Frankfurt International School vs The European School - RheinMain

	F Frankfurt International School Frankfurt, Germany	T The European School - RheinMain Frankfurt, Germany
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €11,590 - 31,365	Fees / year €11,703 - 25,487
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 1,500
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language German, English, Spanish
Opened	Opened 1961	Opened 2012
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Frankfurt International School operates on two campuses in Oberursel and Wiesbaden. The Oberursel Campus serves ages 3 through Grade 12 and is located about 23 kilometers from Frankfurt city center. The Wiesbaden Campus serves ages 3 through Grade 8 and is located about 40 kilometers from central Frankfurt. Both campuses follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) program framework and share common standards.	Location Bad Vilbel, Germany (Theodor-Heuss-Straße 65, 61118 Bad Vilbel)
Stages	Stages Oberursel Campus provides Preschool (First Steps) to Grade 12, with Primary School (First Steps–Grade 1), Elementary School (Grades 2–5), and Upper School (Middle School 6–8 and High School 9–12). Wiesbaden Campus provides Preschool to Grade 8.	Stages Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary
School type	School type Two IB World School campuses: Oberursel (Preschool - Grade 12) and Wiesbaden (Preschool - Grade 8). Both campuses offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Upper School offers the IB Diploma.	School type Private European School within the European Schools system
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 60 nationalities represented; approximately 1,800 students from age 3 to Grade 12.	Pupil nationality mix Approximately 1,800 students from 70 nations; school community includes pupils from many nationalities; two language sections (German and English).
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Educational support is provided at three levels (general, moderate, intensive) and includes study skills classes, extra lessons in core subjects (L1, L2, Math) for catch-up, dedicated individual support for diagnosed learning difficulties, and programs for gifted students.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany	Country affiliation Germany
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Day structure varies by campus and grade level. Oberursel Primary arrival at 8:20, classes begin at 8:40, and dismissal at 14:50 (First Steps half-day 12:00). Oberursel Elementary arrival 8:05–8:25, classes begin 8:30, dismissal 15:05, bus departure 15:17. Oberursel Upper School arrival 8:15–8:20, classes begin 8:32, dismissal 15:10, bus departure 15:17. Wiesbaden Campus arrival 8:15–8:30, classes begin 8:35, dismissal 15:10 (First Steps half-day 12:00), bus departure 15:20.	School day structure Pre-Primary school hours: Mon–Wed 8:15–15:00; Thu–Fri 8:15–13:00; childminding from 7:00 until school starts and after-school hours until 18:00. Afternoon childminding is an additional paid service; Primary and Secondary offer after-school activities as an optional paid service.
Bus service details	Bus service details FIS has the largest private school bus system in Germany, with over 50 bus routes on the Oberursel and Wiesbaden campuses. Buses serve 90 localities in the Frankfurt area with 240 bus stops for student pick-up and drop-off.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & enrollment fees - New Student Registration Fee: EUR 1,500. This registration fee is not refundable and is not transferable to future school years. - Down Payment for new students: EUR 2,000. The down payment is credited toward tuition, is required within 10 days of the acceptance letter to guarantee placement, and is non-refundable after that period. Together the registration fee plus the down payment total EUR 3,500 at initial acceptance. - Re‑enrollment (returning student) Fee: EUR 350; this fee secures a returning student's placement and is not refundable. Annual tuition fees (by year group) - First Steps (age 3 before 1 September), half‑day program: EUR 11,590. - First Steps, Pre‑Primary (full program): EUR 22,570. - Primary: EUR 24,760. - Grades 1–4: EUR 25,260. - Grade 5: EUR 25,500. - Grades 6–8: EUR 29,110. - Grades 9–10: EUR 30,105. - Grades 11–12: EUR 30,690. Payment installments (standard personal payment plan example) - Standard two‑installment option (Alternative 1): 55% of tuition and transportation fees are due by 1 July; the remaining 45% is payable in January (a surcharge of EUR 100 per child applies to the January payment). Example splits (55% / 45%) for each annual tuition above are shown below as the amount due at each installment: - First Steps (half‑day) — Annual EUR 11,590: EUR 6,374.50 due 1 July; EUR 5,215.50 due in January. - First Steps, Pre‑Primary — Annual EUR 22,570: EUR 12,413.50 / EUR 10,156.50. - Primary — Annual EUR 24,760: EUR 13,618.00 / EUR 11,142.00. - Grades 1–4 — Annual EUR 25,260: EUR 13,893.00 / EUR 11,367.00. - Grade 5 — Annual EUR 25,500: EUR 14,025.00 / EUR 11,475.00. - Grades 6–8 — Annual EUR 29,110: EUR 16,010.50 / EUR 13,099.50. - Grades 9–10 — Annual EUR 30,105: EUR 16,557.75 / EUR 13,547.25. - Grades 11–12 — Annual EUR 30,690: EUR 16,879.50 / EUR 13,810.50. - Alternative monthly payment schedule (Alternative 2): a monthly plan is available with a 3.0% surcharge on the outstanding balance; all fees must be paid latest on 1 June of the relevant school year when this option is used. - Note: For students who start in August, all tuition and fees are normally required to be paid in advance. For students who start during the school year, invoices set the due dates and payment is expected within the communicated invoice terms. Late accounts are charged interest/late fees as specified in the school's payment terms. Capital Assessment Fee (new students) - Annual Capital Assessment Fee payable in Year 1 and Year 2 for new students (Pre‑Primary and up): EUR 6,450 per year. This fee is assigned to a capital fund and is not refundable (departing students who have attended 65 days or less in the year pay only half the capital fee in that year). Transportation (bus) fees - Bus fees are charged by distance zone and include 7% VAT. Example Oberursel campus zone prices (annual): - Zone A: EUR 2,165.00. - Zone B: EUR 2,440.00. - Zone C: EUR 2,565.00. - Zone D: EUR 2,705.00. - Zone E: EUR 2,860.00. - Zone F: EUR 3,125.00. - Zone G: EUR 3,220.00. - Zone H: EUR 3,350.00. - Wiesbaden campus zones have separate annual rates (Zone A EUR 2,595 up to Zone G EUR 3,600 as listed). A 25% reduction is offered for the third child onward when applied for by the specified deadline. Flexible single‑ride tickets (where available) may be purchased at EUR 10 per ride. Language, learning support and other program fees - First Language (FL) and Identity Language (IL) course fees (annual): Elementary: EUR 1,260; Grades 6–10: EUR 1,715; Grades 11–12: EUR 2,450. - Additional costs that may be invoiced during the year include external examination/IB fees, grade‑level trip fees (note: many grade‑level trips for Grades 5–11 are included in tuition as part of the program), specialist therapy or additional learning support beyond normal provision, yearbook, lost/damaged library/text books, school meals/snacks, after‑school care, tutoring, and required student devices (students in Grade 5 and above are required to have a personal laptop). These items are billed separately as applicable. Refunds, proration and leave of absence - Tuition and transportation fees are prorated for late entry or early departure based on the official acceptance or leaving date. The school's proration schedule lists the refundable percentage for students who leave early and the payable percentage for students who enroll late across defined periods of the school year. Example proration (departure refunds): July–Aug 15 = 90% refundable; Aug 15–Sep = 65% refundable; Oct–Dec = 35% refundable; Jan = 25% refundable; Feb–Mar = 0%; Apr–Jun = 0%. For late entrants the payable percentages vary by period (100% at the start of the year, decreasing later). A leave of absence may be reserved by paying 50% of the respective tuition fee for the absence period to guarantee re‑admission. Registration and down payment and the capital assessment fee are explicitly not refundable under the described conditions. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable: the school operates as a day school (no boarding fee applies). Uniform, campus shop and incidental purchases - There is no formal uniform fee listed; a campus shop and bookstores on campus sell school spirit wear (hoodies, T‑shirts, bags, hats) and school supplies; these purchases are optional and billed at the point of sale. Refunds & non‑refundable items recap - Non‑refundable items include the New Student Registration Fee, the Down Payment (after the 10‑day acceptance window), and the Capital Assessment Fee (with the limited exception for very short attendance as described). Refundable tuition amounts depend on the proration schedule tied to official leaving dates. Payment methods and billing terms - The school accepts Euro bank transfers to its specified IBAN/SWIFT accounts for payments; detailed bank account identifiers (IBANs and SWIFT/BIC codes) are provided with invoices. A late payment charge is applied to past‑due accounts (the published late payment percentage applies after the due date). Two alternative payment schedules are offered for private payers: (1) the 55%/45% split with the 45% payment in January (EUR 100 surcharge per child) and (2) a monthly plan with a 3.0% surcharge on the outstanding balance; all fees must be paid by the final internal deadline under the chosen plan. The school's business/accounting office telephone number is published for billing arrangements. Other fee programs - A Tuition Reduction Program (means‑tested reduction) and specific Partnership/Diplomatic Mission fee schedules exist for eligible families; those programs and any partnership pricing are applied under separate published terms. Additional employer‑paid or reimbursed arrangements are treated according to tax rules described by the school.	