U.S. Education System

All of our teachers, with the exception of the foreign language teachers, have U.S. certifications in their respective subject areas. The U.S. requires every teacher to complete a set of courses, pass tests, and obtain practical teaching experience before granting them a teaching license with subject area certifications. In addition, every teacher has experience teaching in American or international schools and complete ongoing professional learning throughout the year.

However, our teachers aren’t just qualified, they’re caring too! Our teachers love their students!

Since our teachers are qualified and caring, they have the necessary skills to address your child’s needs and, consequently, to have the greatest impact on your child’s success. Visit Our Faculty and Staff page to meet the OIS teachers.

Academic Assessments

Graded homework, classwork, project work, presentations, and exams in varying percentages determine a student's final grade in a class. OIS employs a variety of classroom assessment styles, allowing educators to develop a more comprehensive understanding of students' knowledge and skills. This, in turn, helps identify individual strengths and weaknesses, informs instructional strategies, and provides targeted support for student learning. 

Measures of Academic Progress

Conducted throughout the academic year, a MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment measures a student’s proficiency in math, literacy, and science against grade-level standards. Based on a student’s current achievement results, MAP also predicts (with guidance from a teacher) how much growth a student should achieve over the coming year. One important way of measuring this is to determine what percentage of students met or exceeded growth targets. These assessments are not recorded on a student's grade card but are used to provide academic guidance. 

Semester Summative Assessments

Semester Summative Assessments are designed to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and understandings that a student has developed over an entire semester in the course. These assessments are meant to allow students to demonstrate their cumulative learning. 

Semester Assessments are

• Cumulative in nature

• Mandatory for core classes: Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies. Other classes may administer a semester exam under the following circumstances: the exam is cumulative, the exam is approved by the principals, the exam is administered outside of the scheduled exam days (i.e. the last week of school).

AP Program Benefits

At OIS, an Advanced Placement (AP) program is available to provide OIS students with university-level academic courses that give them an advantage when applying to top colleges and universities around the world.

The Advanced Placement (AP) program is the most widely used academic program in the world. AP is operated by The College Board, an organization whose mission is to connect students to university success and opportunity. The College Board also administers the PSAT and SAT programs. AP courses are not mandatory for OIS students. Students in 10th grade through 12th grade are eligible to take AP courses once they have passed pre-requisite courses.

The AP program provides students with university-level academic courses, giving them a head start when entering tertiary education. Students who take AP courses show universities they are serious about their education and are capable of performing well at the university level. AP students refine their critical thinking, time management, and study skills while still in high school. Due to their rigorous nature, AP courses earn higher grade point averages. Additionally, by earning university credits while in high school and skipping introductory courses when starting university, students can easily save money on tuition, study abroad, or double major. Lastly, AP class sizes are typically much smaller than regular courses, allowing students to have more individualized instruction from their specially-trained teachers.

Personalized Learning Experience

OIS offers a personalized learning experience by providing an innovative academic model of teaching and learning. Classes are rooted in content and skills that align with standards. The standards are designed to challenge students academically as well as to encourage them to think critically and demonstrate creativity. Building 21st century learning skills is accomplished with the help of technology. However, we know that all children aren’t the same and all children don’t learn the same. Therefore, our teachers differentiate instruction in their classes, and our flexible learning environment helps to facilitate different styles of teaching. For advanced high school students, OIS offers the Advanced Placement (AP) Program. To learn more about our education program, please visit our Learning page as well as our pages for the Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.

Holistic Approach

At OIS, we recognize that there is much more to your child than just their intellect. We are committed to an approach to education that nurtures every student’s mental, social, physical, and character development. We meet your child's intellectual needs through a personalized learning experience, while balancing academic rigor with physical well-being. Recognizing that movement, play, and proper rest are vital to academic success, we intentionally structure our days with regular breaks, recess, and PE, alongside a competitive sports program and diverse extracurricular activities.

• Fostering Social and Character Growth: Whether collaborating on group projects, competing in sports, or exploring local museums, students engage in authentic, safe environments that teach them to manage behavior, make decisions, and resolve conflict. Guided by our teachers and wellbeing counselor, students develop healthy friendship skills, empathy, and strong social values.
• A Community of Mentorship: Our staff and teachers are more than just instructors; they are living models of good character. As coaches, club leaders, and mentors, they are deeply invested in our students' lives, providing the academic, social, and moral guidance necessary to help them grow into people of integrity.

At OIS, we don't just educate students for the classroom, we prepare the whole child for life.