Switzerland · Zurich
ZIS is a day school with English-medium and English/German options in the younger years, and IB or mixed-course routes later. Check the available pathway, entry requirements and support tariff for each child.
ZIS offers two choices that matter for families: an English-medium or English/German bilingual route in the younger years, and a full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or a more flexible combination of courses in the upper years. It is a not-for-profit day school for ages 3–18, with Lower School in Wädenswil and Grades 6–12 in Adliswil. It has no boarding.
The International Pathway teaches in English, with German lessons included in tuition. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available, but entrants from the middle of Grade 7 must demonstrate English proficiency. Grades 11–12 require strong academic English.
The Bilingual Pathway uses both English and German for subject teaching. The admissions page’s language section describes ages 3–11 and planned expansion through Grade 9, while another section says ages 3–12. Confirm the actual class available for the intended year; expansion plans do not guarantee a current place.
For bilingual Preschool and Kindergarten, the school expects one strong home language. From Grade 1, it assesses spoken and written German and/or English internally. A family meeting includes a verbal language assessment, preferably at Lower School in person. Preschool entrants must be ready for a school day and toilet-trained.
The age rules on the admissions page are:
| Grade | Age rule |
|---|---|
| Preschool 1 | First Monday of the month after the 3rd birthday |
| Preschool 2 | Age 3 by 31 August |
| Kindergarten 1 & 2 | Age 4 by 31 August |
| Grade 1 | Age 6 by 31 August |
| Grade 2 | Age 7 by 31 August |
| Grade 3 | Age 8 by 31 August |
| Grade 4 | Age 9 by 31 August |
| Grade 5 | Age 10 by 31 August |
| Grades 6–12 | Age and academic performance |
The page groups Kindergarten 1 and 2 under one age-four entry line; ask how it places a child between those two classes. Grades 9–10 also require mathematics sufficient to pass an Algebra 1 course. Ask how prior mathematics study will be assessed if the child comes from another curriculum.
A still-hosted September 2016 policy says pupils aged nineteen or over are not normally admitted. For an older applicant, confirm whether that dated condition still applies.
ZIS is not a specialist school for additional educational needs. Its team includes learning-support and English teachers, counsellors, occupational and speech-and-language therapists, and nurses. Middle School describes support for mild to moderate needs; the more intensive Bespoke Learning Support programme has a separate fee.
Applications involving diagnoses, therapy or additional support require full reports in English, no more than three years old, and a current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or learning plan. Older reports require re-evaluation before consideration. Send the complete information to the Director of Inclusion and Challenge; additional documents may be requested. An offer may be conditional. Agree the provision and fee before relying on a place.
Wädenswil, Steinacherstrasse 140, 8820, serves Early Childhood–Grade 5. Both pathways use play-based early learning and guided inquiry, collaboration, core subjects, specialist subjects and home learning. The bilingual page describes individual iPads from Grade 1. Ask for the precise Lower School timetable.
Adliswil serves Grades 6–12. Its campus page names Maggie Wollner as principal and describes a facility opened in August 2022 with a media centre, Design Lab, theatre and music spaces. Hot meals are sold, and packed lunches are permitted.
The school describes bus collection within about 500 metres of home, a fixed-route Lower School Village Liner from Rüschlikon and a shuttle from Thalwil station to Adliswil, alongside public transport. Bus and lunch cost extra; request the current transport sheet for the actual route.
Grades 6–8 use inquiry-based learning with varied subjects, German, a supplied laptop and language and learning support. Grades 9–10 follow courses benchmarked internationally.
In Grades 11–12, pupils can take International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma courses, Advanced Placement (AP) courses from the US system and ZIS-developed courses. A combination can lead to the ZIS High School Diploma without being a full IB Diploma.
The full IB Diploma includes six subjects at Higher and Standard Levels, with Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service; a bilingual diploma is also possible. The school describes the ZIS High School Diploma as accredited through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Ask counselling to confirm its current credit requirements and how the intended course mix meets university-entry requirements.
ZIS reports more than sixty co-curricular activities across academics, service, science and technology, arts and sport. Grade 11 includes CV and interview preparation and the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Swiss employer partners. An internship is not guaranteed.
The campus page says 98% of graduates go on to university in Switzerland or abroad. This is a school-reported destination figure, not an individual admission guarantee. Future Pathways advisers also support pupils not planning university. Discuss alternatives to the full Diploma in Grade 10, while course choices can still be planned.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. When demand exceeds places, the published order is:
Ask whether an employer has an actual ZIS partnership. Employer sponsorship alone does not establish the first priority.
Start with the online application and CHF 500 per child plus card charges. The fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee admission. Reuse an existing enquiry login; returning or previously applying families should ask Enrolment to reopen the file.
