The International School of Latvia (ISL) is an independent, coeducational day school for children of all nationalities, from PreK2 to grade 12. ISL was founded in 1994. Typically, the school year begins the third week in August and ends the third week in June.
Organization: ISL is a fully accredited international school and is fully authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School. It is jointly accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) based in the Netherlands and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) based in the United States. ISL is also a full member of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) and the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) and is registered with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia. All parents of students at ISL automatically become members of the ISL Association (one per family). The supervisory institution of the association is the Council, which is composed of seven members elected from among the members of the association. In addition to the seven elected members, the Council has one honorary member who is an employee of the Embassy of the United States of America in Latvia and is appointed by the ambassador. This honorary member has all the rights and obligations of members of the council except voting rights. The Council represents interests of the members during the time between the members’ general meetings.
Curriculum: ISL is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World Continuum School, authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for the elementary school (PK-grade 5), the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for the middle school students in grades six to eight and high school students in grades 9 and 10, as well as the IB Diploma Program (DP) for the students in grades 11 and 12. The language of instruction is English. In grades 4 through 12, students may choose French or German as an acquisition language (Language B). For students in Pre-kindergarten through grade 3 who speak Latvian or Russian as their home language, we offer a Mother Tongue program to support continued development in that language. Students in Kindergarten through grade 3 speaking other home language participate in Latvian B (acquisition) classes. English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes are offered free of charge to students who require additional English language support. Other classes in the curriculum include English language and literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, humanities, history, economics, design technology, visual and performing arts, physical education, and health. Technology at ISL is integrated into all academic areas as a tool to inspire creativity and innovation, support continuous inquiry, and enhance learning. ISL uses cloud-based platforms such as ManageBac and Google Apps for Education to increase communication and facilitate collaboration among students and staff. The school has an advisory program in the middle and high schools to ensure that students’ social and emotional needs, as well as their academic needs, are met. Various field trips are taken during the school year. Middle and high school students attend Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) activities throughout the region. Currently, the school has soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams. The school offers resources and learning support to students, teachers, and parents throughout the elementary, middle, and high schools.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, ISL has 122 total staff including 65 teachers, 34 of whom are U.S. citizens, 18 host-country nationals, and 13 third-country nationals. Our faculty and staff represent 16 nationalities, including Australian, Canadian, Greek, Indian, Montenegrin, Moroccan, Dutch, British, American, Uzbekistani, Zimbabwean, Irish, Polish, Russian. As a requirement, at ISL, all of our teaching faculty hold a teaching certificate in their respective areas of expertise, including all necessary IB certifications across the three programs we offer.
Enrollment: In the 2022-2023 school year, the school has enrolled 407 students (PreK-grade 5: 169; grades 6-8: 96; grades 9-12: 142). Currently, the student body represents almost 42 nationalities, of whom 32 are U.S. citizens, 171 are host-country nationals, and 204 are third-country nationals.
Facilities: The school is located in Pinki, halfway between Riga and Jurmala. The campus, built in 2010, is surrounded by large green fields and boasts modern classrooms, a media center, a learning support center, a large indoor gymnasium, and a dining hall. In 2019 an additional 4000 square-meter building wing was opened. It includes an auditorium, science labs, arts and design technology studios, music practice rooms, and an outdoor playing/learning space that includes an apple orchard. ISL is located within 500 yards of a swimming pool, football field, and an ice rink, all of which the school utilizes.
Finances: ISL generates income from tuition. Annual tuition is: prekindergarten 2-4: €6,000; kindergarten: €13,665; grades 1-5: €14,300; grades 6-8: €16,000; grades 9-10: €16,200; and grades 11-12: €17,000. A one-time registration fee applies to all new students (varies by grade from €725 to €1,450). An annual nonrefundable capital fee of €2,500 is required in the first year of enrollment, with an additional €1,600 for each subsequent year. (All fees quoted in euros.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs Profile- Latvia, Riga) 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.