International School Manila

IS International School Manila is located on a purpose-built seven-hectare campus in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, in Metro Manila. The campus address is University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634, Philippines. The location places ISM within the Global City development, with access to southern Manila transport and nearby business districts; the school also operates a bus service that serves Fort Bonifacio and surrounding areas.

ISM serves students from Preschool through Grade 12 and is structured into three divisions: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. The campus information indicates Preschool through Grade 12 offerings across these three learning divisions.

ISM is a non-profit day school serving students from Preschool to Grade 12. It operates as a single school with three learning divisions: Elementary, Middle, and High School. Boarding facilities are not offered.

ISM provides inclusive education with a formal Learning Support program. The LS program offers three levels of service (LS1–LS3) and is coordinated by the Learning Support Resource Team; there is a Specialized Learning Support Program (SLSP) for students with significant needs, integrated into regular classrooms with specialists such as speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. English as an Additional Language (EAL) supports Grades 1–10, with English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in Grades 9–10.

ISM has no formal country affiliation. The school describes itself as a non-profit day school serving an international community, with no government or religious funding affiliations.

ISM has no religious affiliation and does not receive financial support from religious institutions.

Preschool 3–4 runs roughly 7:30am–12:30pm (with Wednesday 8:30am start for Preschool 3–4). Kindergarten–Grade 4 runs 7:30am–2:15pm (Wednesday 8:30am–2:15pm). Middle School (Grades 5–8) runs 7:30am–3:00pm (with some tutorials 2:35–3:00pm). High School (Grades 9–12) runs 7:30am–3:00pm (with some tutorials). The Campus Office hours are 7:00am–4:00pm and campus operating hours 7:00am–5:00pm.

ISM offers a school bus service with routes to multiple areas around Fort Bonifacio. The bus service is described as convenient for commuting to and from the Fort Bonifacio area, and transportation rates for SY 2025–2026 are published for families considering this option.

International School Manila serves Preschool through Grade 12, organized into Elementary, Middle, and High School sections, with the High School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and some Certificate-level options. In Elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 4), learning is concept-based and framed around big ideas, meeting the Common Core Mathematics and English Language Arts Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the ISM-adopted Standards for Social Studies. Middle School (Grade 5–8) includes core subjects (English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Modern Language, Physical Education, Wellness) and a range of electives, with English language support provided through EAL programs (EDP/EAP) across Elementary through High School. In High School, students pursue ISM's High School Diploma, with a significant majority taking the full IB Diploma in Grades 11–12 and others taking IB Subject Certificates; Grades 9–10 offer electives such as Robotics, Design Technology, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Computer Programming, Film, Visual Arts, Theater, Peer Counseling, and Food Technology. The program emphasizes co-curricular learning and service through clubs, arts, sports, and ICARE service experiences. In 2025, 98% of IB candidates earned the full IB Diploma.

ISM supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through its counseling services across Elementary, Middle, and High School. The Elementary School Counseling team fosters students' social, emotional and personal growth through individual consultation, classroom guidance, assessment and crisis intervention, and coordination with teachers and parents. They maintain an open-door policy and run parent presentations and workshops to strengthen home–school collaboration. In Middle School, Counseling provides confidential personal and small-group counseling, orientation for new students, parent workshops, and collaboration with staff to design interventions, while leadership development is encouraged through Student Council and Ambassadors, and counselors connect families with internal and external therapeutic resources. In High School, seven counselors assist with academic, personal, social or family concerns, and support college and career planning; students are encouraged to visit the Vicky SyCip Herrera Counseling Center, and counseling is available throughout the year. The approach is complemented by wellness initiatives on campus, including a therapy dog program for wellbeing.

ISM believes in inclusive education and accepts students with learning differences, coordinating supports across divisions through the Learning Support Department. The Learning Support Resource Team (LSRT) in Elementary, Middle, and High School includes Principals, the Learning Support Program Leader, the EAL Program Leader, an Educational Psychologist, and Counselors. The Learning Support Program provides three levels of service: LS1 (curriculum adaptation without changing objectives), LS2 (accommodations and some modification), and LS3 (significant modifications and possible diploma options). The Specialized Learning Support Program (SLSP) serves students with significant needs and provides integrated support with trained specialists. Admission decisions for students with learning needs are made by the LSRT on an individual basis, with regular review of levels.

ISM's English as an Additional Language (EAL) program serves students from Grades 1-10 who require language support to access the curriculum. Language specialists work within a sheltered-immersion model alongside content teachers to deliver integrated language and content instruction. In Elementary School, each grade has an EAL specialist who supports mainstream classes, provides language lessons for identified learners, and collaborates with classroom teachers. In Middle and High School, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes provide intensive language support, with Sheltered-Instruction English helping emergent multilinguals access content. The program emphasizes multilingualism and maintains literacy in home languages as assets.

ISM promotes student mental wellbeing through a structured Counseling program across all divisions, offering individual and group sessions, crisis intervention and collaboration with families and teachers. The Elementary School Counseling team focuses on social, emotional and personal growth, with an open-door policy for students and involvement of parents through workshops. The Middle School program provides confidential counseling, orientation for new students, parent workshops, and collaboration to design interventions, along with leadership programs such as Student Council and Ambassadors. The High School has seven counselors, a dedicated counseling center, and active college and career counseling, with students encouraged to consult the counselors throughout the year. On-campus wellbeing initiatives include Marimar, ISM's therapy dog, and the on-campus Health Clinic with a team of nurses and a pediatrician; safeguarding policies also require a campus-wide wellness program.

