SIS Swiss International School Frankfurt vs The European School - RheinMain

	S SIS Swiss International School Frankfurt Frankfurt, Germany	T The European School - RheinMain Frankfurt, Germany
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €1,680 - 14,400	Fees / year €11,703 - 25,487
Age range	Age range 5 - 19 years	Age range 4 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, German Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 1,500
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language German, English, Spanish
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2012
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located in Oberursel, Germany, SIS Frankfurt is at An den Drei Hasen 34-36, 61440 Oberursel. It is a few minutes' drive from the financial metropolis of Frankfurt. The campus features classrooms and special-purpose rooms equipped with contemporary infrastructure and advanced teaching technology. The school emphasizes international education with local insight.	Location Bad Vilbel, Germany (Theodor-Heuss-Straße 65, 61118 Bad Vilbel)
Stages	Stages Bilingual Reception Programme; Primary School; and Secondary School (7-10) and (11-13). Subjects are taught in German and English; bilingualism is not a prerequisite for admission.	Stages Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary
School type	School type State-approved Ersatzschule; private day school financed by a combination of school fees and state subsidies.	School type Private European School within the European Schools system
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 82 enrolled students; 15+ nationalities.	Pupil nationality mix Approximately 1,800 students from 70 nations; school community includes pupils from many nationalities; two language sections (German and English).
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Educational support is provided at three levels (general, moderate, intensive) and includes study skills classes, extra lessons in core subjects (L1, L2, Math) for catch-up, dedicated individual support for diagnosed learning difficulties, and programs for gifted students.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland; part of the SIS Swiss International School network.	Country affiliation Germany
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Day school with supervision from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; exact lesson and supervision times vary between the different school levels.	School day structure Pre-Primary school hours: Mon–Wed 8:15–15:00; Thu–Fri 8:15–13:00; childminding from 7:00 until school starts and after-school hours until 18:00. Afternoon childminding is an additional paid service; Primary and Secondary offer after-school activities as an optional paid service.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Overview of fee structure - SIS Frankfurt charges income-based school fees that cover instruction, study time and supervision from 07:30 to 16:00. Tuition rates and a one-time entrance fee vary by gross family income and by school level (Primary School with Reception Programme and Secondary School, Grade 5). Application / one-time entrance fee - A one-time entrance fee is charged at contract signing and is non-refundable. The amount depends on gross family income and on school level. Examples by income band (entrance fee): - Gross family income up to EUR 20,000: Primary EUR 212; Secondary (Grade 5) EUR 223. - EUR 20,001–30,000: Primary EUR 424; Secondary EUR 445. - EUR 30,001–40,000: Primary EUR 636; Secondary EUR 668. - EUR 40,001–50,000: Primary EUR 795; Secondary EUR 835. - EUR 50,001–60,000: Primary EUR 954; Secondary EUR 1,002. - EUR 60,001–70,000: Primary EUR 1,060; Secondary EUR 1,113. - EUR 70,001–80,000: Primary EUR 1,166; Secondary EUR 1,224. - EUR 80,001–90,000: Primary EUR 1,272; Secondary EUR 1,336. - EUR 90,001–100,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 100,001–110,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 110,001–120,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 120,001–130,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 130,001–140,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 140,001–150,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 150,001–250,000: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. - EUR 250,001 and above: Primary EUR 1,378; Secondary EUR 1,447. Tuition fees by income band — Primary School (with Reception Programme) - Fees are published as monthly averages. Per-term (semester) amounts are calculated as monthly × 6; annual amounts are monthly × 12. The monthly tuition rates (Primary) by gross family income are: - Up to EUR 20,000: monthly EUR 140 → per semester EUR 840 → per year EUR 1,680. - EUR 20,001–30,000: monthly EUR 281 → per semester EUR 1,686 → per year EUR 3,372. - EUR 30,001–40,000: monthly EUR 424 → per semester EUR 2,544 → per year EUR 5,088. - EUR 40,001–50,000: monthly EUR 566 → per semester EUR 3,396 → per year EUR 6,792. - EUR 50,001–60,000: monthly EUR 641 → per semester EUR 3,846 → per year EUR 7,692. - EUR 60,001–70,000: monthly EUR 736 → per semester EUR 4,416 → per year EUR 8,832. - EUR 70,001–80,000: monthly EUR 826 → per semester EUR 4,956 → per year EUR 9,912. - EUR 80,001–90,000: monthly EUR 895 → per semester EUR 5,370 → per year EUR 10,740. - EUR 90,001–100,000: monthly EUR 963 → per semester EUR 5,778 → per year EUR 11,556. - EUR 100,001–110,000: monthly EUR 1,035 → per semester EUR 6,210 → per year EUR 12,420. - EUR 110,001–120,000: monthly EUR 1,092 → per semester EUR 6,552 → per year EUR 13,104. - EUR 120,001–130,000: monthly EUR 1,114 → per semester EUR 6,684 → per year EUR 13,368. - EUR 130,001–140,000: monthly EUR 1,204 → per semester EUR 7,224 → per year EUR 14,448. - EUR 140,001–150,000: monthly EUR 