Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
Italy, Bologna
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
ISB was officially founded in September 2004. It became a Candidate School for the IB Primary Years Programme in September 2007, was authorised to teach the PYP in March 2009, and was awarded CIS Membership in January 2009. The school advanced to a Middle Years Programme candidate in February 2012 and began the CIS accreditation process that year. ISB opened its High School in September 2013 and became a Diploma Programme Candidate School in December 2013, marking the IB continuum across all divisions. It celebrated 10 years in 2014, gained Diploma Programme authorisation in 2015, and graduated its first class in 2017; NEASC accreditation followed in 2020 and 2024, and the 20th anniversary was celebrated in 2024.
ISB has served a vibrant community of local and international families in Northern Italy since 2004. The school currently enrolls 290+ students, with 55% international students and 45 nationalities represented, and a teacher-student ratio of 1:6. The community hosts a range of school events and activities, including Festival of Hope, a community-wide day focused on ideas, creativity, and collaboration. Families are key partners in the ISB community, and parents are encouraged to take an active role through the Parents Association.
ISB has a Parents Association. Families are key partners in ISB's community, and parents are encouraged to take an active role through the Parents Association.
The International School of Bologna is an IB Continuum school in Bologna's center, serving ages 3 to 18. Instruction is in English in a full-immersion setting, and the school offers PYP for early years and elementary, MYP for middle school, and the DP for high school. This structure supports an IB pathway from 3 to 18 and reflects the school's long-standing commitment to international education. Founded in 2004, ISB has developed its accreditation, including CIS membership and NEASC accreditation. The campus spans 2,000 meters with 25 classrooms, science labs, a library, music and art classrooms, a theatre, outdoor playgrounds, and a gym, plus facilities off-site. The school emphasizes well-rounded learning with on-campus sports, arts spaces, and a broad after-school program featuring clubs in chess, drama, languages such as Italian and Chinese, and digital media. A signature initiative is Festival of Hope, promoting sustainability and service, led by students across Bologna.