Fee details Application fees - No non‑refundable application or upfront registration fee is published in the school's admissions and fee information materials. Tuition fees by year group (monthly / per term information) - The school bills a "monthly parental contribution (in Euros)" for Primary and Secondary pupils; a detailed month‑by‑month tuition table is maintained by the school as the formal fee schedule. Exact monthly amounts for each year group (Primary P1–P5, Secondary S1–S7) and the IB track are shown in the school's parental contribution table. Pre‑Primary (Kindergarten) fees and state reduction - Pre‑Primary parental contributions are reduced automatically by state funding of EUR 149.16 per month; families resident outside the State of Hesse receive only the sibling discount. Sibling discounts and fee reductions - Sibling discounts (based on household income thresholds) apply as follows: - 2nd child: 25% discount where household income is up to EUR 180,000. - 3rd child: 50% discount where household income is up to EUR 230,000. - 4th child: 50% discount where household income is up to EUR 280,000. - The sibling discount requires an application; the school relies on parental self‑assessment (no routine income verification for sibling discount). A separate tuition reduction (means tested) process exists and may require submission of income documents (e.g., tax assessment) for consideration; reductions are granted for one school year and reviewed annually. After‑school childminding / extracurricular care costs - External childminding (afternoon care) fees are income‑graded. Examples from the published schedule: - Kindergarten (4–6 year olds): EUR 450 (annual income band €40,000) up to EUR 900 (annual income €80,000 and more). - Classes 1–4: between EUR 300 and EUR 800 depending on income band. - Classes 5–10: between EUR 300 and EUR 800 depending on income band. - Classes 11–12: between EUR 400 and EUR 1,100 depending on income band. - These amounts are shown as standard rates tied to household annual income bands. IB (International Baccalaureate) fees - The school operates an IB track (MYP and DP) and lists separate fees for the IB programme within its fee structure; the IB provision is operated as a day programme (no boarding). Exact IB monthly parental contribution amounts are included in the school's fee table. Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; no boarding provision is offered (boarding status: DAY). There are therefore no boarding fees. Other costs and compulsory items (uniforms, books, materials, examinations) - Parents are responsible for purchasing routine books, stationery and materials listed on class material lists. Certain books and materials are ordered centrally by the school and invoiced to parents (example: some book orders are invoiced in September). Expect periodic invoices for school‑ordered books and specific classroom materials. - Examination or exam‑related fees (for example, fees associated with end‑of‑programme examinations) are handled separately and appear as part of invoicing or administrative charges when applicable; specific amounts are set per exam and school year. Refunds and withdrawal / fee‑reduction mechanics - The school offers means‑tested tuition reductions and, in exceptional hardship cases, full tuition exemption (stipend) normally limited to one child per family; these concessions are granted for a single school year and reviewed annually. The school's policy requires cooperation and documentary proof where reductions are applied for. No separate, general published refund schedule for term‑time withdrawal of tuition is published in the school's publicly available admissions and fee materials. Billing schedule and payment terms - Published materials refer to the parental contribution as a monthly charge (i.e., a monthly parental contribution schedule). Specific billing dates, invoice frequency (monthly/termly/annual), payment deadlines and formal payment terms are presented to parents through the school's official fee schedule and invoices. Some school‑ordered materials are invoiced in September. Fee payment options - Standard practice uses invoicing to parents; the school's account and billing contacts (including the bursar) are provided for families to arrange payment. The public admissions and fee materials do not publish a detailed, itemised list of accepted payment methods (e.g., specific card processors or IBAN/BIC strings) in the publicly posted fee summaries. For account‑level or invoice‑level payment options and bank details, the school provides direct billing information on invoices and through its accounts office. Summary of what was obtained and what remains to be confirmed - Confirmed and included above: Pre‑Primary state deduction (EUR 149.16/month), sibling discount bands and percentages, income‑based after‑school childminding fee bands, that the IB is offered and the school is a day school, that some school‑ordered books are invoiced in September, and the existence of means‑tested tuition reductions. - Not all line‑by‑line tuition amounts (the detailed monthly parental contribution figures per individual year group / class and per term billing totals) were extractable from the publicly posted admissions and brochure materials available at the time of checking; the school's formal fee table is the definitive schedule for exact monthly/term amounts and payment dates. For clarity and for use in an external database, consult the school's official fee schedule or the invoicing documents provided by the school's accounts office to obtain the complete per‑class monthly and per‑term numeric values.
