed for class placement into leveled curriculum in the upper school. For non-native speakers, English Language Learning support bridges the transition into the mainstream classroom.