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Windhoek International School

Namibia, Windhoek

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 430
Type Co-educational
Opened 1991
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum
Taught languages French, German, Portuguese
Strengths Languages, Outdoor Education, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School, Secondary School
Introduction

Windhoek International School (WIS) is a coeducational, not-for-profit day school serving more than 430 students aged 3 to 18 from around 50 countries. The campus teaches in English, with French, German and Portuguese offered to support multilingual development. The curriculum blends the Australian National Curriculum for Grades 1–8, Cambridge IGCSE for Grades 9–10, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. Early Years through Grade 5 follow the Primary Years Programme; Grades 6–10 use IB-based units guided by Understanding by Design and NEASC (ACE) Learning Principles, with MAP Growth testing informing instruction. WIS has been an IB World School since the 1990s and is Namibia's only IB World School. Founded in 1990, the school relocated to its current campus in 1994. The not-for-profit governance is by a volunteer board, and the campus features an African village-inspired layout, an indoor sports hall, a sports field, a theatre, a languages centre, two libraries, art rooms, a science lab, a design room and an early years garden, plus SEN spaces.

Scheppmann Street, Pioneers Park Ext. 1, Windhoek, Namibia

The Essentials

Windhoek International School has 430 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Scheppmann Street, Pioneers Park Ext. 1, Windhoek, Namibia; Private Bag 16007, Pioneers Park, Windhoek, Namibia

Stages
Primary School and Secondary School

Type
Coeducational

Additional learning support
Learning Enrichment, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Counselling, School Nurse; Flexible Learning Pathway for learners with certain needs.

Country affiliation
Namibia

School day structure
The Primary School daily schedule begins with registration at 7:20–7:30, followed by teaching blocks through the morning and First Break from 9:30–9:45 and Second Break from 11:45–12:25. After-school activities run 1:45–2:55, and WIS Kids Aftercare is available until 5:30 PM.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The uniform is not required. WIS-labeled clothing items are encouraged and available for purchase.

Food Options
The WIS Tuck Shop offers a la carte sandwiches, wraps, boerewors, salads, seasonal soup, crisps, fruit, juices, and occasional ice lollies, with cash or card payments. Packed lunches are the predominant option, and there are two breaks for eating. An aftercare lunch is available from 1:45 to 5:30 for the WIS Kids Aftercare program.

House System
The school has a House System, with students participating in house-based activities in teams that include the entire school. A House Store has been added to support the rewards system for students.

Governance and Ownership
Windhoek International School is a Section 21 not-for-profit company registered in Namibia and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors numbering 7 to 12. Some Board Members are elected by parents and others appointed by the Board, and the Board includes a staff representative. The Board has strategic and fiduciary oversight, and hires only the Educational Director; the Educational Director and Principals attend Board meetings as ex officio members.
Fees
Application and assessment fees
- Entrance assessment (application) fee: N$ 1,000 (non-refundable and payable before the assessment).

One‑time and annual mandatory charges at enrolment
- Enrolment fee (one‑time, payable to secure a place after admission): N$ 15,000.
- Capital Levy (annual, per child): N$ 7,500.
- English as an Additional Language (EAL) one‑time fee (applies if the student is enrolled in the EAL programme): N$ 15,000 (one‑time, charged in the first year of EAL support).

Tuition fees by year group (per year and per term)
- Tuition is published as grade‑by‑grade fee rates with two tiers: a Local Rate (for Namibian citizens or permanent residents) and a non‑local/international rate. All tuition figures and the grade breakdowns are stated in Namibian Dollars (N$). The school's official 2026–2027 annual fee schedule sets these per‑grade annual and per‑term amounts.

