Washington International School
All 183 students in grades 6 to 8 are enrolled in intensive language study in Dutch, Spanish, or French. 65% of these students take history and geography in their target second language of either French or Spanish and 54% of students graduate from grade 12 with a bilingual diploma from the International Baccalaureate Organization. The students also have the option of pursuing a third language on an elective basis in French, Spanish, Italian, or Chinese and beginning in 2007-2008, language instruction leading to the International Baccalaureate exam in Chinese will also be available to all incoming sixth graders. In addition, all of the 8th grade students participate in a week-long exchange program with a school in the French or Spanish speaking world and plans are in place to develop a similar experience for those in the Chinese language track.
The Washington International School has established a dynamic partnership with its affiliate, KIS International School in Bangkok, Thailand, which is modeled on Washington International School’s own program. The school partners with an international organization in Uganda and Ethiopia as well as local D.C. service organizations to enable sixth grade students to examine the issue of homelessness. Ties also exist with the Dutch, Chinese, Italian, French, and Spanish embassies and new relationships are being explored with Georgetown University’s Center for Latin American Studies. In addition, teachers at Washington International School are also able to share their knowledge about globalizing the curriculum and promoting social change with local public, charter, and independent schools through the Center for International Education (CIE), which was founded in 2003. The Center for International Education also hosts annual symposiums for youth on global action; takes school teams of students and teachers to developing regions of the world including China, Ethiopia, Paraguay, and Zambia to learn about efforts and projects that are making a difference in peoples' lives; and supports discussion forums for students and teachers interested in learning how their schools can became more involved in global issues.
The school serves approximately
850 students in grades pre K- 12 of whom 68% are White, 10% are African
American, 10% are Hispanic, and 4% are Asian or Pacific Islander.
11.9% of students receive financial aid to attend the school.