Private School

International School of Boston

#5 in Best Private K-12 Schools in Massachusetts

grade A+
Overall Grade
Private, Boarding
PK, K-12
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Rating 4.45 out of 5 83 reviews

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A+

Overall Niche Grade

How are grades calculated?Data Sources

Academics
grade A+
Diversity
grade A
Teachers
grade A
College Prep
grade A+
Clubs & Activities
grade A minus
Sports
grade B minus

isbos.org

(617) 499-1451

45 MATIGNON RD
CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140

About International School of Boston...

Applying

Application Deadline

February 15

Application Fee

Interview Required

Yes

Required/Recommended Tests

Tuition

Yearly Tuition

$43,870

Tuition is for the highest grade offered and may have changed for the current school year. For more information, please contact the school.

Received Financial Aid

23%

Average Financial Aid

From International School of Boston

Celebrating over 60 years of bilingual education, the International School of Boston (ISB) is an independent, non-profit, PK-12, multilingual school located in Cambridge. As a world-class, accredited academic institution, ISB places the development of the bilingual brain at the heart of its mission.

Long known for its excellence in bilingual French and English education, ISB has recently launched new Chinese- and Spanish-language programs. ISB students graduate with an American high school diploma and choose between two internationally renowned diplomas, the French or the International Baccalaureate, giving them the opportunity to thrive at leading universities in the United States, France, and around the world.

Offering a rich experience with rigorous programs, ISB prepares its students for a lifetime of learning and service.

Upcoming Events

International Baccalaureate (IB) Spotlight In-Person Event
October 12, 6:30 pm
International School of Boston, 45 Matignon Road, Cambridge, MA 02140
View Event Description
International Baccalaureate (IB) learners are encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems, they are more culturally aware and able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized world. U.S. colleges and universities value the preparation provided by the IB program as do universities in Europe and beyond! In addition to receiving college credit for their IB exam scores, IB graduates are very well prepared for their college years. To learn more about the IB education at ISB, join us in person for an International Baccalaureate Spotlight Event. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a clear insight into what the IB Diploma Program entails.
International Baccalaureate (IB) learners are encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems, they are more culturally aware and able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized world. U.S. colleges and universities value the preparation provided by the IB program as do universities in Europe and beyond! In addition to receiving college credit for their IB exam scores, IB graduates are very well prepared for their college years. To learn more about the IB education at ISB, join us in person for an International Baccalaureate Spotlight Event. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a clear insight into what the IB Diploma Program entails.
Elementary School Virtual Open House
October 24, 1:00 pm
Zoom
View Event Description
Long known for its excellence in bilingual French and English education, the International School of Boston (ISB) is now offering its Grade 2-5 students the additional opportunity of learning either Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin). And from Pre-K through Grade 1, the "Éveil aux langues" program allows our youngest students to become familiar with both Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin). These new language programs give our elementary students a strong start in becoming trilingual. Learn more about these programs during our Elementary School Virtual Open House. You will meet several members of our administration, faculty, and staff. You will also hear stories and experiences from current students and parents, and you will be able to ask questions.
Long known for its excellence in bilingual French and English education, the International School of Boston (ISB) is now offering its Grade 2-5 students the additional opportunity of learning either Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin). And from Pre-K through Grade 1, the "Éveil aux langues" program allows our youngest students to become familiar with both Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin). These new language programs give our elementary students a strong start in becoming trilingual. Learn more about these programs during our Elementary School Virtual Open House. You will meet several members of our administration, faculty, and staff. You will also hear stories and experiences from current students and parents, and you will be able to ask questions.
Secondary School Virtual Open House
October 26, 1:00 pm
Zoom
View Event Description
Join us for our Virtual Open House for Grades 6-12. You will meet several members of our administration, faculty, and staff. You will also have the opportunity to hear stories and experiences from current parents, and ask questions.
All School In-Person Open House
October 28, 10:00 am
45 Matignon Road, Cambridge, MA 02140
View Event Description
Join us for our All School In-Person Open House. You will meet several members of our administration, faculty, and staff. You will also have the opportunity to hear stories and experiences from current parents, and ask questions.

