High School

Welcome to ICS Addis High School

It is my pleasure to welcome you to high school at ICS Addis. The four years from grades 9-12 are important not only academically, but also in terms of personal, social, and ethical development. At ICS, we aim to equip students with skills and experiences that will enable them to be successful learners in their universities and careers, resilient and creative global citizens, and thoughtful members of their communities. Our faculty is dedicated to helping each high school student meet these challenges, and we hope you will enjoy your time at ICS as much as we do.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, offered in grades 11 and 12, provides a framework for this student-centered, globally minded education. Not only does the ethos of the IB match well with our mission at ICS, but also the academic courses are internationally benchmarked and recognized by universities around the world. To learn more about how the IB at ICS works for our international school population, click here.

Joyce Halsey,
High School Principal

HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SCHEDULE 2011-2012

The School Day for Students
Most students arrive at 7:45 (or a little earlier) for socializing with friends. Parents are reminded to allow for traffic, road construction and weather in order for students to arrive on time, before 8.00.

The middle and high school schedules are closely linked because of shared teachers and facilities. We all begin at 8:00 and end at 3:20. Students are scheduled for up to eight classes which meet every other day (four class periods, or “blocks” on one day, and the remaining four blocks the next day).

On Wednesdays, the four blocks are shortened to 60 minutes each. Mid-morning each Wednesday, we have a time for assemblies and grade-level meetings. Each Wednesday, the school day ends at 2:00 PM for all ICS students. Parents are asked to collect their children by 2:15 on Wednesdays, as the campus closes for teacher meetings and professional development.

On two days in October and two days in March we release at noon for Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences.

Lessons begin promptly at 8.00. Grade 9-10 students begin each day (except Wednesdays) with an advisory or “homeroom” period, where they will be taught computer and technology strategies, study and research skills, individual career and university planning, etc., as well as developing their personal interests, reading, and service profiles. Grade 11-12 IB “DP” lessons begin at 8:00 (no advisory).

Activities and Sports at ICS

Most ICS high school students will stay on campus for activities and sports that begin at 3:45. Older students who are not in an organized activity are allowed to stay on campus to study or to socialize quietly until 5:30, when most of the activities end and the library closes.

Many options are available for after school activities, and in high school we encourage students to organize activities themselves, as well. Small and large stage drama productions occur throughout the year (experience never a requirement). Music? Consider jazz band or an ensemble to play live music for an evening event, assembly, or musical theatre. Clubs? Join the French Club, Global Issues, Student Council or Model UN. Art? ICS teachers and parents offer a wide variety of opportunities to create art in many media after school...and often invite local artists, weavers or potters to join us on campus to give students a special Ethiopian art experience. Community Service? Weekly and once-a-year opportunities are plentiful, such as tree planting, community orphanage visits and English teaching, fun-run fundraisers, local gardening projects, and more.

ICS also offers three sports seasons with several team and individual sports in each. There are local competitions for all levels and international tournaments within Africa for our varsity athletes in soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Students also organize table tennis, weight training, etc. to stay fit and relax after school.

Study Trips

Students in the ICS High School travel outside of Addis Ababa annually. These study trips complement the curriculum and are subsidized by the school's budget, with families expected to pay a nominal amount. All trips are chaperoned by ICS faculty and accompanied by an experienced nurse or doctor. Two trips include flights on Ethiopian Airlines, and all trips include school-certified transportation (safe, insured drivers, and seat belts for all students). Depending on weather or other variables, trip dates and venues do remain flexible.

Class trips planned for 2011-12:
Grade Nine: Field biology in the Bale Mountains.
Grade Ten: African / Ethiopian history in Lalibela and Gondar.
Grade Eleven: Community service and organizational skills while camping in Hawassa.
Grade Twelve: On-campus day retreat to focus on academic and career goals at the start of the senior year. Mid-year weekend retreat to begin preparing for IBDP examinations, transitioning from school to independence, and saying farewell to school, friends, and family.

Summary Information about the Class of 2011

Twenty-five ICS seniors received their ICS High School Diploma on May 28, 2011. Our 25 graduates came from 10 countries. We have 19 heading off to the following USA universities; American, Drexel, Northeastern (2), Sweet Briar, Florida Institute of Technology, Tufts, Reed College, California Baptist, Academy of the Arts in Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Syracuse, Boston College, George Mason, North Eastern Illinois, Amherst, Wellesley and Columbia. Two students will be attending Queen Mary and Sussex in the United Kingdom. One student is heading to Webster University in Thailand, while another is heading to the American University or Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. A total of $783,201.00USD was awarded to 18 of our students. All scholarships except one sports scholarship, were need or merit based. The class of 2011 included 12 full IB Diploma candidates.

If you are interested in applying to ICS for high school, please download

•  Overview of Middle and High School Support program (152KB)
•  High School Profile (484 KB)
•  High School Student/Parent Handbook   (244KB) for students and parents
•  High School Course Guide (430 KB) for families with children entering grades 9-12.
•  IB Diploma Course Information for families with children in Grades 11-12.
•  All families with children in the high school should be familiar with our Secondary Dress Code (76 KB).

All these files are in PDF format and can be viewed or printed. Click to download Adobe Reader if required.