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Inspiring Global Citizens,
Empowering Lifelong Learners

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Inspiring Global Citizens, Empowering Lifelong Learners
A diverse international community fostering academic excellence and cultural fluency. Bilingual, future-focused education in a supportive environment that prepares students for a connected world.

Your Child’s Global Future Starts Here

Full IB Continuum

Cologne’s only school with all three IB programmes (PYP-MYP-DP), supporting continuous learning from age 5 to university prep.

Dual Qualifications

Earn globally recognized IB diplomas AND German state certifications (Abitur/Hauptschulabschluss)—dual pathways to success.

Bilingual Advantage

50% German, 50% English daily immersion with expert EAL/DaZ support. No prior language skills needed to thrive.

Proven Results

100% IB pass rate (2023) with 90% graduating students entering top German/international universities.

Cologne International School's Mission

To Connect With Each Others and Our World
  • We Think Internationally
  • We Speak Multilingually
  • We Act With Empathy
To Explore and Fulfill The Potential Within Ourselves
  • We Love Learning
  • We Show Commitment
  • We Shape Our Learning Path
To Make a Positive Impact On Tomorrow
  • We Embrace Change
  • We Demonstrate Integrity
  • We Reflect Critically
To Connect With Each Others and Our World
  • We Think Internationally
  • We Speak Multilingually
  • We Act With Empathy
To Explore and Fulfill The Potential Within Ourselves
  • We Love Learning
  • We Show Commitment
  • We Shape Our Learning Path
To Make a Positive Impact On Tomorrow
  • We Embrace Change
  • We Demonstrate Integrity
  • We Reflect Critically
To Connect With Each Others and Our World
  • We Think Internationally
  • We Speak Multilingually
  • We Act With Empathy
To Explore and Fulfill The Potential Within Ourselves
  • We Love Learning
  • We Show Commitment
  • We Shape Our Learning Path
To Make a Positive Impact On Tomorrow
  • We Embrace Change
  • We Demonstrate Integrity
  • We Reflect Critically

The Vision

Our vision is to contribute to a better world by inspiring a passion for learning along with the drive to make a difference.

Anybody Is Able To Join The School

Shaun Roberts
Secondary Schulleitung

Learn Together,
Live Together

Our Boarding House offers a safe and comfortable place to live, study, and grow. With modern rooms, study support, and shared activities, students build independence and make lasting friendships in an international setting.

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Over 50 Nationalities

Global diversity shapes every lesson. Students learn with and from peers worldwide, gaining cultural fluency for life.

18 Years

Exponential Growth

Cologne International School has grown rapidly in every way—more students, more programs, and more success.
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+840% Growth Rate

From a modest 50 students at its founding to over 470 today, Cologne International School has blossomed into a diverse, multicultural hub, representing 52 nationalities across six continents.

IB Programme Authority

Started as a candidate for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in 2022; now an IB Continuum School (one of only 15 in Germany) offering PYP, MYP, and DP

Academic Excellence

With an IB Diploma average of 32.3 points—well above the global average of 30—our students consistently perform at a high level, with a 92.3% pass rate reflecting their dedication and preparation.

Campus Modernization

In 2022, we relocated to a 19,000 m² purpose-built sustainable campus, designed to support modern learning while reducing our carbon footprint by 30 tons of CO₂ per year.

University Placements

Our graduates attend top universities worldwide—including TU Munich, Maastricht University, and NYU—demonstrating their academic strength and global readiness.

Boarding Life

Our boarding program hosts 20 students in modern, multicultural living spaces with rooftop terraces. Students also enjoy 15+ clubs like Badminton and Photography, plus partnerships such as the Maths Olympiad.

18 Years

Exponential Growth

Cologne International School has grown rapidly in every way—more students, more programs, and more success.
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Supportive Community, Meaningful Growth

Small Classes

With just 12-22 students per class, our teachers tailor instruction to individual needs, ensuring no child is overlooked and every voice is heard in the learning process.

Holistic Approach

Daily social-emotional learning (SEL) is woven into lessons, helping students develop resilience, empathy, and self-awareness alongside academic skills—preparing them for life beyond school.

Inclusive Admissions

We welcome students of all language backgrounds with placement tests and customized support (EAL/DaZ), ensuring everyone can thrive in our bilingual environment from day one.

Parent Partnership

Through cultural cafés and workshops, families actively contribute to our community while gaining tools to support their child’s bilingual and intercultural growth at home.

from those who know us best

We absolutely love being part of the Cologne International School community! The welcoming environment, dedicated teachers, and diverse international spirit are incredible. Our child thrives thanks to the wonderful health and wellbeing program, inspiring music opportunities like Big Band and String Ensemble, and exciting international trips. It truly feels like home.
Susanne Karner
Parent & PTA Member
As a mother of two children at Cologne International School, I’m incredibly pleased with their progress. The supportive environment encourages curiosity, confidence, and global thinking. Both my children are thriving academically and socially. The dedicated teachers and international community make it a truly special place to learn and grow.
Louisa Garvie
Parent & PTA Memeber