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 Frankfurt International School is an IB World School serving students from First Steps (age 3) through Grade 12. The Primary and Elementary School follow the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) with Units of Inquiry. The Middle School (Grades 6–8) bridges PYP to the Diploma Programme, building the skills for the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in the upper years. The High School delivers the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), a two-year curriculum that leads to external examinations in May. The school operates on two campuses, Oberursel and Wiesbaden, delivering a consistent IB framework across the campuses. The programme emphasizes inquiry-based learning and a global-focused education.	Curriculum details The European School RheinMain offers the European Schools curriculum leading to the European Baccalaureate. The school also offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum on the same site. The ESRM IB Curriculum commenced in September 2021 with MYP 1-5 and expanded to the Diploma Programme (DP) with the DP commencing in September 2024. The IB curriculum conducts all subjects—except the second language—in English.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Oberursel campus average student-teacher ratio is 8:1. The Wiesbaden campus ratio is 7:1. The Elementary School at the Oberursel campus has a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.	Student teacher ratio Total students: 1,684; Teaching staff: 156; approximate student-to-teacher ratio: about 10.8:1. Classes are around 24 students on average.
Exam results	Exam results Results of student performance are published each year. The IB Diploma Programme culminates in external examinations taken in May.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Upper School students receive college counseling to pursue higher education. Graduates gain admission to universities worldwide with counselor support. Graduates enroll at universities across Europe, North America, and beyond.	Higher education progression Guidance and counselling for higher education is provided by dedicated staff. Career/Guidance Counsellors assist with university applications in English and German.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school offers dedicated support for students who are gifted or exceptionally talented.
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 1. Applications should be submitted soon after January 1, prior to the beginning of a new school year. An earlier application, together with a strong educational background, increases the chances of accommodating your family's needs. Some applicants may wait a year or longer to gain admission. Review General Student Application Information to understand the priority system and waiting lists, and how admission decisions are timed. 2. To apply for admission, complete the online application. When completing the online admission process, upload the following documents: copy of student passport or birth certificate; completed FIS Student Medical Record with immunization history; school transcripts for the past two years (in English); one passport-sized photograph of the student; Student Recommendation Form for Grade 1–12; standardized testing results if available; psycho-educational report if applicable. 3. Age requirements guide eligibility: First Steps must be three years old before 1 September; Pre-Primary must be four before 1 September; Primary must be five before 1 September; Grade 1 must have turned six before 1 September. English Language Acquisition (ELA) support is available for non-native speakers; the school accepts beginning English speakers through Grade 8, and Grade 9 requires an intermediate level with an ELA placement test to assess suitability. 4. Learning support is limited; learning support eligibility is assessed through an early application with a recent psycho-educational evaluation and related documents, and any medical/testing needs should be noted on the application. German passport holders may need an Ausnahmegenehmigung (special permit) to enroll, with related information and forms available for download or request from the admissions office. 5. Decision timing and the waiting process: a decision cannot be made until all required records and documents are submitted. Most applicants receive admission decisions in April through June, and the school will not have final vacancy numbers until near the end of the current school year. Completed applications received during the school year generally receive a decision within one week. 6. Transfers and partnerships: current FIS/FISW students can transfer between campuses, which may occur at the end of the school year and require submission before 1 April for consideration for the following school year. The Corporate Partnership Program exists with designated spaces for families from partner organizations, and inquiries can be directed to the Head of School. 