The International School of Amsterdam, founded in 1964, continues to be a leader in education for international understanding – inspiring our diverse community of students to learn for life and learn with purpose.
Our Mission
To educate for international understanding.
Our Vision
To create a community of lifelong learners who value inquiry, critical and creative thinking, take informed risks, and act with integrity and compassion.
Our
Beliefs
We believe in developing minds, character, and communities.
Director’s Welcome
Welcome to the International School of Amsterdam’s Annual Report for the 2024-2025 school year. This year was particularly meaningful for ISA as we marked our 60th anniversary, a significant milestone that invited us to celebrate not only our history, but the vibrant and globally-minded community we have built together. Our shared values continue to shape our school: international understanding, academic excellence, and a deep sense of belonging.
As we celebrated six decades of learning, growing, and connecting across cultures, we saw firsthand how our mission of educating for international understanding lives in our classrooms, on the sports fields, in our service learning projects, and in the relationships that connect us. From joyful student celebrations to powerful moments of growth and achievement, it’s been an energetic year filled with purpose. I am immensely proud of everything we have accomplished together this school year and excited for what’s to come next.
Looking forward, we remain focused on deepening our commitment to shaping a school where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired.
I hope this report offers a meaningful window into the achievements, stories, and school spirit that defined
Financial Information & Enrollment
ISA’s financial strategy is designed to secure the long-term sustainability of the school while continuing to enhance every student’s educational experience, well-being, and success.
Achieving this depends on our ability to attract and retain outstanding educators and to maintain modern, well-equipped facilities that create an exceptional learning environment.
Each year, the school’s financial records are independently audited by a certified Dutch firm. The results are reviewed, approved, and authorised by both the Supervisory Board and the external auditor, ensuring the effective and responsible use of all income in support of our mission.
Overall Enrollment Students Enrolled
1,229
During the 2024-2025 school year, a total of 1,229 students were enrolled. This is the total number of students enrolled during the academic year, regardless of the start date of matriculation.
The International School of Amsterdam generated an income of 38.9 million Euros in the 2024-2025 school year compared to 37.6 million Euros in the 2023-2024 school year.
Expenses 2024-2025
2024-2025
Extracurricular Activities
ISA offers two diverse programmes to enrich students’ learning experiences beyond the classroom: the Extracurricular Activities programme and the Athletics programme.
The Extracurricular Activities programme provides students from Nursery to Grade 12 with opportunities to explore a wide range of interests, which emphasise enjoyment, participation and individual growth. Students are encouraged, through a wide range of activities and sports, to be physically active, develop meaningful skills, discover new interests and pursue personal passions, which not only boost their confidence but also supports their social and emotional development as holistic individuals.
Extracurricular Activities Offered
Student-Led Clubs
Upper School learners have the opportunity to join a wide range of student-led clubs, initiatives, and programmes, including the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, Model UN, Student Newspaper, Music Academy, Gender & Sexuality Alliance, Green Team, and more.
These experiences give students meaningful ways to explore their interests, take on leadership roles, develop connections with their peers, and contribute to our school life and community in meaningful ways.
Whether they are debating global issues, developing journalistic skills, pursuing artistic passions, or advocating for sustainability and inclusion, students gain a sense of responsibility and confidence that supports their academic success and personal growth. The skills they develop through these activities will continue to serve them well as they move into future studies and life beyond ISA.
Number of Clubs
Total Number of Sign Ups
Athletics Programme
The ISA Athletics programme, open to students from Grade 5 onwards, allows students to try out for seasonal sports teams. While teams compete to win, the emphasis is on sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership, offering students the opportunity to be active in a supportive yet challenging environment, while experiencing the fun and pride of representing their school.
We’re immensely proud of our programme, which we believe gives our students the chance to develop lifelong skills that extend beyond a sporting context. Communication, cooperation, honesty and perseverance are integral to our approach, helping students grow not only as athletes but as individuals who demonstrate resilience and responsibility. These qualities are valued just as highly as the physical abilities taught within the programme, and align closely with our mission to foster international understanding and to support each student’s personal development.
