Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Report of what it's like to live there - 10/12/16
Personal Experiences from Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
School Name:
International School of Luxembourg
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
8th-10th and 10th-12th; 2014-2017.
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government.
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes, but ISL is the only one following an American curriculum. We wanted our older child to complete the IB; the athletic and activity opportunities abound.
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?
Prospective parents / bidders must understand that ISL *absolutely* requires an in-person interview with all candidates (even for pre-K & K) and their parents, and that the USG will *not* pay for the trip to Luxembourg for the interview. Admission is on a space-available basis, and ISL refuses Office of Overseas Schools assistance, so it is not bound to admit children of US diplomats. Because of limited space and high demand, ISL can pick and choose whom they want to admit, and the Admissions office made an arrogant impression. That said, once the children are admitted, things seem to run smoothly.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Fairly good. It helps to get to know parents and administrators, and to participate in the open houses and other welcome activities.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
So-so. Sometimes there's too much e-mail, other times not enough, so you need to take the lead to ask questions and ascertain details.
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?
Field trips and travel to sport competition can add up quickly.
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?
Yes, and the person advising about the US & Canada has been fantastic.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes, it's fairly good.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Rather good and always improving. High school students regularly bring their laptop to school, so plan on having one.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There's a 50-meter pool, soccer field, and gymnasiums. The athletic director is very good, if reserved.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
20:1 or 25:1 or so. It depends in the higher level IB classes, which can have much smaller ratios.
6. 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?
Both, IB not required.
7. 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, particularly in IB.
8. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
People tell me it's less than students faced in the U.S., but I think it's probably appropriate.
9. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Music, band, choir, theatre.
10. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes.
11. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
There's a learning center, and they seemed to lump all the students together, despite their having very different learning needs. They lack a dedicated reading specialist or speech therapist.
12. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I note that one floor of the upper school building is not accessible by elevator, which could limit availability to students who face mobility impairments.
13. 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?
Both of our children participate heavily in sports, the school play, band and jazz band.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes, though most students come from wealthy families.
2. 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.
There are different groups, as in every school. Our children integrated fairly easily.
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?
B+. The school is quite good overall, despite the arrogant attitudes from the administration and the perception that everyone has overflowing pocketbooks.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
Did I mention the *required* in-person interview, which includes both parents and students and requires personal funding?
Please note that a large number of teachers and administrators are British, so there is definitely a UK bias in the school. Should an actual Brexit occur, that would obviously impact the school quite heavily, depending on the visa situation for UK teachers, admins, and families.
