Lakeside School - Kusnacht vs SIS Swiss International School Männedorf-Zürich

	L Lakeside School - Kusnacht Zug, Switzerland	S SIS Swiss International School Männedorf-Zürich Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 20,400 - 27,600	Fees / year CHF 25,860
Age range	Age range 3 - 12 years	Age range 3 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 200	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language German, English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Küsnacht, canton of Zürich, Switzerland. The campus is located in Küsnacht with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich. Getting to school is convenient by public transport: a ten-minute walk from the Küsnacht-Goldbach or Zollikon train stations. A school bus runs from the Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations at no extra cost, and door-to-door service can be arranged depending on location. Bus routes are established each June for the next academic year.	Location Seestrasse 57, 8708 Männedorf, Switzerland; near Lake Zurich; easily reachable by public transport.
Stages	Stages Pre-Kindergarten; Kindergarten; Primary School	Stages Kindergarten and Primary School.
School type	School type Private, non-profit bilingual day school	School type Private bilingual day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than twenty nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support In-house language and learning support rooms for small-group instruction	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Full-day day school with supervision from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; includes lunch, morning and afternoon supervision, homework support and flexible drop-off/pick-up times.
Bus service details	Bus service details School bus from Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations at no extra cost; door-to-door service possible depending on location; routes set each June for the next academic year	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Entrance Fees - Registration (Anmeldegebühr): CHF 500.- (non-refundable). - Deposit (security deposit payable when the contract is signed): CHF 3,500.- for the 1st child / CHF 2,500.- for the 2nd child / CHF 1,500.- for each further child. The deposit is retained if the school contract is terminated less than 16 weeks before the child's agreed start date; otherwise the deposit is refunded on exit after settlement of any outstanding amounts. - For Pre‑Kindergarten programmes a school fund (Schulfond) charge applies: CHF 1,000.-. Sibling deposit scale shown on Pre‑K information: 1st child CHF 2,000.- / 2nd child CHF 1,000.- / from 3rd child CHF 500.- (specific Pre‑K registration/deposit information is published with the Pre‑K programme). Tuition fees by programme and year group (month / annual equivalents where published) - Pre‑Kindergarten (full programme; Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,050.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 24,600.-). - Pre‑Kindergarten (five mornings per week): CHF 1,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 15,720.-). Additional morning: CHF 260.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 3,120.-). Additional afternoon: CHF 210.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 2,520.-). - Kindergarten (full programme; Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 27,720.-). Options with an additional free afternoon shown at CHF 2,150.- or CHF 2,200.- per month (annual equivalents CHF 25,800.- and CHF 26,400.- respectively). - Primary school (1st – 6th grade; full programme; Wednesday morning only): CHF 2,310.- per month (annual equivalent CHF 27,720.-). Additional day‑care, lunch and extra-curricular charges - Day Care (sample rates published): morning care (07:30–08:45, five days) CHF 307.- per month (annual CHF 3,684.-). After‑school care options (15:45–17:30) CHF 429.- per month (annual CHF 5,148.-); (15:45–18:30) CHF 678.- per month (annual CHF 8,136.-). Single sessions and Wednesday‑afternoon options also listed with published per‑session rates. - Hot Lunch (catered lunch; VAT excluded): Monday–Friday (including Wednesday) CHF 250.- per month (annual CHF 3,000.-); Monday–Friday (excluding Wednesday) CHF 200.- per month (annual CHF 2,400.-); Tuesday & Thursday option CHF 100.- per month (annual CHF 1,200.-). - Holiday care and semester leisure courses are charged separately; published materials note guaranteed minimum holiday‑care weeks and that some leisure courses incur additional fees. - School bus: a guaranteed spot on the school shuttle from the nearby Tiefenbrunnen or Küsnacht train stations is provided without additional cost; door‑to‑door pickup may be organised depending on routing (published routing is established each June). Specific door‑to‑door provisions and routes are handled by the school. Billing schedule and payment terms - Regular tuition and service charges are stated as monthly amounts and are payable in advance at the start of each month. Published materials show monthly amounts and annual equivalents. Price changes are reserved by the school. A sibling discount applies: 5% for the second child and 10% from the third child. Boarding - Lakeside School Küsnacht operates as a day school (day programmes, day care, after‑school provision). No boarding fees apply. Other costs and typical extras - School fund (Schulfond) charge associated with Pre‑K registration: CHF 1,000.-. - Enrollment or programme administrative charges for sport, excursions, specialised courses and some extracurricular programmes may be invoiced separately when offered; holiday‑care weeks and some leisure courses are charged in addition to base fees. Hot lunch, day‑care and single‑session charges are itemised as above. - Uniforms are not listed among mandatory fees in the published programme and pricing materials for the Küsnacht campus. Specific activity‑related equipment or course materials, if required, are invoiced or communicated per programme. Refunds and cancellations (entrance fees / deposit rules) - The registration fee CHF 500.- is not refundable. - The deposit is due at contract signature and is refundable on exit after settlement of any outstanding charges, subject to published notice and forfeiture rules (for example a deduction/forfeiture if the contract is terminated within the published notice period before the agreed start date). Specific published deposit amounts and notice conditions are stated in the entrance‑fees documentation. Fee payment options - The school accepts electronic and card‑based payment channels through supported payment providers listed in the school's payment and privacy information; published payment options include PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Stripe and Klarna (as well as the school's invoicing/accounting platforms). Payment is typically handled by bank transfer or the school's accepted electronic payment methods. Summary statement - Monthly tuition amounts and the corresponding annual equivalents are published for Pre‑K, Kindergarten and Primary (1–6) and for day‑care and hot‑lunch options; fees are billed monthly in advance and are subject to the school's published deposit, registration and refund rules.	