ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main vs Strothoff International School
ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main and Strothoff International School are both in Frankfurt, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main also offers Bespoke and Cambridge IGCSE, and Strothoff International School also offers German. Published annual fees are close, at €14,850 - 24,410 for ISF International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main and €12,420 - 23,830 for Strothoff International School. Both take pupils from 3 to 18.
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
The Strothoff International School is located at Frankfurter Str. 160-166, 63303 Dreieich, Germany. Everything is on one campus, from Kindergarten to graduation. The campus is part of the Phorms Education network.
Stages
Stages
Kindergarten and Preschool; Primary School (Gr. 1-4); Middle School (Gr. 5-8); High School (Gr. 9-12).
Stages
Kindergarten to Diploma Programme (Reception, Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme).
School type
School type
Private day school.
School type
IB World School with integrated Hessian education program
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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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
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Germany; German curriculum equivalent to the state of Hesse.
Country affiliation
Germany (Hesse)
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
Full-day program; optional after-school care for Kindergarten to Grade 4.
School day structure
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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
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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 fees and registration
- A one-off registration (joining/admission) fee is charged at enrolment. For Secondary (Grades 6–12) this is €3,250. Re-enrolment is charged annually at €300. For Kindergarten, Reception and Grades 1–4 the registration charge is calculated as 2.5 times the applicable monthly parental contribution. Grade 5 entry is handled via the school's contribution calculator (income-based).
Tuition fees by year group (billing frequency shown where specified)
- Kindergarten: income-based monthly parental contribution (fee depends on household income). Lunch is billed separately per meal.
- Reception and Grades 1–4: income-based monthly parental contributions. Published monthly range is €99 to €1,206 (per child); a one-off registration charge equals 2.5 × the monthly contribution. Excursions and other extras are charged in addition.
- Grade 5: fee is determined via the parental contribution calculator (income-based). Published materials note that an IB fee of €150 is included where relevant for Grade 5.
- Grades 6–10: annual tuition is published as €22,550 per year. (Secondary tuition is presented as an annual parental contribution for these grades.)
- Grades 11–12 (Diploma Programme): annual tuition is published as €23,830 per year. (Diploma-level statutory IB charges are additional and invoiced separately.)
Per-term detail and billing frequency
- Secondary tuition (Grades 6–12) is presented as an annual fee. Primary and Kindergarten tuition is presented and calculated as a monthly parental contribution. Lunch charges are billed per meal on a daily basis. Excursions and week-long trips from Year 6 onward are invoiced separately after prior communication. Registration and re-enrolment fees are billed at the times noted above.
Boarding
- The school is a day school (no boarding provision).
Other costs and routine extras
- Lunch: Kindergarten: €5.90 per meal (billed daily). Reception / Grades 1–12: approx. €6.20 per meal (billed daily).
- Excursions / school trips: - Kindergarten excursions: €85 per year. - Reception – PYP 5: an annual excursions fee applies (an annual flat fee is stated for Reception and Grades 1–5; for Year 6 and above trips are invoiced separately and vary by destination). Published figures reference an annual flat fee for Reception and Grades 1–5 and separate invoicing thereafter.
- Materials allowance: €50 per year (per pupil).
- School clothing / uniform: initial cost approximately €150 (first year). The school operates a described uniform policy and associated costs.
- Afternoon care (example shown for Kindergarten): €41 per month for Friday 14:00–16:00. Holiday/after-school programme and other optional services may incur additional charges.
- Diploma Programme additional statutory charges: IB exam fees, IB DP Pamoja online course fees and graduation ceremony fees are passed through and invoiced separately to parents.
Refunds and fee adjustments
- The school does not publish a public, itemized refund schedule on the general admissions/fees pages. Registration and re-enrolment charges are applied as described above; additional invoiced items (exam, trip, programme fees) are billed separately. Specific refund or cancellation terms are handled through admissions/contract arrangements and via the school's payment/invoice processes.
Billing schedule and payment terms (how fees are presented and invoiced)
- Secondary tuition is shown as an annual charge; Primary and Kindergarten contributions are presented as monthly parental contributions. Lunch is billed per meal (daily). Excursions and week-long trips (from Year 6) are invoiced separately after prior communication. Registration fees are charged on enrolment and the re-enrolment fee is charged annually.
