School in Kenya
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
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
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
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
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
Notable alumni of ISK include:
Controversies
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]
