International Schools

What International Schools does

School International (International Schools) is a private, non-profit (gemeinnützige) educational institution operating a continuous bilingual (German-English) education pathway from daycare (Kita) through German university entrance qualification (Abitur) in Germany. Founded in 2005 in Potsdam as the city's first bilingual school, the network now spans two cities: Potsdam (Brandenburg) and Erfurt (Thuringia), organized across three non-profit legal entities consolidated under AcadeMedia Education GmbH since 2024. Core products include Kita First Steps (20 places, ages 1.5-6), Kita Children's House (66 places, age 3 to school entry), Internationale Grundschule Potsdam (grades 1-6), Internationale Gesamtschule Potsdam (grades 7-13 with Abitur), and Internationale Gemeinschaftsschule Erfurt (grades 1-12). The product portfolio is differentiated by four pedagogical pillars: bilingual learning, Montessori pedagogy, self-organized learning, and digital learning via iPads (school-issued from grade 5, personal from grade 7), supported by science and social-science profile tracks, career preparation, and extracurricular clubs.

The business model is a direct-to-consumer, tuition-based subscription with monthly billing. Specific fees are published in Schulgeldordnung schedules for Kita, Grundschule, and Gesamtschule, with income-based fee assessment available. Distribution is direct: families register online through the school's website, attend open days, or contact the admissions office directly. Supporting add-ons include full-day care programs (Hort Potsdam, Ganztag Erfurt). The organization holds several accreditations relevant to its positioning: MINT-freundliche Schule, Digitale Schule, Fobizz digitalization certificate, Cambridge English Partner School, and Erasmus+ participation.

Operationally, the company is led by Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) Daniel Frech and authorized officer (Prokura) Manja Kirstein, with 51-100 employees. Technology infrastructure is built around iPads as primary learning devices configured for educational app use, digital distribution of assignments, and content-based bilingual instruction. Partnerships with the Hasso Plattner Institute and Free University of Berlin provide technology and higher-education linkages. The organization does not disclose revenue, has no funding rounds (operating as gemeinnützige entities), and reports self-claimed outcomes of 97% English bilingual proficiency, 98% Montessori pedagogy effectiveness, and 92% individual support rate — figures that are unverified by independent third parties.

Name

International Schools

Legal name

gemeinnützige Internationale Schulen Potsdam GmbH

Website

https://school-international.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

School International is a private, non-profit bilingual (German-English) school network operating daycare through Abitur programs across two German campuses in Potsdam and Erfurt, using Montessori and iPad-based digital pedagogy, and owned by AcadeMedia Education GmbH since 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Bilingual Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL), Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA), International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• Bilingual education services
• Private K-12 schooling
• Montessori pedagogy
• Early childhood daycare
• Abitur preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Private school operating on a tuition-based model. Fee structures are documented in published fee schedules (Schulgeldordnung) for different school levels including Kita, primary school, and comprehensive school. Income-based fee assessments are also available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

International Schools (School International) is a private non-profit education network that delivers bilingual (German/English) daycare, primary, and secondary education in Germany. The portfolio spans Kita daycares (ages 1.5-6), bilingual primary school (grades 1-6), and comprehensive/community secondary schools (grades 7-13) culminating in the German Abitur, delivered across Potsdam and Erfurt campuses under Montessori, self-organized, and iPad-based digital learning approaches.

