ISL at a Glance
The International School of Luxembourg
ISL is a Pre-School through Grade 12 (ages 3-18) independent, non-profit, university-preparatory day school situated in the City of Luxembourg, capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
ISL offers a quality English language education for children of both international and local families living in Luxembourg and the surrounding area.
Learn about what we offer and what sets us apart
- Download our 2011 ISL Fact Sheet in PDF format.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide an outstanding education in a caring international environment, inspiring all our students to reach their true potential and to act as responsible participants in a global society.
Founded in 1963
ISL was founded in 1963 as the DuPont de Nemours Private School and reorganized as a non-profit organisation in 1972. The school was formerly known as the English Speaking School of Luxembourg, the American School of Luxembourg, the American International School of Luxembourg and was finally renamed the International School of Luxembourg in 1999, in recognition of its ever-increasing international student population and its international curriculum.
Size of school
1065 students
Typical class size
16-20 students
Student/teacher ratio
8:1
School Organization
The Lower School is divided into two sections.
- The Early Years Programme comprises the Pre-School and Kindergarten and serves children ages 3-5.
- The rest of the Lower School programme is delivered in Grades 1-5, and serves children ages 6-11.
The Upper School comprises two divisions:
- the Middle School which includes grades six to eight and
- the High School which comprises grades nine to twelve.
School Year
The school year begins in late August and ends in late June. Application and admission to ISL take place throughout the year.
Our faculty
The size of our faculty and staff is approximately 200, coming from 23 different countries. Fifty-six percent of our faculty hold a masters and/or doctorate degree. Our teachers are highly experienced and loyal to our school, averaging 18 years experience in education and 8 years of commitment at ISL.
Our students
Our student body currently counts 1065 students representing 45 countries. On average, students remain enrolled at ISL for two to five years.
Facilities
ISL offers state of the art facilities that allow us to create and implement the most dynamic PS-Grade 12 programme possible. Our 20,000m2 campus is located in the City of Luxembourg and offers the following facilities:
- 88 fully networked classrooms, 3 Libraries, 6 Computer Labs, 7 Science Labs, 4 Art Studios, 1 Drama Studio, 5 Music Rooms, 1 Darkroom, 3 Gymnasiums, 1 Fitness Centre, 3 Cafeterias, 1 Auditorium, 1 Multi-purpose room, 1 Full-Sized Football Field and a spacious Playground. ISL shares 25 metre and 50 metre Olympic swimming pools with our neighbouring schools on campus.
Higher Education and Career Counselling Services
Every effort is made to help students choose and gain admission to colleges, universities and other institutions of further education that are the right match for them. The Higher Education and Careers Office also assists with gap year planning and opportunities for work experience and job shadowing.
Languages and English as an Additional Language (EAL)
In order to meet the needs of our international student body we run comprehensive programmes in English as an Additional Language (EAL) for English Language Learners in grades PS-G9 as well as Modern Language programmes teaching all levels of French in grades K-12 and German in grades 6-12.
We recognize the important role of the student’s first language in facilitating second language acquisition, cognitive growth and the student’s overall well-being. ISL, therefore, hosts a number of mother tongue programmes organised by various community groups whose goal is to further students’ growth and development in their native languages and cultures.
Learn more about:
- Languages at ISL - Overview
- English as an Additional Language
- Modern Languages
- Mother Tongue Language Programmes
Learning Support
Learning support is provided by specialist teachers across the school for students with mild learning difficulties in order to meet individual needs in accessing the curriculum.
School Hours
| Time | Lower School: Pre-School to Grade 5 |
|---|---|
| 07:50-08:25 | Playground supervision outside for Grades K2-5 |
| 08:10-08:25 | Indoor supervision (by prior arrangement) for PS-K1 |
| 08:25 | School day begins for all students. |
| 12:20 | Pre-school Dismissal |
| 12:20 (Wednesdays only) |
K1 & K2 Dismissal |
| 14:20 (Wednesdays only) |
Grades 1-5 Dismissal |
| 15:20 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) |
K1-G5 & PS Afternoon Programme* Dismissal. *There is no Pre-School Afternoon Programme on Wednesdays. |
| Time | After School Childcare: Pre-School to Grade 5 |
|---|---|
| Every day from dismissal until 17:30 | On-site after school child care is available for all Lower School students and can be booked once your child is enroled at ISL. |
| Time | Upper School: Grades 6-12 |
|---|---|
| 07:25 | School opens to students participating in morning activities programmes. |
| 07:50 | School opens to all students. |
| 08:25 | Classes begin for all students. |
| 15:30 | Classes end. |
| 15:45-18:00 | Elective after-school activities and programmes (sports, music, drama, clubs, mother tongue classes, etc.). Times and days vary. |
| The school buildings close to students once their classes and/or after-school activities have finished. |
Transportation to and from School
The school does not provide transportation to and from school; however, many transportation options are available for students and families:
Private Transportation to School
Car Pooling
Parents are encouraged to form car pools and to arrange for their older children to use public transportation.