Participation across all grade levels remained strong throughout the 2024-2025 school year, reflecting the enthusiasm of our students and the commitment of our coaches, families and wider community. Our membership in the Northwest European Council of International Schools (NECIS) continues to offer students meaningful opportunities to connect with peers from across the region. Through tournaments, exchanges and hosting events on campus, students build lasting friendships and develop cultural understanding, strengthening the values at the heart of our school.
We remain committed to ensuring that Athletics continues to be a dynamic and enriching part of the ISA experience. The following numbers offer a glimpse into a programme built on growth and community spirit.
After School & Vacation Care
ISA’s After School Care programme continues to see strong participation and growing interest among families, becoming an important extension of our Lower School experience. Serving students from Pre-School through Grade 5, the programme provides a seamless, in-house extension of the school day, with staff trained to the same high standards as ISA’s teaching team.
The programme is built around our belief that children learn best through meaningful, hands-on experiences that encourage their curiosity and independence. Students can choose from a wide range of activities, including creative arts, construction, outdoor play, tabletop science, imaginative play and reading corners, allowing them to benefit from a structured and engaging environment that supports their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
New student-driven offerings, such as the recently introduced chess club, reflect our commitment to student voice and choice within the programme. When children express interest in specific activities, staff work to incorporate those ideas, giving students ownership over their learning and helping them develop confidence, perseverance and decision-making skills.
Vacation Care also plays an important role in supporting families, running during breaks throughout the school year, on staff training days and throughout the summer. Each week features a theme, ranging from circus arts and exotic animals to world cuisine, festival lights, international art, and science investigations, offering students a fun and enriching experience during school holidays. Vacation Care during the summer break can sometimes be a child’s first interaction with our school, and new families have praised the welcoming, supportive and nurturing environment that helped to ease their child’s transition after a move.
Last school year saw the successful expansion of Vacation Care to include Nursery students for the first time. Following positive feedback from families, this trial was extended to the After School Care Programme this school year, strengthening ISA’s commitment to providing flexible, high-quality care that reflects the same standards of excellence families expect throughout the school day.
IB Results & Matriculation
Once again, ISA students performed well above the global average for the International Baccalaureate Programme and we are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional results of the Class of 2025, which are a testament to their own hard work, the guidance of their teachers, and the unwavering support of their families.
The Class of 2025 embraced every aspect of ISA life during their time at school, from the academics, the arts, athletics, and service, while supporting one another as a tight-knit and diverse community. Their reflections and celebrations during graduation, held just before the summer break, captured the gratitude, pride, and excitement that define this moment.
These achievements reflect two years of dedication and marked a meaningful milestone for our graduates as they transitioned from life at ISA to the next chapter of their journeys. Building on their outstanding IB results, they earned offers from top universities and institutions across the globe. From Amsterdam to destinations around the world, they have taken on new challenges,
carrying with them the international mindset that defines an ISA education.
We are proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into our global alumni network and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in the world. Here are some highlights from the successes of the Class of 2025:
The Class of 2025 has embraced every aspect of ISA life, from the academics, the arts, athletics, and service, while supporting one another as a tight-knit and diverse community.
99% ISA Pass Rate 2024: 99%
44 ISA Highest Score 2024: 44
30.6
World Average Score
Average points scored in the IB 2024: 30.3
35
ISA Average Score
Average points for those who passed the diploma 2024: 35
4.7
World Average Grade 2024: 4.7
5.46
ISA Average Grade 2024: 5.47
Class of 2025
Matriculation by Country
Number of Students and Percentage
Most Popular Universities
For ISA students by total number of applications
Whether through our website, social media channels, Veracross portals, newsletters, or digital publications, our Communications Team works to keep families, faculty, students, and alumni informed, engaged, and inspired, aiming to build a sense of connection, celebrate our diversity, and amplify the voices that shape our school community.
Our work has been shaped by a landmark moment: ISA’s 60th anniversary. Through the #ISA60Years campaign, we celebrated six decades of educating for international understanding by highlighting the people and stories at the heart of our legacy.
From the launch of 60 Years, 60 Voices to special events and video series, we used storytelling to honour the past, reflect on the present, and look ahead to the future.
