German International School Washington D.C. vs Rochambeau - Forest Road
German International School Washington D.C. and Rochambeau - Forest Road are both in Washington Dc, about 5 km apart. Both schools offer American and Bespoke programmes. German International School Washington D.C. also offers German, and Rochambeau - Forest Road also offers IB and French. Published annual fees are $16,430 - 31,830 at German International School Washington D.C. and $28,315 - 33,930 at Rochambeau - Forest Road, which puts Rochambeau - Forest Road roughly 29% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. Rochambeau - Forest Road is the larger school, with around 1,295 pupils to German International School Washington D.C.'s 500.
American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum
Curriculum
IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
500
Pupils
1,295
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
18
Instruction language
Instruction language
German, English
Instruction language
French, English
Opened
Opened
1961
Opened
1955
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The GISW campus is at 8617 Chateau Drive, Potomac, MD 20854. The school sits in a residential area near Washington, D.C. A Shuttle Bus Service runs from the Bolger Center, 9600 Newbridge Dr., Potomac, MD 20854, to the GISW campus, with multiple buses facilitating morning and after-school transportation.
Location
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Stages
Stages
Preschool (ages 2–4) with morning groups and an optional Afternoon Program and Extended Care; Elementary School from entry level through 4th grade with German curricula and English lessons at U.S. standards; Grades 5 through 12 earn the German International Abitur and a U.S. High School Diploma.
Stages
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School type
School type
Independent, bilingual.
School type
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Germany
Country affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Shuttle Bus Service from Bolger Center, 9600 Newbridge Dr., Potomac, MD 20854 to GISW and back. Three buses shuttle in the morning; the first leaves Bolger Center at 8:40 am. After classes, the first bus departs GISW between 11:35 and 11:40 am and returns to the Bolger Center. Direct drop-off or pick-up at GISW on Saturday mornings is not allowed; a parking pass is required to park on GISW grounds; buses are the default option for students and drivers with passes.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Overview (fees listed below apply to the published 2025/26 schedule)
Application & enrollment fees - Application fee (non‑refundable): USD 150. - New student enrollment fee (non‑refundable, per student): USD 2,500. A reduced enrollment fee of USD 1,400 applies for students moving from GISW Preschool to the School Entry Level (SEL). - Contract deposit (non‑refundable at signing; deducted from billing statement): USD 1,000 per student. - School Society membership fee (per family, per school year): USD 150. - Technology fee (per student, grades 1–12, per school year): USD 200. - Class account fee (per student, per school year): USD 150.
Tuition — annual amounts by program and year group (full‑year tuition shown; two columns reflect the published early‑contract rate and the standard rate) - Preschool (5 days, Mon–Fri) — 2‑year‑old programs: - Morning Program only (8:00–13:15): USD 20,223 (early/required contract date) / USD 21,223 (standard). - Morning + Afternoon Program (8:00–14:45): USD 23,928 / USD 24,928. - Morning + Afternoon + Extended Care (8:00–16:45): USD 29,967 / USD 30,967. - Preschool — 3/4‑year‑old programs: - Morning Program only (8:00–13:15): USD 16,430 / USD 17,430. - Morning + Afternoon Program (8:00–14:45): USD 20,135 / USD 21,135. - Morning + Afternoon + Extended Care (8:00–16:45): USD 26,174 / USD 27,174. - School Entry Level (SEL) through Grade 12 — School day (includes afternoon program until 15:15): - SEL: USD 24,166 / USD 25,166. - Grades 1–6: USD 25,418 / USD 26,418. - Grades 7–12: USD 26,293 / USD 27,293. - SEL through Grade 9 — School day with Extended Care (15:15–16:45): - SEL: USD 29,703 / USD 30,703. - Grades 1–6: USD 30,955 / USD 31,955. - Grades 7–9: USD 31,830 / USD 32,830. - Extended Care drop‑in fee (Preschool–Grade 9), per instance: USD 50.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Accepted payment schedules: annual (single payment), semi‑annual (two equal installments — typically August and January), or monthly (ten equal installments — typically August through May) processed through a tuition management system. Installment schedules divide the published annual tuition into equal payments for the chosen schedule. Credit card payments may incur a convenience fee charged by the tuition processor in addition to tuition. - Payment processing: tuition installments and recurring payments are handled through Blackbaud Tuition Management; families receive an enrollment email and set up their payment method (bank account or credit card). Semi‑annual withdrawals occur in August and January; monthly withdrawals are processed on the 5th or the 20th of each month (depending on family selection). Returned check, change, and late payment fees apply as published. - Payment by check/wire is accepted; when paying by automatic deduction, bank routing/ABA and account numbers are required. If paying by credit card, a processor convenience fee will be billed separately.
