ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main - Frankfurt

Talha Yesilhark

ISF International School has been an incredible experience for our daughter so far. The academic standards are exceptional, and the supportive, multicultural environment helps students thrive. Teachers, albeit the high level of fluctuation, are highly dedicated and approachable, ensuring that each student is well-prepared for future challenges. The variety of extracurricular activities enriches her learning, and we’re proud to see her grow both academically and personally. Highly recommend ISF to any parent looking for a top-tier international education in Frankfurt am Main area.

Areas of challenge/improvement:

- Increase German Language lessons or else teach a subject in German language
- Include more critical thinking in education material, provide more emphasis on the importance of logic and heart-centered design
- Follow trends in technology and make kids love it (i.e. organize a ‚tech on campus‘ day)

Isabel Turner

I am giving this school a two-star review solely because a one-star option is not available. The school claims to employ qualified teachers, yet an IB Chemistry class is being taught by a recent graduate from the same year. Additionally, none of the staff have completed the mandatory IB workshop required to teach the curriculum. The school's spending priorities are also questionable, with funds being allocated to cosmetic upgrades, such as wallpaper, instead of addressing essential student needs.

There are also serious concerns regarding the school's culture. Several students, particularly female students, have expressed discomfort due to the enforcement of the dress code, which has led to instances of inappropriate behavior by certain staff members. Despite numerous complaints from students, parents, and even teachers, these issues are consistently ignored by the administration. Those who attempt to voice their concerns are often dismissed or silenced.

Furthermore, the excessive academic pressure placed on students is detrimental to their mental health. Weekly exams, which contribute significantly to their overall grade, leave little room for a balanced social life. It is disheartening that the school continues to ignore these critical issues, preferring to suppress feedback rather than address the problems that have been raised by many individuals.

L L

We are super happy that we left the school. With the one year super unsatisfied experience at this school, finally we are able to speak out how unhappy we were.
This school is charging the expensive school fees but by offer the very low quality of service.
If you are looking for a school which offer a good liberal, respect, equality, you cannot find at this school.
If you like a very old fashion, strick, exam result driven oriented type of education then you will get it here.
As an international school, the school is super unorganized and with a very poor communication.
We have seen the school took down all the bad rating and ask people to post a good reviews. I found this is so dishonest!!
There are more we could go on, we just want to say
Think and check twice before you join this school.

P.s
I changed the review from one ⭐️ to two starts purely because I don’t want get it remove from either Google or other parties as I know they could do so .

Lauren Kibler

This review is based on our experience as a family of 2 middle school children. We had zero private or international school experience before attending ISF. Our first impression was a lack of communication. We were given very little info before arrival. We came to new student day with a long list of questions. Even after our questions were answered, we felt the school was incredibly disorganized. This theme continued throughout our entire year.

The school website offers little info on Sabis or academics. There was no mention of how Sabis operated during our virtual meeting with the school. We were shocked to learn most grades were based solely on test scores. Not only are most grades (with very few exceptions for a paper or project 1-2 times throughout the year) based on tests, but the kids are given 4-5 tests a WEEK plus final exams 3 times a year. Should your child have a bad day and not test well, it has an impact on their final grades.

The school isn’t teaching independent thinking. They are teaching kids to memorize and respond exactly as taught. Heaven forbid your kid do a single step of a math problem in their head - the entire problem will be wrong, even if the final answer is correct.

Homework is assigned in addition to the studying required for testing but homework does not contribute to grades. If homework is not completed then students are given an infraction. After enough infractions, a detention will be given.

Infractions are given out more often than awards or encouragement. Wearing leggings? Infraction. Teacher having trouble with your student? Infraction. Parents aren’t allowed to attend end-of-term award ceremonies but you will be sure to receive notice of any infractions.

Every school has great and not great teachers but ISF seems to raise the worst teachers to positions of power. The math department head screams at students. We not only experienced this personally, but we have commiserated with other parents who had this teacher.

The discipline head is not well-liked and I suppose he could justify this with his position but he also teaches advising. Advising in this school covers health/family life among other sensitive topics (such as sexting, bullying, self-image, etc.). The teacher that students do not respond to is teaching topics kids truly need to hear. After hearing what he was teaching during these lessons we feel this man should NOT work at any school.

Lesson plans are created by Sabis and not the teachers interacting with students. At most schools, teachers on the ground can see how students are progressing and what they might need to focus on or skip but at a Sabis school this doesn't matter since teachers are required to adhere to only the Sabis plans.

Thankfully, there are a handful of fantastic teachers who do the best they can given the environment and circumstances. Those teachers were truly bright spots for both our daughters while at ISF.

As a parent, you are not given teacher contact info and cannot reach out to them directly. You may only contact the coordinator for the elementary, middle school, or high school. Parent-teacher conferences are only 6-7 slots offered for only 15 mins each. There were rarely openings after one day of sign-ups.

The other bright spot at ISF is the parent network. This group worked hard to help communicate changes, help make change for the better, and help parents engage with each other. The director of the school said he wasn't sure why parents ever needed to be on campus. So I was especially thankful to the parent network for making sure parents could make an appearance now and then.

Sports at this school are a work in progress. The most frustrating part again, being a lack of communication. You are given a 4 day notice of invitations and payments for out-of-town competitions. No phone number is provided to reach chaperones and worse, they don't ask for a direct contact number from you.

SEVERAL negative reviews were removed for ISF on Google, but I do hope this information remains for parents to make educated decisions.

sofia america

I enrolled here for 10th grade in 2018 and graduated in 2021so I was in school during COVID and I have to say that although everything around us was changing very fast, the school and teachers did their best to continue giving quality education and support to all students. I enjoyed my time here very much and believe all my classes and exams were structured to prepare me the best for university. Great school

John Grandidge

A school that deletes all its honestly written negative reviews is not one which should be frequented or trusted.

Andrea Tures

As a parent and a researcher in the field of early childhood and school education I am very impressed with the professionalism of this school. We spontaneously decided to start our daughter in first grade and are very impressed by the daily level of support and commitment towards our daughter’s transition.

The level of personal dedication of the primary school coordinator Mrs. Jarque is unheard of. She went out of her way to secure our child’s wellbeing, personally provided individual solutions to us as a family when they were needed, making sure on a daily basis our daughter had the best start possible. Her class room teacher Mr. O’Toole is very proactive, offers a lot of personal support and is a very experienced teacher with an amazing personality, always cheerful and supportive. We are also very impressed with the German teacher Mrs. Wolf who provides a high level and holistic program for the German native speakers which is highly above the level first grade students would experience in a state school.

We as parents are witnessing the holistic approach of the school on a daily basis which targets educational outcomes as well as the wellbeing of children. We are very impressed with the academic outcomes and the systematic communication with parents through modern technology and face to face. Especially because concerns and feedback of parents is taken very seriously.

ISF provides an outstanding teaching environment were absolutely nothing is left to chance due to amazing leadership and team work and where the individual needs of each child and their family are meet. Everyone whom we met so far from the teaching staff, the security team to the people working in administration or in the cafeteria is professional, supportive and cheerful! After only a few weeks into the school year it feels like family.

After working almost 20 years in the field of quality in education I can clearly say: this is an exceptional and outstanding school for German and international children whose parents are looking for a high level of professionalism where the individual educational and emotional needs of their child(ren) are taken seriously and are being met.

Anshu Chandpuri

An excellent school with the most amazing facilities, curriculum and teaching methods! My daughter got into a well reputed UK Grammar school due to the strong academic foundations laid by ISF. Be it languages, music, sports, science or IT, ISF gave it all to her!