International School Manila Celebrates a Century of Growth
International School Manila (ISM) is a community composed of 2,400 students from over 100 nations, 400 multicultural faculty, and thousands of alumni across the world. With the school celebrating its hundredth birthday on March 4, 2020, it is fitting to look back on its rich history and look forward to its future.
Humble Beginnings
In 1920, a group of American and British expatriates living in Manila sought to establish a school for their children comparable to the top private schools in the US, with the added cultural education of life abroad. Thus, the American School began at 606 Taft Avenue, a loaned church building, with just eight teachers and fifty students from Grades 1-12.
A few loaned Spanish-style houses later, the School opened the doors to its own campus on Donada Street in 1936, today home to Arellano University. 1942 brought with it the beginning of the Japanese occupation, which forced citizens of allied countries into internment at the University of Santo Tomas till war’s end in 1945.
Through a combination of resourcefulness and dedication, thirty-four students managed to fulfill graduation requirements during this time. The middle decades of the School’s history were characterized by growth—enrollment records were topped year after year—and diversification, as expats from across the world were drawn to the elite education the School offered.
As such, a bigger campus was opened in the metropolitan Bel-Air area in 1961. The American School then changed its name to International School Manila (ISM) in 1970 to reflect the growing student diversity on campus. With the move to Bel-Air came the institution of a Filipino Scholarship Program. Almost sixty years later, the Program has helped launch hundreds of careers, from entrepreneurs to humanitarians, lawyers to doctors, and everything in between.
Today
ISM is a school continuously searching for ways that will enable it to be better. With a focus on sustainability in recent years, the school cafeteria, Kantina has been overhauled. Next year will bring about extended solar paneling as well as the addition of a teaching kitchen and an International Baccalaureate option in Food Science.
Sports and Fine Arts facilities see enhancements each year. Additional facilities have been added for younger learners, while a Learning Support Center provides the optimal environment for those who need specialist attention from skilled educators to help them in their growth.
Integrity, Service, Merit
David Toze, who celebrates his 19th year as Superintendent, now the longest-serving in School history, speaks to the values behind an ISM education. “Integrity, as behaving to the highest expectations—even when no one is watching what we do; Service, the recognition of how lucky our community is, and how it behooves us to give back to those who are in need; Merit, the quality of getting what you deserve—of having to work for success rather than having it handed to you on a plate.”
“Not everyone models these every day. But the more our students understand their significance, the more likely they are to become the kind of people our world needs so badly,” he added.
Situated in Bonifacio Global City, International School Manila is a private, non-profit, day school catering to Preschool students to Grade 12 students. IS Manila follows the structure, traditions, and style of the United States, which creates the world’s best educational research and practice.
Lastly, the international school aims to be a learning community, which strengthens the capabilities of learners.
School Details
Address: University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio Global City
Contact Numbers: 02-840-8400
Email: admissions@ismanila.org
Website: ismanila.org/
Annual Tuition Fee:
• Preschool 3 to Preschool 4 – $7,900 plus Php 254,000
• Elementary School (Kindergarten-Grade 4) – $12,460 plus Php 398,000
• Middle School (Grades 5-8) – $13,600 plus Php 436,000
• High School (Grade 9-10) – $14,460 plus Php 464,000
• High School (Grades 11-12) – $16,160 plus Php 519,000
• Specialized Learning Support Program- $40,000
Target Age Range: 3 to 17 years old
Levels Offered: Pre-school through Grade 12
Admission Requirements: List of requirements is available on their website
Offers Trial Classes: No
Extracurricular Activities: Yes
School Bus Service: Yes
Uniforms: Monday to Friday
This is a press release. Edits were made prior to publishing.
Images courtesy of International School Manila
