ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main vs Metropolitan School Frankfurt

	I ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main Frankfurt, Germany	M Metropolitan School Frankfurt Frankfurt, Germany
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €14,850 - 24,410	Fees / year €13,440 - 21,460
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 750
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 21
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened 1995	Opened 2007
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main is located at Strasse zur Internationalen Schule 33, 65931, Frankfurt, Germany. It sits in the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main region and is easily accessible by train or car. The S-Bahn stops Sindlingen (S1) and Zeilsheim (S2) bring students within a five-minute walk of the campus. It is located near expatriate towns and villages in the Taunus hills.	Location Metropolitan School Frankfurt is located at Eschborner Landstrasse 134 - 142, 60489 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It sits in the city of Frankfurt and is easily accessible by car and public transport. The public bus stops in front of the school, and it is well connected via local train and bus services. The school maintains relationships with transportation companies that operate private transfers of students to and from school.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten and Preschool; Primary School (Gr. 1-4); Middle School (Gr. 5-8); High School (Gr. 9-12).	Stages Early Years (Kindergarten), Primary School, Secondary School
School type	School type Private day school.	School type International school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning support includes teacher-led study groups, peer tutoring, Power Study Sessions, and on-demand tutoring videos; Advisory Classes; Student Counseling; Health & Wellness services.	Additional learning support Learning support with an expert team; in-class differentiation helps to challenge and support student learning.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany; German curriculum equivalent to the state of Hesse.	Country affiliation Germany
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Full-day program; optional after-school care for Kindergarten to Grade 4.	School day structure Opening hours: Early Morning Care 8:00–8:30; Early Years and Primary School 8:30–15:30; Secondary School 8:25–15:30; After School Care 15:30–17:30.
Bus service details	Bus service details Door-to-door bus service via private taxi companies; S-Bahn stops Sindlingen (S1) and Zeilsheim (S2) bring students within a five-minute walk of the campus; details on SABIS Digital Platform or via Admissions.	Bus service details Public bus stops in front of the school; onsite parking for parents; well connected via local train and bus services; transportation providers arrange private transfers to and from school.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and enrollment fees - Enrolment Fee (new students): € 600.00 per student, billed with the tuition invoice for the new academic year. - Re‑Enrolment Fee (returning students): € 200.00 per student, billed with the tuition invoice for the new academic year. - Late Enrolment Fee: € 900.00 for students starting in Terms 2 or 3. School place reservation fee - A School Place Reservation Fee is payable to the school's mother company (ISF GmbH & Co. KG). The Fee is € 2,000 per child per year for each of the first three years a child attends ISF (total possible payment over three years € 6,000). The first € 2,000 is payable on registration; the second and third € 2,000 are due on June 15 of the year before the respective second and third school years. The first-year reservation payment is non-refundable and not prorated. Tuition fees (annual and per-term) - Tuition is charged by grade group and shown below as annual fee and as one-third (per instalment) when paid in three instalments: - Kindergarten & Preschool: € 14,850 per year — € 4,950 per instalment. - Grade 1–3: € 18,255 per year — € 6,085 per instalment. - Grades 4–6: € 19,395 per year — € 6,465 per instalment. - Grades 7–9: € 21,165 per year — € 7,055 per instalment. - Grades 10–11: € 22,860 per year — € 7,620 per instalment. - Grade 12: € 24,000 per year — € 8,000 per instalment. - Grade 13 (where applicable): € 24,210 per year — € 8,070 per instalment. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid in one annual instalment (due in June) or in three instalments. When paid in three instalments the due dates are: one-third of the annual tuition plus the full Enrolment/Re‑enrolment Fee due by June 15; the second instalment due by September 15; the third instalment due by December 15. Tuition invoices are issued in May. Tuition invoices issued after December 1 are payable in full within two weeks of the invoice date. Ensure bank transfer charges are included with payments. Discounts and reductions - Family discounts (when children are enrolled at the same time): € 900 tuition discount for the second child; € 1,650 for the third child; € 2,400 for each additional child. - Direct debit (SEPA) discount: € 150 total (€ 50 per instalment) is granted when tuition instalments are paid by