Fee details Registration / Application Fee - One-time registration fee (non-refundable): CHF 600 for the first child; CHF 500 for each additional child. Payment of this fee secures the child's place. Tuition fees (2025/26 academic year) - Annual tuition (per student) for Kindergarten 1–2: CHF 12,930 per year. - Annual tuition (per student) for Primary Years 1–6: CHF 12,930 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing frequency: School fees are billed in advance per semester. - Payment options for timing: Fees may be paid either as a single payment at the beginning of the semester or as six monthly instalments. Choosing six monthly instalments carries a 2% surcharge (the instalment amount shown is the annual fee plus the surcharge divided across six payments). School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated. Sibling discount - A sibling discount of 10% of the school fees applies to the younger child(ren) when more than one child from the same family is enrolled. Optional additional costs - Lunch (optional): - Kindergarten and Primary 1: Full week (5 days) CHF 1,200 per semester; One day per week CHF 240 per semester; Single meal booking CHF 16 per meal. - Primary 2–6: Full week (5 days) CHF 1,350 per semester; One day per week CHF 270 per semester; Single meal booking CHF 16 per meal. - After-school care (optional, 16:00–18:00): Full week (5 days) CHF 2,400 per semester; One day per week CHF 480 per semester; Single booking CHF 18 per hour. - Clubs and extracurricular activities: costs vary by club; fees are charged separately – contact the school office for specific club prices. Boarding / Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: SIS Männedorf-Zürich operates as a private bilingual day school (kindergarten to Year 6) and does not offer boarding facilities. Refunds and adjustments - The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable. Tuition for students who join mid-term is charged on a prorated basis. No other refund policy details are listed with the fee schedule provided. Fee payment options (timing and instalment structure) - Timing options: one payment at the beginning of the semester, or six monthly instalments with a 2% surcharge. School fees are billed in advance per semester; mid-term admissions are prorated. Notes on additional potential costs - The published fees cover tuition only; additional costs that may apply separately include optional lunch, after-school care, clubs, and any personal items or externally supplied materials. Specific charges for school trips, special courses, uniforms (if required), textbooks, or specialist services are not listed in the fee schedule and are invoiced separately where applicable.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Day School; boarding not offered.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Hot Lunch is offered; lunches are nutritious and delicious.	Food options Lunch is provided on site. The school also offers flexible services including before- and after-school care and flexible drop-off and pickup times to support families.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Governing body is The Lakeside School Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Foundation reinvests profits into the school; the Board of Trustees oversees governance.	Governance and ownership The school is a private educational institution financed solely from school fees and does not receive subsidies from the Swiss national or cantonal governments.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Primary School runs from Grade 1 to 6 and provides a bilingual foundation. Bilingual Matura offers upper-school options up to the Swiss Matura.	Curriculum details Bilingual primary education is based on the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum as well as with SIS-developed curricula. Continuity from Kindergarten to College.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Continuity from Kindergarten to College.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school values shape the school culture and promote the social and emotional development of students.	Social & emotional learning The SIS Männedorf-Zürich bilingual kindergarten offers a stimulating and supportive learning environment. Personal and Social Development is one of the six areas of the kindergarten curriculum. The English/German bilingual kindergarten uses an immersion method with 50% of time in English and 50% in German, with a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher supporting children in their native languages. The children are supervised by one German- and one English-speaking teacher who use their native language to communicate with their students. The full-day concept provides care from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with before- and after-school care, lunch, clubs and holiday activities to support social interaction and routine.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Student support rooms provide individual language and learning support in small groups.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language English-speaking and German-speaking class teachers work with classes; once a week they take their classes to the in-house library.	English as an additional language The school teaches in English and German from kindergarten through primary, with daily immersion in both languages. In the bilingual kindergarten, 50% of activities are in English and 50% in German, guided by a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher. In primary, each class has two teachers—one German-speaking and one English-speaking—so German and English are heard and spoken in almost equal measure throughout the day. French is taught as a foreign language from Year 5. The language emphasis aims at strong bilingual fluency across the primary years.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Social and emotional development is integral to the school culture, and parent conferences discuss a child's academic and social development.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is supported by a nurturing, open, multicultural learning environment and a curriculum that emphasises Personal and Social Development in the early years. The immersion-based learning promotes social interaction and collaboration, contributing to students' emotional development. The school's day structure and extracurricular activities offer routine, security and opportunities for engagement that support wellbeing.