British International School of Chicago - South Loop vs German International School Chicago

	B British International School of Chicago - South Loop Chicago, United States	G German International School Chicago Chicago, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $19,415 - 47,745	Fees / year $18,450 - 22,830
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), German Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 800	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language German, English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2007
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 161 W 9th St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States. The school is in Chicago, Illinois.	Location 1726 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613. Located in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood.
Stages	Stages Early Years (ages 3–5); Primary (ages 5–11, Years 1–6); Middle School (ages 11–14, Years 7–9); High School (ages 14–18, Years 10–13).	Stages Preschool through Grade 9; Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School; bilingual German-English instruction.
School type	School type Private K-12 school. It offers education for ages 3–18.	School type IB World School (Authorized for the PYP)
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 40+ nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix 40+ nationalities represented; 64% international families
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation England (curriculum aligned with the English National Curriculum).	Country affiliation Germany; Official German School Abroad (DAS) in the U.S. Midwest
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Admission hours: School days 8am–5pm; Non-school days 9am–4pm.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details TUITION FEES (2026–27 academic year) - Nursery (part-time): USD 19,170 per year. - Nursery (full-time): USD 31,950 per year. - Reception: USD 34,700 per year. - Years 1–6: USD 39,950 per year. - Years 7–10: USD 43,425 per year. - Year 11: USD 43,750 per year. - Years 12–13: USD 45,750 per year. . Per-term amounts (three-term academic year) - The school operates on a three-term (Autumn / Spring / Summer) academic calendar; per-term figures below are calculated as the annual tuition divided by three (equal-term division). - Nursery (part-time) per term: USD 6,390. - Nursery (full-time) per term: USD 10,650. - Reception per term: USD 11,567. - Years 1–6 per term: USD 13,317. - Years 7–10 per term: USD 14,475. - Year 11 per term: USD 14,583. - Years 12–13 per term: USD 15,250. - These per-term figures are calculations based on the annual tuition and the school's three-term calendar. Annual and recurring additional fees - Trip fee (all years): USD 180 billed each school year. - Yearbook: USD 65 billed each school year. - Full-time Nursery to Year 9 lunches: USD 2,000 billed each school year. - Year 11 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - Year 13 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - The items above are billed on an annual basis in addition to tuition. Application, enrollment and new-student fees - Application fee (non-refundable): USD 100. - New Student Fee (one-time, non-refundable): USD 2,300 (applied to capital and curriculum investments). - The New Student Fee is due with the signed enrollment agreement. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and the listed annual fees are presented as amounts for the academic year; the school's calendar runs across three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). - New-student fees are due at the time the enrollment agreement is signed. - Specific invoice due dates, available installment options, and any late-payment penalties are set in the school's enrollment agreement and terms and conditions; invoices and billing align with the academic-year structure. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable for this campus; no boarding fees are listed for the South Loop location. Other costs and periodic purchases - Uniforms: available from Tommy Hilfiger and Lands' End (items purchased separately). - PE kit: ordered via the school's online ordering portal. - Optional charges that families commonly pay include before- or after-school care, extracurricular clubs, camps, some class trips, and certain exam or assessment fees beyond those listed above. Refund information - The Application Fee and the New Student Fee are non-refundable. - The school's standard terms and conditions provide that refunds (where applicable) are processed by bank transfer and that a school will not refund any portion of a tuition term once that term has commenced. - Parents' contractual obligations for invoiced tuition, notice periods for withdrawal, and the precise refund calculation method (if any) are governed by the school's enrollment agreement and the school's terms and conditions. Fee adjustments and discounts - Northwestern University employee discount: 20% tuition discount for benefits-eligible Northwestern University employees. - Sibling discounts: second child receives a 3.5% tuition discount; any additional children receive a 7% tuition discount. Fee payment options and transaction fees - Online payment portal is available for electronic payments (school payment portal). - Accepted electronic payment methods and their processing fees: - Credit card payments: assessed a service fee of 2.99%. - Debit card payments: assessed a service fee of 0.99%. - ACH (eCheck / bank transfer): no service fee. - Payments made through the school's online portal are the primary electronic option; the school issues invoices and records payments via its billing system. Contact for fee queries and payments - Admissions: admissions@bischicagosl.org; telephone +1 (773) 998 2472. - General inquiries: +1 (773) 599 2472. - The school provides an online payment portal (for electronic payment methods and merchant fees).	