International School of Portland

2305 S Water Ave, Portland, OR 97201. The campus sits just south of downtown Portland on the edge of the South Waterfront District, an urban area with multiple play spaces and a garden. The six ISP buildings and four outdoor spaces are on private blocks between Naito Parkway and Harbor Drive. The campus is easily accessible by public transit and is integrated with the surrounding urban environment.

The school comprises Early Childhood and Elementary levels. Early Childhood includes PreK and LowK; Elementary covers Grades 1 through 5.

Independent private IB World School offering preschool through elementary education. It provides language immersion in Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese.

Student Support provides academic and social-emotional support with individualized plans designed by classroom teachers and specialists. The team collaborates with families and does not diagnose or label students; plans may be implemented for 4–6 weeks.

School days begin at 8:00am with arrival allowed up to 30 minutes before. From 8:30am to noon, students participate in morning learning and activities. Lunch and outdoor play occur from noon to 12:45pm, followed by nap or quiet time for younger students; afternoons include art, PE, and music, with library visits.

The International School of Portland offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for Grades 1–5, with inquiry-based learning across math, science, social studies, and language arts. Instruction is delivered through one of three immersion tracks—Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese (Mandarin)—with English language instruction integrated. The Spanish Track teaches the IB curriculum entirely in Spanish and culminates in a 5th-grade Capstone trip to a Spanish-speaking country, and the program includes International Spanish Academy designation. The Japanese Track is the premier Japanese language immersion program in the United States, with native-level teachers and a full Japanese immersion IB curriculum; the track culminates in a 5th-grade Capstone Study Abroad trip to Japan, and older students complete the Avant STAMP 4SE and may earn Seals of Biliteracy. The Chinese Track is the longest-running Chinese immersion program in the Pacific Northwest, with Mandarin taught math, science, and social studies within the IB framework; the track culminates in a 5th-grade Capstone trip to a sister school in China. ISP's English instruction supports immersion learners, and the curriculum aligns with Oregon Standards for Science, National Social Studies Standards, and Common Core for Math within IB units.

No more than 20 students per class (our average class size is even smaller).

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments are used for 2nd–5th graders to measure English Reading, Mathematics, and English Language Usage, administered by NWEA. ISP provides a chart comparing MAP results with Oregon's OSAS and National NAEP standards, illustrating relative performance. Math performance is notable because math is taught in the track language and the results are presented with English-language testing. By 3rd grade, the vast majority of ISP students catch up to their English-only peers, and by 5th grade many surpass them.

ISP's Student Support Team provides academic and social-emotional support. The Team includes a Head, a Learning Support Specialist, and a Counselor who collaborate with administrators, teachers, families, and outside providers. They develop individualized plans of support implemented by all faculty who work with the student and aim to empower students to develop self-efficacy, independence, and to celebrate learning diversity. The SST does not diagnose or label students and uses a multi-tiered, classroom-based approach to interventions. Assessments and progress updates inform targeted actions, with referrals initiating 4-6 week intervention periods.

ISP does not have separate on-site programs or resources for special needs. The Student Support Team offers support for students who cannot fully access the curriculum through Student Support Plans (an ISP version of an IEP) developed with teachers and families. Plans are data-driven and include targeted interventions with progress monitoring and optional outside supports. Small class sizes and collaborative partnerships support students with learning differences to thrive. The SST does not diagnose or label students.

The English program develops reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and presenting skills. Language learning is taught through inquiry, with attention to each child's individual pace for transferring literacy across languages. The English team differentiates instruction based on data collected from each student. There are four full-time English teachers and one full-time English Learning Support Specialist. First grade receives English instruction for one hour daily; 2nd–5th grades receive two hours every other day.

Mental wellbeing is supported through the SST framework that addresses social-emotional growth. A Counselor is part of the Student Support Team and works with families and teachers on social-emotional development. Interventions are individualized and designed to build resilience within the bilingual immersion setting. Regular communication with families keeps them informed about progress and goals. The approach emphasizes inclusive practices and collaboration to foster a safe, supportive learning community.

01. Campus & Classroom Tours: In-person and virtual tours are available. Self-scheduling is available through MySchool App. If you do not yet have an account for the admissions portal, you can create one to access tours and admissions materials. The Director of Enrollment Management is available to answer questions by email or phone. 02. Events & Open Houses: ISP informational events, Open Houses, and sample classes are scheduled for the school year. The Spring Open House occurs on Friday, April 24, with two sessions (9:00 AM and 10:15 AM); registration is via MySchool App. You do not need to know the immersion language to attend a sample class. 03. Request More Information: Please submit an inquiry, and ISP will provide access to admissions materials and more information about the school. 04. Apply to ISP: Applications begin in September of the year prior to the student's start date. When all places are reserved, applicants are placed on a waitlist. Admission offers are first-come, first-served and do not consider financial aid applications. Enrollment contracts for new students are mailed in February and must be returned with a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit by the end of March; if not returned, offers become invalid and spaces are offered to wait-listed families. Applications received after April and during the school year are admitted if space is available. Application Instructions: MySchool App handles online inquiries, tours, admissions events, and applications; create a MySchool App account using an email you will access throughout the admissions season.

Tuition Support: Tuition support is available on the basis of demonstrated need and is provided in the form of grants and tuition discounts. It is based entirely on a family's ability to pay for tuition—no other criteria is used. Families must re-apply each year for continued support. Tuition support applies to students in all grades and plays no role in admission offers. Tuition support uses FACTS to receive and evaluate applications; the priority deadline for the 2026-27 school year is February 28. In 2023–24, the average aid recipient's household income was over $100,000, and an average award covered roughly one third of tuition. The Endowment supports need-based scholarships, including the Slater Scholarship Fund and the Greeney Family Fund for Japanese Track Scholarships, among others.

Waitlist: If all spaces are reserved, additional applicants are placed on a waitlist. Admission offers are made strictly on a first-come, first-served basis and do not take into account a family's financial aid application. Applications received after April and during the school year will be offered admission if space is available.