ISR International School on the Rhine

ISR is located in the Düsseldorf/Neuss area of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. The main campus is Konrad-Adenauer-Ring 2, 41464 Neuss. An international Kindergarten operates in Düsseldorf-Niederkassel and a German-speaking Kindergarten in Meerbusch-Büderich, extending ISR's reach across the region. The campus is accessible by car and public transport, and a school bus service operates across Düsseldorf–Neuss–Meerbusch.

The school has an international Kindergarten, an international primary school, and an international middle and upper school.

The school is a private English-speaking international school.

Over 1100 children from 60 countries attend ISR.

The school provides individualized support for students based on their abilities.

Affiliated with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and recognized as a private school.

ISR is a full-day school.

Four bus companies provide school transport across the Düsseldorf–Neuss–Meerbusch region. Partners include Zweelo and Wabbels; the service is emission-free and serves approximately 90 children on 12 routes.

ISR offers an international, college-preparatory curriculum. English and German are core; from Grade 6 a third language is offered (French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese). In Grades 9–10, students take IGCSE courses; in Grades 11–12 most students begin the two-year IB Diploma Program. To graduate, students earn 26 credits in Grades 9–12 to obtain the ISR High School Diploma. The Cambridge Pathway underpins the upper school curriculum and guides preparation for universities worldwide.

Over 1,000 students and around 160 teaching staff, giving an approximate student-to-teacher ratio of about 6:1.

IB results are well above world and German averages; graduates have gone on to study at top universities worldwide and in Germany. In the past three years, 100% of students who wished to enter German universities did so by meeting German IB requirements for the Allgemeine Hochschulreife.

ISR graduates have studied at top universities around the world and in Germany; the program prepares students to meet the entry requirements of universities in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and other regions.

The school places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development, helping children communicate their needs and build relationships with peers. The pedagogical team includes staff dedicated to student wellbeing, including Wellbeing Counsellors and a school nurse. Students have weekly Wellbeing Advising sessions with the Wellbeing Counselling team, focusing on self-awareness, respect, online safety, and related skills. The guiding principle is "We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters" and underpins daily practice.

The school is English-speaking. A third language is studied from Grade 6 with a choice of French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese. In Meerbusch, there is a bilingual program for kindergarten that supports English language development through play.

Wellbeing Counselling is provided by qualified staff to support students' mental health and wellbeing. Wellbeing Counsellors meet with students individually or in small groups to address topics such as conflict management, test-taking anxiety, stress, friendship issues, sadness, and self-esteem. Counselling is confidential and follows safeguarding procedures, with risk considerations referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead when necessary.

ISR has a Safeguarding Policy that defines safeguarding as protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of health or development, ensuring safe and effective care, and taking action to enable the best outcomes. The policy outlines training and induction for staff, the roles of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputies, and clear reporting pathways across all school life. Appendix D details Wellbeing Counselling, and safeguarding procedures require staff, students, parents, volunteers, and visitors to cooperate; confidentiality is maintained where appropriate, with safeguarding considerations taking precedence when needed.

The ISR International School on the Rhine is an English‑speaking private school serving kindergarten through grade 12 in the Neuss–Düsseldorf region of North Rhine‑Westphalia. Enrollment is possible at any time during the academic year, and virtual meetings and assessments are available. Placement into a grade is determined by academic attainment, with age acting as a limiting factor; kindergarten has no academic requirements but children must be three by June 30 to start in August and must be able to speak and follow simple instructions and be toilet-trained. Students in grades 1–2 meet with the Elementary School Head and complete worksheets. The admission process is personal and informative and includes the following steps: 1. Applicant's Questionnaire (families may apply year‑round; starting in late winter or early spring for the following school year is recommended due to space availability); 2) Campus Tour at ISR Neuss (to learn about the curriculum and meet admissions staff); 3) School Records (transcripts, assessment results from the previous two years, and any psychological/neurological evaluations); 4) Knowledge Check (grades 3–11 take tests in English, Mathematics, and German; grades 10–11 also test in Social Science and General Science and may have a third language; grades 8+ are interviewed by the School Director and/or Academic Head; durations range from about 30 minutes for grades 1–2 to 3 hours for grades 3–9; 10–11 may take one to two days); 5) Offer of Placement (provided after review of knowledge checks, academic background, social and emotional development, and aptitude); 6) Enrollment Contract (enrollment is possible year‑round).

ISR regularly offers scholarships to applicants who have achieved very good academic standards and/or are from low‑ to middle‑income families. Qualification is determined by means of an entrance knowledge check that is taken after a preliminary evaluation on the basis of documents (school reports, recommendations, etc.). The decision about the number of new scholarships and possible modifications to the scholarship requirements is made annually in April/May for the following school year. Download ISR's scholarship application packet.