Compare IB Curriculum International Schools in Croatia

The American International School of Zagreb is located at Ul. Damira Tomljanovića Gavrana 3, 10020 Zagreb, Croatia.

PK-12: Pre-K to Grade 5 (Lower School); Middle School Grades 6-8; High School Grades 9-12; IB Diploma Program offered in Grades 11-12.

Independent, coeducational, non-profit day school

More than 40 nationalities represented.

English as an Additional Language; Learning Support; Social and Emotional Learning; Bridges program; Postsecondary advising and college counseling.

Croatia

School hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; arrival by 7:50 a.m. recommended to start promptly at 8:00 a.m.

iBus Transport; AISZ contracts with iBus Transport; parents arrange transportation directly with iBus.

The school does not offer boarding facilities.

Students do not wear uniforms.

Food services are provided by Kvatrić catering service, which operates the cafeteria and prepares fresh meals using ingredients from local farms. Lunch for students includes soup, main dish, salad and dessert; Grab & Go meals are available for students in Grades 5–12.

Governance: The School Board has full authority and responsibility for all governance matters, and the Director is responsible for the efficient operation of the School. Ownership: AISZ is legally recognized in Croatia under a Bilateral Agreement between the Governments of the United States of America and Croatia dated June 27, 2001; the AISZ Foundation was incorporated in Delaware on October 31, 1997, and AISZ operates as a private school governed by the School Board.

AISZ PK-12 curriculum is built on inquiry, fostering critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. It blends a US-influenced international framework with interdisciplinary learning and real-world problem solving. The language of instruction is English, with French and German offered as world languages; in the IB, Language A options include English, Croatian, French, German, and Chinese, and Language B options include English, French, and German (with ab initio options). English as an Additional Language, academic support, and enrichment opportunities are provided through Student Support Services. AISZ offers three diploma pathways in high school: the IB Diploma Program (Grades 11-12), the AISZ High School Diploma, and the AISZ Honors Diploma, with the Honors Diploma including a senior project. The Bridges Program provides inclusive learning for upper school students.

The average class size varies per grade level from 15-20 students.

IB Diploma Results from the last three years show an average Diploma grade of 5.2 and a range of IB scores from 24 to 45. Course offerings for Grade 11 and 12 include a broad set of DP subjects across groups, supporting a variety of student interests. All AISZ graduates earn the AISZ American High School Diploma.

Graduates have been admitted to universities across the United Kingdom and other European countries, including University College London, Durham University, King's College London, Cardiff University, University of Bristol, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, and the University of Warwick; Northeastern University London is also listed as a destination. The school provides postsecondary advising and college counseling to support this progression.

Enrichment opportunities exist as part of AISZ's support services, and the Bridges Program supports inclusive learning for diverse/upper-school students with intensive learning needs; the IB Diploma Program and Honors Diploma pathways offer advanced coursework and capstone opportunities.

MTSS guides AISZ's social-emotional learning. A dedicated social-emotional counselor works in each division to teach skills and provide support. Universal screeners identify academic and social-emotional needs to guide tiered interventions. MTSS is led by four departments: Learning Support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Counseling and Guidance, and Academic/College Counseling. The school emphasizes that all students can learn at high levels and integrates language development with wellbeing.

AISZ has a Learning Support team serving students with gaps in learning and with mild, moderate and intensive needs. The school does not provide services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, educational psychologist testing or other intensive services. If a child's needs reach beyond AISZ's service capabilities, the school may refer and recommend external services at extra cost. If AISZ cannot provide adequate services for the student's level of English, admission may be declined.

AISZ has English Acquisition (EAL) teachers and assistants in both the lower and upper school. The EAL program is tailored to individual student needs. Prior to acceptance as a full-time student, students may be required to take the Versant English proficiency test to determine readiness. Support is provided with in-class and outside-of-class adjustments, and the level of support decreases as proficiency improves.

Counseling and Guidance support social-emotional wellbeing and safety for every student. A robust counseling program includes a dedicated social-emotional counselor in each division to provide preventive and supportive interventions. AISZ acknowledges rising anxiety and wellbeing concerns and addresses this through proactive counseling and support.

AISZ maintains a Child Safeguarding Policy to protect students and families. Faculty and staff are mandated reporters, and safeguarding and duty of care procedures are described in policy. The school endorses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and views safeguarding as central to school life.

