COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - Internationale Friedensschule Köln

What COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - Internationale Friedensschule Köln does

Cologne International School (Internationale Friedensschule Köln) is a privately operated international school founded in 2007 in Cologne, Germany, and run as a GmbH (limited liability company) without state funding. It serves students aged 5-18 through the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum — Primary Years Programme (Grades 1-5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12) — becoming the 3rd school in North Rhine-Westphalia and 15th in Germany to achieve full Continuum authorization in January 2025. The school operates bilingual German-English instruction at primary level and serves a community drawn from over 50 nationalities. It is the only school in Cologne with on-campus boarding facilities for up to 20 international students aged 15+, and is supported by NEASC accreditation plus memberships in ECIS, VDP, and DELF/Dele Cervantes certification programmes.

The school's core offering rests on the IB curriculum framework delivered via the ManageBac learning management system, with admissions managed through OpenApply. Campus operations run from a purpose-built, sustainable facility in Cologne-Butzweilerhof opened in 2022, featuring a photovoltaic system covering 80% of energy needs. Additional service lines include an after-school clubs programme, EAL/DaZ language support, a daily social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, an ethical AI curriculum, and international exchange partnerships with schools in Ghana, Peru, and India. Operational scale is modest at 59 employees with class sizes capped at 12-22 students for individualized instruction.

The revenue model is tuition-driven and recurring. Annual tuition ranges from €20,270 (PYP) to €24,520 (IB Diploma), with annual or monthly billing options. One-time application and admission fees total €5,750 per first child and €4,500 for siblings. Boarding fees range from €22,750 to €26,050 annually depending on room type. Ancillary revenue is generated from lunch programmes (€1,310-€2,340), bus shuttles (€1,365), after-school clubs (€60-€120 per club per semester), and examination fees. Distribution is direct-to-family through a six-step admissions process, information evenings, campus tours, and online inquiry forms. The 2025 IB cohort achieved a 92% Diploma pass rate (vs 30.6% world average) with an average score of 33.1, a quantifiable outcome supporting the premium positioning.

Name

COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - Internationale Friedensschule Köln

Legal name

Internationale Friedensschule Köln GmbH

Website

https://if-koeln.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cologne International School is a privately funded international school in Cologne, Germany, offering the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) with bilingual German-English instruction for students aged 5-18 from over 50 nationalities, including the city's only on-campus boarding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• International baccalaureate education
• Bilingual primary school
• Private secondary education
• School boarding services
• IB diploma programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne-Butzweilerhof

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition Fees: Annual and monthly tuition fees for students from Grades 1-12. Fees vary by programme level: PYP (€20,270 annually), MYP (€22,680 annually), Pre-IB (€22,890 annually), and IB DP (€24,520 annually). Monthly payment options available with potential interest charges.
2. Boarding Services: On-campus accommodation for students aged 15+ (Grades 9-12) with three room categories. Annual fees range from €22,750 (double room) to €26,050 (single ensuite), plus insurance and security deposit.
3. Application and Admission Fees: One-time application fee (€750, refundable if not accepted) and admission fee (€5,000, non-refundable upon contract signing). Reduced rate of €4,500 for siblings.
4. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from lunch programmes (€1,310-€2,340 annually), bus shuttle services (€1,365 annually), after-school clubs (€60-€120 per club per semester), and examination fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cologne International School is a private international school offering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum — Primary Years Programme (Grades 1-5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12) — with bilingual German-English instruction. The school additionally operates on-campus boarding facilities for international students aged 15+, supplementary language support (EAL/DaZ), and a wide range of extracurricular clubs.

