Thank you for visiting the ICS admissions website. The information on this page has been compiled to assist you in learning about ICS and we hope you will be able to find the answers to many of your questions. You are also welcome to submit an admissions inquiry if you would like to ask additional questions of the admissions staff.
The School
ICS Addis Ababa is an independent, coeducational American-based curriculum school with an international character. ICS offers an educational program from pre-kindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. ICS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is an IBO World School.
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Addis Ababa
ICS is located in the Old Airport neighborhood of Addis Ababa. Many families live near the campus, as there is no school bus service. For more information about living in Addis Ababa, please visit the Moving to Addis page and download the Welcome to Addis Guide, which is updated yearly.
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Curriculum
ICS utilizes standards and benchmarks to inform our curriculum, which draws from international research and best practices. A comparison of Everyday Mathematics, the math curriculum used for grades 1 - 6 at ICS, and the key stages of the UK National Curriculum is available here. More information, including curriculum maps, is available through the following links: 
Secondary School
Elementary School
Profiles of the elementary and secondary schools, along with the course guides for middle and high school, are available as downloads:
Elementary School Profile
Secondary School Profile
Middle School Course Guide
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IB Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme is an intensive two-year university preparatory program for students in grade 11 and 12. More information is available in the IB at ICS brochure.
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Faculty
ICS faculty are professional, certified teachers who bring a wide range of experience and expertise to the classroom. Our 54 professional teachers come from seven different countries; about two-thirds are American. Ethiopian teaching assistants are college-educated certified teachers as well. Teacher biographies are available for elementary, middle and high school teachers.
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Student Body
As of October 2008, our student body consists of 491 students, from pre-kindergarten to grade 12, who hail from over 50 countries. Many ICS families are involved in the diplomatic corps, aid work, the UN, NGOs and international business.
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School Calendar and Daily Schedule
Our school year runs from mid-August to mid-June, with week-long breaks in October and March, and a three-week break in December. The 2008-09 school calendar has 182 school days; click here to view the calendar.
Elementary School Schedule
The elementary school follows a trimester system, with report cards issued at the end of each trimester. Pre-kindergarten students attend school from 8 am to 12 noon; kindergarten to grade 5 attend from 8 am to 3:10 pm.
Secondary School Schedule
The secondary school follows a semester system, with report cards issued at the end of every quarter. Students are enrolled in a maximum of eight classes, and four classes meet each day in 90-minute blocks. Students attend school from 8 am to 3:20 pm.
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Athletics and Activities
Athletics
ICS competes with international and private schools in Addis Ababa, as well as with international schools in eastern and southern Africa. Varsity students travel internationally for basketball, volleyball and soccer. Middle and high school students are eligible to travel for track and field. Click here for more information about our athletics program. In November of 2008, ICS is hosting the 17th Annual ISSEA Varsity Boys and Girls Volleyball and Soccer tournament, with students from international schools in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa attending.
Activities
Elementary students may participate in after-school activities that include sports, dance, music and drama. some activities have a small fee associated with them. Elementary school activities run from 3:30 to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings. Secondary students have a variety of clubs available, including Model United Nations, drama, yoga and academic clubs. Our Model United Nations students will travel to MUN conferences in Cairo and Doha in 2008-09 and our Drama Club will particiate in an international drama conference in the spring of 2009.
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Facilities
Athletic Facilities
ICS students and families enjoy use of the 300-meter track, soccer pitch, tennis courts, softball field and gymnasium. A fitness center is available for student use. Elementary students have additional play areas, with small soccer pitches and appropriate play structures, as well as a rock climbing wall. Click here to view the sports facilities.
Academic Facilities
Academic facilities at ICS include 42 classrooms, three computer labs and six science labs, as well as separate elementary and secondary school libraries, an outdoor auditorium and an infirmary. The secondary school classroom block was completed in 2006 and provides purpose-built classrooms for most of the secondary school classes, as well as lockers for all students and a school store. Click here for a few photos of the campus.
Panoramic view of the MS/HS building
New Facilities
In 2009 ICS will launch the first phase of implementation of the new master plan. Phase 1 includes retrofitting and expanding the gymnasium, constructing a pool facility and building a performing arts center with an auditorium and music rooms. Phase 2 will include a new elementary classroom block, library and secondary school classrooms. Details are available here.
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Student Support Services
Learning Support
The ICS resource teachers provide limited support to students with special needs. Families with children who are or have been receiving support must submit documentation of that support along with the application materials, to assist the resource team in assessing our ability to support the child.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL teachers are available at the elementary and secondary school level. Extensive support is available for elementary students learning English. Limited support is available for middle school students. High school students are expected to be able to read, write and speak English at or near grade level and EAL support is minimal.
Counseling
Two counselors are available on campus to serve the elementary and secondary schools. The counselors support families transitioning into or out of ICS and provide confidential counseling services to students. The elementary counselor conducts classroom visits, provides leadership opportunities and team-building activities. The secondary school counselor provides college and academic counseling and facilitates the college admissions process.
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Field Experiences
ICS believes in the importance of supplementing in-class learning with field experiences, taking advantage of the many educational opportunities available in Ethiopia. Elementary students may visit a local farm, a weaving studio or a coffee plantation. Secondary students take overnight trips to different locations in Ethiopia, including the Bale Mountains, the Historical Circuit and Harar, for in-depth studies of science, history and culture.
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After ICS
During grades 11 and 12, extensive guidance and support is provided for students exploring options in higher education. PSAT and SAT prep are offered, as well as assistance in researching university options and organizing applications. Almost all ICS graduates attend competitive colleges and universities throughout the world immediately after graduation. In recent years, over $3 million in financial aid was offered to ICS graduates.