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding E-safety is part of the kindergarten curriculum, reflecting safeguarding in digital contexts. The school fosters a safe and inclusive learning environment through age-appropriate digital literacy and protective practices embedded in the curriculum.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Campus Küsnacht houses kindergarten, primary school and the auditorium in a single building with a view of Lake Zurich. The auditorium is used for lunch together and for events such as assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. There are dedicated spaces for activities including group rooms for collaborative learning, a music room with many instruments, and a crafts, design and technology room with workbenches for textile and technical design. An exclusive in-house library is accessible to students, with weekly trips for reading and borrowing, and each class has its own small library. There is ample space to play and exercise, from a football pitch to basketball hoops and extensive play structures. After-school clubs include activities such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting.	Facilities overview The SIS Männedorf-Zürich is a bilingual day school located near Lake Zurich, offering instruction in German and English from Kindergarten through the 6th year of primary school. The bilingual concept has been in place since 2009. Local and international families value the bilingual instruction and the all-day structure in this family-friendly region. The school enrolls about 132 students from more than 30 nationalities. It is located near the lake and is easily accessible by public transport, with a playground that has ample space for play and modern, versatile equipment.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities On-site facilities include a football pitch and basketball hoops, with extensive play structures for outdoor activity. The space supports a variety of physical activities.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Group rooms support collaborative learning. A music room houses a large selection of instruments. A crafts, design and technology room provides workbenches for textile and technical design. Student support rooms offer individual language and learning support in small groups. An exclusive in-house library is available for classes, with weekly library visits and class libraries for student use.	Academic facilities Instruction is bilingual in German and English from Kindergarten through the 6th Primarstufe, and bilingualism is not a prerequisite for entry. The immersion method enables learners to acquire language naturally. Learning is enhanced by technology across the curriculum. The program is designed to be continuous from Kindergarten through university entrance, aligning with SIS's bilingual concept.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities After-school clubs include Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. These clubs extend learning beyond the school day. Holiday Care provides a supervised holiday programme in a familiar setting. The Lakeside School Küsnacht campus offers a variety of after-school and holiday programs to engage students.	Extra curricular facilities Morning and afternoon supervision, lunch, courses and holiday care are offered as part of the Day School program. After-school clubs provide engaging activities, including options during school holidays. The learning environment is open, multicultural, and supportive, with a structured and varied all-day program.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History The school is a private bilingual day school with approximately 120 students from kindergarten to Year 6, and the bilingual educational concept has been implemented here since 2009.
Community	Community Kindergarten, primary school and auditorium are in the same building with a view of Lake Zurich. In the auditorium, lunch is eaten together and gatherings include assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. Exclusive in-house library access provides weekly visits to the library for English-speaking and German-speaking classes, and each class has its own small library. After-school life includes clubs such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting, and there is ample outdoor space with a football pitch, basketball hoops and play structures.	Community The school community is characterized by a close-knit, vibrant and nurturing multicultural environment and includes more than twenty nationalities.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association There is a Parents' Club Küsnacht. The parent community is active as part of Lakeside School Küsnacht. There is also a Parents' Club Horgen for the Horgen campus.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Primary School provides a bilingual foundation with instruction in English and German. The school building houses kindergarten, primary school and an auditorium with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich, and spaces include group rooms for collaborative learning as well as a music room with a wide range of instruments. There is an in-house library that students access; English-speaking and German-speaking teachers take classes there weekly, and each class has its own small classroom library. There is ample space to play and exercise, with a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures.	Academic & intellectual The school offers Ozobots programming and decorating as a robotics activity. The SIS Cup provides inter-school competitions that emphasize sport, teamwork and enjoyment. The school promotes international activities through Intercountry Activities with international mathematics days, a parcel swap, a story exchange, a photography project, and an IT activity with Ozobots, followed by a digital exhibition with sustainable art. The SIS Best Essay Award recognises the top three written final works by SIS graduates.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative A Music Room provides a large selection of instruments. A Crafts, Design and Technology room has workbenches for textile and technical design. Group rooms support collaborative learning, and the auditorium hosts assemblies, class performances and birthday celebrations. The auditorium also serves as a gathering space for lunch and events.	Arts & creative The school hosts art exhibitions of student artworks and runs creative projects such as art made from materials that would normally be discarded.