School profile

MISSION STATEMENT

ISD is an independent English-medium international school which offers a rigorous, US-based, PK-12 curriculum in a nurturing environment, enriched to reflect the needs and diversity of its international student body and faculty. ISD inspires students to become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

The International School of Dakar (ISD) is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational school offering a rigorous US-style educational experience. ISD embraces the rich cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity of its international faculty and student body. ISD was founded in 1983 in order to provide an English medium comprehensive program primarily for international families based in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. ISD is an American-sponsored international school, with support from the United States Embassy in Dakar and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools.

FACILITIES

The current campus was constructed in 1988 and occupies four acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the outskirts of Dakar. There are 14 preschool/elementary classrooms, six middle school classrooms, six high school classrooms, five modern language classrooms, a library, two science labs, two computer labs, an English Language Learner Center (ELL), an Academic Resource Center serving students with special needs, a music room, an art room, a multi-purpose gymnasium/auditorium, a soccer field, playground, and shower and changing facilities. The Club Atlantique, adjoining the school, offers access for tennis and swimming.

ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

ISD is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). ISD is also a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) and the West African International Schools’ Athletic League (WAISAL).

FACULTY

The 44 faculty at the International School of Dakar represent 7 countries, all are certificated teachers and 22 hold advanced degrees beyond the Bachelors. Additional direct support for the teaching mission is provided by eleven elementary classroom aides, two library aides, and three full-time computer technicians.

STUDENT BODY

Currently there are 370 students enrolled in ISD, with 74 in high school. The student body is international, consisting of students from 50 countries. Since ISD expanded to include grades 9-12 in the fall of 2001, 69 seniors have graduated from ISD’s high school. We will graduate ten seniors in 2010.

SCHOOL YEAR AND SCHEDULE

The school year (180 days) is divided into three trimesters; one beginning in late August, one beginning in mid-November and one beginning in mid-March. Our modified block schedule allows high school students to enroll in eight courses per year, with each class meeting for 212.5 minutes per week.

GRADING SYSTEM/EXAMINATIONS

Grades are issued on a trimester basis and each trimester is recorded on the student’s permanent record (transcript). Trimester exams are given in most courses at the end of each term.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

ISD values all curricula equally and includes all courses in honor roll and grade point average calculations. Grade point averages are determined from the final grades of all ISD classes completed in grades 9-12. Due to the complexity of our student population in regard to language, culture, diversity, scholastic backgrounds and our small size, we have chosen not to rank our students.

GRADE POINT SYSTEM

Number Grade	Letter Grade	Grade Points
94--100	A	4.0
90--93	A-	3.7
87--89	B+	3.3
83--86	B	3.0
80--82	B-	2.7
77--79	C+	2.3
73--76	C	2.0
70--72	C-	1.7
67--69	D+	1.3
63--66	D	1.0
60--62	D-	0.7
Below 60	F	0

2010 Graduation Requirements


Subject	Credits	Subject	Credits
English	4	Phys. Ed.	2
Math	3	Fine Arts	1
Science	3	Electives	8
Social Studies	3	Technology	1
Modern Lang.	3	Community Service	50hrs
Credits Required for Graduation			28

AP Courses for 2009-2010: Calculus AB; English Literature; French Language; Human Geography; Psychology; Spanish.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT RESULTS

74% scored 3 or better (based on ISD results from 2002-2009)

Subject	Scores						Total Students
Subject	5	4	3	2	1		Total Students
2005 - 2006
Biology	1	1	2	3			7
Calculus AB	1	1	2				4
English Literature & Comp.		3	3	2			8
French Language	5	1					6
Physics B	1	1	2				4
2006 - 2007
Calculus AB	3		2		1	6
Environmental Science		2	3	4	1	10
English Literature & Comp.			1	5	1	7
French Language	9	2	2			13
Spanish Language	1	1			1	3
Studio Art				1		1
2007 - 2008
Biology		1	1			2
Calculus AB	1	1		1		3
English Literature		1		3		4
French Literature	5	3				8
French Language	6	1				7
Psychology	1	3	1	3		8
Studio Art			1	2		3
2008 - 2009
Biology		1			1	2
Calculus AB		2		1		3
English Language	1	3	3	2		9
French Language	5	2				7
Human Geography	2	2	5	2		11
Psychology	3	2				5

UNIVERISTY ACCEPTANCE 2001-2009

A sample list of Colleges and Universities that have granted admission to ISD students:

American University of Paris, France	Teesside University, UK
Boston University, USA	The College of William and Mary USA
Brunel University, UK	University College Maastricht, the Netherlands
Columbia University, USA	University of Alberta, Canada
Concordia University, Canada	University of Bath, UK
Cornell University, USA	University of British Columbia, Canada
Georgetown University, USA	University of Chicago, USA
Emory University, USA	University of Greenwich, UK
Harvard University, USA	University of Lagos, Nigeria
HEC Montréal, Canada	University of Ottawa, Canada
Johns Hopkins University, USA	University of Pennsylvania, USA
InHolland University, the Netherlands	University of Sheffield, UK
McGill University, Canada	University of Tampa, USA
Moscow State University, Russia	University of Toronto, Canada
Richmond University London, UK	University of Virginia, USA
Stanford University, USA	Yale University, USA


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