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Denmark, Copenhagen
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From its beginnings in 1963, a handful of expat parents rented a room at Bagsværd Kostskole og Gymnasium to deliver an English-language curriculum for expat families. In 1964 John Therman was the first student to receive an American High School Diploma, and an association called the Copenhagen International High School was created. In 1968 the school name became Copenhagen International School (CIS), and CIS was among the founding schools to offer International Baccalaureate examinations; the first IB Diploma was earned in 1972 and accreditation followed in 1973. From 1973 to 1996, the Copenhagen International Junior School began, a Pre-K group opened in 1987, the 1993 merger moved CIS to Hellerup, and the IB Middle Years Programme was introduced in 1996. Between 1999 and 2017, CIS hosted the Nordic Network conference, introduced the IB Primary Years Programme in 2000, celebrated 50 years in 2003, and moved to Nordhavn in 2017 with record enrolment of 922 students.
CIS believes all learners have equal rights to be protected from harm and abuse and maintains a child-safe, secure environment for the school community. The CIS community includes an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that helps families, teachers, and students feel at home and supports a friendly, inclusive culture. The PTA runs a buddy program to welcome new families, organizes social events, and coordinates whole-school happenings such as the Activity Fair, Halloween Fest, Julemarked, and the International Festival. Culture initiatives highlight diverse backgrounds, and Smooth Transitions help families navigate year-end changes.
The PTA's mission is to establish a close relationship between home and school by offering ways for parents to get involved in the CIS community. The PTA helps families, teachers, and students feel at home at CIS and aims to build a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive community. It welcomes new families with a buddy program and Newcomers group, and organizes social events such as back-to-school gatherings and parent socials. Whole-school events include the Activity Fair, Halloween Fest, Julemarked, and International Festival, while grade-level activities and special-interest groups support parent collaboration. Culture initiatives highlight diverse backgrounds, and Smooth Transitions help families navigate year-end changes. The PTA is run by a team of parent volunteers and is not a fundraising entity; involvement includes attending events, helping with your grade, volunteering, or taking on a leadership role, and you can contact events@cispta.dk.
Copenhagen International School (CIS) is a private, day international school in Copenhagen that serves ages 3 to 18. It delivers all three IB programmes—PYP, MYP and DP—alongside an American high school diploma, with English as the language of instruction and Danish taught within the curriculum. English as an Additional Language support helps learners access the programmes, and Danish language studies prepare students for national tests and continued Danish study in the Diploma Programme. The school is an IB World School accredited by NEASC for the full IB continuum and the U.S. diploma. The Nordhavn campus spans about 25,000 square metres, housing four towers and capacity for around 1,200 students. Facilities include a theatre, two rooftop greenhouses, multiple music rooms, three gyms and dedicated spaces for design, ceramics and visual arts. CIS also provides extensive after‑school activities, a Mother Tongue Program and Service Learning tied to global goals for students worldwide.
