International School of Portland

What the teachers and staff provide students at The International School really can't be rivaled.  Not only do students become fluent in another language, but they develop a true sense that there is a world out there beyond the one they can directly see. TIS graduates' ability to perform academically is great, but even more beneficial is the maturity and the confidence students develop during their time there.
Mar 18th, 2021

Our family has loved the six years our fifth-grader  has been at The International School.  Children attending school there become fluent in their track language, either Spanish, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, as fully developing bilingual students by the end of fifth grade.  In that final year, students participate in a two-week immersion program called Capstone in their host country. The growth as global citizens that the children experience while attending this school is remarkable.  It is truly visible during the Capstone experience, when the children show their skills as adaptable travelers and guest students and as ambassadors representing the best of the US culture through their excellent performance and behavior.  It is also a fantastic time for the children to have hours and hours of fun together playing and exploring the rich offerings of the Capstone experience.  Also to note, at least one parent is preferred to attend as chaperone, with flexibility around parents' commitments.  My recommendation: go for at least half, like many parents; it's an unforgettable trip.  Think: It's being an Extended Field Trip Chaperone for excellent and enriching cultural tourism-with lots of great hours off to enjoy yourself!If you are interested in giving your child the gift of bilingualism, which is so rare in our culture yet so important for our world, consider The International School and it's International Baccalaureate curriculum for your kid or kids and join the growing group of happy parents and children connected to this excellent School.
Apr 15th, 2019

I went here for 6 years. This is just my experience. : This school gave me nothing but years of bullying, suicidal thoughts & actions. To start, the teachers did not care I was getting bullied. All those teachers knew about my situation, but chose not to do anything. On top of that, my kinder garden teacher was abusive (Adela). She dragged me and my friend through the classroom and into the hall, and finally in to the low k classroom. The one good thing I have to say is thank you Abbe, or Abbi, Abby, etc. You are awesome, and you should leave and teach at a different school.
Sep 3rd, 2018

We have three children who have gone through the International School. We couldn't be happier. Language immersion is only one of the advantages - the curriculum for the children is designed to encourage inquisitiveness and cooperation as well as self reliance. Our only regret is that it doesn't go through high school
Aug 19th, 2018

TIS is unique in the Portland area for having 3 immersion languages and IBPYP. In fact, it is one of a handful of immersion private schools in the US to offer PYP. The teachers in the languages are all native speakers, so our child has been exposed to several different cultures and dialects and her Spanish is so authentic that native speakers are surprised to learn she lives with two non-speakers. The academics are excellent, with teachers emphasizing STEM through projects and interactive education. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is important, although limited by Portland demographics, and the Learner Profiles and teachers emphasize cultural diversity through the units of inquiry, field trips, guest speakers and homework assignments. As an institution TIS impresses me most with it commitment to visibility and communication. When a new situation or problem arises, the administration does not ignore it or pretend to have all the answers; they acknowledge the issue, gather information and seek the opinion of parents, and formulate a response that accommodates the faculty, parents, community and serves TIS' values.
Feb 23rd, 2018