Fee payment options (how payments are processed)
- Applications and initial fee handling are managed through the school's OpenApply admissions portal. OpenApply supports a range of payment methods that schools may enable, including credit card and bank transfer (and integrations such as Flywire), so application and enrolment payments can be taken through that portal when enabled by the school. Final invoicing and specific payment instructions (bank/IBAN details, card payment options or third-party payment portals) are provided to families via the school's admissions/finance processes and parent portal.
Sibling discounts
- A sibling discount applies for Reception and Grades 1–12: 15% for the second child and 30% for the third and each additional child (the discount applies to the parental contribution; some items such as school clothing, excursions and materials are excluded). No sibling discount is offered in Kindergarten.
Summary of the key numerical items (as presented by the school)
If you plan to place these details in an external database, use the figures above exactly as published for each grade band and the billing frequencies noted (annual or monthly). The school presents certain year groups (Kindergarten, Reception, Grades 1–5 and Grade 5 entry) as income-based monthly contributions and provides an online parental contribution calculator for those items; other year groups are shown with fixed annual tuition amounts and the additional statutory IB and trip fees are invoiced separately.
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
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
Strothoff International School is an IB World School offering the IB continuum. Primary Years Programme (PYP) is used in the early years (Reception and PYP) with a bilingual English–German environment; the PYP years are state-approved, combining the Hessen curriculum with IB. Kindergarten to PYP 5 are bilingual (60% English, 40% German). The Middle Years Programme (MYP) runs for Grades 6–10, taught in English with German, Spanish or French language instruction. The Diploma Programme (DP) is offered with three options: IBDP, HSDP, and Abi-IBDP; all three begin in MYP4/MYP5, and students who complete Years 9–12 receive a High School Diploma. The DP is recognised by universities worldwide due to NEASC and CIS accreditation, and the curriculum aligns IB expectations with the Hessen curriculum, emphasizing project‑based and cross‑curricular learning.
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
Strothoff International School consistently performs well above the world average in IB Diploma examinations.
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
The diploma is recognised by universities around the world thanks to accreditation by NEASC and the Council for International Schools (CIS).
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
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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
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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
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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
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
Admission procedure and registration process: Thank you for your interest in becoming part of our school community. Here you will find information about the registration process, allocation of places, school fees (as of 1 August 2025) and the next steps. We welcome new students throughout the year, depending on availability. Your child can join us either at the start of the school year or during the year. We carefully consider the age group and available places to ensure a smooth and happy transition into our school community.
Online registration for Kindergarten and School: A step-by-step guide
1. Create account & save the link: Create an account on our OpenApply platform. Save the page as a bookmark and keep your access data safe.
2. Fill in the application form: Please fill in all required fields in the application form.
3. Upload documents and fill out forms: Please upload the following documents: a copy of your child's passport; copies of the parents' passports; a copy of your child's vaccination record; and complete the following forms: Health form; Consent form for photo and video recordings; Parent questionnaire. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.
4. Finalise your application and submit all documents: For Kindergarten: the Kindergarten Questionnaire (Kindergarten Application). Our Admissions Team will send this form to you. For Reception and Year 1: the Kindergarten Questionnaire (Application for Reception and Year 1). Our Admissions Team will send this form to you. For School: the last three school reports (if available) and please forward the Teacher Recommendation directly to your child's class teacher. To proceed with the admissions process, the application form and all documents listed above must be submitted in digital form. If you are applying for more than one child, you will need to create a separate account for each child.
5. Financial information: For your financial information, you can either upload your income tax assessment or fill out the Income Assessment Form.
6. Trial days: As soon as we have received all the documents, we will check them carefully and get back to you. The next step is to invite your child to trial days to get to know our school, teachers and classmates. Your child can experience school life at first hand, and we will learn more about your child's individual characteristics and habits.
7. Parent meeting: Following the trial days, a feedback meeting takes place in which we discuss possible next steps for the admission of your child.
8. Available space: If we offer you a place and you decide to enrol your child at our school, we look forward to concluding a school contract with you.