View All Upcoming Events

International School of Boston Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

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Academics

Average Graduation Rate

100%

Average SAT

1360

28 responses

Average ACT

13 responses

Niche College Admissions Calculator

Popular Colleges

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges.

grade A+
Boston University
18 Students
grade A
University of Massachusetts Amherst
18 Students
grade A+
Brown University
13 Students
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Northeastern University
13 Students
grade A+
Tufts University
9 Students
grade A
Brandeis University
8 Students
grade A+
New York University
8 Students
grade A+
Wellesley College
8 Students
grade A
George Washington University
7 Students
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Mount Holyoke College
7 Students

More About International School of Boston Academics

The International Baccalaureate at ISB

The International Baccalaureate aims to do more than other curricula by developing inquiring, knowledgeable & caring young people who are motivated to succeed and help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. IB students are encouraged to think independently and drive their own learning.

Learn More

Culture & Safety

Poll

92%

of students agree that they feel safe at their school. 12 responses

Poll

83%

of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there. 12 responses

Poll

What are your favorite school events or traditions?

Based on 37 responses

The all-school PTO party
22%
Springfest
16%
Spirit Week
14%
Annual Gala
8%
Holiday Fair
8%
Homecoming
8%
Pep rallies
8%

Students

Diversity

Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.

Students

570

38%

of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive. 13 responses

69%

of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy. 13 responses

54%

of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic. 13 responses

Preschool

Annual Cost

$31,560

Cost is for the most complete schedule offered and may have changed for the current school year. For more information, please contact the school.

Starting Age

2 years

Pre-K Student-Teacher Ratio

6:1

Website

isbos.org/academics/pre-school-kindergarten?utm_source=niche&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=admissions&utm_content=

Offers Full Week
Yes
Offers Part Week
No data available
Offers Full Day
Yes
Offers Part Day
Yes

Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

6:1

National

17:1

Poll

93%

of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons. 14 responses

Poll

100%

of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students. 14 responses

Poll

100%

of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom. 14 responses

Map

Homes For Sale

View Nearby Homes

Clubs & Activities

A minus

Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.

Girls Athletic Participation

Boys Athletic Participation

69%

of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. 13 responses

62%

of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need. 13 responses

77%

of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations. 13 responses

A+

Overall Niche Grade

How are grades calculated?Data Sources

Cost of Living
grade C
Good for Families
grade A+
Housing
grade C+

Median Household Income

$145,330

National

$69,021

Median Rent

$2,237

National

$1,163

Median Home Value

$920,893

National

$244,900

International School of Boston Reviews

83 reviews

We are so happy to have found ISB! Our three children are in lower, middle, and upper school, so we've seen a good cross section of the entire school experience. The lower school bilingual program is a real advantage - a good balance of English and French - and it's also accredited, which is what we were looking for. Other schools offer full immersion, but at the expense of learning English and they are not accredited. The middle school does a great job of attending to well-being in addition to continuing the bilingual opportunities. Our older son chose to take more French classes in middle school when he was younger, but our middle son is opting for more English. Both have had good experiences. Our older son is currently studying for the IB diploma in the Upper School. The level of personal attention he is getting from his teachers and the new college counselor is tremendous and way more than we could have ever expected if we had put him in the local public school.

Review International School of Boston

ISB competently teaches both the French and American curriculums, with the American curriculum at a level similar to an average public school in the area. In the younger grades many children do not speak fluent French and it prevents the school from teaching at a level equivalent to a French public school. Of course for people seeking French instruction, it is one of the only options in the area. Most of the teachers are very good and caring, with a few exceptions. The administration seems to be a weak point, and appears very defensive when issues (curricular, interpersonal, or other) are raised. After-school offerings are quite good and the pay-as-you-go flexible structure is really convenient but clubs fill up within minutes every trimester. There is a school lunch option that is catered and is more of an American approach to school lunch. Overall it is a good school but certainly not a perfect one, especially given the number of good private schools in the area.

An outstanding, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate team delivering world class education! ISB offers a strong curriculum, offers best practices from across the world, and gives our children the option of a global education. We have been very impressed in all aspects of our experience thus far, from management to operations, and most importantly the way everyone interacts with the children. It is a beautiful experience to watch a child get excited about learning a new language from a community they enjoy being a part of. The safety and wellbeing of our children and teachers is very apparent by their detailed and well thought out protocol surrounding the pandemic. Their consistent, supportive and transparent approach with families, along with open dialogue is much appreciated.

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About

Applying

Tuition

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

International Baccalaureate (IB) Spotlight In-Person Event

Elementary School Virtual Open House

Secondary School Virtual Open House

All School In-Person Open House

International School of Boston Rankings

YouTube Video

Academics

Popular Colleges

The International Baccalaureate at ISB

Culture & Safety

Instagram Posts

Students

Preschool

Teachers

Map

Home Listings

Clubs & Activities

Living in the Area

International School of Boston Reviews

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