Parent's Review of Istanbul International Community School in Istanbul
What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)
Istanbul International Community School
In what town or city is this school located?
Istanbul
How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)
International
What grade levels are represented at this school?
pre k-12
How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)
Service buses run from all areas of the city
How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?
The 'in town' campus caters for preschool to grade 3 the 'out of town' campus caters for children from PreSchool to Grade 12
There are a range of after school activities and late buses are provided free of charge
What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?
The teachers treat the children as individuals. The small class sizes enables them can get to know the children and their individual needs very well. My son is still in Grade 3 and we will be here for a few years yet so I don't really know about repatriation but I feel he is learning very useful skills and will be able to adapt to the National Curriculum when we go home.
How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?
There is a PTA but I have to admit I haven't been as active as I should have been. They organise a few events through the year including a costume ball.
What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?
Meet the teachers and the Admisistration personally and live close to the school.
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Comments about this Report
guestI was a teacher for this school and I would not recommend it to any parent. Make sure you do not let the good looks of the school fool you. Ask the right questions. Ask about the curriculum and how assessments are completed and graded. Parents would be shocked if they found out the truth about what goes on behind closed doors.
guestMy child is a MYP student and I would not recommend the school. The grading is subjective with very little ability to appeal. The criteria is not always clear. The administration does not do a good job of transitioning new students. There are some good teachers, but too few to overcome the many shortcomings of the school. It is a very expensive option for what little you get. The campus is in the middle of nowhere and as the city grows the bus ride to campus is becoming intolerable. I would be willing to put up with many of the obstacles if the curriculum was challenging and comprehensive. Also, it is almost impossible to get data from the administrators to show where IICS compares to other International Schools. Lastly, if you have a child that is very smart and wants to do their best on all assignments because of the way they grade they almost discourage your child to work hard.