1. Grade placement, residency, guardianship, consent, and immunizations: Pre-Kindergarten is for ages 3 or 4 by December; Kindergarten is for age 5 by September 1; Grades 1–12 are placed by age on September 1, with possible adjustments communicated before acceptance. Lower and Middle School students must reside with their parents; High School students must live with a parent or legal guardian who resides in Zagreb, supported by a notarized guardianship letter. Consent from both parents is required for all grade levels, and immunization records must be up to date for admission. 2. Application timeline and required materials: Applications for the next school year are due by the end of March; deadlines are announced in December. Rolling admission is possible for the current year if submitted before March 31; applications submitted between April 1 and the last day of the school year are considered for the following school year. 3. Documentation and assessments: Enrollment requires immunization records, up-to-date documents in English, and reports from current/previous schools; documentation for learning needs may be required. Applications are not official until essential items are provided, and references must come directly from the applicant's current school; additional assessments may be requested. 4. Assessments and language screening: For Grades 6–8, non-native English speakers take an English assessment; for Grades 9–12, a Mathematics assessment and an online interview are required, along with an English assessment for non-native speakers; all assessments must be supervised by AISZ or the applicant's current school. MAP Reading and Math assessments may be required and can be conducted in AISZ or facilitated by the current school. 5. Admission decision, waitlist, and enrollment: Admissions decisions are communicated to families; if a seat is not available, the student is placed on a waiting list and the family must confirm interest to remain on the list; the waitlist is valid for one academic year and additional documentation may be required for future enrollment. 6. Enrollment steps, fees, and scholarships: An application fee is due at the start of the online application, and an admission fee is due upon acceptance; a Capital Fee is charged and discounted after several years. The school offers a Croatian Young Leaders Scholarship Program for Croatian students (grades 9–11) with a 90% tuition discount for up to four years for those meeting academic and leadership criteria; a tuition reduction program provides financial aid for eligible families in grades 1–12. After acceptance, families complete an enrollment contract, online consent, updated medical records, a physical examination form, and tuition payments; start date depends on whether acceptance is before mid-August or during the school year. 7. Start date and school year timing: If the child is accepted before the beginning of the school year (before mid-August), they may begin on the first day of school; if accepted during the school year, enrollment begins after completion of the admission steps.

AISZ offers a Croatian Young Leaders Scholarship Program for Croatian students entering high school (grades 9–11) with a 90% discount on tuition for up to four years to mature at AISZ, for citizens educated under the Croatian curriculum who meet academic and leadership, personal, artistic, sporting, or social criteria; AISZ also provides a tuition reduction program for families in financial need (financial aid) for students in grades 1–12.

If a student is accepted but no seats are available in the desired class, the student is placed on a waiting list; families must confirm their interest in remaining on the waitlist; placement on the waitlist is valid for one academic year and may require updated documentation for future enrollment; AISZ will notify families near the end of the academic year to confirm status.

Davorina Bazjanca 2, Zagreb, Croatia. The address is published on the school's pages along with contact details (telephone +385 1 383 6571; E-mail: ured@os-mgupca-zg.skole.hr). The school operates in Zagreb, Croatia.

Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP).

International school

The school meets individual learning needs and supports the well-being of all students.

Croatia

All PYP and MYP students start at 9:20 a.m. The homeroom teachers meet and assemble the students at the schoolyard (PYP) or the main school entrance (MYP) and lead them to their assigned classrooms.

Dress Code: Clothing must be clean, in good repair and of respectable and safe appropriate length; natural fabrics are encouraged. Hats or head coverings are not allowed inside the school. Tops must cover the chest with shoulders covered; sleeves should be of appropriate length; T‑shirts must fully overlap or tuck in; there should be no skin showing when arms are raised. Shorts are allowed if of modest length and appropriate material; jewelry should not pose a danger. Students must keep a pair of indoor shoes (slippers or tennis shoes) at school that are not slippery, and all clothing items should be taken home on Fridays for locker cleaning; class‑specific clothing information is sent by teachers.

The cafeteria serves breakfast, lunch and a snack. Menu options include vegetarian, vegan and Halal (Halal on request). Diet preferences and allergies must be noted on the enrollment form and communicated to the homeroom teacher in advance; the weekly menu can be checked on the school website. All meals are prepared daily in the school kitchen with fresh groceries. Outside food is not allowed.

Public school. International Baccalaureate World School offering two IB programmes in English: Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). Head of School: Ljiljana Klinger.

