Curriculum

The ISO curriculum is that of U.S. public schools and instruction is in English.

French, both Francophone and as a foreign language, is instructed from K through grade 12.

The youngest students, beginning at age three, are our Pre-School. Students in Grades K-5 are the Elementary school, taking most of their instruction in self-contained, multi-aged classes with one teacher. Students in Grades 6-8 form the Middle School, taking their instruction from different teachers depending on subject area.

Students in Grades 9-12 make up the High School. High School students follow a standard course of study receiving credits toward the completion of requirements for a U.S. High School diploma. In addition, students in grades 11 and 12 may elect to study specific classes at the Advanced Placement Level. A detailed description of the subjects taught is found in the Curriculum Guide, available in the office and Library.

Testing Program

The Measure of Academic Progress (Map) is a standardized test designed to enable schools to track student’s academic progress during the school year. Based on internationally recognized reading and mathematical benchmarks, it assesses vocabulary, reading comprehension and mathematical literacy for students in grades 3-11. The test uses a broad cultural base and combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions and prompts. In addition to the MAP, students in Grade 10 and 11 may take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), while students in Grades 11 and 12 take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and/or the ACT for university entrance. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam may be administered to students whose first language is not English. For those students participating in Advance Placement (AP) Classes, comprehensive AP Exams are taken each May.

Academics

The school follows a basically North American Elementary and Secondary School curriculum. Our program offers Language Arts, Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and French. Textbooks and supplementary materials are current and are obtained from the United States and Europe. Although the essential character of the school is American, we have modified our curriculum to reflect the international composition of the school community and the African setting of the school. For example, our social studies curriculum emphasizes communities, world geography, and world history.

At the grade 11 and 12 level, students have the opportunity, over this two-year time-frame, to take up to eight Advanced Placement courses. This often results in the granting of sophomore status when attending universities in the United States. ISO provides special courses in Art, Drama, Music, Dance, Information Technology, Journalism, and Physical Education.

The curriculum of the school is dynamic, with constant attention to revision and fine-tuning. The staff and administration, through in-service training, consultants from abroad, and attendance at the annual conference of the Association of International Schools in Africa, strive to keep abreast of the latest developments in education worldwide. Moreover, individualization of instruction to meet the needs of every child is a broad goal of the school's instructional program. Thus, students in the same class may be using a diversity of materials and may be learning essential skills through a variety of methods and techniques.

ISO conducts a regular classroom program for Pre-Kindergarten (ages 3-4) through grade twelve. ISO also offers a program for post-graduate students. The best way to understand your child's program, of course, is to visit the school and to speak with your child's teachers. We always appreciate parental interest and involvement.

French Instruction

French instruction is required of all students in grades Kindergarten through 12 Students are divided into classes by grade, with advanced students and native speakers receiving instruction at a level that is equivalent to what they would receive in a French school.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Since many of ISO's students come from non-English speaking backgrounds, ESOL lessons are required and available for those deemed necessary. A special tuition is charged for this program.

Computers

ISO has iMacs and Mac Minis installed in its Computer Lab. Computer instruction is integrated into the ISO program in grades 1 through 12. In the early years (grades 1-5), basic computer literacy and computer-assisted instruction are introduced. In the Middle School, students further improve their keyboarding and application skills. By the end of 9th grade, students are fully able to use computers for doing homework, using email, creating documents, designing multi-media presentations, and creating charts and web pages. Advanced computer applications are also offered to High School students. There are also Macs and/or PCs in every classroom. ISO has a dedicated service line and is networked campus wide for both Internet and intranet services. Some areas of the campus also support wireless internet connections. All users must subscribe to ISO’s Acceptable Use Policy before using the Internet.

Field Trips

Field trips are a regular part of the educational program at ISO. You will be notified of the time, place, and purpose of the trip. For each trip, parents must sign a permission slip for the student to participate. If you do not want your child to participate in a trip, it will be your responsibility to see that the child is supervised during the time of the trip.

Student Services

Student Services have been established to facilitate academic, social, and emotional growth in students. The counselor helps students deal with academic difficulties and is available for individual counseling related to self-esteem, problem solving, social skills, and other social and emotional concerns.

The counselor works to help both students and parents understand students' abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Assistance is also given to help students choose and apply to colleges and universities. Other services provided by Student Services include:

• Placement Testing
• Administration of Achievement Tests (ISA, PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, ACT)
• College Counseling
• Assisting with the identification of students with special needs or learning differences
• Counseling and testing of students with academic and emotional needs