Frankfurt, Germany Report of what it's like to live there - 03/19/25
Personal Experiences from Frankfurt, Germany
School Name:
Frankfurt International School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent of one recent grad and another current senior
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
High school
3. What years did you live here?
2021-2025
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
diplomatic posting
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes, quite a few but FIS is the largest. Well-established IB program with great facilities and strong teachers. Excellent extra-curricular program (music, theater, sports)
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Very straight-forward, easy directions on website
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Good welcome, pairing new students with selected returning students at orientation
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Regular newsletter from head of school, separate communication from each school principal. Feel like it is well-organized and not overwhelming
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
School trips for extra-curriculars can add up but what great opportunities! Theater class trip to London, choir festival in Warsaw, track meet in Paris . . .
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
College counseling is well-integrated into the high school plan. Regular meetings with counselor, quite a few on-site college fairs. FIS caters to a wide range of nationalities so great resources for those staying in Europe. Good help for US universities and Asian schools as well.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Seems fine, mainly a place to study. Libraries are different nowadays, I don't think my kids have ever checked out a book and they are actually both readers.
3. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
1:1 laptop included in tuition. Some kids have their own, school is Mac based but seems like some kids use PC without problem
4. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Tech Deck is the IT hub which seems to do a great job of providing resources and support. Also a hang out area
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Large gym, two turf fields including a baseball diamond. Unfortunately no on-site track or pool, teams bus to nearby facilities for practices which is not ideal
6. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Pretty low, 15:1 or so. Even smaller classes in the diploma program HL classes (11th and 12th grades).
7. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
FIS prides itself on being one of the original IB schools back in the day and its continued robust IB program. We were actually surprised that it wasn't pushed more compared to other international schools we've been at. I don't think it is complacency or cockiness but FIS always has a very high IB scores and so doesn't really stress about it, which is healthy. One of our kids who did not do the diploma program (arrived senior year) was encouraged but not pressured to pick high level classes in subjects they enjoyed. Other child has been in diploma program the whole time. FIS does a good job of helping space out the big projects so that it doesn't get too stressful senior year. Some students are always going to procrastinate and feel the heat but FIS does a great job of creating a healthy and balanced approach to IB.
8. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
Yes. My son totally bombed the math placement test but within the first week or two of class his teacher recognized that he was in the wrong level and took steps to change that. IB is rigorous but not over the top.
9. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Have been surprised that there isn't more homework. Teachers seem to do a good job of providing time in class to work on assignments and ask questions if needed. Students that take advantage of that are able to avoid bringing too much home.
10. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Although the performing space is not great (pretty small), FIS has a great theater/dance program. Usually two school wide plays per year plus shorter productions from the theater students. Orchestra and choir seem pretty strong, choir is mainly extra-curricular. Usually two big concerts per year actually done in a wonderful old church nearby. They joined with community members to do Handel's Messiah a couple years ago, which was amazing
11. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes
12. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Within the IB curriculum, not much experience beyond that
13. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Have heard that good services are available, especially in lower grades
14. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Facility is ADA compliant (or EU equivalent)
15. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Quite a few students arrive with little English, good program to bring them up to speed.
16. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Wide range, as discussed above. In sports some of the teams actually compete with the US military schools which gives a fuller schedule and better competition level than I've seen at other international schools. Interesting for our kids to get a taste of traditional US high school scene (school spirit, large crowds, cheerleaders, national anthem performances, etc). This is in addition to competing against other international schools which require more travel, usually overnight.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for LGBT+ kids at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Does there appear to be any exclusionary behavior?
Very progressive and accommodating. Welcome to Europe!
2. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Seems to be a good mix. The German kids tend to hang with compatriots but overall the school doesn't seem abnormally cliquey. If there is a divide, this is a very rich school, USG kids and teacher kids are in a bit of a different universe than all the banker and multi-national corporate kids.
I will add that there is a bit of a party culture to a degree we didn't see at other posts. This is Europe so serving alcohol at Prom and graduation is just the way it is (drinking age is 16). Kids have a lot of freedom outside of school that is normal but a change from the cloistered life we experienced elsewhere. Some kids handle this well and others don't.
3. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
Have not seen it.
4. What is the climate for students who identify as ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious minorities at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Have your children had any experiences in this area?
Seems to be accommodating. My son is friends with a few practicing Muslims who enjoy the school.
5. What can you say about diversity among the faculty and staff at the school and their experience in supporting minority students?
Staff is overwhelmingly white, mix of North American and European. That said, I haven't heard of any hostility or discomfort from minority kids or their parents.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
A+. This is the cream of the crop, one of the main reasons we came to this post when we did and we don't regret it.
2. Please describe some of your child's/children's highlights and challenges during their time at this school.
Wonderful senior year coming out of COVID for our oldest, was able to participate in a lot of extra-curriculars that just hadn't been available before. She has had a very smooth transition to university. Our son has thrived these past four years, discovering and nurturing his passions. FIS has played a key role in this process by encouraging and nurturing this growth. It has been amazing to watch
3. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
FIS gets rave reviews at all grade levels but I think the high school is particularly notable, especially for those of us who are so used to serving at posts where the high school are small and don't offer much. FIS is the real deal and worth planning your assignments to align with your kids doing high school here.
