Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: International School of Kuala Lumpur: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

Established in 1965, the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) is a co-educational, private, non-profit school responsible for the learning journey of over 1,600 students aged 3-18 years representing more than 70 nationalities at its campus in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The school year comprises two semesters which run August-December and January-June. Grade placement is based on previous school experience and the student’s age.

Organization: The school is governed by a board of directors comprising parent volunteers elected by members of the Society for The International School of Kuala Lumpur (parents/guardians with children enrolled at ISKL are automatically Society members). The board includes a U.S. Embassy appointee. The board works in partnership with the head of school who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school.

Curriculum: ISKL offers an international curriculum that combines leading North American educational frameworks with global best practices. The curriculum recognizes that students are on a lifelong learning journey and is driven by ISKL’s mission to support students in shaping their path as global citizens, discovering their passions, developing their competencies, and having an ethical impact on the world. ISKL is an inclusive school and is unique in offering a range of high-quality pathways designed to enable every learner to choose the curriculum best suited to their abilities, interests, and aspirations. High school options include Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, and ISKL’s bespoke pursuits program combining individual AP, IB, and high school diploma courses. This flexibility enables students to pursue global higher education opportunities with ISKL’s students receiving acceptances from leading universities around the world.  Instruction is in English. World languages include Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Extracurricular activities include drama, dance, choral/instrumental/strings music, STEM, publications, photography, debate, Model U.N., clubs, and intramural activities, as well as an extensive program of interscholastic athletic competitions with local and regional schools. In addition, membership in the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) provides athletic and performance opportunities throughout Southeast Asia. ISKL is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is an IB World School authorized to run the IB Diploma Program. ISKL has a strong focus on service and sustainability across its divisions and is a member of the Eco-Schools organization and the Green Schools Alliance.

Faculty: In the 2023-2024 school year, ISKL has 375 total staff, 184 full-time teachers, 97 of whom are U.S. citizens, 15 host-country nationals, and 82 third-country nationals from 27 countries. Our faculty and staff represent 24 number of nationalities, including UK, French, Japanese, Brazilian, Canadian, etc. Our faculty possess doctorates, master’s degrees and teaching certificates.

Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment was 1,624 (Nursery-grade 5: 623; grades 6- 8: 420; and grades 9-12: 579) and 71 nationalities represented. Of the total, 301 were U.S. citizens, 221 were host-country nationals, and 1,102 were third-country nationals.

Facilities: TISKL’s purpose-built 25-acre campus opened in 2018 and offers state-of-the-art academic, arts, and athletic facilities, including three libraries, technology laboratories, multi-sensory and makerspaces, dance, visual, and digital art studios, early years play area, playgrounds, eco-gardens, and recycling/compost centers. The school also has specialist life-centered education facilities to support students with significant intellectual, learning, or developmental differences. The sports complex has a 400m eight-lane track, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and tennis courts, indoor fitness center, climbing wall, full-sized rugby, soccer, and softball pitches, two gymnasiums, while the aquatics center has three swimming pools, including an Olympic-sized competition pool, 25m pool, and Learn-to-swim pool. The performing arts center has two theatres with 600+ and 345-seating capacity, as well as an outdoor amphitheater. The two cafeterias serve breakfast, snacks, and lunch, and water filters are available throughout the campus. ISKL’s campus has received a number of awards for design and sustainability.

Finances: ISKL’s non-profit status means that revenue is reinvested back into the school to provide students with the best international educators and learning environment possible. A one-time application fee of MYR1,600 applies to all students. Upon an offer of admission, a student registration fee of MYR59,000 applies to students entering prep senior to grade 12 (when a prep junior student advances to prep senior, the one-time student registration fee is charged in full). Annual tuition fees: prep reception: MYR62,500; prep junior: MYR82,800; prep senior-grade 5: MYR102,800; grade 6-8: RM116,200 and grade 9-12: MYR127,600. An annual non-refundable enrollment deposit applies to new and returning students and is credited towards second semester tuition fees: prep reception and prep junior: MYR3,900, prep senior-grade 12: MYR9,100. All fees are quoted in Malaysian ringgit (MYR).

Special Needs: Review the Special Needs Profile 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 2023 and are provided by the school.