What International School of Lausanne does

International School of Lausanne (ISL) is a non-profit international school founded in 1962, operating from a single campus in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. It serves approximately 845 students aged 3-18 representing more than 70 nationalities, delivered through the full International Baccalaureate continuum (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes). The school employs 135 teaching staff and is accredited by three external bodies: IB World School, NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), and CIS (Council of International Schools). Academic outcomes are strong, with the 2025 IB Diploma cohort achieving a 35.7 average score versus a 30.6 global average and a 99% pass rate.

The school's core product is a fee-paying, full-day international education experience for expatriate and local families in the Lake Geneva basin. The business model is tuition-based, with published discounts for siblings and prepayment, and ancillary revenue streams from a co-curricular programme of 200+ annual sports competitions and 125+ after-school activities, plus holiday camps. Operational technology is anchored on the Veracross school management platform. Distribution is direct-to-family through application and admissions, with demand pulled by corporate relocations into the Lausanne region.

ISL is led by Director Frazer Cairns. The school has executed a series of capacity-expanding moves over its 60+ year history, including relocation to the current Le Mont-sur-Lausanne campus in 2005, the opening of the Early Childhood Centre and South Building in 2014-2015, and adoption of the full IB continuum in 2000. More recently, the school has pursued ecosystem extension through a November 2025 partnership with Nestlé Health Science, and reports 133 new student enrolments for the 2025-2026 academic year alongside an 82.5% family recommendation rate.

Name

International School of Lausanne

Legal name

International School of Lausanne

Website

https://isl.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International School of Lausanne is a non-profit international school in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, serving 845 students aged 3-18 across 70+ nationalities through the full IB continuum, with tuition-based revenue and three institutional accreditations (IB, NEASC, CIS).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Mont-sur-lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: ISL generates revenue primarily through tuition fees paid by families. Fees are billed quarterly (autumn, winter, spring terms) in advance. For Reception 3 students, fees are payable monthly from September to June. The school also offers sibling discounts (5% for third child, 10% for fourth, 15% for fifth+) and a 1.5% annual prepayment discount for families paying the full year upfront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International School of Lausanne (ISL) is a not-for-profit international school located in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, delivering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from Early Childhood (ages 3-5) through the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme (ages 16-18). Educational services are complemented by student support, bilingual instruction, university counselling, service learning, and an after-school activities programme, all delivered on a single campus for tuition-paying families.

Product overview

The International School of Lausanne operates a unified educational platform built around the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum, offering four core academic programmes spanning Early Childhood (ages 3–5) through the Diploma Programme (ages 16–18). The core IB programmes — Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme — are supplemented by a Bilingual Programme add-on in the Primary School. The school extends its offering through a portfolio of enrichment modules: Student Support Services (learning support, EAL, well-being, medical team), the Impact Hub (innovation and entrepreneurship), the Academic Counselling / Future Pathways Programme (university guidance), a Service Learning Programme with five thematic pillars, and an After-School Activities Programme offering over 125 activities. Operational infrastructure includes the Parent Portal and Parent Hub Programme (both powered by Veracross), the ISL Holiday Camps, and school calendar and admissions management systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Programme Early childhood education programme for children aged 3 to 5 years old, including Reception 3 (R3) and Reception 4 (R4) classes, taught in a purpose-built Early Childhood building on the ISL campus.
• Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for students aged 5 to 11 (Year 1 to Year 6), following a transdisciplinary framework focused on the holistic development of the child.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16 (Year 7 to Year 11), designed to help students acquire knowledge, understanding, attitudes, and skills to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.
• Diploma Programme (DP) International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 18 (Year 12 and Year 13), consisting of 6 subject groups plus the core components of Theory of Knowledge, CAS (Creativity, Action, Service), and the Extended Essay.
• Bilingual Programme Bilingual education pathway within the Primary Years Programme offering instruction in both English and French to develop multilingual skills and intercultural understanding.
• ISL Holiday Camps Safe, fun, and stimulating holiday experiences in the outdoors for children, delivered during school holiday periods at the ISL campus.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive student support including learning support (progress plans, individualized education plans, individual support), a medical team, English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, and a well-being programme based on CASEL SEL competencies.
• Academic Counselling / Future Pathways Programme University guidance and career counselling programme supporting students from Year 11 through Year 13 with university research, application strategy, personal statement writing, interview preparation, and alumni networking.
• After-School Activities Programme Over 125 co-curricular activities including sports (basketball, skiing, netball, gymnastics), arts (drama, music, visual arts), and non-sport activities (robotics, chess, beekeeping, programming). Over 80% of students participate in at least one activity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35.7 average IB Diploma score in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nestlé Health ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025ISL Impact Hub students visited Nestlé Health Science R&D center in Lausanne, exploring connections between science, innovation, and industrial practices. Students learned about nutrition research, clinical research, product innovation, sustainability, and project management.
• EVAM (Etablissement Vaudois D'Accueil Des Migrants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership providing service learning opportunities for ISL students to engage with migrant support services in the Vaud region, fostering social responsibility and community engagement.
• CaritascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss charity partnership offering students opportunities to participate in humanitarian service projects and community support initiatives.
• Cartons du CœurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership with food bank organization enabling students to engage in service learning through food assistance programs.
• CerebralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with organization supporting people with cerebral disabilities, providing students opportunities for inclusive service learning experiences.
• La Soupe PopulairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community partnership offering students service learning opportunities through participation in community soup kitchen operations.
• ISL Holiday CampsminorOthersDedicated holiday camps program for safe, fun, and stimulating outdoor holiday experiences. Operates at holiday-camps.ch.
• Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL is an authorized delivery center for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, enabling students to pursue this prestigious global youth achievement award.
• VeracrosscoreTechnology or IntegrationSchool management software platform used for admissions, student information, parent portals, and administrative functions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Geneva International School: International school in Geneva offering IB programmes to international families. Comparable in mission, curriculum, and target demographic, though located in the adjacent canton.
• La Côte International School: International school near Geneva/Lausanne area offering IB programmes. Direct local competitor for families evaluating English-medium K-12 options in the same Vaud region.
• Beau Soleil: Swiss international boarding school in Villars offering IB and IGCSE. Competes with ISL for premium international families seeking rigorous academics and holistic programs.
• Brillantmont International School: Boarding and day school in Lausanne offering IGCSE, A-levels and IB Diploma. Directly competes with ISL within Lausanne for international secondary school students.
• TASIS The American School in Switzerland: English-language international school in Ticino offering American and IB programs. Competes with ISL for international families choosing a Switzerland-based English-medium education with IB pathway.
• Aiglon College: Swiss international boarding school in Vaud canton offering IB Diploma. Targets the same expatriate and internationally mobile family segment as ISL in the Lake Geneva region.
• Institut Le Rosey: Switzerland's most prestigious boarding school on Lake Geneva, offering IB and IGCSE. Competes directly with ISL for international families in the Lausanne/Geneva region, particularly at the premium end.
• Collège du Léman: International day and boarding school near Geneva offering IB continuum. Directly competes with ISL for international families across French-speaking Switzerland.

Emerging players

• École d'Humanité: International boarding school in the Swiss Alps offering IB. Comparable international, English-medium boarding and day offering targeting globally mobile families, with a distinctive pedagogy focus.

Regional players

• Zurich International School: Major English-medium international school in Zurich offering IB continuum. Comparable IB-based K-12 offering to ISL but serving the German-speaking Swiss international market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/islausanne

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 School of Lausanne