Bus, cafeteria and other recurring program fees - Bus (annual, service available mornings and afternoons at 15:20 and 16:55) — zone pricing by route: - Zone A: USD 2,707; Zone B: USD 3,198; Zone C: USD 3,669; Zone D: USD 4,160; Zone E: USD 4,751. Single ticket (one‑way): USD 15. - Cafeteria (annual fee for Preschool–Grade 12): USD 1,260. - Returned check fee: USD 50. Change fee: USD 50. Second replacement bus pass fee and other minor administrative fees apply as published. Late payment fees are charged monthly until the account is current. - Bookstore and sports uniform purchases: books, school supplies, and sports uniforms are available for purchase through the school bookstore; payments accepted in USD by major credit card, cash, or US check. Sports uniforms are required only for athletic teams where applicable.
Boarding - Boarding is not applicable. GISW operates as a day school; there are no boarding fees.
Other one‑time or occasional costs - New student enrollment fee (non‑refundable) as noted above: USD 2,500 (or USD 1,400 for Preschool→SEL transition). - Class account fee: USD 150 per student, per school year. - Technology fee for Grades 1–12: USD 200 per student, per school year. - Parents' or School Society membership fee: USD 150 per family, per school year. - Occasional program or activity fees (school trips, athletics team fees, special course fees) may apply; sports team uniforms are purchased separately through the bookstore. Returned check and administrative change fees apply as listed above.
Refund information and withdrawal terms - Tuition and fees are non‑refundable if a student leaves the school before the end of the school year. In cases of special hardship or family relocation that requires withdrawal during the school year, the school will consider a partial refund of prepaid tuition and/or waiver of remaining installments; decisions are made according to school policy and require a written request submitted within 10 days of withdrawal. Attendance for any part of a month is billed for the full month; leaves of absence require full payment of tuition and fees for the period.
Fee payment options (methods accepted) - Automatic bank account withdrawal (ACH) or automatic credit card charge via Blackbaud Tuition Management (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). A convenience fee applies for credit card payments and is billed separately. Families may also pay by check or wire transfer to the school; specific bank details are provided during tuition enrollment/registration for payments.
(End of fee overview.)
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Preschool: Ages 2 through 4; morning groups with the option of staying for the afternoon program and for extended care. Elementary School runs from School Entry Level through 4th grade with a modern learning environment, German curricula, English lessons at U.S. standards, and lab science. Grades 5 through 12 graduate with the U.S. High School Diploma and the German International Abitur, opening doors to universities worldwide. STEM/MINT is offered to allow students to specialize in rigorous mathematics and science curricula focused on problem-solving and research.
Curriculum details
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Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates earn both the German International Abitur and a U.S. High School Diploma, enabling admission to universities worldwide.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
STEM/MINT Education offers specialized mathematics and science curricula focused on problem-solving and research.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Create an account on GISW's application portal to start the online application. Submit the required information and supporting documents via the portal. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to availability. The fee schedule includes an Application Fee of $150, a New Student Enrollment Fee of $2,500 (with contract signing and non-refundable), and a Contract Deposit of $1,000 (added to tuition, non-refundable). 2. After the Admissions Office reviews the application, the decision is posted in the application portal. The typical processing time is four to six weeks. GISW cannot accept new students in Grade 12. Application checklists cover Preschool (2, 3, 4-year-olds), Grades K-4, and Grades 5-11. 3. If admitted, sign the enrollment contract in the application portal. The contract submission is due 10 days after receipt. For questions, contact the Director of Enrollment Management, Ms.
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
GISW offers need-based financial aid through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) provides the need analysis used to determine awards. Awards typically range from 10% to 40% of tuition, with a maximum of $4,000 per student for Preschool. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; those submitted by February 20, 2026 are guaranteed a response by March 27, 2026 via email.