Private Bus Routes
The school does not provide transportation to and from school; however, some private options are available:
- Two bus routes have been privately organised through Sales-Lentz for students in K2-Grade 12 and serve the following areas: Bascharage, Belair, Bertrange, Bettange/Mess, Capellen, Limpertsberg, Mamer, Merl, Olm, Strassen
- Contact Mr Perrard at Sales-Lentz on 23 62 63 13 for more information.
- Global Pro offers a door to door mini-bus service for ISL students. For more information:
- .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or telephone on 24 87 35 36 or GSM 621 515 195
Public Transportation to School
General information in English about public transportation in and around Luxembourg is available from the Luxembourg Tourist Office. In addition, the information below will be useful to parents and students in exploring public transport options to and from ISL.
- A public bus pass is available free-of-charge from the City of Luxembourg for use on Luxembourg city buses to and from school.
- Additionally, students may purchase a “Jumbo Card” for €50. Valid for one year, the Jumbo Card allows the student to travel on all buses and trains, at any time, throughout the Grand-Duchy.
Public Bus Routes and Schedules
- City Bus Routes
City bus timetables to stops around the Campus Geesseknaeppchen area. Students under the age of 20 are eligible to purchase an annual “Jumbo Card” for use on city buses. - Campus Bus Routes
Timetables for bus routes to the Geesseknaeppchen Campus bus stop on Boulevard Pierre Dupong. Students may use these buses for free.
Route Planner at Mobiliteit.lu
- Route Planner in English, French & German
Enter your departure and arrival locations and the route planner will calculate the best way to travel there on public transportation. You can also download any bus schedule from this webpage.
Lunch Programme
The ISL Cafeteria, with catering provided by Eurest Luxembourg, serves breakfast, morning snacks and lunch every school day. Alternatively, students are welcome to bring a packed lunch from home.
Lower School students select their lunch each morning. There is a hot menu with dessert, pasta, soup and/or sandwich option each day. Families pay for lunches by direct debit through their School Life Account.
The Upper School cafeteria provides both fixed menu and à la carte service for students in Grades 6-12 and staff. In addition to the menu, you will find a salad bar, fruit bar, soup and sandwiches. Students and staff pay for their meals with their ID card via the School Life Account system.
Breakfast Hours: 07:30-09:00
- Parents, students and staff are welcome.
- Coffee, tea, juice, fruit, yoghurt, pastries and continental breakfast are available.
Morning Snacks: 09:45-10:45
- Open to staff and Upper School students only.
Lunch Hours: 11:15-13:30
- Open to students and staff only.
- Students eat at designated times from 11:15-13:00; staff may eat until 13:30.
Parent-Teacher Organisation (PTO)
The PTO is an organisation of parents and teachers committed to celebrating the cultural diversity of its members, integrating families into the ISL community, supporting its teachers and furthering the educational life of ISL students through the effective action and leadership of its member volunteers. All ISL parents are automatically members of the PTO. The organisation is run by the PTO Executive Board, elected annually by the parent community.
Extra-curricular Activities
The school offers many extra-curricular activity programmes that take place during the school day (lunch time, recess time and free periods) as well as after school. Sports, performing arts, visual arts, student governance, newspaper, yearbook, Model United Nations, Global Issues Network, the environment, charities and special interests such as photography, poetry, debate, film and more.
In addition, the school hosts many community groups that offer after school activities for ISL students, including mother-tongue programmes, scouting and religious education.
Visiting our School
International School of Luxembourg
Campus Geesseknaeppchen
36 Boulevard Pierre Dupong
L-1430 Luxembourg-Merl
GPS Coordinates: 49.6005, 6.1093
Please note that our postal address, 36 boulevard Pierre Dupong, does not actually correspond to our geographic location. From the pinpointed location on the Google Map or any navigational system map, head south to the end of boulevard Pierre Dupong. Turn right, and bear right around the circular glass Forum building in order to enter the unnamed slip road onto the campus. Continue to the end of the slip road where you will arrive at our main building.