Our reach and engagement continued to grow across platforms. The ISA website welcomed over 93,000 users, generating more than 330,000 page views. On social media, we surpassed 3,000 followers on Instagram and saw steady growth across Facebook and LinkedIn, helping us connect with both current families and alumni worldwide. From 21 Beliefs in Action articles to a growing library of video stories, we continued to spotlight the voices and experiences that make ISA a unique school community.
Through the #ISA60Years campaign, we celebrated six decades of educating for international understanding by highlighting the people and stories at the heart of our legacy.
973
5.4K
60th Anniversary: Reflecting on a Landmark Year
The 2024-2025 school year was one defined by celebration, student achievement, personal growth and forward-looking transformation. As ISA marked our 60th anniversary, we not only reflected on our history but also embraced the opportunities of the present and the promise of the future.
Across the school, students demonstrated the energy and resilience that define our community, from our youngest learners through to our seniors in the Diploma Programme. In Early Years, the Pre-School Rabbits designed and constructed a new water run for their classroom, an example of hands-on learning through collaboration. Grade 5 students successfully completed their PYP Exhibition, pursuing their independent inquiries into issues of their choice and proudly presenting their findings to teachers, parents and peers.
Outside of the classroom, the arts remained a powerful vehicle for student creativity and voice. The Diploma Programme Visual Arts Exhibition, Exposure, showcased two years of artistic growth, with students curating deeply personal work and sharing their reflections with confidence. On the sports field, our studentathletes students showed perseverance and school spirit in NECIS tournaments, at swim meets, and even the ever-popular Teachers vs. Students Basketball Game.
Our community experienced many opportunities to come together as a whole, with service and global leadership at the heart of our school. We celebrated the diversity of our international community during the Global Village Day event: an annual highlight of our school calendar which embodies the true meaning of educating for international understanding. The Ghana Fundraising Concert brought us together through music, raising over €4,500 in support of the Nunya Academy in Ghana. Our annual Room to Read Book Sale raised over €9,000 to expand access to education worldwide, reminding us of the power of uniting as a community to make a difference.
The year also marked the start of our Space Transformation Project with architects tp Bennett. Just as the original “Pink Castle” was designed to support collaboration and wellbeing, this initiative invited us to reimagine how our facilities can continue to meet the needs of students and educators for decades to come.
Taken together, these small moments, from individual student projects to collective milestones, embody what makes ISA unique. As we celebrated 60 years of educating for international understanding, we honoured our legacy while setting the course for the future.
As ISA marked its 60th anniversary, we not only reflected on our history but also embraced the
Reimagining Our Space
ISA’s campus has always been our home for learning and community connection. When we moved into our purpose-built facilities in 1996, the design reflected the very best thinking about education at that time: open, light-filled spaces, strong connections to nature, and a focus on collaboration. For nearly three decades, the iconic ‘Pink Castle’ has served our students, staff and community well.
But just as education has evolved, so too must our learning environment. In the 2024-2025 school year, we began an ambitious Space Transformation Project in partnership with tp bennett, a leading international architecture firm. The way students learn today, and the way we imagine their learning in the future, requires spaces that are flexible, connected, and responsive to changing needs.
The project began with a listening phase. Architects visited ISA to see how our spaces are currently used, hear from students and staff, and better understand how learning takes place. Their recommendations build on what already makes ISA special while identifying opportunities for meaningful change.
Early ‘quick wins’ have already been implemented, from reorganised offices to more welcoming spaces for the Admissions journey,
designed to strengthen the visitor experience and bring connected teams closer together.
Looking ahead, tp bennett synthesised our aspirations into guiding themes: redefining the ‘heart’ of our campus to foster community, improving access and wayfinding, supporting community wellbeing, and ensuring that space is equitably distributed across divisions. These are not simply design choices; they reflect our values as a school and our vision for the future of learning.
While this is a long-term project, the momentum is already visible. Our Facilities Team and teachers have worked hard to reconfigure and optimise classrooms and resources for the years ahead. Community engagement is central to this process, just as it was when the original campus was built, and students, parents, and staff will continue to play a role in shaping the future of our space.
This initiative represents an opportunity for growth and positive change. The evolution of our campus is an exciting chapter in ISA’s history, one that honours the legacy of 1996 while embracing the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s global citizens.
These are not simply design choices; they reflect our values as a school and our vision for the future of learning.
