Zurich International School

In Brief

ZIS is Zurich's most prominent international school for a reason - strong IB results, a genuinely welcoming community, and purpose-built facilities on two lakeside campuses. The main trade-off is that it stretches over two locations, so confirm which campus your child will primarily use before committing.

ZIS sits across two campuses: Lower and Middle School in Waedenswil on the south shore of Lake Zurich, Upper School in Adliswil on the city's south fringe. The split is deliberate - smaller communities at each stage rather than one large school - and families we've spoken to describe it as one of the school's strengths rather than a logistical headache. The school is non-profit and reinvests every franc back into facilities and staff; the Middle School campus in Adliswil opened in 2022 with a media centre, Design Lab, and theatre spaces.

Results are strong: a 97.8% IB pass rate in 2025 with an average of 35.5 points - five points above the world mean. The school also offers Advanced Placement, which gives families flexibility if their child's preferred pathway isn't the IB. ZIS describes itself as inquiry-led rather than exam-factory, and the Good Schools Guide International backs this up, calling the community 'welcoming and friendly' with 'well trained and committed' staff. Co-curricular breadth is genuine - 60+ nationalities means a diverse peer group and strong extracurricular depth.

German proficiency is an honest limitation. ZIS teaches through English with some German instruction, and families who've been here a few years note their children's German remains functional rather than fluent - a consideration if you're planning a longer stay in Switzerland. At CHF 39,700 for Grade 12 plus a CHF 5,000 one-time infrastructure contribution, fees sit at the top of the Zurich market; good value if your company is covering it, worth comparing carefully if self-funding.