Product overview

Cologne International School offers a comprehensive IB Continuum educational pathway spanning the Primary Years Programme (Grades 1-5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12). The school provides bilingual instruction in English and German at the primary level, transitioning to English-medium secondary education with German as a core subject. Additional offerings include on-campus boarding facilities (the only such option in Cologne), extensive extracurricular clubs and activities, EAL/DaZ language support, and international exchange programs. The school recently launched an ethical AI strategy as part of its forward-focused curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate programme for Grades 1-5 focusing on inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning with bilingual English-German instruction. For primary-aged children of international and German families.
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate programme for Grades 6-10 providing an academically challenging framework connecting studies with the real world. For secondary-aged students.
• IB Diploma Programme (DP) Pre-university International Baccalaureate programme for Grades 11-12 offering globally recognized university entrance qualifications. For students aged 16-18.
• Pre-IB Diploma Programme Foundation course for Grade 10 students preparing to enter the IB Diploma programme in subsequent years.
• On-Campus Boarding House Residential boarding accommodation for up to 20 international students aged 15+ (Grades 9-12) with single/double rooms, common areas, and full board. Only on-campus boarding option in Cologne.
• Clubs and Extracurricular Activities After-school clubs for Grades 1-12 covering sports, creative arts, music (choir, big band), languages, Model United Nations, and an Honors Program. Priced at €60-€120 per club per semester.
• EAL/DaZ Language Support English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DaZ) support services enabling inclusion in the bilingual environment for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programme Daily SEL curriculum integrated into lessons to develop resilience, empathy, and self-awareness alongside academic skills.
• Student Exchange and Service Programmes International exchange and service projects with partner schools including SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College (Ghana), Future Leaders School (Ghana), and exchanges to Peru and India.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College (Ghana)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Long-standing student exchange programme between CIS Cologne and SOS-HGIC in Ghana. Students spend two weeks at partner school experiencing classes, cultural immersion, and excursions. Ghanaian students later visit Cologne for reciprocal exchange, exploring attractions including Cologne Zoo, Chocolate Museum, and German landmarks.
• Future Leaders School (Ghana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly UCC (Underprivileged Children's Centre), founded 22 years ago. CIS community has supported school for six years through donations of clothes, books, and learning materials. Students participated in building two complete primary school classrooms, constructing 20 desks and 20 chairs. School now has 300 enrolled students.
• Akwaaba Volunteers (Ghana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization that helped rebuild Future Leaders School after eviction in 2017. Built new wooden structure and three toilets to continue student education.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) OrganizationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed authorized IB World School offering PYP, MYP, and DP programmes under IB organization standards and curriculum framework.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Berlin Metropolitan School: Private international school in Berlin offering IB programmes with strong international student body. Comparable curriculum mix and tuition-tier positioning to CIS.
• International School of Stuttgart: IB World School serving internationally mobile families in Baden-Württemberg with the full IB Continuum. Comparable premium positioning, similar GTM (direct admissions, trial days), and similar size band.
• Bonn International School: IB World School located in Bonn, NRW, offering the IB Continuum to internationally mobile families in the same Rhine-Ruhr corridor as CIS. Directly comparable in scale, curriculum, and target families.
• Munich International School: Private IB school in Munich offering the full IB Continuum with bilingual elements and a similar premium international positioning. Comparable business model and curriculum stack.
• Bavarian International School: Private IB Continuum school in Bavaria with bilingual streams and a strong international student mix. Directly comparable model and fee structure to CIS.
• International School of Düsseldorf: IB Continuum school serving an international community in NRW with similar fee levels and an internationally mixed student body. Closest geographic peer alongside Bonn International School.
• Frankfurt International School: Large IB World School in Frankfurt offering PYP, MYP, and DP to an international student body. Comparable private, English-medium IB model with similar target segments and tuition tier.
• Berlin Brandenburg International School: IB World School in Berlin serving international families with PYP, MYP, and DP. Comparable in being a privately funded, tuition-driven German international school with similar target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Swiss International School (Multiple Campuses): Multi-campus private German international school group operating IB programmes across several cities. Comparable bilingual/IB offering; broader geographic footprint and portfolio make it a larger incumbent peer.

Emerging players

• United World College of the Adriatic: International residential IB school in Italy offering the IB Diploma with on-campus boarding. Comparable boarding-plus-IB structure and international student focus, though operated under the UWC movement rather than as a private GmbH.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOz5I877uMxWmeCuNf9Igvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/internationalschool.cologne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cologne-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/cologne_international_school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 COLOGNE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - Internationale Friedensschule Köln