The International Community School of Addis Ababa (ICS) is an early years through grade 12 school offering a holistic, vigorous, and inclusive program. An International Baccalaureate Diploma school, accredited in the United States, ICS serves a diverse, multi-cultural student body on a beautiful, well-equipped campus. The school’s mission is to nurture the talents, character, and intellect of all learners, challenging them to be a positive influence and empowering them to excel in their world. ICS is committed to ensuring that all students learn and engage at the highest levels. By providing a highly effective and learning progressive education, ICS not only ensures that students succeed in meeting high academic standards but also experience opportunities to apply their learning in authentic and meaningful ways.
Professional Learning Community (PLC): ICS is a PLC school that ensures high levels of learning for all students. In a PLC, the four critical questions guide the learning process: 1) What do students need to know and be able to do? 2) How do we know they know it? 3) What do we do if they do not know it? 4) What do we do if they already know it?
Organization: ICS is governed by a nine-member board of governors: two members are elected for two-year terms by the ICS parent association, six members are appointed by the board, and one member is appointed by the U.S. Ambassador. Membership in the parent association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school, professional members of staff, and national educational assistants.
Curriculum: ICS employs an U.S. college-preparatory curriculum, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program for grades 11 and 12 and the Primary Years Program for elementary school. ICS is a candidate school for the Middle Years Program for middle school. Instruction is in English. Art, music, and physical education are offered for all grades. English-as-an-Academic Language (EAL) is offered. French and Spanish are taught as world languages. ICS is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools and is authorized by the IB Organization to offer the IB Diploma and PYP Programs.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, ICS has 357 total staff including 131 teachers, 49 of whom are U.S. citizens, 25 host-country nationals, and 57 third-country nationals. Faculty and staff nationalities include American, Australian, British, Bulgarian, Canadian, Chilean, Columbian, Danish, Ethiopian, French, Indian, Irish, Italian, Kenyan, Latvian, Macedonian, Mexican, Romanian, Slovenian, South African, Spanish, and Swedish. Teaching faculty are required to have a teaching degree or credential. Administrators are additionally required to have an advanced degree.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 911. Of the total approximately 328 were U.S. citizens, 118 were host-country nationals, and 465 were third-country nationals. Our student body includes students 69 different nationalities.
Facilities: ICS is located on 15 acres of land in the Old Airport neighborhood of Addis Ababa. School facilities include separate, purpose-built buildings for elementary, middle and high school, a library, a cafeteria and snack bar, a large outdoor amphitheater and a small indoor amphitheater, and multiple playgrounds and play spaces. Athletics facilities include an indoor gymnasium, an outdoor basketball court, a soccer pitch, an all-weather outdoor track and a multi-purpose indoor sports facility. A swimming pool is under construction for the 2023-24 school year. WiFi is available throughout the campus for student, staff, and parent use. The school hosts many international educational and athletic events.
Finances: During the 2022-2023 school year, 98% of the school’s income derives from tuition and fees. The annual rates are as follows: early years 3-4: $11,165 (half day)/$18,152 (full day); kindergarten (EY5)-grade 5: $28,009; grades 6-8: $31,765; grades 9-10: $33,319; and grades 11-12: $34,646. A tuition discount policy gives a 5% discount for a third child, 10% for a fourth and 15% for a fifth. There is a capital levy fee of $10,000 for new students and $1,500 for returning students. The application and registration fees for all students is $300. (All fees quoted in U.S. dollars.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- Ethiopia, Addis Ababa) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and are provided by the school.