ISR International School on the Rhine serves local and internationally mobile families living in Düsseldorf, Neuss, Meerbusch, and the wider region.

Distinctive elements of the ISR educational offering include:

• A Cambridge-aligned international curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 8
• The IGCSE program and the opportunity to complete selected IGCSE examinations in Grades 9 and 10
• The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12
• The Cognia-accredited ISR High School Diploma
• Differentiated German instruction for beginners, advanced learners, and native or near-native speakers
• English-language support without additional fees
• Acceptance of students from British, American, German, IB, Cambridge, and other educational systems
• Mid-year admissions when a suitable place is available
• Extended supervision designed to support working families
• School bus transportation across the wider Düsseldorf region
• Educational locations in Neuss, Düsseldorf-Niederkassel, and Meerbusch-Büderich
• A continuous educational pathway from early childhood through Grade 12

ISR’s Admissions Team helps families understand the available campuses, grade placements, curriculum pathways, language provision, transportation options, and transition support before they make an enrollment decision.

In Elementary School, ISR uses Cambridge International learning objectives and schemes of work to support structured academic progression. This continues as students begin Secondary School in Grades 7 and 8.

At the end of Grade 8, students may participate in the Cambridge Checkpoint Examinations in English, Mathematics, and Science. ISR students consistently achieve results above the world average in these external assessments, which benchmark the program against others around the world.

Students in the middle and upper grades continue with a curriculum informed by Cambridge standards. In Grades 9 and 10, they may prepare for International General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations .

In Grades 11 and 12, students complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside the Cognia-accredited ISR High School Diploma.

This combination provides students with a structured progression through Cambridge-aligned learning, external IGCSE examinations, and the IB Diploma Programme.

The Cambridge-aligned curriculum supports consistent subject development and progression in the earlier and middle grades.

IGCSE courses and examinations provide opportunities for students to complete externally assessed international qualifications before beginning the final two years of school.

The IB Diploma Programme then provides an academically demanding university-preparatory pathway in Grades 11 and 12.

Families considering ISR should discuss their child’s previous curriculum and long-term educational plans with the Admissions and Academic Teams. This allows ISR to recommend the most appropriate grade placement and academic pathway.

ISR considers the student’s:

• Age and date of birth
• Previously completed grade levels
• School reports and transcripts
• Previous curriculum and school system
• Subjects and academic content already studied
• Academic achievement
• English and German proficiency
• Developmental readiness
• Documented learning or support needs

Age-appropriate academic knowledge checks and language assessments may also be conducted.

Differences between curricula do not automatically prevent admission. Where appropriate, ISR may recommend language support, targeted academic assistance, a particular grade placement, or an individualized transition plan.

Students transferring from a German school do not need to have previous experience with an international curriculum.

ISR reviews each application individually and considers how the student’s previous learning compares with the expectations of the proposed ISR grade level.

Depending on the student’s age and intended grade, ISR may conduct an academic knowledge check, language assessment, student interview, or family meeting.

Where necessary, the school may recommend English-language support, differentiated German instruction, targeted academic assistance, or an adjusted transition plan.

Most academic subjects at the Neuss campus are taught in English. German remains a central part of the curriculum from Kindergarten onward.

From Grade 1, ISR’s German curriculum for native and near-native speakers is aligned with the North Rhine-Westphalia Gymnasium curriculum.

Depending on their language profile, students may follow:

• German for native or near-native speakers
• German for advanced learners
• German as an additional or foreign language
• Beginner German for students with little or no previous experience

This differentiated structure supports internationally oriented families who want their children to develop English while maintaining or strengthening German.

Students are placed according to proficiency rather than being taught through one standard German course.

Native and near-native speakers work toward increasingly sophisticated language and literature skills as they progress through the school.

Student progress is reviewed regularly through classroom performance, written work, assessments, participation, and teacher evaluation.

Movement between German-language groups may be recommended when another level would provide more appropriate challenge or support.

The Neuss campus provides education from Kindergarten through Grade 12 and is located close to Düsseldorf.