Product overview

School International operates a unified educational platform spanning from daycare (Kita) to Abitur across two German locations (Potsdam and Erfurt). The portfolio includes five core institutions: Kita First Steps (20 places, Potsdam), Kita Children's House (66 places, Potsdam), Internationale Grundschule Potsdam (grades 1-6), Internationale Gesamtschule Potsdam (grades 7-13), and Internationale Gemeinschaftsschule Erfurt (grades 1-12). Supporting modules include full-day care programs (Hort Potsdam, Ganztag Erfurt). The offering is differentiated through four pedagogical sub-brands: Bilingual Learning (German/English), Montessori Pedagogy, Digital Learning (iPad program), and Self-Organized Learning. These are supported by specialized features including science and social science profile tracks in upper secondary, career preparation programs, and diverse extracurricular activities (soccer, basketball, chess, music, art, martial arts). The institutions are managed under three nonprofit legal entities affiliated with AcadeMedia Education GmbH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kita First Steps Private daycare center in Potsdam for children aged 1.5-6 years, offering bilingual (German/English) early childhood education with Montessori pedagogy. Provides care for up to 20 children across two groups and prepares them for primary school entry.
• Kita Children's House Bilingual daycare in Potsdam for children from age 3 until school entry, operating mixed-age groups with 66 total childcare places. Applies Montessori pedagogy and prepares children for primary school.
• Internationale Grundschule Potsdam (International Primary School) Bilingual primary school in Potsdam covering grades 1-6 with instruction in German or English-speaking classes, founded as the first and only bilingual school in Potsdam in 2005.
• Internationale Gesamtschule Potsdam (International Comprehensive School) Comprehensive school in Potsdam with upper secondary (gymnasiale Oberstufe) covering grades 7-13, providing fundamental, extended, or in-depth general education leading to the German Abitur.
• Internationale Gemeinschaftsschule Erfurt (International Community School Erfurt) Community school in Erfurt covering grades 1-12 as an approved school in free sponsorship (anerkannte Schule in freier Trägerschaft), offering Abitur preparation with an extended day program and science and social science profile tracks.
• Hort Potsdam (After-School Care) Full-day after-school care program in Potsdam with outdoor facilities including a water play area, sports field, hammock zone, and table tennis, providing extended supervision for primary and secondary students.
• Ganztag Erfurt (Full-Day Program) Full-day care program in Erfurt combining school and after-school care, with varied afternoon activities focused on learning, playing, researching, and exploring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% bilingual proficiency rate in English
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AcadeMedia Education GmbHcoreOthersParent company and quality association for School International. AcadeMedia Education GmbH (AME) is the overarching organization managing gemeinnützige Internationale Schulen Potsdam GmbH, gemeinnützige Kreativ Campus Potsdam GmbH, and gemeinnützige Kreative Schulgesellschaft Thüringen mbH.
• International Montessori School (IMS) Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth are Montessori-based international schools, though operating independently in different regions. IMS announced its Middle School program launch in 2025.
• Various UAE School Groups (Al Shola Schools Group, Al Hikma Schools Group, International Community Schools, Athena Group, Victoria International Schools)minorOthersDifferent international school networks with similar 'International' branding but no direct relationship with School International Germany. Alef Education expanded AI learning to these UAE schools.
• Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digital education and technology integration. School displays HPI logo indicating educational technology collaboration.
• Free University of Berlin (FU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Free University of Berlin for educational programs and student activities, as documented in school projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Phorms Education: German private bilingual K-12 school chain operating multiple campuses across Germany with German-English instruction and IB/Abitur pathways. Closest direct competitor in private bilingual K-12 segment.
• International School of Düsseldorf (ISD): Established private international K-12 school in Düsseldorf offering IB curriculum with diverse international student body. Comparable in premium international K-12 operations in Germany.
• Strothoff International School: Private international K-12 school near Frankfurt offering Cambridge and IB pathways with bilingual approach. Comparable bilingual international school model in Germany.
• Frankfurt International School (FIS): Long-standing private international school in Frankfurt offering IB curriculum from early years through grade 12 with diverse international student body. Similar market positioning for globally mobile families.
• Munich International School: Established private international K-12 school in Munich offering IB Diploma and bilingual pathways with international student body. Comparable in premium international K-12 positioning.
• Berlin International School (BIS): Private international K-12 school in Berlin offering IB and Cambridge pathways with English-medium instruction. Comparable in international curriculum focus and expat-family target market.
• Dresden International School: Private international school in Saxony offering IB curriculum with English-language instruction. Comparable as a German-based international K-12 alternative serving globally mobile families.
• Berlin Metropolitan School (BMS): Private bilingual K-12 school in Berlin offering German Abitur and IB pathways. Comparable as a German private bilingual school operator with similar Cambridge/international curriculum positioning.
• Leipzig International School: Private international K-12 school in Leipzig offering IB curriculum with English-medium instruction. Comparable as a German private international school operator.

Broad incumbents

• AcadeMedia Education GmbH: Parent company of School International and one of Europe's largest education operators with K-12, preschool, and adult education across Germany and Scandinavia. Comparable as the operating group that governs and scales School International.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnp1d8La75aVGZES0SeGZjQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/schoolinternational.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/71600828/admin/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/school.international_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Schools