Parent's Review of International School of Dublin in Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

International School of Dublin

In what town or city is this school located?

Blackrock, County Dublin

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

16 different nationalities

What grade levels are represented at this school?

Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Some ride the school bus, and others are brought to school by their parents. Children who live nearby walk with their parents.

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Large outdoor play area, with a park and tennis courts next door. Music and Spanish are taught during the week, and there are after-school activities (e.g., sports, drama, science labs). There is extra help for children for whom English is a second (or third, or fourth) language. The school is private, non-denominational and co-educational. No uniforms. Class size is capped at 20. As a comparison, most primary schools in Ireland (private and national) have classes of 27-30 students.

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 International School of Dublin is the only primary school in Ireland that is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is recognized as the gold standard in international education. Children who attend an IB school have a seamless transition to other IB schools around the world because all the schools follow the same curriculum. For older students who are returning to the U.S., the principal will work with them if the U.S. school needs any kind of tests or academic evaluations beforehand.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

Parental involvement is extraordinary! The board of directors is all parents and they welcome assistance on committees and projects. Then there are social events for parents, events for families, coffee mornings at the school with the principal, parents' gatherings at homes, etc. It is a really welcoming community, probably because almost everyone is an expat. (69% of the families are with the multinationals; 27% are with diplomatic missions.)

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

A fantastic educational experience for your children, and you'll probably make some good friends among the parents.

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