An overview of the fees and costs to expect: Kindergarten: As a state-recognized kindergarten, we receive subsidies from both the state of Hesse and the municipality of Dreieich. However, due to the additional costs of our comprehensive educational concept, we are still dependent on charging parental contributions. An income-based contribution model is used. Please use the parental contribution calculator below to determine your family contribution.
Additional contributions in Kindergarten: Lunch: €5.90 per meal, billed daily; Afternoon care: €41 per month for Friday 2-4 pm; Excursions: €85 per year; Materials allowance: €50 per year; Costs for school clothing: as described; One-off registration: 2.5 times the monthly fee.
Grades 1 to 4 and Reception: The elementary school at Strothoff International School is a state-recognized alternative school. We offer reduced, income-dependent parental contributions in grades 1-4 and in Reception. Monthly fees range from €99 to €1,206. Please use the parental contribution calculator to determine your contribution. One-off registration: 2.5 times the monthly fee.
Grades 5 to 12: The contributions for grades 5-12 are as follows: Grades 5: Please use the parental contribution calculator to determine your contribution. Grades 6-10: €22,550 / year; Grades 11-12: €23,830 / year. We charge a one-off registration fee of €3,250 upon registration. The re-enrollment fee is €300.
Sibling discount for grades 1 to 12 and Reception: We offer generous sibling discounts of 15% for the second child and 30% for the third and each additional child in a family. The discount applies to the parental contribution per month. Excluded from the discount are costs for school clothing, excursions and material costs. We do not offer a sibling discount in the kindergarten.
Additional contributions for excursions in grades 1 to 12 and in Reception: Please expect an annual flat fee of €220 for excursions and curriculum-related events and visits for pupils in our Reception and in grades 1-5. From Year 6 onwards, the fees for excursions and week-long school trips are invoiced separately after prior communication. Other additional costs in grades 1 to 12 and in Reception: Costs for school clothing as described: approx. €150; Lunch: €6.20 per meal, billed on a daily basis; Materials €50.00 per year. Our learning support for your child is generally included in the school fees. However, additional costs may be incurred for individual learning support for pupils with special educational needs. You as parents will be informed in advance of any additional costs for this support.
Costs in the Diploma Programme: As part of the Diploma Program, you will be charged a number of statutory fees which are set by the IB World Association and passed on to parents via the school. These fees vary according to year level and are invoiced separately: Exam fee; IB DP Pamoja online course; Fees for the graduation ceremony.
Parental contribution calculator for Kindergarten: We want our educational programme to be accessible to as many children as possible. From kindergarten onwards, we are pleased to be able to offer income-based tuition. Tuition is always determined by the gross annual income of all legal guardians from two years prior. This means, for example, that for the 2026/27 school year, the positive gross annual income of the parents/guardians from 2024 will be used. Tuition is recalculated every year. With our tuition calculator, you can estimate your monthly fees.
Parental contribution calculator for Primary: The primary school at Strothoff International School is state-approved. This enables us to offer reduced, income-based parental contributions. The monthly parental contributions are calculated based on your family's total annual income.
Parental contribution calculator for Secondary: Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, we will offer reduced, income-based school fees for secondary level 1 (grades 5-10). As with school fees in primary school, the monthly parental contributions will be calculated based on your family's total annual income. The new fee regulations apply exclusively to new year groups. All existing secondary level 1 classes (grades 6-10 in the 2026/2027 school year) remain subject to the old fee regulations with fixed school fees.
Important questions about Admissions: Is there an entrance exam? No. Instead, a placement interview and various assessments are carried out to determine the level of learning. Is there a waiting list? Yes, there is a waiting list for certain grades and kindergarten. When is the registration deadline / What are the registration deadlines? There are no registration deadlines; registration is possible all year round. What are the costs for the school? The fees are made up of an admission fee, annual school fees in the Secondary and income-related monthly fees in the Primary/Kindergarten and any additional costs (lunch, bus, materials). A detailed overview is available HERE on the website. More than a school - we are family. Strothoff International School is part of the Phorms Education network.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
There is a waiting list for certain grades and kindergarten.