Latest Insights & Stories

Benefits Of An Internship Abroad
An Internship abroad is a great way to increase your career chances, to learn about a new culture and broaden your horizons and perspectives. Open your mind and get a step closer to being independent!
August 6, 2025
Curriculum Student
How we really assess and promote learning!
How do IB schools assess learning without traditional grades? Discover how CIS focuses on progress, not points, through meaningful assessment.
June 18, 2025
Admission
What’s the Secret to Our IB Success? Strategies Behind CIS’s High Diploma Scores
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
School Culture
Beyond the Classroom: How CIS’s Extracurriculars Shape Well-Rounded Graduates
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
News
How Do Small Class Sizes Make a Difference? The CIS Advantage in Personalized Learning
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
Anouncements
What’s Behind Our Sustainable Campus? A Look at CIS’s Eco-Friendly Innovations
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
Parents
From Local to Global: How CIS Prepares Students for Top Universities Worldwide
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
Curriculum Secondary School Support
Why Do Families Choose CIS? The Academic and Cultural Benefits Unveiled
The best international schools welcome this scrutiny, confident that their programs speak for themselves. In an increasingly interconnected world, this caliber of education has never been more valuable.
May 15, 2025
Secondary School
What Defines an IB Continuum School? Cologne International’s Path to Excellence
In today's globalized world, elite international schools distinguish themselves through a powerful combination of academic rigor cultural diversity, and innovative approaches to learning.
May 15, 2025
Curriculum

Commonly Asked Questions

CIS provides a comprehensive educational pathway through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum, encompassing the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Grades 1–5, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12. Additionally, the school integrates the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state curriculum in its bilingual primary school. To learn more about the programs, please refer to the Curriculum Overview.

Tuition fees vary by grade level:

  • Grades 1–5: €18,650 annually or €1,636 monthly

  • Grades 6–10: €20,480 annually or €1,791 monthly

  • Grades 11–12 (IB DP): €21,940 annually or €1,938 monthly

Additional costs may include exam fees, meals, transportation, and extracurricular activities. For more tuition details, please visit the Tuition & Fees section.

In the primary school (Grades 1–5), instruction is bilingual, with classes taught in both German and English. From Grade 6 onwards, the secondary school programs are primarily delivered in English, preparing students for international qualifications.

CIS offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities across various domains:

  • Sports: Tennis, athletics, football, basketball, and more

  • Creative Arts: Theater, arts & crafts, moviemaking

  • Languages: Spanish, French, German, and English clubs

  • Music: Choir, big band, musical theater

These activities aim to foster holistic development beyond the classroom.

The admissions process at CIS typically involves the following steps:

  1. Inquiry and Application: Parents submit an application form and relevant documents.

  2. Trial Day/Interview: Prospective students may be invited for a trial day or an online interview.

  3. Assessment: Evaluation of the student’s previous education, age, maturity, and language skills.

  4. Enrollment: Upon successful assessment, families receive a school contract for enrollment.

The admissions team is available to guide families through each step.

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help! Contact us anytime—we’d love to hear from you.

Where Next?

Primary Years Programme
Middle Years Programme
Diploma Programme
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Amazon Jungle

Throughout February, 2024, 25 of our CIS students embarked on a long journey to the Amazon Jungle in Iquitos, Peru. Students worked hard the previous months to raise funds to be able to create their community service project with the local communities of El Chino in the Tahuayo Region of the Amazon basin. Once there, our 25 students, along with our three teachers and the guides at the lodge they stayed in, participated in a whole day community service project where students built two complete Primary School classrooms. Our students built 20 desks and 20 chairs from scratch with the help of the local community and finished the day by putting the new furniture inside the classrooms. Thanks to this initiative, the students were able to fill up two classrooms that are now providing full day education to the children of the community. At CIS, one of our pillars of excellent education is understanding the privilege that comes with being an IB student and an international school student, and the importance of being global citizens. With this, comes the responsibility of being stewards of the communities that inhabit this world and the importance of giving back and being change makers!
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
08:15 - 09:45Targeted LearningSpanish / French / EALMathThe ArtsHumanities
09:45 - 10:15Snack & Break
10:15 - 11:15HumanitiesThe ArtsEnglishEnglishPersonal Growth
11:15 - 12:15MathEnglishScienceScienceGerman / GAL
12:15 - 13:15Science
13:15 - 13:45Lunch & Break
13:45 - 14:15Spanish / French / EALHomeroomGerman / GALSportMath
14:15 - 15:15German / GALClubsClubsClubsClubs
15:15 - 16:45ClubsCubsClubsClubsClubs
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Grade 3/4 Timetable Example
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
07:00 - 08:00 Early Supervision Early Supervision Early Supervision Early Supervision Early Supervision
08:00 - 09:30 Unit of Inquiry Unit of Inquiry Unit of Inquiry Unit of Inquiry Unit of Inquiry
09:30 - 10:00 Snack & Recess Snack & Recess Snack & Recess Snack & Recess Snack & Recess
10:00 - 10:30 Instrumental Kung Fu Instrumental Tai Chi Instrumental
10:30 - 12:00 Unit Unit Unit Unit Tai Chi + Unit
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch & Recess Lunch & Recess Lunch & Recess Lunch & Recess Lunch & Recess
13:30 - 14:30 Unit
Math, German, English, Social Studies		 Swimming Library Music Unit
14:30 - 15:30 Spanish Clubs Art Unit Clubs
15:30 - 16:30 Spanish Spanish Spanish
16:30 - 18:00 Late Clubs Late Clubs Late Clubs Late Clubs
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Primary Years Programme (PYP)
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Middle Years Programme (MYP)
Learn More About The Programme
IB DiplomaYears Programme (PYP)
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