The school is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP is delivered in English from preschool to Grade 4 and uses Units of Inquiry to connect learning across subject areas including Language (English and Croatian), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts (Music, Visual Arts), Personal, Social and Physical Education (PSPE), and Language Acquisition (English, Croatian, German, French, Italian). The PYP emphasizes a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach and six global themes: Who we are; Where we are in place and time; How we express ourselves; How the world works; How we organize ourselves; Sharing the planet. The Programme of Inquiry integrates these elements to develop lifelong learners. The MYP provides a broad eight-subject framework: Language and Literature (English/Croatian); Language Acquisition (English/Croatian/German/French/Italian); Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; Design; Arts; Physical and Health Education; with English as the language of instruction and Croatian, German, French and Italian taught as additional languages; ESL support is available. The MYP encourages holistic learning through Approaches to Learning (ATL), interdisciplinarity and global contexts, and includes field classes and a range of optional subjects and activities.

Matija Gubec International School supports social and emotional development within its IB-aligned, student-centered approach. The mission is to prepare students to be confident, caring, respectful and internationally minded lifelong learners and global citizens ready to change the world for the better. The school emphasizes freedom of expression, independent thinking, and the development of positive personal values while fostering responsibility to others through respect and collaboration. The school enhances each student's self-worth, confidence and pride within a diverse intercultural community. The inclusion framework notes that the school fosters the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students and teachers, supporting a sense of belonging.

Matija Gubec International School identifies students' learning needs and provides appropriate learning support through its systems and processes. The school provides learning support to meet diverse needs and evidences support through planning, policy and practice. All students, including those with language barriers or different linguistic backgrounds, receive appropriate learning support. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) would only be suggested if this is in the student's best interests, following recommendations by relevant specialists.

Diverse language offerings are provided, with English, Croatian, German, French and Italian. All teachers act as language teachers and develop literacy across languages as part of the IB-aligned approach. The school is committed to supporting students who are not proficient in the language of instruction by providing time and pedagogical expertise.

Matija Gubec International School fosters the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students and teachers. The Inclusion Policy states that well-being is central to creating an inclusive educational environment. We embrace students' personal and cultural identities, home languages, and backgrounds as part of the well-being and inclusive culture. The IB learner profile emphasizes balancing physical, mental and personal well-being as a core attribute. The school aims to provide an environment where students feel a sense of belonging and are supported in their personal development.

Primary Years Programme enrolment steps:
Step 1 – Application. Fill in the PYP Online Application form. After submission, your child will be placed on the waiting list. Parents are contacted by the end of April after reenrolment of continuing students and after the Admission Committee reviews new applications. Vacancies depend on the number of readmissions of continuing students.
Step 2 – Submitting the enrolment documents. If a seat is confirmed, the following documents are to be submitted: Original of the most recent report card; Court interpreter transcript of the applicant's latest report card in Croatian (if the applicant does not come from an IB school); Copy of the applicant identification document, i.e. passport, showing the applicant's date of birth, nationality, residency status and the spelling of the full name – for foreign nationals only; Copy of the applicant's Certificate of Citizenship ('Domovnica') - for Croatian nationals only.
Step 3 – Recognition. Submit the Request for recognition procedure for foreign education qualification. The recognition procedure is started at the request of the applicant who acquired foreign education qualification, or foreign document about finished or partly attended primary education. The request with the corresponding documentation is to be submitted to the Admission Committee of the School. Once the Admission Committee has received a complete set of application paper, the admission process begins. Consequently, parents receive a confirmation of receipt of application papers by email.
Step 4 – Interview. Once all the necessary documents are received, the Principal may arrange an interview with the applicant and parents.
Step 5 – Placement testing. For PYP0 and PYP1, children undergo a health screening and psychophysical ability testing prior to enrollment. For PYP2–PYP4, applicants are tested in English (interview and written) and Math. English readiness is helpful but not mandatory, and results determine placement in English classes (Language and Literature or Language Acquisition) or the ELS program if needed. Additional support classes may be recommended based on math results.
Step 6 – Decision on admission. The Admission Committee makes the final decision on acceptance. The process of review usually takes a couple of days and once the decision is made, the Admission Committee contacts the parents.
Step 7 – Registration. After admission approval, the programme coordinators schedule a registration appointment. The following occurs at that time: Payment of the enrolment fee in the amount of EUR 500,00 (non-refundable/non-transferable) (School fee payment details) and Sign the Agreement on Enrolment.

Applicants are placed on the waiting list after submitting the online application. The school contacts families by the end of April after reenrolment of continuing students and after the Admission Committee reviews new applications. Vacancies depend on the number of readmissions.