Oberursel Campus
Capturing what makes a school like ours special is hard to do with words. It's what takes place in our classrooms, on our stages and sports fields, and among our diverse student body that really illustrates what it means to be part of the Frankfurt International School community.
We can tell you about the excitement our students feel about the instruction that inspires their learning. We can explain how our teachers empower students through an inquiry-based approach to math, science or the arts. But in order to get a real picture of life and learning at FIS, we suggest that you pay our campus a visit to see first hand how our school has earned its fine international reputation.
The factual information regarding FIS is easier to communicate. The school is organized into four distinct divisions: the Primary School, the Elementary School, and the Upper School in Oberursel, and the Frankfurt International School Wiesbaden, which operates as a branch of FIS at a separate campus in the Wiesbaden suburb of Naurod. The main campus in Oberursel, which is about 15 kilometers from downtown Frankfurt, houses the Elementary School starting with Grade 2, and the Upper School. The Primary School, with classes from age three through Grade 1, is located on an adjacent property to the main campus.
There are approximately 1,800 students from 50 different countries attending FIS, with an annual turnover of expatriate pupils around 20% of the total student body. The school employs over 300 faculty and staff from more than a dozen countries. Each member of the faculty has at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and a teaching license from his or her respective country. A majority hold a Master’s degree or above in their field. In addition, almost one third of FIS faculty have been at our school for a decade or more.
FIS is accredited by the European Council of International Schools (UK) and the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, and is a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organization. FIS is a registered examination center for the International Baccalaureate (IB), the American College Board Entrance Examinations (SAT), and the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate for International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
English is the primary language of instruction and English as a Second Language (ESL) support is available for all students who need it. German courses, at a variety of levels, are available in all grades and required of virtually every student; additional foreign languages are offered in a variety of programs. Non-native German speakers in Grades 10-12 who have reached a pre-established proficiency standard may opt out of the German program in favor of one or more additional languages. The school also offers a First Language Program for students in Korean, Swedish, Dutch and Japanese.