1,261 → per semester EUR 7,566 → per year EUR 15,132. - EUR 150,001–250,000: monthly EUR 1,348 → per semester EUR 8,088 → per year EUR 16,176. - EUR 250,001 and above: monthly EUR 1,420 → per semester EUR 8,520 → per year EUR 17,040. Tuition fees by income band — Secondary School (Grade 5) - Monthly tuition rates (Secondary, Grade 5) by gross family income and corresponding per-semester and per-year totals: - Up to EUR 20,000: monthly EUR 142 → per semester EUR 852 → per year EUR 1,704. - EUR 20,001–30,000: monthly EUR 289 → per semester EUR 1,734 → per year EUR 3,468. - EUR 30,001–40,000: monthly EUR 434 → per semester EUR 2,604 → per year EUR 5,208. - EUR 40,001–50,000: monthly EUR 577 → per semester EUR 3,462 → per year EUR 6,924. - EUR 50,001–60,000: monthly EUR 651 → per semester EUR 3,906 → per year EUR 7,812. - EUR 60,001–70,000: monthly EUR 752 → per semester EUR 4,512 → per year EUR 9,024. - EUR 70,001–80,000: monthly EUR 844 → per semester EUR 5,064 → per year EUR 10,128. - EUR 80,001–90,000: monthly EUR 909 → per semester EUR 5,454 → per year EUR 10,908. - EUR 90,001–100,000: monthly EUR 984 → per semester EUR 5,904 → per year EUR 11,808. - EUR 100,001–110,000: monthly EUR 1,056 → per semester EUR 6,336 → per year EUR 12,672. - EUR 110,001–120,000: monthly EUR 1,114 → per semester EUR 6,684 → per year EUR 13,368. - EUR 120,001–130,000: monthly EUR 1,169 → per semester EUR 7,014 → per year EUR 14,028. - EUR 130,001–140,000: monthly EUR 1,229 → per semester EUR 7,374 → per year EUR 14,748. - EUR 140,001–150,000: monthly EUR 1,262 → per semester EUR 7,572 → per year EUR 15,144. - EUR 150,001–250,000: monthly EUR 1,373 → per semester EUR 8,238 → per year EUR 16,476. - EUR 250,001 and above: monthly EUR 1,440 → per semester EUR 8,640 → per year EUR 17,280. Optional and additional fees - Hot lunch programme: EUR 109 per month for all grade levels (charged as a lump sum monthly fee). - After School Care (optional, subject to demand): two typical options charged per weekday booked (monthly): EUR 32 for 16:00–17:00; EUR 50 for 16:00–18:00. Booked weekdays are fixed for a semester. - Textbooks: costs for textbooks are included in the tuition fees. - Class trips, excursions and similar activity costs are not covered by the tuition fees and are charged separately. - Administrative fee for changing invoice arrangements: EUR 50 per invoice (or per invoice line within collective invoices). Sibling discount - A sibling discount of 10% is applied to tuition fees for the second or third child enrolled. The one-time entrance fee, hot lunch fees and other additional services are excluded from this discount. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are expressed as monthly average rates based on 12 months per year (or 6 months per semester). Payments are due for 12 months per year, including holidays. Payment of fees must be made one semester in advance. For monthly payment arrangements there is a surcharge of 3% on each payment. Parents who pay in advance for the full school year receive a 2% discount. If the required family income evaluation form and supporting documents are not submitted on time, the maximum entrance fee and school fee will be charged. Boarding - Boarding is not provided; the school operates as a day school with supervision and care during the stated daily hours. Refunds and cancellations - The one-time entrance fee is non-refundable. Other refund terms (for partial attendance, early contract termination or other circumstances) are governed by the school contract and related agreements. The fee schedule notes that detailed, legally binding modalities are set out in the school contract. Fee payment options - The school arranges the specific mode of payment with each family; changes to the chosen payment method incur an administrative fee. Accepted payment methods are confirmed directly by the school when setting up fees and invoices. (Values and terms above correspond to the published fee schedule for the school year and to the documented billing and payment rules.)	Fee details Application fees - No non‑refundable application or upfront registration fee is published in the school's admissions and fee information materials. Tuition fees by year group (monthly / per term information) - The school bills a "monthly parental contribution (in Euros)" for Primary and Secondary pupils; a detailed month‑by‑month tuition table is maintained by the school as the formal fee schedule. Exact monthly amounts for each year group (Primary P1–P5, Secondary S1–S7) and the IB track are shown in the school's parental contribution table. Pre‑Primary (Kindergarten) fees and state reduction - Pre‑Primary parental contributions are reduced automatically by state funding of EUR 149.16 per month; families resident outside the State of Hesse receive only the sibling discount. Sibling discounts and fee reductions - Sibling discounts (based on household income thresholds) apply as follows: - 2nd child: 25% discount where household income is up to EUR 180,000. - 3rd child: 50% discount where household income is up to EUR 230,000. - 4th child: 50% discount where household income is up to EUR 280,000. - The sibling discount requires an application; the school relies on parental self‑assessment (no routine income verification for sibling discount). A separate tuition reduction (means tested) process exists and may require submission of income documents (e.g., tax assessment) for consideration; reductions are granted for one school year and reviewed annually. After‑school childminding / extracurricular care costs - External childminding (afternoon care) fees are income‑graded. Examples from the published schedule: - Kindergarten (4–6 year olds): EUR 450 (annual income band €40,000) up to EUR 900 (annual income €80,000 and more). - Classes 1–4: between EUR 300 and EUR 800 depending on income band. - Classes 5–10: between EUR 300 and EUR 800 depending on income band. - Classes 11–12: between EUR 400 and EUR 1,100 depending on income band. - These amounts are shown as standard rates tied to household annual income bands. IB (International Baccalaureate) fees - The school operates an IB track (MYP and DP) and lists separate fees for the IB programme within its fee structure; the IB provision is operated as a day programme (no boarding). Exact IB monthly parental contribution amounts are included in the school's fee table. Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; no boarding provision is offered (boarding status: DAY). There are therefore no boarding fees. Other costs and compulsory items (uniforms, books, materials, examinations) - Parents are responsible for purchasing routine books, stationery and materials listed on class material lists. Certain books and materials are ordered centrally by the school and invoiced to parents (example: some book orders are invoiced in September). Expect periodic invoices for school‑ordered books and specific classroom materials. - Examination or exam‑related fees (for example, fees associated with end‑of‑programme examinations) are handled separately and appear as part of invoicing or administrative charges when applicable; specific amounts are set per exam and school year. Refunds and withdrawal / fee‑reduction mechanics - The school offers means‑tested tuition reductions and, in exceptional hardship cases, full tuition exemption (stipend) normally limited to one child per family; these concessions are granted for a single school year and reviewed annually. The school's policy requires cooperation and documentary proof where reductions are applied for. No separate, general published refund schedule for term‑time withdrawal of tuition is published in the school's publicly available admissions and fee materials. Billing schedule and payment terms - Published materials refer to the parental contribution as a monthly charge (i.e., a monthly parental contribution schedule). Specific billing dates, invoice frequency (monthly/termly/annual), payment deadlines and formal payment terms are presented to parents through the school's official fee schedule and invoices. Some school‑ordered materials are invoiced in September. Fee payment options - Standard practice uses invoicing to parents; the school's account and billing contacts (including the bursar) are provided for families to arrange payment. The public admissions and fee materials do not publish a detailed, itemised list of accepted payment methods (e.g., specific card processors or IBAN/BIC strings) in the publicly posted fee summaries. For account‑level or invoice‑level payment options and bank details, the school provides direct billing information on invoices and through its accounts office. Summary of what was obtained and what remains to be confirmed - Confirmed and included above: Pre‑Primary state deduction (EUR 149.16/month), sibling discount bands and percentages, income‑based after‑school childminding fee bands, that the IB is offered and the school is a day school, that some school‑ordered books are invoiced in September, and the existence of means‑tested tuition reductions. - Not all line‑by‑line tuition amounts (the detailed monthly parental contribution figures per individual year group / class and per term billing totals) were extractable from the publicly posted admissions and brochure materials available at the time of checking; the school's formal fee table is the definitive schedule for exact monthly/term amounts and payment dates. For clarity and for use in an external database, consult the school's official fee schedule or the invoicing documents provided by the school's accounts office to obtain the complete per‑class monthly and per‑term numeric values.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details SIS Frankfurt delivers a bilingual English–German curriculum from Reception through secondary school. The Reception Programme (ages 5–7) is bilingual and full-day (7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.), with English- and German-speaking teachers alternating. Primary School is based on the Hessian core curriculum, supplemented by SIS bilingual reading and writing, with maths and social studies taught in both languages; two teachers per class rotate instruction to immerse students in a bilingual environment. Primary School provides a full-day concept (7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) with homework supervision and after-school clubs, and uses varied lessons with tablets and notebooks. The Secondary School (7–10) is bilingual and follows a state curriculum, with the Mittlerer Schulabschluss after Year 10 and regular benchmarking tests in mathematics, German and English. In Years 11–13, SIS Frankfurt offers Abitur and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, including a possible double diploma path, and the IBDP is a globally recognised university entrance qualification for higher education in English-speaking countries; SIS Frankfurt is a state-approved Ersatzschule.	Curriculum details The European School RheinMain offers the European Schools curriculum leading to the European Baccalaureate. The school also offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum on the same site. The ESRM IB Curriculum commenced in September 2021 with MYP 1-5 and expanded to the Diploma Programme (DP) with the DP commencing in September 2024. The IB curriculum conducts all subjects—except the second language—in English.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Total students: 1,684; Teaching staff: 156; approximate student-to-teacher ratio: about 10.8:1. Classes are around 24 students on average.