Note about tuition table availability
- The school's 2026–2027 fee schedule contains the detailed numeric tuition table (annual and per‑term amounts for each grade and for local vs non‑local rates). That fee table is the definitive schedule for per‑grade and per‑term tuition.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment options for annual fees:
- Single payment in full by the first day of the school year.
- Three installments: 40% by 1 August, 30% by 1 November, 30% by 1 February.
- Monthly installments spread over nine months (payments in advance): 20% before the first day of the school year, then 10% due on the 1st of each month from September through April (no fees due in May, June, July for full‑year starters).
- Late‑enrolment billing: a 10% late tuition surcharge applies for mid‑year enrolments; the total percentage of annual fees due depends on the month of joining (for example, September enrolment = 100% due; October = 90%; November = 80%; December = 70%; and so on down to June = 15%).
- Early withdrawal: 30 days' advanced notice is required; if no notice is given the next month's invoice will be charged. There is no refund for enrolment fees, EAL fees, or annual capital levy fees. Refund schedules for prepaid tuition (for families who paid in full or used the three‑installment plan) are handled by the Finance Office.
- Late payment policy: interest at 10% per annum on fees 30 days or more overdue; students may be suspended if fees are 60 days in arrears; accounts over 90 days will be referred for legal collection; transcripts and academic records are withheld until accounts are cleared.

Boarding / hostel fees
- The school operates as a day school; there are no boarding facilities and therefore no boarding fees.

Other costs and optional charges
- Capital Levy and Enrolment Fee are separate from tuition and are mandatory as noted above.
- IB MYP eAssessment (Grade 10) and IBDP exam fees (Grade 12) are not included in tuition and are payable by the responsible payer.
- School invoices may include additional items that are the payer's responsibility, such as school trips, activity fees, lost or damaged books, individualised education plan learning‑support costs, and similar charges.
- Aftercare (WIS Kids Aftercare) is charged separately and on a per‑day basis; example daily rates are published for aftercare signups (rates vary by number of days attended per month).
- Uniforms are optional; WIS‑branded clothing items are encouraged and available for purchase but are not required and are not included in school fees.

Refund information
- The application/entrance assessment fee, the enrolment fee, and the annual capital levy are non‑refundable under any circumstances. Prepaid tuition may be refundable in certain circumstances; families who have prepaid tuition and who withdraw should contact the Finance Office to receive the early‑withdrawal refund schedule.

Fee payment options and bank details
- Invoices include payment method details; ordinarily fees are paid in Namibian Dollars. The Finance Office can provide options for paying in USD or Euros if required. Proof of bank transfer should be emailed to the Finance Office within 24 hours (yvisser@wis.edu.na).
- Bank transfer details published for payments:
- Bank: Bank Windhoek Limited; Branch: Windhoek (Code 481 972); Swift Code: BWLINANX; Account No: 1177 5999 01 (Cheque Account); Account name: Windhoek International School; Address: Private Bag 16007, Pionierspark, Windhoek, Namibia. (Bank details are included on invoices.)

Discounts
- Sibling tuition discounts: 25% discount on the third (youngest) of three concurrently enrolled siblings; 50% discount on the fourth (youngest) of four concurrently enrolled siblings. Discounts apply to tuition only and do not apply to the Capital Levy, Enrolment Fee, EAL Fee, or Special Education fees.

Summary of coverage and next step
- The school's 2026–2027 fee schedule specifies the exact per‑grade annual and per‑term tuition amounts (separate local and non‑local rates) as well as the one‑time and recurring charges above; the published 2026–2027 fee materials set the definitive numeric tuition table.

(If you need the precise numeric tuition amounts per grade and per term from the school's 2026–2027 published fee table, those amounts are provided in the school's official 2026–2027 fee schedule.)
Academics

Windhoek International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school teaches the Australian National Curriculum for Grades 1 to 8; Cambridge IGCSE for Grades 9 and 10; and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11 and 12. The Primary Years Programme is used for Early Years through Grade 5. Grades 6 to 10 follow IB-based unit design and assessment, guided by Understanding by Design and NEASC (ACE) Learning Principles. MAP Growth Testing measures readiness to engage with content and informs instruction.

