Parent's Review of International Community School of Addis Ababa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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

International Community School of Addis Ababa

In what town or city is this school located?

Addis Ababa

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

American International School

What grade levels are represented at this school?

K-12

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

Walk, Car

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

Facilities are ok, better than most schools. Currently being upgraded to have more basketball courts etc.

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?

This school has done very little to help my child transition. The teachers are rude, unhelpful and act like it is just a paid job to them. There is much favoritism/discrimination as many teachers have kids at the school. There are cliques that seem to be encouraged by the teachers and high school (actually from grade 8 and up) is full of drugs, smoking, sex and drinking. There are programs designed to help kids like after school help but they are actually useless and most teachers don't seem to have the necessary skills to find alternative means of teaching when a child does not understand the standard way. Tuition fees are the highest among all the international schools in Addis.

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

Parents are not allowed to use most of the indoor facilities (basketball and exercise gym) which is tough because such facilities are limited in the city. However, parents can use the small track and the field which is helpful.

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

Bingham has similar facilities and students perform well academically and in extra curricular activities. Sandford students also perform well academically and the fees are much more reasonable (like Bingham) but facilities are lacking and there are less international students. ICS is way to expensive for the (substandard) education offered but there are not many choices unfortunately.