Compare International Schools in Genoa, Italy

The International School in Genoa is located in Genova Quarto, Genoa's eastern district. It is about 5 km from Genoa city center and about 20 km from Genoa Cristoforo Colombo International Airport, with easy access from major highways.

ISG serves students from preschool (ages 2–5) to high school (age 17/Grade 12). It offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), with English as the language of instruction. Italian language study is offered, and a third language (French, Spanish, Mandarin, or German) is available in Middle and High School.

Not-for-profit international school offering IB programmes.

ISG is inclusive and welcomes students with different English language proficiency and different academic needs who require additional resources.

Italy

Office hours are 8:00 am–5:00 pm. The school day runs 8:15 am–3:40 pm for Early Years through High School; after-school activities run 3:45 pm–4:45 pm and the Extended Day/Child Care Club runs to 5:20 pm.

The school offers an external bus service operated by Cairo Car, with coastal routes from Arenzano to Santa Margherita Ligure and a Late Bus Service for after-school activities.

ISG does not have any boarding facilities. Students must reside with at least one parent or legal guardian.

There is no school uniform. Students must dress appropriately and respectfully at school. From Reception to Grade 10, students wear an ISG t-shirt for Physical Education.

A catering company prepares daily hot meals in the school kitchen. All students have lunch in school and the cost is included in the tuition.

The International School of Genoa is a not-for-profit organisation and operates as an association; families pay a one-time membership fee to become associates.

The ISG curriculum provides a complete path from Early Years to the IB Diploma for ages 2–17. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is offered in Early Years and Elementary, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Grades 6–10, and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11–12. ISG is the first IB Continuum School in Liguria and an IB World School. English is the language of instruction with English as an Additional Language support; formal Italian instruction is included in all classes; Italian language development is supported; French, Spanish, German and Mandarin are offered as additional languages in the Secondary School.

IB results published by ISG show an overall IB diploma average of 33.9 points (out of 45) over the last five years. The school's IB programme offers courses across groups and pathways, and graduates have gone on to universities in 14 countries, including institutions in the United States such as American University, Boston University, Columbia University, Fordham University, George Mason University and New York University. ISG graduates have earned admission offers from numerous universities worldwide.

ISG graduates go on to study at universities worldwide, including many in the United States and Europe. Examples of US institutions that have offered admission to ISG graduates include American University, Boston University, Columbia University, Fordham University, George Mason University, and New York University.

The school has a school psychologist available for guidance, offering consultations and support to students, parents, and teachers throughout the year. The psychologist also provides thematic workshops for all grade levels. In secondary school, advisory periods have dedicated times for the development of social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of students.

The school has a Learning Support Programme to meet students' academic needs. An English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme supports non-native English speakers. Italian as an Additional Language (Italian B) supports international students during school hours. Learning Support Specialists work with families and faculty to monitor progress. For students with documented educational needs, an IEP is designed and accommodations are provided, with up to three support periods per week.

The school has an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme for non-native English speakers. Students in Grades 1-8 are assessed to determine English proficiency and may be enrolled in EAL support in an immersive and inclusive environment. By Grade 9, students are expected to demonstrate at least an intermediate level of English (B1/B2) and, for Grade 10 or above, at least an advanced level (C1/C2); additional English support is provided as needed to reach the required level.

Mental wellbeing is supported by the school psychologist, who provides consultations and thematic workshops for all grade levels. In secondary school, advisory periods allocate time for the development of social, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

The school maintains safeguarding policies including a Child Protection policy and an Anti-Bullying policy.