Student Teacher Ratio
Low student-to-teacher ratio. Enrolment is more than 430 students aged 3 to 18 and around 90 staff.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates earn a USA High School Diploma and matriculate to universities around the world.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school uses a child-centred, inclusive approach to learning. The Learning Enrichment Department, Counselling, School Nurse, and EAL staff support classroom teaching to enable more learners to participate and reach their full potential. Admissions assess a student's academic and social/emotional strengths as well as English proficiency to guide inclusion and resource provision.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school accepts students with diverse learning needs (mild, moderate, and intensive). Learning Enrichment provides targeted interventions and may modify the curriculum for intensive support; some learners with an educational psychologist diagnosis may be entitled to special exam provisions, coordinated by Learning Enrichment. The Flexible Learning Pathway offers a pre-vocational, life-skills curriculum for severe to profound diagnoses, with enrolment dependent on space and resources.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Many students are new to English. A blended learning approach balances language development with the IB curriculum, with additional EAL support provided by the department. EAL services include pull-out one-to-one and small-group lessons and sheltered immersion, supported by a one-time EAL fee to cover staffing.

Mental Wellbeing
The school counsellor provides social and emotional support to students and works with identified students to build confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and to reduce anxiety. There are weekly meetings with school leaders and teachers to ensure students' social and emotional needs are met. A peer counsellor program trains students in Grade 9 and above to provide additional peer support.

Safeguarding
Windhoek International School is committed to the welfare of all students and has safeguarding policies and procedures to protect from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It is NEASC-accredited and a member of the Global Safeguarding Collaborative. Rigorous background checks and criminal record checks are conducted for all staff and volunteers, and staff sign a Code of Conduct. Safeguarding concerns can be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at safeguarding@wis.edu.na; safety and whistleblowing contacts are also provided.
Parent Experience

History
Windhoek International School (WIS) was founded in December 1990, the year Namibia achieved independence, and opened its doors in January 1991, later celebrating its 30th birthday in 2021. It is a not-for-profit entity governed by a volunteer Board, established to serve the international community and Namibian families attracted by its international character. In 1994, WIS moved to its present campus and now enrolls more than 430 students aged 3 to 18 from around 50 countries, supported by about 90 teachers and educational specialists from Namibia and roughly 20 other countries. WIS has been an IB World School since the 1990s, offering PYP, MYP and IB Diploma, and is the only IB World School in Namibia; instruction is in English with French, German and Portuguese offered to support multilingualism.

Community
The school community is active with a wide range of clubs and after-school activities. The Fish Eagle is the mascot, and sport teams and athletes compete in leagues and tournaments in Namibia and the region. The school draws students from around 50 countries, contributing to a diverse and inclusive community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTA is defined in its constitution and is composed of all parents or legal guardians of students enrolled at WIS, as well as teachers. It engages in activities, projects and programmes that contribute to the betterment of the school and works with the Leadership Team to support the annual work programme. The PTA supports events such as Book Week and International Day, the IBDP Dinner, the Grade 5 Exhibition, the Science Fair and Sports Days, and runs fundraising activities such as raffles to support extracurriculars and social events. It also supports sports teams with uniforms and refreshments and assists Primary and Senior Student Councils with their events. Funds raised help new families settle in through regular social events, and volunteering is encouraged to build a strong, welcoming community. The PTA committee is made up of 12 members from the parent community, plus representatives from Primary and Secondary School and the Senior Leadership Team.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus opened in 1994 and is designed with an African village-inspired layout. The facilities include an indoor multi-purpose sports hall, a sports field, and a modern theater for assemblies and performances. A languages center, two libraries, two Art rooms, a black box drama classroom, well-equipped Science Labs, a music room, and a Design classroom support learning across languages, sciences, arts, and design. The campus features a running trail and many flowering and indigenous trees for study, plus four special education needs classrooms including a sensory room, and an early years garden. All classrooms are equipped with Chromecast screens and wifi.

Sports Facilities
The indoor multi-purpose sports hall is available for physical education and events. A large sports field supports outdoor games and training. A running trail around the campus provides additional fitness space. Some areas of the campus are handicapped accessible.

Academic Facilities
A languages center supports language learning. Two libraries provide study and research spaces. Two Art rooms, a black box drama classroom, a Science Lab, a music room, and a Design classroom support arts, sciences, and creative subjects. All classrooms are equipped with Chromecast screens and wifi. Four special education needs classrooms including a sensory room and an early years garden provide additional learning spaces.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The After School Activity programme provides an extensive range of enriching educational opportunities. Middle School and senior learners pursue a broad range of cultural, sporting and specific-interest activities, in addition to structured enrichment programmes. Model United Nations (MUN) is an extracurricular activity that develops research, public speaking, debating, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership abilities. CAS experiences range from learning to play an instrument to performing an original dance routine, and Outdoor Education provides life skills through nature-based learning.