The document requirements are:
| Applicants | Documents |
|---|---|
| Everyone | General teacher recommendation and child’s passport photo page |
| Early Childhood–Grade 8 | Most recent report; Preschool/Kindergarten only if available |
| Grades 6–8 | Additional English-teacher recommendation |
| Grades 9–12 | Last two years’ reports plus English- and mathematics-teacher recommendations |
| Applicants needing support | Full recent reports and current IEP/learning plan as described above |
All documents must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.
The Academic Review Team assesses the file and aims to reply within ten working days of completion; support reviews can take longer. A face-to-face meeting is not usual but may be requested in person or online. If accepted and a place exists, Enrolment makes an offer. Confirmation follows payment of the full non-refundable infrastructure contribution where applicable.
Without a place, the child enters a waiting pool, not a guaranteed numbered queue. Subject tests may still be required after acceptance for course placement.
The German fee grid provides the annual figures below. The English and bilingual pages explain inclusions and entry charges. Full contractual obligations are in the Financial Regulations linked from those pages.
Application costs CHF 500 plus card charges and also covers Preschool registration. Re-application for one admissions cycle is CHF 500 plus card charges. From Kindergarten, the one-time infrastructure contribution is CHF 5,000, non-refundable and due to confirm a place.
| Year group | Pattern | CHF |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool PS0 | Mornings | 16,900 |
| Preschool PS1 | Mornings + 1 afternoon | 19,100 |
| Preschool PS2 | Mornings + 2 afternoons | 21,200 |
| Preschool PS3 | Mornings + 3 afternoons | 23,200 |
| Preschool PS4 | Mornings + 4 afternoons | 25,000 |
| Preschool PS5 | Full days | 26,900 |
| Kindergarten 1 & 2 | Full days | 27,750 |
| Grades 1–5 | Full days | 32,800 |
| Grades 6–8 | Full days | 36,450 |
| Grades 9–10 | Full days | 39,300 |
| Grades 11–12 | Full days | 39,700 |
The bilingual fee page lists the same Kindergarten-and-up amounts. This does not establish that the bilingual pathway is already available in every year for which a fee appears. The Preschool PS0–PS5 tariff labels describe attendance patterns; they are not the age-placement Preschool 1/2 labels.
The separate Bespoke/Individualized Learning Support tariff is:
| Grades | CHF |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | 65,600 |
| 6–8 | 72,900 |
| 9–12 (13) | 78,600 |
Ask which programme name and tariff apply to the offer. The support page describes an additional charge for intensive provision; do not simply add the listed programme tariff to standard tuition without a written breakdown.
Annual tuition includes a broad co-curricular programme, curriculum trips and activities, German lessons, devices through Grade 8, EAL and general student/learning-support services. Occupational therapy and speech-and-language therapy are excluded. The bilingual page also lists books, learning materials, facilities and a choice of two sport/activity offerings.
Additional charges cover AP/IB exams, lunch, transport, after-school care, holiday and weekend programmes, private music, occupational therapy and speech-and-language therapy. The bilingual page describes care from 07:00–18:00 with breakfast or snacks; confirm availability and cost. Spanish DELE certification is a separate option, not another bilingual pathway; ask about its fees.
A new standard-programme Grade 6 pupil’s calculated tuition, application and infrastructure total is CHF 41,950, assuming the infrastructure fee has not already been paid. Card charges, meals, transport, exams and bespoke support are outside that calculation.
ZIS suits families wanting a choice between English-medium and bilingual early schooling, followed by flexible upper-secondary courses or a full IB Diploma. The language thresholds and the actual extent of the bilingual pathway matter more than the breadth of the fee table.
Compare ICS Zurich for an IB sequence in Zumikon, or ISZL if Baar and Hünenberg fit the family’s location. Do not choose between them on name alone.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
ICS offers English-language IB education from early years to Grade 12 in Zumikon. Check cantonal eligibility for younger children and include the capital contribution in the first-year budget.
Chesières, Villars-sur-OllonAiglon combines English-medium study with boarding and regular mountain activities. Choose it for that complete programme, and confirm the day-place rules and full cost for your child’s entry year.
Pully, LausanneCollège Champittet is a co-educational private school in Vaud, part of Nord Anglia Education. Its Pully campus offers day education and boarding, with Swiss Maturité, French Baccalauréat and English-taught IB pathways.
Versoix, Geneva areaCollège du Léman offers day and boarding education in Versoix, with five upper-school diploma routes. The main decisions are the teaching language, the qualification and whether the family needs boarding.
Compare ZIS and ICS by curriculum, language needs and the child’s actual campus. Both are day schools outside central Zurich, and cantonal admission rules need checking.
5 minAn American-style school may offer a familiar curriculum, but its diploma, courses, language support, and admissions rules need individual checks. Start with the child’s next educational step.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.