Fee details 2026–2027 Tuition (by program) - Preschool Part‑Day (8:00am–1:00pm): USD 18,450 per year. - Preschool Full‑Day (8:00am–3:00pm): USD 21,950 per year. - Grades K–9 (8:00am–3:00pm): USD 22,830 per year. Corporate tuition (by program) - Preschool Part‑Day: USD 23,450 per year. - Preschool Full‑Day: USD 26,950 per year. - Grades K–9: USD 27,830 per year. Application and enrollment fees - Admission (application) fee for new students: USD 200 (due with application). - New family fee (grades K–8) for new families: USD 2,000 (due with first tuition installment). - Tuition deposit: non‑refundable USD 1,500 due with student registration. Additional / program fees - Field trip fee: Preschool USD 75; Grades K–4 USD 100; Grades 5–9 USD 200 (all due with first tuition installment). - Fast Track German Language Program (Grades 3–6): USD 4,000 per student. - GPG (parent group) membership fee: USD 60 per student (required as part of enrollment for Deutsche Auslandsschulen). Tuition reductions and sibling discounts - Sibling reduction: USD 1,000 off tuition for the second child enrolled. For each additional child, tuition is reduced by one‑third of the original rate. Billing schedule and payment terms - A non‑refundable tuition deposit of USD 1,500 is due at registration. - Remaining tuition balance is billed in two installments due on July 1 and November 1. - Monthly payment plans are available; enrolling in a monthly plan incurs a 2.5% surcharge to the total tuition, payable with the first installment. - For corporate tuition arrangements, first‑time enrollment deposit is required; re‑enrolling families with employer‑paid tuition may not be required to pay an upfront deposit. Corporate accounts receive customized payment plans at no additional charge and no finance charges on account balances. Boarding - Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school. Refunds and withdrawal-related terms - The USD 1,500 tuition deposit is non‑refundable. For corporate tuition arrangements, withdrawal is handled on a prorated basis based on attendance. Other refund or withdrawal specifics are governed by the school's enrollment/financial policies. Other costs parents commonly pay (examples noted in billing items) - One‑time or annual charges in addition to tuition can include the new family fee, field trip fees, program fees (e.g., Fast Track German), and GPG membership fee as listed above. These additional charges are charged on or with the first tuition installment unless specified otherwise. Fee payment options and practical notes on payment - The school provides installment and monthly payment plan options (monthly plans carry a 2.5% surcharge). Corporate tuition arrangements offer customized payment plans and billing options for employer‑paid tuition. Specific payment method types (for example: credit card, bank transfer/Wire/ACH) are handled through the school's billing processes and accounts receivable procedures. For corporate accounts, no finance charges are assessed on account balances. Important dates and timing - Re‑enrollment contracts, new student enrollment contracts, and financial aid applications are noted with a March 31 deadline in the school's enrollment timeline. Installment due dates for tuition are July 1 and November 1. (End of fee overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school teaches the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the Primary years; Middle and High School offer IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.	Curriculum details GISC is an IB World School authorized for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) offering a German-English bilingual education from Preschool through Grade 9. The majority of subjects are taught in German, and there is full German immersion from Day 1. It is a bilingual program spanning Preschool–Grade 9, with IB credentials and an emphasis on international education.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio 6.5:1
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The school paves the way for students to enter prestigious universities worldwide.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Fast Track German Language Program (FTGLP) is open to gifted students in Grades 3-6.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Admissions are personalized to families. The process includes contacting us to start your child's journey, joining a school tour or virtual discovery meeting, submitting an application, and financial aid is available.	Admissions The school offers a personalized bilingual and international education from Preschool through Grade 8, with High School Grade 9 launching in 2026-2027 and first graduates expected in 2030. It is currently enrolling Preschool to Grade 9. The Expat Brochure describes a full-day preschool through 8th grade program with flexible after-school care until 6:00 pm and extracurricular opportunities for children aged 3 to 14. Classes are taught in German and English, combining German and US curricula within the International Baccalaureate framework. Students in Grade 8 take the DSD I exam. GISC supports a seamless enrollment process through a personalized admissions path and reserves spots in every class for expat families to avoid the stress of a waitlist. GISC accepts new students at any time during the school year.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Expat families have reserved spots in every class to avoid the uncertainty of a waitlist.
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