Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Report of what it's like to live there - 09/19/18
Personal Experiences from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
School Name:
International School of Ulaanbaatar
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent of 4 kids at school (PreK, 4th, 5th, 11th)
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
PreK 4th 5th 11th
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Here with the Us Embassy
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes but ISU has the best reputation by far so most people who can afford it or where employer the pays tuition chose it. There are less expensive preschool options that Embassy families often opt for and are very happy with, but we like the PYP program and wanted all the kids together so chose to pay for PreK at iSU.
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?
The school was really responsive to emails from the time I first contacted them in January and even through summer holidays.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Parent group was really welcoming and the school has a very nice community feel. It’s a new facility and is amazing with pool and rockwalll and amazing building and grounds - it’s the nicest place in UB.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
It’s fine. They sometimes tell us the day before something happens which makes it hard for planning but they use Managebac and Storypark and Seesaw (all apps) for communication throughout the day. Every teacher has been really easy to communicate with.
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?
Yes for travel sports (few days in Shanghai is $700)and 6th grade up goes on this awesome week long trip in the countryside (about $700). After school activities are mostly free though.
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 there is a dedicated counselor familiar with universities worldwide.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
Afterschool program 3 days a week.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Library is very nice and they can borrow whenever.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
Kids have computers and iPads in class. I would suggest buying one for middle school and highschool kids though.
5. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Good.
6. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Amazing pool and aquatics program. Basketball, Volleyball and they offer tennis and soccer as well.
7. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
DP1&2 (11th and 12th) less than 10, in high evens less than 5
Other grades about 15-18 with 2 teachers
8. 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?
It’s an IB program - I think there is an option to get regular diploma if you come in without DP background but not sure.
9. 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. Best teachers we’ve had from first impressions.
10. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes.
11. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Not as many as what we were use to at a larger IB school but you can find everything at school or in UB - especially for younger kids.
12. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes all are fluent speakers. Many Mongolians work at the school which is great so they aren’t native speakers but fluent in positions where it’s necessary (admin, asst teachers, etc.)
13. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I only have experience with learning support and it’s been amazing.
14. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Amazing learning support “inclusion†specialist.
15. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
16. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
17. 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?
Animal Care Club
Rugby
Drama
Volleyball
Yoga
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. There are lots of expats and Mongolians so it depends on grade. My 11th header has a lot of Mongolian friends. Younger kids 1 or 2. A lot of the Mongolians have been together for years so they have their cliques but it’s a very friendly place and lots of friend opportunities for all kids.
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.
Not that we have seen
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+
Only faults are late communication on events happening at the school and it’s small so there aren’t as many opportunities for high schoolers (although ours is happy here!)
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
Love that the teachers and staff walk the kids to from busses even in 40F below to greet and send them off everyday and make sure kids are where they are suppose to be.
