International School of Helsinki

What International School of Helsinki does

International School of Helsinki (ISH) is a private international school founded circa 1963 in Helsinki, Finland, serving students ages 4 through 19. The school delivers a fully integrated International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum spanning all three IB programmes — the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) — supplemented by a Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care Curriculum for its pre-kindergarten Discovery and Explorers programmes. ISH became Finland's first fully IB accredited school in 2005 and is the only school in the Helsinki area with all three IB accreditations. The school holds additional accreditations from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and is a member of CEESA, Nordic International Schools, SENIA, and AIELOC networks.

The school's product portfolio comprises its three core IB programmes as core offerings, with supporting modules including an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme, Student Support Services for special educational needs and social-emotional support, and an After School Activities (ASA) programme. Operations are supported by ManageBac for student records, Wilma for community communication, and OpenApply for online admissions. The school employs approximately 129 staff and maintains a 1:5 teacher-learner ratio, with a student community drawn from over 40 nationalities.

ISH generates revenue primarily through recurring annual tuition fees for the 2026-2027 academic year, with secondary fee income from the ASA programme. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), word-of-mouth within Helsinki's international community, and social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Direct enrollment is processed through OpenApply, with families applying independently for placement. The school is led by Head of School Dr Mónica Gilbert-Sáez under governance by a School Board.

Name

International School of Helsinki

Legal name

International School of Helsinki

Website

https://ishelsinki.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International School of Helsinki is a private international school in Helsinki, Finland, offering the full IB curriculum (PYP, MYP, DP) to learners ages 4-19 from 40+ nationalities. It generates revenue through annual tuition fees and operates with a 1:5 teacher-learner ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for students ages 4-19. Annual fees are published for academic years (e.g., Annual Fees 2026-2027). The school also charges fees for after-school activities (ASA) program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

International School of Helsinki provides internationally accredited K-12 education for learners ages 4-19 through all three International Baccalaureate programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma), combined with the Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care Curriculum for younger learners. The offering is supplemented by English as an Additional Language support, inclusive Student Support Services, and a three-season After School Activities athletics and enrichment programme.

Product overview

International School of Helsinki is an educational institution offering a unified portfolio of IB programmes. The core offerings are the three International Baccalaureate programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 4-11), Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11-16), and Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16-19). These are supplemented by the English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme, Student Support Services, an After School Activities (ASA) athletics and activities programme, and the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) community. The school follows an inclusive, student-centered inquiry-based educational philosophy. The organization is Finland's first fully IB accredited school (since 2005) and the only school in Helsinki area with all three IB programme accreditations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB programme for students from Discovery (pre-kindergarten, age 4) through Grade 5 (ages 10-11), delivered through an integrated cross-curricular approach using Units of Inquiry and combined with the Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care Curriculum for the youngest learners.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB curriculum framework for learners aged 11-16, covering Grades 6-10, designed to encourage interdisciplinary connections and critical thinking.
• Diploma Programme (DP) Two-year IB programme for Grades 11-12 that is academically challenging and recognized by universities worldwide, enabling students to earn both a high school diploma and an IB Diploma.
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme Support programme providing English language assistance for identified students requiring additional language support.
• After School Activities (ASA) Programme Extensive athletics and activities programme for students in grades K-12, offered across three seasons (autumn, winter, spring), including CEESA, Nordic, and international events.
• Student Support Services Inclusive support services covering additional educational needs support, English language acquisition assistance, and social-emotional and behavioral support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Teacher-learner ratio of 1 to 5 ensures individualized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CEESA (Central and Eastern Schools Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH participates in CEESA events including athletic competitions and academic activities for middle and high school students. Students who participate in CEESA events are required to host visiting students when ISH hosts an event.
• Nordic International SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH participates in Nordic International Schools events throughout the school year for middle and high school students, providing regional competitive and collaborative opportunities.
• International Baccalaureate OrganizationcoreTechnology or IntegrationISH is an authorized IB World School offering Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The school was Finland's first fully IB accredited school in 2005.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Berlin International School: Private international school in Berlin offering IB programmes to a globally mobile community. Comparable on curriculum framework, expat-driven enrollment, and tuition-based private school model in a major European capital.
• Munich International School: Private international school serving a multinational community in a major German city, offering IB programmes and English-medium instruction. Comparable on target customer, premium international education positioning, and regulatory accreditation stack.
• Helsinki International School: Private international school serving expat and internationally mobile families in Helsinki, offering a comparable K-12 international curriculum. Directly comparable on geography, target customer, and tuition-driven private school model.
• British School of Helsinki: Private international school in Helsinki delivering a UK-based curriculum to internationally mobile families. Competes for the same Helsinki expatriate student pool under a different (British) curricular framework, making it the closest direct local competitor.
• Zurich International School: Private international school in a Northern European financial hub offering IB programmes to globally mobile families. Comparable on premium positioning, IB-centric curriculum, and tuition-driven private school economics.
• International School of Geneva (Ecolint): Historic foundation-backed international school serving UN, NGO, and corporate-relocation families with IB programmes. Comparable on institutional customer base, multi-accreditation pedigree, and tuition-based private school model.
• International School of Luxembourg: Private international school in Luxembourg serving an EU and corporate-relocation community. Comparable on IB curriculum offering, institutional customer base, and Northern European premium international school economics.
• International School of Paris: Private international school in another major European capital offering an IB-based curriculum to globally mobile families. Closely comparable on curriculum philosophy, target expat customer base, and tuition-driven private K-12 model.
• International School of Brussels: Established European private international school offering IB programmes to a multinational student body, primarily serving institutional and corporate-relocation families. Highly comparable on business model, curriculum, and European expat customer base.
• American International School of Vienna: Long-established private international school in Vienna serving multinational families with IB and American-style programs. Comparable on curriculum mix, premium positioning, and decades-long institutional track record.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-school-of-helsinki

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Helsinki