An In-Depth Look at ISB High School: Why It Puts Students 1-2 Years Ahead of Their Peers?
Hello everyone, I’m Thale.
I just attended the high school information session at ISB (International School Bangkok) and was deeply impressed after listening for over an hour.
Let me start with some key data points to give you a quick snapshot of the school:
● A Truly International Community:
ISB’s high school has 649 students, including 149 seniors in Grade 12. These students come from 39 different countries. Americans make up 26% of the student body, Thais 27%, and the remaining nearly half come from all over the world—Australia, Canada, India, Myanmar, the UK, South Korea, China, Japan, and more.
This cultural diversity isn’t just for show; it’s truly integrated into their educational philosophy. As High School Principal Kate McKenna said, “We celebrate our cultural diversity because we believe it leads to a richer learning experience and a stronger global community.”
● Impressive University Matriculation Results:
The most recent graduating class matriculated to universities in 20 different countries, with 50% heading to the United States (which is standard for ISB).
Acceptance rates to universities in the UK, Australia, and Canada exceed 85%.
Students across a wide range of academic abilities, from valedictorians to average students, successfully gain admission to top-ranked global universities.
The school hosts over 300 university admissions officers for on-campus visits each year.
ISB graduates are generally 1-2 years ahead of their peers once they are in university.
● Partial List of University Acceptances (2021-2024):
United States:
Stanford, Duke, Brown, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, etc.
United Kingdom:
UCL (University College London), Imperial College London, King’s College London, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.
Other Regions:
University of Melbourne, NUS (National University of Singapore), McGill, Tsinghua, CUHK (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Waseda, University of Amsterdam, ESCP Business School, etc.
The Director of College Counseling, Kurt Nickles, says, “When admissions officers from top U.S. universities come to Thailand, ISB is their first stop. We’re ‘the show in town’ here. They don’t just want to see us; they want to meet our students.”
Behind this recognition is the ISB college counseling team, which boasts nearly 90 years of combined industry experience. They haven’t only worked in college counseling; they’ve also worked in the admissions offices of top universities, so they know exactly what universities are looking for in a student.
But honestly, it wasn’t these numbers that impressed me the most. What left the deepest impression was a real story shared by Kurt Nickles.
He said, “I’m an ISB parent myself. I transferred my older son from a very fancy private school in Los Angeles to here. To be honest, I was pretty nervous at the time. But what my son said to me when he graduated confirmed I had made the right decision. He said, ‘Thank you for bringing me here. Everyone is so supportive.’”
That statement really struck a chord with me. For a child who attended a top-tier private school in LA to feel even more grateful for his parents’ choice after moving to Bangkok—what’s the secret behind that?
I. Not the “Best” Path, but the “Right Fit” Path
When Kate McKenna (ISB High School Principal) introduced ISB’s academic programs, one sentence particularly resonated with me: “At ISB, we never talk about which program is ‘the best.’ We only talk about your child—who they are, how they like to learn, what they’re interested in, what they want to study in college, where they want to go… and then we help them choose the most challenging and most suitable program for them.”
This isn’t just lip service. ISB truly walks the talk. They offer four different academic pathways for high school students:
IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12): A globally recognized, rigorous curriculum that fosters critical thinking and research skills.
AP Courses: Advanced Placement courses that allow students to earn college credit.
ISB-Developed Courses: Custom courses designed by the school, covering academic subjects and arts electives.
Syracuse University Partnership Program (Brand New): ISB is the first school in Thailand to partner with Syracuse University, enabling students to take university courses for credit during high school.
More importantly, students can mix and match! Want to take a few AP courses and some university classes? No problem. Particularly interested in a specific arts course? You can add it in.
This is what I call “personalized learning.” It’s not about forcing students into a standardized mold, but about adapting the curriculum to fit the child’s growth.
ISB’s Holistic Education Philosophy
Kate particularly emphasized that ISB’s high school education is a “Holistic Approach to Unlocking Every Student’s Potential.” This isn’t just an empty slogan; they implement it across three dimensions:
Academic Pathways:
An outstanding faculty
Customizable learning paths
A rich course catalog
Counseling & Support:
University counseling
Academic advising
Social and emotional learning (SEL) support
Extracurricular & Enrichment:
A wealth of extracurricular experiences
Leadership opportunities
High-level challenges and competitions
As Kate McKenna put it, “It’s like a small university providing high school services.” This analogy is spot-on—ISB truly gives students university-level resources and choices while maintaining the care and support appropriate for the high school years.
A Special Note on the Syracuse University Partnership
This program just launched this year. ISB teachers receive training at Syracuse University to become their adjunct professors. Students can take Syracuse University courses right on the ISB campus, including:
Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking
Science and Engineering Research
College Writing
Photography and Film
Sports Management
Even more impressively, if a student completes a certain number of Syracuse courses and maintains a specific GPA, they can receive “guaranteed admission” to Syracuse University!