Arts & Creative
Arts and creative activities are included in CAS and the after-school activity offerings. CAS experiences can range from learning to play an instrument to performing an original dance routine.

Cultural & Language
The language of instruction is English. The school also offers French, German and Portuguese. Students are encouraged to grow or maintain multilingualism and mother tongue while attending WIS.

Social & Hobbies
The After School Activity programme offers a wide range of cultural, sporting and specific-interest activities. The Director notes that students are engaged in a wide range of after-school clubs and activities. Inter-House Competition involves students representing their school houses in athletics and events, fostering school spirit and social engagement.

Community & Service
CAS is at the heart of the IB Diploma and is organized around creativity, activity and service, enabling students to develop skills through self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. CAS experiences range from learning to play an instrument to leading service projects. In the MYP, all students are required to engage in Service as Action and have many ways to lead and volunteer on and off campus.

Leadership & Professional
Model United Nations builds leadership abilities through research, public speaking, debating, critical thinking and teamwork. CAS experiences include leadership opportunities such as organizing service projects. In the MYP, students have many ways to lead and volunteer on and off campus.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The sports programme emphasizes being physically active, teamwork and good sportsmanship. Outdoor Education provides life-changing leadership experiences and takes students into nature. Outdoor Education trips include canoeing down the Orange River and Namib Desert field research, focusing on ecology, conservation and sustainability.
Languages

Language Provision
The language of instruction is English. French, German and Portuguese are offered as additional languages. Students are encouraged to grow or maintain multilingualism and their mother tongue while attending WIS.
Admissions

Admissions
1. WIS welcomes applications throughout the academic year. Interested families should arrange a virtual call or in-person school visit after deciding WIS is suitable for their child. WIS follows a northern hemisphere academic calendar, with the year running from August to mid-June, and admissions allow remote applications with arrival at any stage of the school year. For Non-Namibian children, ownership of a study permit or at least an application for one is required, and the school will provide the necessary documentation. 2. Complete the online application form on windhoekinternational.openapply.com. Submitting the form initiates the placement process and provides the information needed to determine grade placement and entry readiness. The process is designed to accommodate relocation, with arrival possibly at different times during the year. Related enrollment steps include accessing the 2026-2027 Fees and other forms linked to the admissions process. 3. After submission and admission considerations, the Namibian Government requires that all Non-Namibian children own, or have at least applied for a study permit; the school will provide the necessary documentation to support this requirement. The admissions process also provides access to related documents such as the Notice of Withdrawal Form to support enrollment management. The school coordinates next steps with families to finalize placement and enrollment.

Scholarships
WIS has a Financial Aid programme designed to provide financial assistance to existing WIS families who have demonstrated financial need. This assistance is provided as a tuition reduction grant and is reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee according to established guidelines. Eligibility requires the student to be currently enrolled and to have completed at least one full school year, with all fees to date paid. Financial Scholarships are not available to students whose siblings' fees are in arrears, and are not available to Local Rate students whose fees are funded by embassies, companies, or churches; Standard Rate students may be eligible provided that all worldwide income is disclosed. Applications must be submitted to the School Director with a full, completed application form and supporting documentation. The amount of tuition reduction is capped at a maximum of 50% of the anticipated full tuition revenue for the year and awards last up to twelve months, with potential for annual re-application if criteria continue to be met. Tuition reduction applies only to tuition fees; capital, enrollment, exam fees, and other charges remain the responsibility of the fee payer. The school reserves the right to review, revise, or cancel awards if financial status changes or information is incorrect.

Waitlist
There is a waiting list. Admission priorities are: a child of a full-time staff member; a sibling of a current student whose application has been completed by 1 January for entry into the following academic year; a child who has been on the waiting list for more than one calendar year. To maintain the international dimension, admissions prioritise diversity in the cohort. The school also prioritises admission of standard-rate fee-paying students for financial viability, and maintains availability for families connected to the US Embassy.
School Events
The school has not added events
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