Enquire: The Admissions Team welcomes your questions and will learn more about your family. Fill out the online Apply form as a first step. You may also contact ISG by email or by phone. Visit: The ideal time to visit the campus is between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. You can book your visit on the website or by contacting us by phone. If you are not in Genoa, a virtual call can be arranged at your earliest convenience. Apply: The application process starts with online registration and is differentiated by the age of the child. ISG enrols children from age 3 to 18 (Pre-School through Grade 12). Enrolment and grade placement depend on the assessment of academic performance and a screening for English language. Admission is based on available space and the school's ability to offer a program suitable for the applicant's educational needs. The Language support and Special Needs departments are involved to guarantee support and integration in class. When to apply: Children are welcome to join us at any time during the school year and into any year group, space permitting. The enrolment period for the current school year remains open throughout the year. The enrolment period for the following school year typically opens in October. EARLY YEARS: AGES 2-5: 1. APPLY ONLINE. The first step in the admissions process is the online Apply form. Students applying to Early Years are admitted according to space availability. 2. VISIT THE SCHOOL. The visit is preferred between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. If you are not in Genoa, a virtual call can be arranged. 3. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION ONLINE. Our Admissions Officer will send you a detailed pro forma and the instructions to complete the registration. 4. PLAYGROUP OPPORTUNITY. The Playgroup is a great opportunity for prospective Early Years students to start familiarising with the learning environment, supervised by our Pre-School teachers. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: AGES 6-10: 1. APPLY ONLINE. Complete the online form and create a login password. Upload documents: school records for the previous 2 school years (not compulsory for Grade 1), standardized test results (MAP, IOWA, WrAP, ERB, etc. 2. ENGLISH ASSESSMENT. ISG will conduct an English proficiency assessment and accept previously submitted test results; ESL support is available if needed. 3. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION ONLINE. Our Admissions Officer will send you a detailed pro forma and instructions to complete the registration online. MIDDLE SCHOOL: AGES 11-13: 1. APPLY ONLINE. Complete the online form and upload transcripts for the previous 2 school years; standardized test results (WIDA, MAP, IOWA, WrAP, ERB, etc.); documentation of learning needs including IEPs; request online references from current English and Maths teachers. 2. ENGLISH ASSESSMENT. ISG conducts an English assessment; ESL support is available if needed. 3. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION ONLINE. Admissions Officer will send you detailed pro forma and instructions to complete the registration online. HIGH SCHOOL: AGES 14-17: 1. APPLY ONLINE. Complete the online application and upload transcripts for the previous 3 school years; a Language Proficiency Certificate is required for all non-native English speakers; documentation of learning needs including IEPs; current English and Maths teachers to fill online references. 2. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS. Grade 9 requires at least CEFR B1/B2; Grade 10+ requires at least CEFR C1/C2; students below may be admitted with intensive ESL at additional cost. A Language Proficiency Certificate is required; Duolingo is accepted and results can be sent directly to ISG within 48 hours. 3. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION ONLINE. The Admissions Officer will send a detailed pro forma and instructions to complete the registration online. Language of instruction and Italian/third languages: The language of instruction is English. Italian language and culture are integrated across the curriculum; Italian A is for native speakers and Italian B is for non-native speakers. In Middle and High School a third language is studied, with options including French, Spanish, Mandarin and German. Italian programme: Italian is part of every classroom learning, with Italian A and Italian B courses; ISG received official recognition from the Italian Ministry of Education starting with the first grade of primary in 2023; Italian language instruction is emphasized from Early Years onward; The Italian language and literature are taught through Primary to High School, with CEFR-level distinctions and language development aligned to the IB program.

Genova (Genoa), Liguria, Italy. Address: Corso Mentana 27, 16128 Genova. The school was created by the Genoa City Council in 1999 and acknowledged as an in-house institution by the Genoa Municipality in 2000. Since January 2011 it has been managed by Fondazione Urban Lab Genoa International School (FULGIS), which also manages Liceo Linguistico Grazia Deledda and Istituto Duchessa di Galliera.

Primary School; Middle Years Programme (MYP); Diploma Programme (DP).

Offers International Baccalaureate programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) in candidate status, Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

49 countries of origin; 33% of students are from international families.

Italy

Bus service available upon request for MYP1-3 grade students.

The school has a lunch cafeteria. A canteen service is available on campus to provide meals.

Fondazione Urban Lab Genoa International School governs the school. The school is funded through a partnership of parents and the local authority.

Deledda International School offers the IB continuum (PYP, MYP, and DP). The Primary School is a Candidate School for the Primary Years Programme, blending Italian curriculum content with IB-style teaching and enhanced English language learning. The Middle Years Programme comprises eight subject groups: Language and Literature; Language Acquisition; Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; Arts; Physical and Health Education; and Design. Language and Literature offers Italian A and English A; Language Acquisition includes Italian B, English B, Chinese B, Spanish B, French B, and German B. Each subject group receives at least 50 hours of instruction per year, and MYP Year 5 includes a Personal Project. Approaches to Learning (ATL) and Approaches to Teaching (ATT) support learning across PYP, MYP, and DP, fostering communication, collaboration, self-management, critical and creative thinking, and intercultural understanding.

376 students and 51 teachers; approximately 7.4 students per teacher.