SEPA direct debit on the due dates (or the first working day thereafter). The original SEPA mandate must be received at least 14 days before the first due date. This discount is not combined with the early-payment discount. - Early-payment discount: € 300 is granted for full annual payment by the June due date (or within two weeks of invoice for new families enrolling between June 15 and Week 5 of Term 1). Other costs and what is included - Books: one set of books is provided per student per school year (may be digital, physical, or a mix) and are included in the tuition. - Extra charges billed in addition to tuition: summer school fees, external examination fees, some after‑school activities, extra‑curricular trips, replacement of lost materials, and dress‑code/uniform items. Hot lunch and transportation are provided by outside firms and are billed separately. Refunds and cancellation - Cancellation: if a (Re‑)Enrolment application is withdrawn after July 15, a cancellation fee of € 1,800 in addition to the Enrolment/Re‑enrolment Fee will be charged. If withdrawn before July 15, the Enrolment/Re‑enrolment Fee is charged and retained. - Leaving during the school year: at least one month's written notice before the beginning of the next term is required for withdrawal. Tuition paid in advance for unattended whole academic term(s) will be refunded; discounts already granted will be deducted from the refund. There is no refund for dis‑enrolment due to disciplinary measures or for instructional days lost for reasons beyond the school's control. A student who attends 5 weeks or more of a term is charged for the full term; attendance during the last 4 weeks or first 4 weeks of a term can trigger half‑term charges per the stated rules. Overdue payments and surcharges - If the school must send reminders for overdue tuition payments, an administration surcharge of € 50.00 per reminder will be charged. Boarding - ISF requires enrolled students to live with and be under the care of a parent or legal guardian for the entire period of enrolment; there is no boarding provision and therefore no boarding fees. Fee payment options and bank details - Accepted payment methods for tuition: SEPA direct debit (direct debit mandate valid for tuition payment) and bank transfer; tuition can also be invoiced to a company where company details are provided. SEPA direct debit requires a completed mandate submitted with the Enrolment Contract. Parents should include the Student ID number on all bank transfers. (No credit-card payment method is listed in the school's enrolment/payment documentation.) - Bank transfer details (payable to ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein‑Main Verwaltungs‑GmbH): IBAN DE95 5007 0010 0093 4893 00; SWIFT/BIC DEUTDEFFXXX; Bank: Deutsche Bank, Rossmarkt 18, 60311 Frankfurt. Please ensure payments include all bank transfer charges and include the Student ID number on transfers.	Fee details Application and one-time fees - Registration Fee (one-time): EUR 1,000. This fee is due within three weeks after signing the school contract and covers admitting, assessing and registering the child. - MSF Joining Fee (one-time): EUR 6,200 per student. For enrollments contractually limited to less than six months, half of this fee is payable. For Early Years children in KG1 and KG2, parents may elect to pay the Joining Fee in two equal instalments (50% on signing and 50% one year later). Students granted reduced tuition are exempt from the Joining Fee while they meet the reduced-tuition conditions. Tuition fees by division (monthly and annual amounts) - Early Years (ages 3–6): - Snack fee for Frankfurt citizens (tuition otherwise covered by the city): EUR 56 per month / EUR 672 per year. - Tuition for non-Frankfurt citizens (includes snack fee): EUR 1,220 per month / EUR 14,640 per year. - Primary School (Grades 1–5): Regular school tuition EUR 1,255 per month / EUR 15,060 per year. - Secondary School (Grades 6–10): Regular school tuition EUR 1,547 per month / EUR 18,564 per year. - Secondary School — IB Diploma (Grades 11–12): Regular school tuition EUR 1,697 per month / EUR 20,364 per year. Optional monthly fees (monthly and annual amounts) - Lunch (optional hot lunch): EUR 136 per month / EUR 1,632 per year. - After School Care (regular programme): EUR 176 per month / EUR 2,112 per year; ad-hoc care EUR 25 per day or EUR 100 per week. - Extra English (EAL; four lessons per week for significant additional English support): EUR 145 per month / EUR 1,740 per year. - After-school club fees: charged per semester or quarter depending on the club and provider. All optional fees are charged monthly where indicated. Reduced tuition and scholarships - The school operates a fee-reduction programme with multiple income bands for Grades 1–10 and Grades 6–10 reduced-tuition levels; amounts vary by family income. Example reduced monthly rates (Primary G1–5): EUR 898, EUR 601, EUR 378, EUR 154 depending on income thresholds; (Secondary G6–10) examples include EUR 1,042, EUR 687, EUR 421, EUR 154 depending on income thresholds. Applicants must submit income and asset documentation for assessment; reduced-tuition places are allocated and reviewed annually. Families who receive reduced tuition are generally exempt from the Joining Fee while qualifying. Scholarships for Grade 1–10 and for IB Diploma years are available by confidential application and are decided by the school's scholarship committee. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and the monthly optional charges are billed in 12 equal monthly instalments and are due on the first day of each month. Lunch and after-school care costs are divided by 12 and charged monthly, including during school holiday months. - Regular monthly tuition and optional monthly fees are payable by direct debit from the parents' or guardians' German bank account. Invoices are used for certain external charges (for example external examination fees). - Handling and rejection: a handling fee of EUR 10 is charged for each rejected direct debit in addition to the bank's rejection fee. If direct debits are rejected three times within a school year, the school may require semester-by-semester prepayments with immediate effect. - The school publishes an annual tuition and fees schedule in advance of the following academic year. The academic year runs from 1 August to 31 July. Payment methods and bank details (fee payments and one-time fees) - Ongoing monthly tuition and optional fees: payable by direct debit from a German bank account. - Registration and Joining Fees: payable by bank transfer to the school's account (bank name, IBAN and SWIFT/BIC are provided in the admissions paperwork and in the school's admissions instructions). Example bank details used for fee transfers are associated with Taunus Sparkasse (IBAN: DE74512500000000326666; SWIFT-BIC: HELADEF1TSK) for the payment of Registration and Joining Fees. External examination fees and other invoices are normally paid by bank transfer on invoice. No regular acceptance of credit-card payments for monthly tuition is stated. Late enrolment, notice and refund / termination arrangements - Late enrolment schedule (percentage of annual tuition payable when joining after the school year start): - August: 100% payable - September: 100% payable - October: 95% payable - November: 85% payable - December: 75% payable - January: 65% payable - February: 55% payable - March: 45% payable - April: 35% payable - May: 25% payable - June: 15% payable. - Early termination (amount of annual tuition payable depending on termination month; applies to contracts per the stated contract clauses): - Termination effective end of August: 25% of annual tuition payable - September: 40% payable - October: 45% payable - November: 50% payable - December: 55% payable - January: 65% payable - February: 75% payable - March: 85% payable - April: 95% payable - May and June: 100% payable. - For students leaving at the end of the academic year, notice must be given by 31 March prior to the end of the academic year. If notice is given between 1 April and 31 July, the early-termination table applies plus 25% of the following school year's tuition in specified contract situations. If a new student signs a school contract but terminates it before starting, a payment of 25% of the following year's tuition is due. These notice and termination conditions determine any refundable or payable balance when a student departs. Other costs and regular extras - External examination fees (charged by external examining bodies and invoiced to families): approximate amounts for the year include IGCSE exam fees ~EUR 110 per subject (Coordinated Science billed ~EUR 220) and IB Diploma fees with a registration component and per-subject charges (for example approximate registration and per-subject amounts are set out for the IB Diploma). Families may be eligible for confidential school funding for examination or book costs in specific financial-need cases. - Day-school trips and excursions are included in the tuition up to EUR 50 per student per year; any costs beyond that will be charged separately. Overnight school-trip costs vary by trip. - Books: the school provides school books for Early Years, Primary and Secondary except for Grades 11 and 12, where families are given a book list and ordering options. If required, families in Grades 11 and 12 may apply for confidential school funding for books. - After-school care late pickup fee: EUR 10 for every 5 minutes beyond official closing time and EUR 25 for every 10 minutes after 18:00; charged by direct debit at month end. - Ad-hoc afterschool care (occasional use): EUR 25 per day or EUR 100 per week. Afterschool-club fees are payable per semester or quarter depending on the activity. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable. Metropolitan School Frankfurt operates as a day school with stated opening and after-school-care hours; no boarding fees apply. Refunds and adjustments - Refunds and adjustments are governed by the termination and late-enrolment schedules above and by the contractual notice requirements; specific refundable amounts (if any) are determined by the termination month percentages and by the contract clauses that apply to each enrolment. Handling fees for rejected direct debits and any charged external fees are not refundable where stated by the school's payment terms. Families seeking fee reductions or assistance must follow the school's fee-reduction or scholarship application procedures.
