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Germany, Hamburg
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ISH was founded in 1957 as the first international school in Germany. From humble beginnings in 1957 in a one-room school of 50 students near the Alster to a custom-built facility in Gross Flottbek in Hamburg's green belt, ISH serves today over 730 students and 150 staff from over 55 nationalities. A modern school building was completed in the winter of 2009 and on January 11, 2010 students returned from their winter break to a modern, brand new building. An addition to the school was finished in the summer of 2015, and on August 29, the three-story West Wing, which features state-of-the-art facilities, was officially opened.
ISH is international, with 760 students coming from around 54 countries. The most represented nations include the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, India and South Korea, as well as Germany. The campus features a 450-seat Performing Arts Centre, modern science laboratories, a library and extensive sports facilities. The ISH Alumni Network has 592 members and graduates attend 155 universities worldwide; an Alumni Summer Party is held on Graduation Day in June.
The PTA enhances extracurricular life at ISH and provides practical and financial support. It organizes many events throughout the school year. The International Fair in November is a popular and highly valued event. The WISH Team, Welcome to ISH, helps new families by sharing information and guidance. Getting involved is easy, with opportunities to volunteer at events, help on field trips, join committees or act as Class or Grade Reps. The school is a registered not-for-profit association, and the Board of Directors elected by the members appoints the Head of School.
International School of Hamburg (ISH) is a private, independent, non-profit international school in Hamburg, Germany, serving around 730 students from over 55 nationalities. The school offers a continuous international curriculum from Early Years to Grade 12. The Early Years follow the IEYC; the Junior School uses the IPC with cross-curricular units in Science, History, Geography, Art, Technology and International Understanding, supported by specialist teachers in Music, German, Physical Education, Library Skills and ICT. The Secondary School follows the IB framework: MYP for Grades 6–10 and DP and IBCP for Grades 11–12, with French or Spanish starting in Grade 6. The 41,000-square-metre campus includes a 19,000-square-metre building, a Performing Arts Centre with a 400-seat auditorium, a well-resourced library, campus-wide ICT, and science laboratories. ISH emphasizes pastoral care, EAL and Mother Tongue support, and sustainability, including Eco-School accreditation achieved in 2025 and biodiversity projects. ISH also emphasizes pastoral care and language support.