7. Contact and next steps: the Admissions Office provides ongoing guidance through Alec Aspinwall (Director of Admissions and Advancement) and Patricia Dange (Admissions Assistant).	Admissions 1. Eligibility and initial interview: All students promoted at a state or comparable Gymnasium in a member state can enroll with no further admission conditions. An interview with the student and the parents is part of the enrollment process. If the student does not meet these conditions or comes from a non-European country, they are invited to an interview and a decision is made about admission or whether further assessment is needed. 2. Non‑selective admission and intent: The European School RheinMain follows a non‑selective principle and aims to integrate all students quickly and thoroughly into the European School system, with the goal of enabling every student to pursue the European Baccalaureate. 3. Application forms and language tracks: English-language application forms exist for Pre-Primary, Primary School, Secondary School, and an IB Curriculum track; German-language forms exist for Registration (Kindergarten), Registration Primary School, and Registration Secondary School. 4. Fees and financial information: Pre-Primary fees are €149.16 per month and automatically reduced by state funding; families outside Hessen receive only the sibling reduction. 5. Making it official: The bursar can be contacted for fee reductions (Mr. 6. Enrollment materials: Applications for the IB track and for standard tracks are available as English and German forms, with separate links for Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, and IB Curriculum. 7. Ongoing financial support and discounts: A tuition‑fee reduction can be granted based on need, with specific conditions and annual reviews; a full tuition exemption (scholarship) may be granted for a maximum of one child per family to broaden distribution; the entire household income and assets are considered as the basis for reductions. 8. Sibling and income thresholds: Sibling discounts apply—2nd child up to €180,000 annual income with 25% reduction; 3rd child up to €230,000 with 50% reduction; 4th child up to €280,000 with 50% reduction. 9. Other notes: The school relies on an application and confidentiality for reductions, and reductions are generally reviewed annually.
Scholarships	Scholarships The Tuition Reduction Program (TRP) offers partial or full tuition reductions to ensure international and social diversity and to make FIS accessible to students who would otherwise be unable to attend due to limited family income. Applications must be reviewed before the school year begins; they require detailed financial information and a copy of the parents' tax return. Eligibility includes meeting admission criteria, having a demonstrated need for an international education, and at least one parent employed in the Frankfurt Rhine‑Main area; a maximum of two students per family may receive a reduction; reductions are granted for one year and are reviewed annually. Levels of support are based on the family's gross annual income. The TRP selection is conducted by a committee, and decisions are communicated within a defined timetable (applications must be received by 1 May for the current year; decisions are made by mid‑June). Separate TRP applications are required for each student; confidentiality is maintained. Need-based scholarships through the TRP are designed to enable students to remain at FIS and to admit new students who could not otherwise afford the education.	Scholarships Scholarships take the form of tuition reductions. Full tuition exemption (scholarship) can generally be granted for a maximum of one child per family to ensure broader distribution of this highest level of reduction. Reductions are not guaranteed and depend on need; an application is required and income/assets must be disclosed, with the entire household considered. A tuition‑fee reduction can be granted if no other financial support is available and there is financial hardship; reductions are reviewed annually and apply for one school year at a time. The school is non‑profit, and proofs are kept confidential. Sibling discounts are also available: a 2nd child discount of 25% up to €180,000 annual income; a 3rd child discount of 50% up to €230,000; a 4th child discount of 50% up to €280,000.
Waitlist	Waitlist A waiting list is used due to high demand. A student's position on the waiting list can change if higher-priority applications are received, and there is no guarantee of a space opening during the school year. Applicants can express interest to be considered for the following school year if acceptance in the current year is not offered.	Waitlist —
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