Exam results	Exam results From Year 3 of primary school, benchmarking tests in mathematics, German and English are taken and results are described as good on a regular basis. Results are communicated transparently to parents and form the basis for individual objectives discussed in parent consultations twice a year.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a globally recognised university entrance qualification and provides preparation for higher education in English-speaking countries. Students can graduate with Abitur or the IB Diploma, or both via a double-diploma path.	Higher education progression Guidance and counselling for higher education is provided by dedicated staff. Career/Guidance Counsellors assist with university applications in English and German.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school offers dedicated support for students who are gifted or exceptionally talented.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Registration is accepted all year round. The enrolment process comprises four steps: submitting the Registration Form; a consultation with the school management; trial days; and signing the school contract. If there is no place in the relevant grade, the child's name can be added to the waiting list. Admission is possible all year round and applies to Kindergarten, Reception Programme, Primary School, Secondary School (7-10), Secondary School (11-13), Secondary School and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Most children are enrolled in the spring, between February and April, so they can start the new school year in August or September. There is no entrance examination for admission. Students learn German and English by immersion, with language support available as needed.	Admissions 1. Eligibility and initial interview: All students promoted at a state or comparable Gymnasium in a member state can enroll with no further admission conditions. An interview with the student and the parents is part of the enrollment process. If the student does not meet these conditions or comes from a non-European country, they are invited to an interview and a decision is made about admission or whether further assessment is needed. 2. Non‑selective admission and intent: The European School RheinMain follows a non‑selective principle and aims to integrate all students quickly and thoroughly into the European School system, with the goal of enabling every student to pursue the European Baccalaureate. 3. Application forms and language tracks: English-language application forms exist for Pre-Primary, Primary School, Secondary School, and an IB Curriculum track; German-language forms exist for Registration (Kindergarten), Registration Primary School, and Registration Secondary School. 4. Fees and financial information: Pre-Primary fees are €149.16 per month and automatically reduced by state funding; families outside Hessen receive only the sibling reduction. 5. Making it official: The bursar can be contacted for fee reductions (Mr. 6. Enrollment materials: Applications for the IB track and for standard tracks are available as English and German forms, with separate links for Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, and IB Curriculum. 7. Ongoing financial support and discounts: A tuition‑fee reduction can be granted based on need, with specific conditions and annual reviews; a full tuition exemption (scholarship) may be granted for a maximum of one child per family to broaden distribution; the entire household income and assets are considered as the basis for reductions. 8. Sibling and income thresholds: Sibling discounts apply—2nd child up to €180,000 annual income with 25% reduction; 3rd child up to €230,000 with 50% reduction; 4th child up to €280,000 with 50% reduction. 9. Other notes: The school relies on an application and confidentiality for reductions, and reductions are generally reviewed annually.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Scholarships take the form of tuition reductions. Full tuition exemption (scholarship) can generally be granted for a maximum of one child per family to ensure broader distribution of this highest level of reduction. Reductions are not guaranteed and depend on need; an application is required and income/assets must be disclosed, with the entire household considered. A tuition‑fee reduction can be granted if no other financial support is available and there is financial hardship; reductions are reviewed annually and apply for one school year at a time. The school is non‑profit, and proofs are kept confidential. Sibling discounts are also available: a 2nd child discount of 25% up to €180,000 annual income; a 3rd child discount of 50% up to €230,000; a 4th child discount of 50% up to €280,000.
Waitlist	Waitlist If there is currently no place available in the corresponding grade, the child's name can be added to the waiting list.	Waitlist —
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