Reviews of The International School (School)

Nicole Wood

The International School has already exceeded our expectations and we have only been in school a few short months! Our daughter was not doing well in her neighborhood school and was asked to repeat Kindergarten. We took the opportunity to give her a completely different chance at feeling successful and it has paid off. She is interested in learning and enjoys going to school everyday. We cannot be more happy with TIS!

W. Feng

As long the Math curricula is based on the Chinese and Singapore systems (which produce the #1 and #2 ranked students in Math in the world), you will not find a school in the area that teaches more advanced Math to K-5 students. By the time our daughter finished 4th grade, the gifted Chinese teachers at TIS had gotten her all the way past what is normally taught in the 5th grade in the US. This became readily apparent when, at the beginning of 5th grade, the class was switched over to Eureka Math's 5th grade curriculum which happens to align with the US common core (which produces students ranked #28). The entire class became completely bored with math and were thankfully switched back.

Katherine Cole

Both of our girls go to TIS and absolutely love it. It isn't just language immersion; it's a warm and supportive environment for children, with challenging academics. I can't imagine our kids going anywhere else.

Olivia Kramer-Ruis

I went to TIS and I LOVED it I love Ivonne, Pilar, Norma, Gilberto especially and lastly my favorite Constanza Wilkes. I was in the spanish rack and I miss every single teacher I had and my favorite english teacher was Britt. And when I went on Capstone it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Rebecca Legg

TIS is unique in the Portland area for having 3 immersion languages and IBPYP. In fact, it is one of a handful of immersion private schools in the US to offer PYP. The teachers in the languages are all native speakers, so our child has been exposed to several different cultures and dialects and her Spanish is so authentic that native speakers are surprised to learn she lives with two non-speakers. The academics are excellent, with teachers emphasizing STEM through projects and interactive education. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is important, although limited by Portland demographics, and the Learner Profiles and teachers emphasize cultural diversity through the units of inquiry, field trips, guest speakers and homework assignments. As an institution TIS impresses me most with it commitment to visibility and communication. When a new situation or problem arises, the administration does not ignore it or pretend to have all the answers; they acknowledge the issue, gather information and seek the opinion of parents, and formulate a response that accommodates the faculty, parents, community and serves TIS' values.

Jake Kuramoto

My daughter has attended TIS for three years, Low-K through 1st grade in Spanish. We definitely plan to keep her there through 5th grade. The teachers and staff are all very nurturing, which is the main criterion we wanted from an early learning school. The curriculum is outstanding both the language-based and the English, and the kids also get excellent art, music and PE instruction as well. We’ve been very happy with TIS; my only complaint is that parking and driving in and out of the location can be quite challenging.

BrodaeSutherland

TIS was my favorite school that I have ever been to. My teachers were Aiyun, Chong, Sofia, Jenny, sadly she left after I graduated:(, Yumin she had me for 3rd and 4th grade. Then the last teacher of all Christy. I was in Chinese Track and I had so much fun. Thank you teachers. Brodae Sutherland class of 2016

Matt Simons

We have three children who have gone through the International School. We couldn't be happier. Language immersion is only one of the advantages - the curriculum for the children is designed to encourage inquisitiveness and cooperation as well as self reliance. Our only regret is that it doesn't go through high school

M Smith

My daughter loves this school and thrives here. She has been taught more in this year of kindergarten than I remember learning before second grade when I was in school. The teachers are all kind and friendly to all of us and make her excited to come to school every day.

Butch Driveshaft

This is a decent school. It seems though that the staff are a bit clannish. I can for sure say that if you are American and speak another language fluently that you are not welcome to teach here. I suppose that if I was to run a business and say something similar that I would never hear the end of it.

Emilyn Crawford

I went here for 6 years. This is just my experience. : This school gave me nothing but years of bullying, suicidal thoughts & actions. To start, the teachers did not care I was getting bullied. All those teachers knew about my situation, but chose not to do anything. On top of that, my kinder garden teacher was abusive (Adela). She dragged me and my friend through the classroom and into the hall, and finally in to the low k classroom. The one good thing I have to say is thank you Abbe, or Abbi, Abby, etc. You are awesome, and you should leave and teach at a different school.

Tonya Jones

We loved having our children go to TIS. The small class sizes in the Japanese Track allowed for a great teacher to child ratio. Their confidence level was off the charts after taking their Capstone trip during their last year. After 5th grade they moved into the Portland Public Schools Japanese magnet program and excelled both in the junior and high school programs. Our eldest is now a freshman at Lewis & Clark majoring in chemistry with a minor in Japanese. Our youngest, a junior at Grant HS is thinking of attending college in Japan. We are forever grateful for The International School for not only teaching them how to speak the Japanese language fluently, but for also instilling in them the confidence to succeed in today's world.

Sharyn Marcuson

We have been thrilled with the quality of education that our daughter has received at TIS. She started the Mandarin program the summer she turned 4 and is now in 4th grade. Not only does she read, write and speak Mandarin but she also reads English above grade level, excels in Math (doing pre-algebra and geometry), gets to enjoy a full music, art and PE program and thrive in class sizes that have averaged 15 children. TIS has exceeded our expectations in all ways.

Prabhu Baskar

nice place

Emmy Crawford

I was bullied here and I still have a scar from cutting. The staff was good though.