ISR school bus routes may serve communities including:

• Düsseldorf
• Neuss
• Meerbusch
• Kaarst
• Krefeld
• Willich
• Tönisvorst
• Other surrounding locations

The Transportation Team reviews each family’s home address and identifies the most appropriate available route and stop.

Journey time depends on the home address, traffic conditions, number of stops, route structure, and transportation provider.

School bus fees are charged separately and vary according to the applicable route, distance zone, provider, and selected service.

ISR International School and Kindergarten Neuss

• Location: Neuss, near Düsseldorf

• Educational pathway: Kindergarten through Grade 12

• Main language of instruction: Primarily English

• Curriculum: Cambridge-aligned curriculum, IGCSE, and the IB Diploma Programme

• Suitable for: Families seeking a continuous international pathway through graduation

ISR International Kindergarten Düsseldorf-Niederkassel

• Location: Düsseldorf-Niederkassel

• Educational pathway: International early-years education

• Main language model: English-language international Kindergarten

• Suitable for: Families seeking an international early-years environment in Düsseldorf

ISR Kindergarten Meerbusch-Büderich

• Location: Meerbusch-Büderich

• Educational pathway: Early-years education for children from approximately age one

• Main language model: German-language Kindergarten with a bilingual program

• Suitable for: Families seeking early-years provision in Meerbusch

Future ISR Elementary School Düsseldorf

• Planned location: Düsseldorf-Oberkassel

• Planned educational pathway: Grades 1 to 6

• Planned opening: By 2028 at the latest

• Status: Future provision subject to completion of the planned development

The ISR Admissions Team can help families identify the most suitable location and explain the available transition pathway between ISR campuses.

The precise teaching, arrival, dismissal, activity, and supervision times depend on the student’s campus and school division.

At the Neuss campus, the daily structure may include:

• Early supervision
• A full academic timetable
• Scheduled breaks and meals
• Extracurricular activities
• Extended after-school supervision
• School bus transportation

Extended before- and after-school supervision at the Neuss campus is available without an additional charge.

Parents receive detailed information about arrival, collection, independent departure, and transportation arrangements during enrollment.

English as an Additional Language support may include:

• Dedicated language lessons
• Small-group or individual instruction
• In-class support
• Vocabulary and academic-language development
• Reading, writing, speaking, and listening instruction
• Support with accessing grade-level subject content
• Targeted support outside the mainstream classroom

The frequency and format of support are based on the individual student’s needs.

Progress is reviewed through assessment results, classroom participation, academic performance, written work, and educator evaluation.

There are no additional fees associated with additional or intensive English-language support at ISR.

For students transferring to another school, ISR can provide:

• School reports and transcripts
• Current grade and course information
• Curriculum and subject documentation
• Assessment and examination records
• Information about English and German proficiency
• References or recommendations where required

Where appropriate, ISR can communicate with the receiving school to clarify the student’s academic background, subject choices, curriculum progression, and current level of study.

Students transferring to another Cambridge, IGCSE, IB, or international school may benefit from continuity in academic language, curriculum content, assessment practices, and qualifications.

Students learn German at differentiated proficiency levels throughout their education.

Beginners can develop practical communication skills, while advanced, native, and near-native speakers continue building academic German.

Students planning to attend university in Germany receive guidance concerning:

• IB subject selection
• Higher Level and Standard Level combinations
• Mathematics and science requirements
• Language requirements
• Diploma results
• German university recognition
• Application procedures
• Required transcripts and supporting documentation

Final recognition and university admission decisions are made by the relevant institution, application organization, or recognition authority.

Mid-year admission is assessed individually.

The review may include:

• Previous school reports and transcripts
• Academic knowledge checks
• English or German language assessments
• Student interviews
• Family meetings
• Review of learning or support needs

Where appropriate, ISR may recommend a transition plan, language assistance, academic support, or a particular start date.

Families should identify all sibling applicants at the beginning of the admissions process.

This allows the Admissions Team to:

• Review availability for all children together
• Consider the most suitable campus for each child
• Coordinate proposed start dates
• Explain possible transition pathways
• Apply the relevant sibling fee arrangements

A sibling discount may be available in accordance with the current fee schedule. Currently, more than one in five students at ISR has a sibling enrolled at ISR — strong evidence of the trust families place in the ISR Community.