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 ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main offers a traditional core college preparatory SABIS curriculum with non-sectarian, English-language instruction. A third language is studied starting in Grade 6. For graduation, the school offers the ISF High School Diploma, IGCSE (end of Grade 10 or Grade 11), IB Diploma Programme (IB World School since August 2007), Advanced Placement (AP Capstone Diploma or individual AP exams), and A-Level (end of Grade 13; offered until the 2008-2009 school year).	Curriculum details The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Early Years and Primary School. In Secondary School the programme combines the Cambridge International Examinations IGCSE for Grades 6–10 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for Grades 11–12. The IGCSE offers English (First Language, Core and Extended), English as a Foreign Language, German (First and Foreign Language), French, Spanish, Coordinated Science (Core and Extended, Double Award), Mathematics (Core and Extended), History, Geography, Food and Nutrition, Business Studies, Computer Science, Art and Design, Music, and Drama. The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year curriculum built on six subject groups with the DP Core (Creativity, Activity, Service; Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay). The DP is recognised for university entrance and offers equivalence to the German Abitur; the school provides transparency for German university entrance requirements. The 2023 graduates averaged 37 points with a high of 41 out of 45.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Class sizes in Primary are usually 15-20 students per class and never exceed 25.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The Diploma Programme results show a 2023 average of 37 points with a high score of 41 out of 45. The school reports a 100% IB pass rate. In the Secondary School, students study the IGCSE with subjects including English, German, French, Spanish, Science, Mathematics, History, Geography, and more; 70% of students achieved grades A or A* in IGCSE.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression ISF provides a University & Careers Office to assist with university placement. Graduates have been admitted to universities worldwide, including institutions in Australia (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; University of Melbourne), Canada (University of British Columbia; McGill University; University of Ottawa; University of Toronto; University of Waterloo), Germany (RWTH Aachen; TH Aschaffenburg; University of Bayreuth; Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin; TU Darmstadt; Goethe University Frankfurt; Frankfurt School of Finance & Management; University of Mannheim; Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), the United Kingdom (University of Cambridge; University of Oxford), and the United States among others.	Higher education progression MSF provides university and career counselling to help students find the best match for higher education worldwide. Counsellors offer ongoing support, meet with students as needed, and provide guidance based on training and experience; parents are involved in the process. The programme includes guidance on internal and external deadlines, and resources for studying in the UK, Germany and beyond. Contacts are Marcel König (German University Counsellor) and Karen Smith (University Counsellor for worldwide applications).
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Gifted students who volunteer or are selected by teachers are trained to become Shadow Teachers®. Shadow Teachers exist in each subject and grade level, learn material a week ahead of their classmates, and may lead the class under teacher's supervision.	Gifted and 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 To initiate admissions, ISF must receive the completed enrollment documents. There is no application deadline; admissions should be initiated in late winter or early spring for the next school year. Applications are accepted throughout the school year until the beginning of May, subject to the availability of spaces. Applicants must provide current school records including transcripts, any test or exam results from the previous two years, and any psychological/neurological evaluations, and submit these forms to the registrar at the start of the admissions process. A final admissions decision cannot be made without this information. Admissions Checklist: contact for more information; schedule a school visit and tour; complete and return enrollment contract, Student Medical Form, copy of birth certificate or passport, and copy of school reports from the previous two years (if applicable); schedule placement tests (before or after enrollment); schedule a day visit (optional). Up to Grade 7 (and Grade 8 at the beginning of the school year) no knowledge of English is required for admission. For all grades no knowledge of German is required.	Admissions 1. Apply online through the MSF online application form at apply.m-school.de and upload all required documents and certificates. Kindergarten applications require the Early Years Confidential Statement Form to be filled out by the current nursery/kindergarten and by parents. For G1-11 applications, submit the last two school reports and transcripts translated into English, a letter of reference, and a completed Referral Form. Psychological/psycho-educational evaluations for applicants with specific learning needs, the Secondary Student Statement Form (Grades 6-11) completed in handwriting, and a handwritten essay of approximately 500 words for IB DP applicants to Grade 11 may also be requested.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Applications are accepted from September to June for the following school year. If a place is not available, students are placed on the waitlist.
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