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International School of Kenya

Coordinates: 1°13′54″S 36°45′51″E / 1.231648°S 36.764238°E / -1.231648; 36.764238
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International School of Kenya
Location
Map

Coordinates1°13′54″S 36°45′51″E / 1.231648°S 36.764238°E / -1.231648; 36.764238
Information
TypeInternational Baccalaureate school, private international school
Established1976
DirectorMichael Callan
Faculty400-500[dubiousdiscuss]
GradesK-12
Enrollment1200+
Color(s)Blue & Gold
  
MascotLion
AffiliationUnited States Embassy, Canadian High Commission
CurriculumNorth American/The International Baccalaureate
WebsiteInternational School of Kenya [1]

The International School of Kenya (ISK) is a private international school for pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students located in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1976 and has a 25-hectare campus.

The grounds were originally a coffee plantation, and today, only a few of the original buildings remain. High school students can study for a North American high school diploma or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, while younger students study a North American curriculum.

The institution is accredited by the MSA.[1] ISK is a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), The Council of International Schools, and Round Square. They are also a carbon-neutral school.

International School of Kenya was ranked 7th out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.[2]

Organization

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The school was formed from the Nairobi International School (NIS), but financial troubles prompted the United States Embassy and Canadian High Commission to take over operations of the school in 1976, renaming it the International School of Kenya.

ISK is divided into three schools: the Elementary School which teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 5, the Middle School, which teaches grades 6-8, and the High School which teaches grades 9-12.

Each school has its own principal and student counselor, overseen by a board of directors, and largely its own teaching staff, though some subject staff is shared. Teachers are predominantly from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Facilities

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The school offers many facilities, including an arts center, a 547-seat amphitheater, a library, a media center, gymnasiums, a swimming pool, locker rooms, multi-use sports courts, a covered basketball and volleyball court, science laboratories, and two natural grass playing fields.[3]

There are facilities able to accommodate up to 1,200 students, with three separate areas being dedicated to each school.

Students

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The student body of approximately 1000 represents more than 65 different nationalities, including the United States, Canada, Kenya, Denmark, Holland, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Brazil.

Tuition

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Tuition varies by grade level. The fees for the 2023-24 school year are as follows.

One Time Fees (from the school's website)[2]
Type of fee Cost (US dollars) Notes
Application fee $400 This applies only to first-time applicants.
One-time capital levy $10,000 Reduction of $500 is given for every additional student enrolled from the same family.
Life-centered education (LCE)

program fee

$20,000 Program caters for students with intellectual disabilities.
Yearly Fees (2023-24)
Grade/Other Cost (US dollars per school year) Notes
Pre-Kindergarten $18,450
Kindergarten $29,200
Grades 1-5 $30,810
Grades 6-8 $32,200
Grades 9-10 $34,020
Grades 11-12 $35,370
Annual capital levy $1,500 Payable by all continuing students
Bus fees $2,200 Reduction of $200 for every additional sibling

Notable alumni

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Notable alumni of ISK include:

Controversies

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In 2021, the Kenya Revenue Authority won 1.4 billion Kenyan shillings from the school in unpaid taxes from teacher salaries since 2016.[4]

In 2023, Katherine Musee, a former teacher, sued the school over alleged pay inequalities and separate payrolls for expatriate teachers and local teachers.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "International School of Kenya".
  2. ^ "top20highschools". Africa Almanac. 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2016. The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
  3. ^ "US Department of State". International School of Kenya Fact Sheet.
  4. ^ August 12 2021, Thursday (2021-08-12). "KRA wins Sh1.4bn tax row against international school". Business Daily. Retrieved 2023-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ September 22 2023, Friday (2023-09-21). "International School of Kenya ex-teacher sues in pay dispute". Business Daily. Retrieved 2023-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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