Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek International School: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

Bishkek International School (BIS) is a liberal, secular, nonprofit community school, founded in 2010 to provide excellent international education in a happy environment for both international and local families in Bishkek. BIS has 410 students from Pre-K through grade 12. Around 50% of students are Kyrgyz citizens, with international students representing over 35 countries worldwide.

Organization: A nine-member governing board oversees strategy, policy and financial sustainability of the school. Board members are elected for three years and may be re-elected for up to nine years. Three members are elected by the Parents Association, three by the school staff and three by an advisory council representing the interests of embassies, NGOs and businesses in Bishkek. The executive management board is appointed by the governing board to provide collegiate management of the school.

Curriculum: BIS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP) up to grade 5, Middle Years Program (MYP) in grades 6-8, and the Diploma Program (DP) in grades 11-12. In grades 9-10, BIS provides the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum with examination at the end of 10th grade, in preparation for the demanding IB Diploma. In grades 11-12 may opt out of the full IB Diploma to graduate with a US accredited High School Diploma. BIS provides a wide range of course options for students in high school and a balanced curriculum including many language options in the PYP and MYP. The school can accommodate students with mild educational difficulties or physical disabilities according to the facilities and personnel available. An extensive extracurricular activities program is available to students. BIS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on International Education, the International Baccalaureate Organization, Cambridge Assessment International Education, and by the Kyrgyz Government Ministry of Education and Science.

Faculty: In the 2023-2024 school year, BIS has 160 total staff including 100 teachers, 6 of whom are U.S. citizens, 55 host-country nationals, and 39 third-country nationals.

Enrollment: For the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment is 410. Of the total, 32 are U.S. citizens, 205 host-country nationals, and 173 third-country nationals.

Facilities: BIS is in south-central Bishkek in a quiet residential area. School facilities include a range of teaching rooms, music and art rooms, makerspace, libraries, science labs, a multi-purpose hall for indoor sports and school performances, and separate play areas and classroom wing for pre-k. All buildings and facilities are designed and constructed for strong earthquake standards, fire safety and student security. We continue to develop and improve the current facilities with renovation and new development every summer. The outdoor play area includes a basketball court, grass field, and adventure playground with treehouses, zipline and climbing walls, giving students space and variety to enjoy themselves at break times. Bishkek has clean air for most of the year, but air quality deteriorates in the winter heating season. BIS has online air quality monitors in the playground and library, with air filters in every room to maintain AQI below 50 inside.

Finances: In the 2023-2024 school year, 98% of the school’s income comes from annual tuition fees. The annual tuition fees are: PK $10,087; K–5 $18,950; 6-8 $19,623; 9-10 $20,329; 11-12 $21,070. The school also charges a $250 registration fee per family when the first child in a family joins the school. For students in grades 4 -12 who need ELA support, an additional annual fee of $2,000 is applied. If students require moderate, intense, or specialized education learning support, which is not readily available in the school, additional fees may be applied to cover the cost of the additional support required. A book deposit is required for all students from K-12, which is refunded if books/equipment are not lost or damaged. The book deposit is $150 for K- 5, $300 for 6-8, and $500 for 9-12. (All fees are quoted in U.S. Dollars.)

Special Needs: Review the Special Needs Profile for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.

This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2023 and are provided by the school.