Amsterdam International Community School vs International School of Amsterdam
🇳🇱 Amsterdam · Side-by-side comparison on verifiable public data.
Neither Amsterdam International Community School nor International School of Amsterdam sits in a market with a public inspectorate, so both are assessed on verifiable accreditation, curriculum authorisation, and published data rather than an official quality rating. Both run the same curriculum (IB), so the differences come down to pathway detail, campus culture, and specific language/boarding arrangements rather than the curriculum framework itself. On cost, Amsterdam International Community School has the noticeably lower entry fee — a material difference for budget-conscious families. See the table below for the figures, and verify against each school's own published fees.
Key Facts
| Amsterdam International Community School | International School of Amsterdam | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | IB | IB |
| Ages | 4-18 | 2-18 |
| Languages of instruction | English | English |
| Annual fees | ~EUR 6,025-6,309/yr primary; EUR 7,178-9,168/yr secondary (2025/26); EUR 200 registration + EUR 500 deposit | EUR 21,940-31,495/year (2025-26) |
| Enrollment | 2,000 | 1,300 |
| Boarding | Day only | Day only |
| Accreditations | Council of International Schools (CIS), International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Dutch International Schools (DIS) | Council of International Schools (CIS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), International Baccalaureate (IB) |
Strengths
- ✓Full IB continuum authorisation (PYP, MYP, DP and CP), a combination only a minority of international schools worldwide offer
- ✓Dramatically lower fees than private international schools thanks to Dutch government subsidy (roughly EUR 6,000-9,000 vs up to EUR 30,000)
- ✓CIS-accredited and an IB World School, with a synchronised CIS-IB review cycle
- ✓Large, highly international community of 2,000+ students across two Amsterdam campuses
- ✓English-medium instruction with an inclusive, accessible mission for students of all nationalities living in the Netherlands
- ✓Historic 'world's first full IB continuum school' distinction, a genuine and rare differentiator
- ✓Full IB authorization across PYP, MYP and DP for a single coherent early-years-to-graduation pathway
- ✓Layered external validation through joint CIS and NEASC accreditation plus IB authorization
- ✓Tiered EAL support (Elementary, Intermediate, Transition) for non-native English speakers
- ✓Broad multilingual provision, with Language A in five languages and tutored support in many more
Trade-offs
- !No graded inspection band published (Dutch Inspectorate does not rate like Ofsted), so external 'how good' signals rely on accreditation status
- !Eligibility is geared to internationally mobile families, which can constrain access for some local applicants
- !Single curriculum pathway (IB only) with no British or American alternative
- !Day school only - no boarding for relocating families needing residential options
- !Premium fees, with upper-grade tuition at EUR 31,495 for 2025-26
- !IB-only school, so no A-Level or American-diploma alternative
- !No published verbatim graded inspection band under the Dutch regime
- !Day school only, with no boarding provision
Best Fit For
- • Internationally mobile families relocating to Amsterdam who want IB continuity
- • Families seeking high-quality international education without private-school fee levels
- • Students who thrive in a large, multinational, English-medium environment
- • Parents who value the full IB continuum from primary through to the Diploma or Career-related Programme
- • Internationally mobile families wanting one portable IB pathway through to graduation
- • Non-native-English students who need structured EAL support
- • Families committed to the IB continuum philosophy
- • Multilingual households wanting home-language maintenance alongside English-medium study
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: AICS prepares students for the IB Diploma and Career-related Programme leading to university entry; specific destination and results data were not found in public sources at the time of review.
School-reported, unverified: ISA states its 2025 IB Diploma results place students 'well above global averages'; the precise average was published only as an image and could not be independently transcribed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Amsterdam International Community School or International School of Amsterdam?
Amsterdam International Community School is best for: Internationally mobile families relocating to Amsterdam who want IB continuity. International School of Amsterdam is best for: Internationally mobile families wanting one portable IB pathway through to graduation. The right choice depends on target curriculum, budget, and family priorities — the two are not linearly comparable.
How do fees compare between Amsterdam International Community School and International School of Amsterdam?
Amsterdam International Community School: ~EUR 6,025-6,309/yr primary; EUR 7,178-9,168/yr secondary (2025/26); EUR 200 registration + EUR 500 deposit. International School of Amsterdam: EUR 21,940-31,495/year (2025-26). Verify against each school's own published fees; some figures are sourced from third-party aggregators.
What curricula do Amsterdam International Community School and International School of Amsterdam offer?
Amsterdam International Community School: IB. International School of Amsterdam: IB.
Do Amsterdam International Community School or International School of Amsterdam offer boarding?
Amsterdam International Community School: day school only. International School of Amsterdam: day school only.
Questions parents ask
This comparison is BrightKey's independent assessment using verifiable public data only. University-placement figures are school-reported and not independently verified. BrightKey takes no payments from schools. Our method →