The International School of Boston was founded in 1962 as the Jardin d’Enfants in hopes of integrating French language and culture into children's educational experiences. The Jardin d’Enfants, it was one of the first bilingual programs in the United States. Since 1962 ISB has grown from just 15 children to 500, and expanded to serve TPS through 12th grade. Students range in ages from 2 to 18 and come from 43 nations. The school had a nomadic existence in its early years as it searched for suitable space. From the basement of the Lutheran Church in Belmont, to a church in Newton Corner, to the Armenian Church in Cambridge, to the Parmenter School on Irving Street in Arlington, it finally settled in 1997 in its current location in Cambridge. Its main building is the former Cambridge Almshouse, built in 1850 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also underwent several name changes, including Ecole Bilingue de Boston, and French-American International School of Boston. Since January 2006, the English name has been the International School of Boston.
Bilingual education
With one of the first bilingual programs in the US, ISB has almost 60 years of experience in bilingual education. ISB's curriculum is bilingual from TPS through 12th grade, with Preschool and Kindergarten being full-immersion programs in French.
In addition to the American High School Diploma, ISB offers both the French Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate.
Arts
ISB has an extremely strong theater arts program, culminating in a week-long performing arts festival each May. For several years, ISB has participated at the Theater Festival at the Lycée Français de New York, winning first prize in 2006 and the “Special Prize of the Jury” in 2007. Visual arts also have a week-long festival in May during which student artwork is exhibited. The school choirs have several performances throughout the year.
Athletics
ISB offers competitive teams in fencing, soccer, basketball and volleyball. In the spring of 2007, ISB hosted the French-American School of Rhode Island and the École Française du Maine in a soccer tournament. ISB has had a competitive Fencing Club for many years, as well as additional clubs for mixed sports, handball, volleyball, and badminton. In January 2013 the ISB varsity men's épée team finished second at the Massachusetts State Championships with all three of their fencers finishing in the top five individually.
Community service
All ISB Middle and Upper School students are required to take part in service activities and encouraged to invest their time in creative, active and service-based projects. This helps students develop commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle, recognition of the value of creative and innovative activities, and collaboration, leadership and other skills. Students participate in the Cambridge soup kitchen and the Walk for Hunger, they volunteer within the school and help in the library, serve as homework aides for elementary students, support Open Houses, aid the Parents’ Association with fundraising activities and events.
After-School Clubs
Clubs include: Math, science, circus arts, knitting, cross-stitch, chess, art, theater, singing, cooking, jazz dance, mime, Spanish, ballet, yoga, video animation, sculpture, jewelry-beading, gardening, and calligraphy.
Summer Programs
The school offers a summer program for Elementary School ISB and non-ISB students. Non-French and French-speakers are welcome. Activities are run bilingually, so the summer program offers an excellent introduction to French for many students. Activities include art, outdoor games, water games, songs, theater, and a field trip each week. Camp counselors are all ISB teachers—highly professional and well experienced. All speak French and English fluently.
