· updated monthly
The five schools Islamabad parents researched most this year, chosen from the 7 international schools in the city. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
The International School of Islamabad is a coeducational day school serving approximately 320 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Children may enter Pre-Kindergarten from age two, where learning is informed by the Reggio Emilia Approach. KG1 to Grade 5 follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, while high-school students can complete the ISOI Diploma, the full IB Diploma or selected IB certificates. Classes normally contain 12 to 22 students. The 23-acre campus includes science and technology laboratories, two libraries, a performing-arts building, music and dance rooms, an air-conditioned gymnasium, tennis courts, playing fields, a climbing wall and a 25-metre swimming pool. French, Spanish and Urdu are offered as additional languages at different school levels. A distinctive feature is ISOI’s long-running student service programme, which has included earthquake and flood relief, recycling, tree initiatives, the Shelter Me Campaign and projects supporting local communities and wildlife conservation.
Sheikh Zayed International Academy Islamabad opened on 1 September 2003 and is located in Sector H-8/4, Islamabad. The school offers education from Early Years to Grade 12 and provides IB Early Years, Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, alongside Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels. It also mentions Edexcel A Levels. The school currently has approximately 300 students from 30 nationalities. Facilities listed on the school website include science labs, an auditorium, swimming pool, art studio, library, outdoor playgrounds, indoor gym, learning support centre, high-tech classrooms and an on-campus clinic. A distinctive feature is that SZIA describes itself as the first and only Cambridge University/London Edexcel-accredited “A” Category Examinations Centre in Pakistan. The school also provides door-to-door transport for students living in the Islamabad area.
Pak-Turk Maarif International School and College’s Chak Shahzad Boys Campus is an English-medium school located near Taramri Chowk and COMSATS University in Islamabad. The official campus page identifies its main programme as Pakistan’s national curriculum, while the wider Pak-Turk Maarif system also provides Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level and BTEC pathways. Students participate in academic competitions, cultural visits, performances, clubs and study projects. Turkish language and culture are also included within the wider Maarif educational programme. A distinctive feature of the school network is its emphasis on mathematics competitions and practical career preparation, including internship opportunities with government and non-government organisations. However, the official website does not publish campus-specific information concerning fees, class sizes, current enrolment, transportation, boarding or the principal
Roots International’s Winchester Campus is located on Main Service Road West, opposite G-13/4 in Islamabad, at the same address as the organisation’s Head Office. The wider Roots International programme covers Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary and Higher Secondary education. Available pathways across the network include Cambridge O Levels, IGCSE and A Levels, alongside Pakistan’s Matric and HSSC qualifications. Students have access to practical science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities, including a primary-level robotics programme developed with ROBOTMEA. Teaching is supported by laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and digital services such as the school’s Learning Management System and Microsoft Office 365 accounts. Students may also participate in Model United Nations, academic competitions, student councils, outreach activities and inter-school events. However, the official website does not publish Winchester-specific fees, class sizes, enrolment figures, transport arrangements or the name of its current principal.
Located in the central F-7/2 sector of Islamabad, Froebel's International School has been operating since 1975. The school guides students from six weeks of age through to 18 years old. For primary years, instruction follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), integrating subjects like geography, science, history, and art into thematic learning units. As students progress to secondary levels, they transition into Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge assessment boards, completing IGCSEs and A-Levels. A notable fixture of the F-7 campus is its annual hosting of FROMUN (Froebel's Model United Nations), a signature intellectual tradition that challenges students in diplomacy and public speaking. Student life is anchored by the school's "BLUE" values—Build, Lead, Uplift, and Excel, which are integrated into daily routines, community service programs, and societies like the HOPE club. Instruction is entirely in English, with Urdu taught as a dedicated subject, ensuring local cultural literacy alongside international examination preparation.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 7 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 1,042 students · based on the 3 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 17.3 students · based on the 4 schools that report it.
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