Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: International Community School of Abidjan: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

The International Community School of Abidjan, founded in 1972, is a nonprofit, independent, coeducational day school offering an American-style curriculum from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 for children of all nationalities. ICSA students are the dependents of the diplomatic, business, and international business communities in Cote d’Ivoire. The school year, which typically extends from late August to mid-June, is divided into two semesters.

Organization: The school is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Five members on the board are elected by the parents’ association, two may be appointed by the board and two are appointed by the U.S. Ambassador. Membership in the association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school.

Curriculum: The school follows an international curriculum that is modified to meet local needs and opportunities. French, the official language of Cote d’Ivoire, is taught at all grade levels. English-Language Support (ELS) is required of all non-English speakers until their English language proficiency is close to peer competitive. ICSA is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program to our students in grades 11 and 12. ICSA is a founding member of the Common Ground Collaborative (CGC). In early years we use the Canadian Early Years Evaluation (EYE).

Faculty: For the 2023-2024 school year there are 137 total staff members, including 83 teaching staff. The faculty represents a diverse group of qualified teachers, including 25 U.S. citizens, 21 host-country nationals, and 27 third-country nationals. Our faculty and staff represent 27 nationalities, including Cote d’Ivoire, USA, Canada, France, Nigeria, Philippines, Venezuela, Portugal, Liberia, Russia.

Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment was 562 students. Of the total, 138 were U.S. citizens, 74 were host-country nationals, and 350 were third-country nationals.

Facilities: ICSA is located on a 13-acre site in the Riviera III section of Abidjan. The school facilities consist of one large library, three computer/DT labs, three science labs, two multipurpose rooms, two art and music rooms, over 30 classrooms, a canteen, sports fields for soccer and softball, and two covered basketball courts. All rooms on campus are air-conditioned. ICSA has an eight-lane 25m pool and a small learn-to-swim pool.

Finances: Approximately 99% of ICSA’s income is derived from tuition fees. The school is supported by the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools through an annual grant. The tuition rates for the 2023-24 school year are as follows: prekindergarten: $12,751; kindergarten: $15,811; grades 1-5: $21,320; grades 7-8: $22,748; and grades 9-12: $23,870. There is a one-time capital development fee of $6,000 per new student. An annual registration fee of $1,200 is also charged.

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.