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English-speaking and German-speaking teachers accompany classes to the in-house library weekly to read and borrow books. Each class has its own small library that is always accessible to students. In Primary School, students are instructed in English and German. The bilingual environment supports language development across the curriculum.	Cultural & language The school runs SIS international activities and Intercountry Activities to foster language diversity and cross-cultural exchange, including interschool projects and events. Annual traditions celebrate local and international festivals and practices, including Halloween, the Räbeliechtli parade, Samichlaus, a Christmas celebration, a summer festival, Fasnacht, a ski day, an expo, World Book Day, and Mother7s/Father7s Day breakfasts.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies There is a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures for outdoor activity. After the bell rings, a diverse program of After School Clubs is offered, including Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Students have opportunities to participate in sports and creative activities after school to stay active and engaged.	Social & hobbies The school offers after-school clubs and activities as part of a varied day, including flexible morning, lunch and after-school care and holiday clubs.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing There is plenty of space to play and exercise on campus, including a football pitch, basketball hoops and extensive play structures. After School Clubs support physical and mental wellbeing through activities such as Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Getting to school is convenient with a short walk from nearby train stations and a door-to-door school bus service from key origins.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The campus includes a cafeteria (Mensa), a gym/sportraum, a workshop and music room, and a library, plus a spacious outdoor playground. The school provides a flexible all-day program with lunch, morning and after-school care, homework supervision and flexible drop-off/pick-up times.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The languages of instruction are English and German. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class is taught by one English-speaking and one German-speaking teacher, exposing students to both languages. In Primary School, students are instructed in English and German, with cross-language planning between a native English-speaking teacher and a native German-speaking teacher. German-language development remains strong in bilingual settings, and students with other language dominances also achieve strong English reading and writing skills.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Lakeside School Küsnacht offers bilingual education in English and German. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has one English-speaking and one German-speaking class teacher working together. In Primary School, instruction is in English and German, with a native English-speaking and a native German-speaking teacher sharing responsibility and coordinating planning. The class has an English week when all subjects are taught in English, followed by a German week; Specialist subjects are taught in either language.	Bilingual teaching The school operates as a bilingual day school beside Lake Zürich. Bilingual experience is a core feature of SIS Männedorf-Zürich. Bilingual primary school teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum, with supplementary elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. Language acquisition begins early and is guided by experts in a natural learning environment.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs English and German are used in speaking and writing in every subject. The programme is fully immersive with equal instruction in both languages (50:50). Our teachers are native speakers of either English or German.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Registration is online; you can register your child online for Lakeside School Küsnacht or contact us if you have any further questions. Fees and registration are managed via the Fees & Registration page, where offers and prices are calculated dynamically as you build an individual program. The Küsnacht campus offers Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Primary School; additional services include Day School, Day Care, Hot Lunch, School Bus Küsnacht, After School Clubs, and Holiday Care.	Admissions Make the First Step: Get in touch with SIS Maennedorf-Zfcrich via our contact form, by email, or by phone. You may visit an Open House to learn about daily life and meet school leadership; we can provide further information and discuss the next suitable step for you and your child. Consultation: A personal consultation is arranged to answer questions, introduce the school and its educational concept, and, if possible, provide a tour of the building to offer insight into classroom life; virtual, phone, or email consultations are available. Trial Days: If the consultation is positive for both sides, one or more trial days are arranged to experience everyday school life; trial days are non-binding and can be substituted with an alternative solution if needed. Registration: If you decide to proceed after the consultations and trial days, you will receive the registration form (digital or printed); complete it in full and submit to the SIS school of your choice. The school will prepare the contract and send it with information about the enrolment fee; after the contract is signed and the enrolment fee is received, your child is officially registered and a place is reserved. Come and See: Open Houses are available to visit the school. FAQ highlights: Best time to enrol: Enrolments are accepted year-round if there is space; most children enroll in the spring (February to April) so they can start the school year in August. Age to enrol: Enrolment age varies by canton and location and is typically three or four years; please enquire at the school of your choice. Language: Enrollment is possible even if a child speaks only one or neither of the two school languages (German and English). Children learn both German and English by immersion, and German/English courses may be offered outside of class or as intensive courses depending on level. Entrance exam: For compulsory education, no entrance examination is required at SIS locations. Waiting lists: If a year group is full, SIS schools maintain waiting lists. Place securing: A place is reserved as soon as the enrolment fee has been received; the fee is listed on the respective school's price list.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist If a year group or class is already full, the SIS schools maintain waiting lists. To secure a place, enquire early, preferably in spring.
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