Even if a student doesn’t end up at Syracuse, these credits can be transferred to other universities. Cases presented at the session showed students have transferred these credits to top universities like Baylor, UCLA, and NYU, with some even graduating a semester early.
II. Behind the Matriculation Results: What Does It Really Mean to Be “1-2 Years Ahead”?
The data mentioned earlier is dazzling, but what moved me most wasn’t the numbers; it was the real feedback from students that Kurt shared.
He said, “I’ve visited many ISB alumni, and they tell me time and again that after starting university, they found themselves 1-2 years ahead of their peers. This isn’t an exaggeration; it’s their genuine feeling.”
Why are they 1-2 years ahead? Because the academic rigor, the cultivation of independent thinking, and the training in research skills at ISB have already equipped them with the qualities of a university student.
III. World-Class College Counseling: So Meticulous It Makes Peers Think “They’re Crazy”
I mentioned earlier that Kurt’s counseling team has nearly 90 years of combined experience, but what truly impressed me was their service philosophy and work ethic.
Their service philosophy is something I deeply resonate with:
Counselors are assigned starting in 9th grade (many schools only begin in 11th grade).
A “High-Touch” model with frequent communication—Kurt said many of their peers think they’re crazy because of how often they meet with students.
During application season in Grade 12, they meet with each student at least once a week.
They read every single draft of every essay. Kurt said, “I’ve already lost count of how many essays I’ve read this semester.”
This “high-touch” service model is extremely rare among international schools. Kurt said frankly, “Many of our peers think we’re crazy because of the sheer frequency of our student meetings.” But it’s precisely this “craziness” that truly helps every child find the university that is the best fit for them.
IV. Beyond Academics: A Truly Holistic Education
Another aspect of ISB that left a deep impression on me is their support system.
For 175 seniors, they have 10 counselors—5 for college counseling and 5 for academic and personal counseling. Kurt said, “I don’t know of any other school that provides this much support for a graduating class of this size.”
In addition, every student has a faculty advisor who mentors about 10 students, meeting with them twice a week for all four years of high school.
This is why Kurt’s son would say, “Everyone is so supportive.”
Beyond academics, ISB’s extracurricular activities are incredibly rich. Kristin Farren, the High School Academic Dean, specifically highlighted:
50+ student-led clubs
World-class sports facilities (a 400-meter track, 5 sports fields, 12 tennis courts, a 50-meter pool, a golf center, etc.)
The DELVE Experiential Learning Program (students spend a week off-campus doing service projects)
IASAS exchanges (sports and arts exchanges with top international schools in Manila, Taipei, and other cities)
V. A Unique Advantage: The Nichada Thani Community
At the end of the session, Robin (ISB’s Admissions Director) mentioned a point I think is crucial but often overlooked: 90% of ISB’s expatriate students live in the adjacent Nichada Thani community.
What does this mean?
Children can walk or take a golf cart to school, avoiding Bangkok’s notorious traffic.
No need to worry when extracurricular activities run late; they are just a few minutes from home.
It forms a true international community where a child’s friends live nearby, making socializing more natural and spontaneous.
This is especially important for high school students. They need time for activities, homework, and socializing, not to waste hours commuting.
VI. My Takeaways
Having worked in student placement services for many years, I’ve seen too much family anxiety around “school selection.”
Everyone always asks: “Which school is the best?” “Is IB or AP better?” “Should we go to the US or the UK?”
But ISB gave me a different answer:
Education isn’t about finding the “best,” but finding the “right fit.”
Kurt’s story is the best proof. He is a professional college counselor who has seen countless top schools. But he chose to move his child from a top-tier private school in LA to Bangkok, not because ISB is “better,” but because ISB better understands how to “support” a child’s growth.
Here:
Children aren’t trapped in a one-size-fits-all academic track; they can customize their curriculum based on their interests and goals.
Children don’t fight the application battle alone; they have an experienced team with them every step of the way.
Children aren’t just exam-taking machines; they have opportunities through programs like DELVE, clubs, and sports to find their true passion.
Children don’t feel isolated, because “everyone is so supportive.”
This is what education should be.
VII. Final Thoughts
If you are also considering having your child study in Thailand with the goal of attending a U.S. university, ISB is certainly an option worth serious consideration.
A quick reminder: ISB only has two application seasons per year (if you miss the deadline, you have to wait half a year!), and the school has relatively high requirements for students’ academic abilities and English proficiency.
If your child is interested in applying to ISB, I recommend starting preparations early:
Assess your child’s current English proficiency and academic skills.
Understand ISB’s admissions testing requirements.
Create a targeted test preparation plan.
Plan for accommodations and other logistics well in advance.
Our team has offices and learning centers in both Bangkok and Chengdu, specializing in helping Chinese families apply to international schools in Thailand. From admissions test tutoring and application essay guidance to visa processing and housing assistance, we provide one-stop support.
This is because our mission is to enable more Chinese children to access truly quality international education in Southeast Asia, not just to “go abroad.”
If you’re interested in ISB or want to learn more about other international schools in Thailand, please feel free to contact us anytime.
