“Road construction. Detour ahead.” That’s what a Beijing Shunyi official account announced regarding An Hua Street. Today we are at An Hua Street One. It is near the International School of Beijing.
The International School of Beijing is a landmark here. Known as ISB it stands as the oldest and largest international school in Beijing. Its story began in 1980. Five embassies joined forces to create it. These were the US British Australian Canadian and New Zealand embassies.
Initially ISB catered to children of embassy staff. It gradually opened its doors to other expatriate residents. In 1988 China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially registered ISB. It became a school for diplomatic children. The campus shifted to the Lido complex. Applications from all expatriates were then welcomed.
ISB achieved another milestone in 1991. It became the first Beijing school to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Accreditation by WASC followed in 1997.
The school underwent restructuring in 2002. It emerged as an independent school for foreign children. That same year ISB relocated to a large campus in Shunyi district. This district is northeast of Beijing. Accreditation by the Chinese authority NCCT came in 2003.
ISB boasts impressive facilities. A detached sports facility was completed in 2017. It features two pressurized domes with air filtration. These domes house indoor tennis courts and a playing field.
The campus spans 13 hectares. That is about 32 acres. It includes sports domes with advanced filtration systems. There are four gymnasiums including one with a climbing wall. Baseball and softball diamonds are on site. Also you find two full-sized turf soccer fields. A rugby pitch a running track and a stadium with 665 seats complete the picture. The aquatics center features a 25-meter pool with diving boards.
Inside the main building 12 science labs await students. There is also a student cooking lab. Middle and high school students have a visual arts wing. Elementary students enjoy art studios. The performing arts wing houses a 600-seat theater. A Black Box theater rehearsal space and a studio stage are available. Two library-media centers hold over 82000 volumes. More than 160 magazine subscriptions are supported. ISB provides a MacBook laptop for each student in grades 2 through 12.
New facilities opened in 2020. These included an early years learning center. There is also an elementary school arts and theater. A middle and high school performing arts center enriches the campus. As does a middle and high school art and design center.
In 2023 ISB added a Middle School Playground. Golf Simulators were installed too. The school incorporated 1323 Solar Panels showing its commitment to sustainability. A new main entrance was constructed in 2024.
The International School of Beijing operates as a non-profit. A 12-member Board of Trustees governs it. These volunteers oversee school policy and finances. They recruit and support the Head of School. The board also guides the school’s strategic direction.
ISB holds accreditations from various organizations. These include NEASC CIS and the International Baccalaureate Organization. It is also accredited by NCCT in China. ISB is a member of EARCOS and NACAC.
Several notable alumni have attended ISB. Joe Alexander is a basketball player. Camille Cheng is an Olympic swimmer. Yu Shuran is a figure skater. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri is a Member of Parliament in Indonesia. Will Tschetter plays basketball for the Michigan Wolverines.
An Hua Street One places us at a crossroads of education. It is a place where international collaboration meets academic excellence. Remember the traffic. Consider taking a detour.