International School of Dakar - ISD

What International School of Dakar - ISD does

International School of Dakar (ISD) is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school operating on an eight-acre campus in Dakar's Mermoz neighborhood, Senegal. Founded in 1983 and governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees drawn primarily from the parent community, ISD delivers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum — Primary Years Programme (PreK-Grade 5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12) — to a student body representing over 111 nationalities. The school holds accreditations from the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Middle States Association (MSA), and the International Baccalaureate Organization, and maintains small class sizes of 12-20 students supported by a faculty of 90-97, many holding advanced degrees and IB examiner credentials. Beyond core academics, ISD operates Student Support Services (Learning Support, EAL/ELL, counseling), a Design and Innovation Center, athletics and arts programs, After School Activities via Schoolsbuddy, and the ACE! community engagement program linking students with 10+ local Senegalese partners.

ISD's business model is subscription-based, anchored by annual tuition billed per student in US dollars (US$12,000 for PreKindergarten up to US$32,100 for Grades 11-12, with one, two, or three installment options). Supplementary revenue streams include a one-time US$250 application fee, a capital development fee for K-12 enrollment, a US$750 returning student deposit, and term-based After School Activities fees. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, with rolling admissions through the OpenApply portal starting January 1st each year, complemented by in-person open house events, campus tours, and a dedicated admissions coordinator. Distribution is direct enrollment rather than channel-based, with the school primarily serving international and expatriate families seeking a college-preparatory IB pathway within West Africa. ISD is actively operating with admissions open for the 2026-2027 school year and is executing against a published 2025-2027 Strategic Priorities framework focused on Academic Success, Student Well-being, and Effective Systems and Processes.

Name

International School of Dakar - ISD

Legal name

International School of Dakar

Website

https://isdakar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International School of Dakar is an independent, non-profit IB World Continuum school in Senegal serving PreK-12 students from 111+ nationalities through PYP, MYP, and DP programs on a tuition-based subscription model ranging from US$12,000 to US$32,100 annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic & Classroom Integration Support (Study Skills, Academic Norms, Integrity) (EDAIAKAG)

Keywords

• International education
• IB World School
• College preparatory program
• K-12 education
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition charged per student based on grade level, ranging from PreK to Grade 12. Paid in one, two, or three installments with specific deadline requirements.
2. Application Fee: One-time $250 fee for new student applications
3. Capital Development Fee: Fee applicable to Kindergarten through Grade 12, with different amounts for new and returning students
4. After School Activities: Activities led by ISD staff and outside instructors for a fee per term
5. Returning Student Deposit: $750 deposit to secure place for returning students, applied toward tuition

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

International School of Dakar is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school offering International Baccalaureate education from Pre-Kindergarten (age 3) through Grade 12, comprising the full IB Continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The core offering is delivered through small class sizes of 12-20 students by a dedicated faculty of 90-97 educators, drawing a student community of over 111 nationalities on an eight-acre campus in Dakar, Senegal. Beyond academics, the school provides integrated student support services (Learning Support, EAL/ELL, counseling), athletics, visual and performing arts, after-school activities, and the ACE! Action and Community Engagement service learning program.