ISM maintains a formal Child Safeguarding policy that recognizes that children can be at risk of abuse and requires measures to protect them. All school employees must be vetted and vouched for, including criminal-record and reference checks, with internal controls for contractors and staff. Outsourced contractors and volunteers with close contact to students must be screened, trained and supervised. If abuse is suspected or occurs, a comprehensive inquiry is conducted and findings are reported up to the superintendent, with potential involvement of relevant authorities or employers. The policy also requires a clear internet-use policy, filtering of inappropriate content, and education about digital citizenship. A comprehensive wellness program is outlined to support student safety and wellbeing across the school.

1. Review Admissions Guidelines. IS Manila will admit children provided there is space in the grade/program and they demonstrate the ability to benefit from IS Manila's academic program, as determined by interviews, tests and review of past records. They must have no unresolved disciplinary or emotional problems in their previous schools, and they must reside with their parent(s) in the Philippines; any exception must be approved by the School prior to commencing the admission process. The age placement policy sets a September 1 cutoff, and High School students should graduate no later than age 20. If a student completes a grade level after the first semester, they will be placed in that same grade for the remainder of the school year; the School reserves the prerogative to accept or reject any application.

2. PowerSchool Registration. Create a PowerSchool account and begin the Online Application. You will be required to upload documents such as your child's passport, parent passports, previous and current academic records, and, if applicable, any learning support documentation. Once you submit, you will not be able to upload additional documents, which may delay review; you will receive a confirmation email indicating successful submission. To apply for another child, start a new application; you may save and return to complete before final submission.

3. Online Application Requirements. Your PowerSchool Registration account allows you to track the documents received. Review the specific Application File Requirements per grade and ensure that you complete all requirements for the file to be reviewed. It is advisable to submit prior and current academic information along with the required teacher recommendations; administrative documents may be submitted as they become available.

4. Confirmation of a Seat. Admission decisions are generally made after the applicant has taken the appropriate entrance test(s) on site and has interviewed with the relevant School Counselor. The School may make early decisions at its prerogative. If a seat is offered, parents should enroll immediately to secure the place and pay tuition and fees.

5. Enrollment Process. After formal acceptance, the student must complete the Enrollment Process, which requires clearance signatures on the Enrollment Clearance Form from the Admissions Office, the Cashier's Office, and the Health Clinic. The Enrollment steps include: submitting the Student Health Card and Physical Examination Record to the Health Clinic to obtain a clearance signature on the Enrollment Clearance Form; paying tuition and all other school-related fees at the Cashier's Office; submitting the signed Parent and School Shared Agreement; purchasing school uniforms at the Uniform Shop; obtaining school photo IDs at the Security Office and applying for car stickers there; signing up for the bus service at the Transportation Office (optional); signing up for the snack and/or lunch option at the Elementary School Canteen (optional); and submitting a signed General Proxy for the Board of Trustees (optional). All students entering Grades 7-12 must sign the ISM Drug Policy Form; all High School students must sign the Honor Code. For Preschool, the Enrollment Clearance Form may be given to the Preschool teacher.

6. Testing. Tests are usually scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. in the Admissions Office and include English language skills and Mathematics; for older candidates, testing may include a foreign or modern language such as French, Japanese, Spanish and Mandarin.

7. Interview. All candidates and their parents are required to meet with a School Counselor. The Elementary School Counselor handles teacher placement, while Middle and High School Counselors work out class schedules; High School students and parents may also discuss the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with the IB Coordinator.

Notes. IS Manila follows a Rolling Admissions Policy and accepts applications throughout the academic year; admissions operate with an Admissions Priority Policy and a maximum of nine months' advance applications.

Scholarships. Applications for SY 2026-2027 are closed. IS Manila offers scholarships to Filipino citizens who will be thirteen years old on or before September 01, 2026 and who have completed Grade 7; awardees enroll in Grade 8 and continue through Grade 12. The need-based scholarships cover fees such as tuition, matriculation, and book rental, with a possible participation fee for families. Eligibility requires Filipino citizenship, Grade 7 completion, high academic achievement (no grade below 85%), demonstrated financial need, meeting regular IS Manila entrance requirements, strong English proficiency, and good health; only one sibling per family is considered; dual citizens are not eligible. Selection involves an assessment day (8:00 AM–3:00 PM) with English and Math evaluations, followed by home visits and panel interviews; a final decision is based on overall application materials and interviews. Scholarships require acceptance within one week of notification; awardees must cover other student expenses (lunches, uniforms, activities) beyond the scholarship grant; the scholarship spans Grades 8–12 and includes yearly evaluations by the Philippine Scholarship Committee to determine continuation. Dates of examination and interview are January 31, 2026 (8:00 AM–3:00 PM) and March 23–24, 2026 (Interview Day). Scholarship forms include an Application Checklist, Online Application Form, Financial Requirement, Principal's Appraisal, and Certificate of Good Health; report cards/transcripts from Grade 1 onward are required. The program includes ISM Filipino Scholars and the Victoria SyCip Herrera Scholarship Foundation as named components of IS Manila's scholarship ecosystem.

Waitlist/Pool. When a grade or program has no available space, IS Manila maintains a Waitpool. Candidates on the Waitpool are considered for admission as openings become available. There is Admissions Priority consideration, but there is no fixed chronological order within that priority grouping; IS Manila strives for balance in gender, diversity of nationalities, and predictable academic success for the candidate when a space opens. If a space becomes available, parents are advised immediately and asked to confirm continued interest and pay the current tuition and fees to hold the place. The Application Fee remains valid for two academic years for Waitpool applications, and families may roll over an application year if space is not offered (requires a formal rollover request). IS Manila reserves the right to accept or reject any application. One exploratory visit per family is allowed. Guardianship requests follow additional policy by the Superintendent.