International School of Havana (ISH) is a fully accredited (by NEASC and CIS), private, coeducational day school which offers an academic program from preschool (age two-and-a-half) through grade 12. ISH opened its doors in 1965, which was founded, and currently exists, to offer high quality education to the children of foreign diplomats and members of the expatriate business community in Havana. The school year comprises two academic semesters extending from late August to mid-June. ISH currently has 55 nationalities on campus.
Organization: A board of directors, made up of heads of diplomatic missions (ambassadors) from various countries, and appointed members of the diplomatic and non-diplomatic communities, totaling 12 members, governs the school. The chair of the ISH Board must be a head of mission, and a minimum of four ambassadors must be members at any given time.
Curriculum: As the only English international school in Cuba, ISH offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) for grades 11-12, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) for grades 9-10, a U.S. style middle school for grades 6-9, and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for our primary school students in kindergarten to fifth grade. ISH also offers a preschool program for children 2.5 to 4-year-olds. The language of instruction in all grades is English.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, ISH has 106 total staff including 56 teachers, 45 of whom are host-country nationals, and 11 third-country nationals from. The breakdown is as follows: host country 76%, Canada 7%, UK 13.5%, one Dutch, and one Mexican. All faculty and administration hold valid certifications and credentials, have obtained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in their teaching field (with the majority holding master’s degrees), and have at least four years of experience in education.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 247 (PK-G5: 128; G6-G8: 56; G9-G12: 63). The diversity of the student body makes ISH a truly “world experience” for students. Of the total student population, 17 are U.S. citizens while 86 students are third-country nationals – 55 countries are currently represented on campus.
Facilities: ISH has two campuses, both located in the Miramar district of Havana and only two blocks from one another. One campus is for high school students, while the other campus is currently for the primary and middle school students. Both campuses consist of grade level and specialist classrooms, two libraries, a science division, a recreation area, indoor and outdoor cafeterias, and a multi-purpose room (MPR). Additional athletic facilities are found off-campus. ISH offers a bus transportation system, along predetermined routes.
Finances: For the 2022-2023 school year, annual tuition rates are as follows: Pre Kinder 1 – 2: US $5.456; Kindergarten, Grade 1 – 5: US $ 12.806; Grade 6 – Grade 8: US $ 12.964; Grade 9 – Grade 10 (IGCSE): US $ 14.676; Grade 11 – Grade 12 (IB & ISH Diploma) US $ 15.106. Tuition is payable by term or by special arrangement, on a monthly basis. All students are charged a one time enrollment fee of $4,000. The annual capital development fee is $500. (All fees quoted and payable in U.S. dollars.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- Cuba, Havana) 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 provided by the school.