Summary of IB Results: 2015–2025. Diploma pass rate is reported for students receiving an IB Diploma. IB Diploma final grade is reported out of 45. IB Diploma average grade is reported out of 7.

Graduates have joined universities in Italy, Europe, the UK, the US, and Canada, including Università di Pavia, Bocconi University, Università di Genova, New York University, John Cabot University, University of Toronto, University of Edinburgh, and London School of Economics.

The school follows Approaches to Learning (ATL) and Approaches to Teaching (ATT). ATL defines the focused strategies and the outlook that characterise an IB class. ATL skills include Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Social Skills, Self-Management Skills and Research Skills. ATT supports teamwork and collaboration in teaching. The teacher acts as a guide on the side to support learning.

The school has an Inclusion and Access Policy. It defines Special Educational Needs (SEN) and aims to provide access to successful learning experiences for all students. The school differentiates in-class and offers a Personalized Didactic Plan (PDP) to support individual needs, including SEN. The PDP is created after a diagnosis and is reviewed by the SEN referent and teachers to guide learning. Parents and professionals are involved to build a support network.

Italian is the language of instruction in the Primary Years Programme and English is primarily taught as an additional language. From MYP4 onwards, English becomes the language of instruction for most subjects, with Italian and Language Acquisition continuing. English Mother Tongue Programmes are offered for English-proficient students, and English as a Foreign Language is provided to non-native speakers. A Catch-Up Club supports language learning for non-native speakers.

The school recognises medical, mental and social conditions and provides support through a school counsellor. It promotes emotional intelligence, affective expression and empathy as part of wellbeing. The anti-bullying policy supports safeguarding and intervention to protect students and foster a caring community.

An anti-bullying policy establishes an anti-bullying committee including a teacher for each program and the school counsellor. The committee monitors, prevents and intervenes in bullying incidents and promotes healthy communication and reflection. The policy emphasises engaging families and promoting online safety and upstander behaviour. Disciplinary actions are governed by the School Handbook.

PRIMARY: Step 1: Pre-enrollment. Connect to the OpenApply site disgenoa.openapply.com and complete the online pre-enrollment form. The form creates an OpenApply account and the family must keep the login credentials to access information and continue the process. A 50 Euro payment to the school is required. Step 2: Children who have pre-enrolled will be invited around February to the Orientation at the PYP. Step 3: Around March the families receive the enrollment contract. For children from primary schools that are private and not state-recognized or parity-based, admission to primary (PYP2-3-4-5) requires passing an eligibility exam by submitting the application to the secretariat by 30/04; the eligibility exams are organized in June. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL: Enrollment is available in all years from MYP1 (Year 6) to DP1 (Year 11). DP2 (Year 12) is not accepted. Step 1: Pre-enrollment. Connect to the OpenApply site disgenoa.openapply.com and complete the online pre-enrollment form. The form creates an OpenApply account and the family must keep the login credentials to access information and continue the process. A 50 Euro payment to the school is required. Step 2: Entrance test. Admission for middle and high school requires passing an entrance test, which takes place in our facilities around March. The school will announce the test date with one week's notice. The entrance test consists of three written tests (Italian, English and Mathematics) and a motivational interview. The Italian and English tests are in the respective languages; the Mathematics test is in Italian or English depending on the language chosen during pre-enrollment. Sessions can be organized for students living abroad in coordination with the Admissions Office. Step 3: Results. The results of the entrance exam are communicated via OpenApply within 10 days after the session ends. Admission follows the ranking according to places available; students eligible in the ranking but not admitted due to lack of places will be admitted only in case of withdrawals. In recognition of Academic Integrity, the school reserves the right to refuse admission to students whose conduct does not align with the policy. Step 4: Enrollment. Admitted students are invited to enroll by presenting the following documents by the deadline set by the school: a signed copy of the enrollment contract (sent by email), a copy of identity documents and tax code, and the latest report card. HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TEST: For Italian test (to enter MYP1-4): base preparation on exercises similar to INVALSI tests (examples on invalsi.it). There are sites offering INVALSI-based tests as well, e.g. engheben.it. For MYP5 or DP1: you will be asked to analyze texts. English test preparation: use Cambridge English resources and practice listening/reading; watching English-language films/series with subtitles is suggested. Mathematics test preparation: use INVALSI resources and practice with online tools such as Invalsi resources and eu.ixl.com.

Results are communicated via OpenApply within 10 days after the test. Admission follows the ranking based on places available; students eligible in the ranking but not admitted due to lack of places will be admitted only in case of withdrawals.