Product overview

International School of Dakar is an independent, non-profit IB World School offering Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 education. The school operates a unified educational program built around the International Baccalaureate framework, comprising three interconnected IB programs: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for PreK-Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6-10, and Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12. Beyond core academics, the school offers integrated support services including learning support, EAL/ELL programs, and counseling, complemented by a vibrant co-curricular portfolio encompassing athletics, visual and performing arts, after school activities, and the ACE! community engagement program. The school also maintains a Design and Innovation Center for technology-enhanced learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB Primary Years Programme for PreK through Grade 5, encouraging young learners to be curious thinkers and active participants through inquiry-based learning and exploration of real-world connections.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB Middle Years Programme for Grades 6-10 that empowers students to become internationally-minded and active learners, connecting classroom learning to the world through a balanced academic approach.
• Diploma Programme (DP) Comprehensive and challenging two-year IB program for Grades 11-12, preparing students for university with core elements including Theory of Knowledge, CAS, and Extended Essay.
• Elementary School Program Nurturing educational environment for PreK3 through Grade 5 with small class sizes, IB PYP framework, specialist subjects including Art, Music, PE, Technology, and daily French classes.
• Secondary School Program IB World School program for Grades 6-12 offering MYP and DP with diverse Secondary community, experiential learning, advisory groups, House groups, and vibrant Student Council.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive support including Learning Support for students with mild to moderate learning differences, EAL/ELL language programs, and social-emotional counseling at all grade levels.
• ISD Athletics Three-season athletic program with sports including volleyball, football, basketball, and WAISAL league participation, led by experienced coaches with competitive local and international teams.
• Visual & Performing Arts Vibrant arts program covering drama, music, dance, visual arts, and filmmaking for PreK through Grade 12, with IB Diploma options in Theatre, Film, and Visual Arts for upper grades.
• After School Activities (ASA) Enriching extracurricular program offering activities in academics, sports, STEM, and arts for 10 weeks each trimester, led by ISD staff and outside instructors.
• ACE! Action and Community Engagement Service learning program connecting students with local community organizations through sustainable partnerships, including ACE! Days three times yearly for secondary students.
• Resiklaas Plastics Recycling Program Campus sustainability program for plastics recycling through the partnership with Recuplast, part of the Innovation Center's environmental education offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small class sizes (12-20 students) ensure individual attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut Français de DakarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership to offer French language courses for ISD parents and staff at beginner (A1), elementary (A2), and intermediate (B1) levels. Small-group sessions held twice weekly for 2 hours. After 120 hours of study, participants earn official certificate from Institut Français.
• Western African International Schools Activities League (WAISAL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeague bringing together international schools from across West Africa to compete across sports, arts, and technology. ISD hosts at least one WAISAL tournament each year. Students in Middle School and High School travel across West Africa to represent ISD.
• RecuplastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for plastic recycling initiatives. Collaboration extends environmental awareness beyond campus through the Resiklaas plastics recycling program.
• Plastic OdysseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership through the SUNU Project Senegal. Supports campus sustainability practices and student engagement in environmental responsibility.
• ACE! Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE! (Action and Community Engagement) program partnerships with 10+ local organizations including Janghi, CEM 17 & Daaras, Association des Mères de Pikine Est & Energie, Centre Talibou Dabo, Centre Estel Centre for People with Albinism (ANAS), Ecology Conservation & Entrepreneurship, Tilène-Ndayane Elementary School, Resiklaas! recycling, Senebot robotics outreach, and Animal Rescue program.
• SenebotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobotics outreach partnership through ACE! program, providing students with authentic opportunities to engage with technology and engineering in community contexts.
• Institut Français de DakarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench language courses partnership bringing Institut's internationally recognized curriculum to ISD campus. Classes available at beginner, elementary, and intermediate levels with official certification upon completion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American School of Dakar: The other major American-style international K-12 school in Dakar, serving the same expatriate and diplomatic community with comparable IB or American curriculum offerings. Head-to-head competitor for the same family pool in Senegal's capital.
• École Internationale de Dakar (EID): French-anchored international K-12 school in Dakar serving the French-speaking expatriate community. Competes with ISD for the same multinational family segment but differentiated by language of instruction.
• American International School of Abuja: Non-profit international K-12 school in Nigeria's capital serving a similar diplomatic and expatriate community with IB and American curriculum offerings. Directly comparable in mission and target market.
• International School of Tanganyika: Non-profit international K-12 school in Dar es Salaam offering IB programs to the East African expatriate community. Comparable in scale, tuition positioning, and accreditation profile.
• International School of Lagos: Non-profit international K-12 school in Lagos offering IB programs to the expatriate and diplomatic community. Comparable in mission, customer profile, and tuition positioning within West Africa.
• International School of Nairobi: Established non-profit international K-12 school in East Africa offering IB programs with a similar tuition structure and expatriate community focus. Closest analog for ISD's operating model outside of West Africa.
• American International School of Johannesburg: Large non-profit international K-12 school in Johannesburg offering IB programs to a multinational community. A scaled-up analog of ISD's operating model within Africa, with comparable tuition and accreditation profile.
• Lincoln Community School: Accredited American-style international K-12 school in Accra, Ghana offering IB programs. Comparable premium institution serving the West African diplomatic and multinational community in a neighboring country.

Regional players

• American Cooperative School of Tunis: American-style international K-12 school in North Africa with IB authorization serving a similar diplomatic community. Comparable operating model but in a different geographic market.

Others

• Council of International Schools (CIS): Accreditation body that governs international school standards globally. Not a competitor, but a peer ecosystem participant whose accreditation standards shape ISD's operating model and credibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISDakar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@isd-videos6336
• Facebookfacebook.com/isdakar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-school-of-dakar
• Instagraminstagram.com/isdakar/?hl=en

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Dakar - ISD