International School of Kenya
The International School of Kenya (ISK) is an international school for pre-kindergarten to grade 12 located on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1976 and has a 25 hectare campus. The grounds used to be a large coffee plantation, and today, only a few of the original buildings remain. Students can study for a North American high school diploma or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The institution is accredited by the MSA, and is the largest international school in Nairobi. ISK is a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), The Council of International Schools and Round Square
| International School of Kenya | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  International School of Kenya  International School of Kenya | |
| Coordinates | 1°13′54″S 36°45′51″E |
| Information | |
| Type | International Baccalaureate school, private international school |
| Established | 1976 |
| Director | David Henry |
| Faculty | 150 |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Enrollment | 950 |
| Color(s) | Blue & Gold |
| Mascot | Lions |
| Affiliation | United States Embassy, Canadian High Commission |
| Information | +254 20 418 3622 |
| Curriculum | North American/The International Baccalaureate |
| Website | International School of Kenya |
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.[1]
Organization
The school formed from the 210293 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, as it is more commonly known, is divided into three schools: the Elementary School that teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 5, the Middle School, which teaches grades 6-8, and the High School that teaches grades 9-12.
Each school has its own principal and counselor, and largely its own teaching staff, though some subject staff are shared. Teachers are predominantly from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Facilities
Each school has classrooms and recreational areas, while the three schools share libraries, cafeteria, and facilities for sports and the arts. The Arts Center is acclaimed as the best theatre facility in Nairobi. The school has a gymnasium, heated outdoor swimming pool, and playing fields. In 2006, a construction project was started to expand the high school. It was completed in December 2007, and students were moved in the following month.
School sports include basketball, rugby, football, tennis, volleyball, track and field, and swimming. Every year high school students participate in the international ISSEA tournaments for all sports and STEM fields.
The school is located on the outskirts of Nairobi at the end of Peponi Road and is surrounded by coffee plantations.
Students
The student body of over 950 represents some 65 different nationalities. Around a quarter are American, with Kenyan, British, Canadian, Swedish and Dutch nationalities following in representation.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of ISK include:
- Dan Eldon, English photojournalist
- Karen Graham, Canadian author and dietitian
References
- "top20highschools". Africa Almanac. Africa Almanac. 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
