Frequently Asked Questions

School days are Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 3:00pm. After School Activities run from 3:15 to 4:15pm. Some programs in the upper school run before school, after school and on the weekends.

The Lower School serves students from Pre-Kindergarten (4 year olds) to Grade 5.
The Upper School serves students from Grades 6 to 12. The IB Diploma begins in Grade 11 and ends in Grade 12.

ICSA’s school year is from Mid-August to Mid-June. You can see ICSA’s calendar here.
Elementary School: Trimesters (August-November, November-March, March-June) Upper School: Quarters (August-October, October-January, January-April, April-June) and Semesters (August-January, January-June).

ICSA offers a full IB program including the PYP, MYP and DP. Currently, ICSA is a candidate school for the PYP and MYP. The DP programme has been authorised since 2015. Through the IB framework, ICSA focuses on the whole child’s development. The use of the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning ensure that each child develops to their fullest potential. ICSA awards graduates with an American high school diploma and/or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, equipping them to enter top universities worldwide. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (USA). The language of instruction is English.
Follow the link to learn more about each division’s curriculum:
PYP
To learn more about the PYP please visit the IB’s site.
To learn more about the PYP Program of Inquiry please visit this link.

ICSA serves nearly 560 students from over 80 countries, creating a diverse and international school community.

ICSA is supported by more than 90 faculty members representing 30 different nationalities, bringing a wealth of international experience to our community.

Read the pages under Admissions on this site and then complete the necessary forms. Our Admissions Office is always here to help (admissions@icsabidjan.org).

At ICSA, parents play an integral role in the school and their participation is encouraged. Parents are members of the ICSA Association (the organization that oversees the management of the school), the Board of Directors (parents are elected to the Board to govern the school), various committees of the Board, and the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

Students at ICSA are placed in grade levels primarily based on their age. For applicants coming from non-US school systems, please refer to this weblink Grade Map for ICSA Grade Equivalencies to help determine the appropriate ICSA grade level.

Applicants coming from schools that follow a calendar-year academic system (January/April to November/March), such as those in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Singapore, Japan, and Korea, should apply to the grade level that aligns with their age and extends their current school year.

In practical terms, students applying for August enrollment should apply to the grade level they are currently attending, while students applying for January enrollment should apply to join the grade level they are completing.

ICSA provides English language support for EAL (English as an Additional Language) students at all grade levels. However, we only offer beginning EAL support for students through Grade 8. Students entering Grades 9 and above must meet ICSA’s established minimum levels of English proficiency.
Read more about our English Language Learners

ICSA does not have a comprehensive special education program. We may not be able to admit students whose needs are beyond the scope of programs currently being offered by the school. The school expects that parents will provide all of the appropriate documentation one would expect when seeking to enroll a child in a new school, especially if the child has previously been enrolled in a special education program. This is needed in order for us to make the best decision in your child’s interest.
During the admission process, it is important to be open about your child’s specific needs from the beginning. We will ask that you provide ICSA with as much information regarding their needs as possible, including, but not limited to, a most recent psycho-educational assessment, past testing, support plans (IEP’s, behavioral contracts, etc), as well as narrative comments from previous schools.

All applicants must be toilet trained and meet the minimum age requirements below (age by October 31st of the school year):
Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K4): 4 years old
Kindergarten: 5 years old
Grade 1: 6 years old

The Community Engagement Program at ICSA supports our mission by providing students with opportunities to learn about their communities, engage local community members, and learn from these experiences. Our program seeks to enhance the lives of others through our collective initiatives, programs, and resources. To learn more, you may visit the Community Engagement page.

ICSA offers a Bilingual Diploma and provides comprehensive language support to meet the needs of our diverse student body.

French: All students in Kindergarten through Grade 10 receive French instruction four to five times per week. Students are grouped by ability level to ensure appropriate support and challenge.

Spanish: Spanish is offered to students in Grades 9 and 10. ICSA also offers Spanish AB Initio for IB Diploma students beginning in Grade 11.

English: English language support is available for students who require additional assistance, ensuring that all learners can fully access the curriculum.

ICSA has an extensive ASA program with a wide range of offerings throughout the school year. For a full list, visit our After School Activities page

ICSA is a member of the West Africa International Schools Activities League (WAISAL). As such, our students participate each year in competitions and tournaments hosted by international schools throughout West Africa. Visit our Athletics page for a complete list of sports offerings.

ICSA is fortunate to have its meals prepared daily by Servair, a well-established international catering company known for its high standards of quality and food safety. Servair provides ICSA with fresh, healthy meals prepared on site each day. Lunches and snacks are created from a diverse menu featuring American, European, and Asian cuisine.

ICSA has a Health Clinic staffed by two qualified, experienced nurses. Both health clinics nurses provide care for acute and chronic illnesses, health screening, first aid, and health education for children, teachers, and parents. The nurses can be reached at infirmary@icsabidjan.org

At this time, ICSA does not provide this service.

Yes. All students must follow the uniform guidelines (see Uniform Policy ).

Since the IB Diploma Program is so well regarded, our students have been accepted to some of the world’s most prestigious universities. Just in in the last few years, ICSA students have attended Columbia University, Yale, UCLA, American University of Paris, Cornell, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, Iowa State, Purdue, Rutgers, University of Texas, Berklee College of Music, University of Toronto, Queen Mary University, Amsterdam University College, and the University of British Columbia (to name a few!)