Finding the right school is one of the most important decisions a parent will face. With the world more interconnected than ever before, today’s students face new challenges and a competitive global focus.
For a growing number of Chicago families, an international school is the answer. Here are five top reasons to choose an international school.
1 Global mindset
A global philosophy of learning requires students to approach subjects from a worldly perspective. Rebecca Allister, Head of the Middle School, and a teacher of geography at British International School of Chicago, South Loop (BISC-SL), an independent pre-primary through grade 12 international school in Chicago, believes that this is a major asset for any student.
“International schools explore different ways of thinking, an array of diverse opinions and ideas, and a sense that there is a much bigger world out there,” she says.
Allister believes that a global approach to course material also enhances students’ understanding of local and national issues. “At our school, we take what’s going on in Chicago with regard to economic, social and sustainability, for example, and apply it to larger global issues. This encourages critical thinking and creative problem-solving.”
2 Diverse student body and faculty
Each international faculty member brings the perspectives of their home countries to the subjects they teach. Likewise, a diverse student body enriches every student’s experience, exposing them to various languages and cultural celebrations and opening them up to a wide range of experiences and practices.
“Our students learn that other cultures aren’t just separate countries or flags,” Allister explains. “The perspectives of our world-class faculty and students lead to great conversations about all sorts of issues relevant to our curriculum.”
3 Academic excellence
An international school curriculum is based on both the IGSCE, or International General Certificate of Secondary Education, and the IB, or International Baccalaureate. These degrees are respected all over the world, and open doors to future academic success at top colleges and universities across the globe.
Internationalism is present in every subject taught, with students exploring each topic from a global perspective, using specific real-world models.
For example, at BISC-SL, science students may focus on specific countries and cultures as they relate to a sustainability project. Or they may read works in translation for a better understanding of cultural perspectives. The curriculum is tailored to student success.
“We base our curriculum on academic research, not a government body,” Allister explains. “Plus, programs at BISC-SL are reviewed and revised every five years to keep them vital and current.”
4 Personalized experience
The international education model allows students to tailor a portion of their studies to their specific interests. “We look holistically at the whole child,” Allister says.
This inclusive approach encourages independence, creativity, confidence and personal growth on both an academic and individual level, enhancing the “soft skills” that are so important to future academic work, and eventually, a successful career.
At BISC-SL, students also receive exceptional attention and support from faculty and peers, something Allister believes has a recognizable impact. “We encourage our students to explore who they are outside of the classroom and find their interests. This helps them to hone the direction they want to go in their lives, to college and beyond,” she says.
5 Outstanding international opportunities
Learning in the classroom is important, but hands-on work in other countries can provide students with lifelong insights that impact their future outlooks and pursuits.
BISC-SL students, for example, have the opportunity to join volunteer projects in the countries they have studied during their coursework. On a recent trip to Tanzania, students assisted local residents by working on climate-friendly projects that reflected what they had learned in the classroom. “Our students become part of a global community of learning and service,” says Allister.
In addition, BISC-SL students are part of a large international community of Nord Anglia sister schools all over the world, allowing them access to a global network of world-class faculty, fellow international students, and cultural perspectives they won’t get in a traditional school.
“Kids today are growing up in a global society,” Allister points out. “With the right education, we can prepare them to succeed no matter what the future brings.”
Learn more about the British International School of Chicago, South Loop at bischicagosl.org.
