WHY WIS?
Our mission is to be an exemplary learning community—enriched by differences, informed through inquiry, global in reach.
A 60-year legacy of global education.
Since 1966, Washington International School has offered a rigorous, immersive international education across two campuses in Northwest Washington, DC. We believe international-mindedness is inherent to the WIS identity. Fostering a global perspective is often cited as a goal at schools in Washington, DC and beyond. At Washington International School, this has been a priority since the school was established in 1966.
Language immersion from day one.
Our students dive into full language immersion until Grade 1, then move into dual-language instruction in English and French or Spanish through the IB Primary Years Programme. From Grade 6 onward, students can add Mandarin as an elective, carrying them all the way to the IB Diploma Programme.
Two campuses built for every stage.
Our Primary School is nestled between Georgetown and Glover Park, serving students from Age 3 through Grade 5. At Tregaron, our Middle and Upper Schools take students through Grade 12.
A truly well-rounded education.
At WIS, learning extends far beyond textbooks and test scores. Students explore the arts through music, visual arts, and theatre productions across every division, while our athletics programmes build teamwork, discipline, and school spirit. Our curriculum is designed to be integrated rather than siloed — connecting language learning, humanities, science, and the arts so students see how ideas relate across disciplines, not in isolation. Whether on the stage, on the field, in the lab, or in the classroom, WIS students are encouraged to explore widely, think critically, and discover where their own passions lie.
A community always in motion.
There's always something happening at WIS — our annual Athletics Bonanza FORZA WIS, the Primary School's Celebrations of Learning, a Middle School theatre show, or a Grade 11 Theory of Knowledge exhibition. We'd love for you to be part of it.
