The International School

We are the parents of 2 TIS students. We thought that the exceptional thing about this school was the language immersion; that is a wonderfully strong element to be sure. However, the real strength in our view is the environment that exists here that is oriented towards instilling in a life long love of learning. If you want a place where your child will be educated and not just a place to drop your kid off, this is the place. All of the staff and especially the teachers are amazing. I've never heard a parent of a public school kid say that the teacher loves their kid. AT TIS, it's clear that they do every single day. The administration runs the school with honesty and positivity. The parents are involved and enthused and it truly is that "Village" that everyone dreams about, but never quite finds. In our view, you could not give your child a better gift than joining this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is finishing up her first year in the Chinese track at TIS and she has absolutely thrived. She has learned a ton - not just in Chinese vocabulary but in math skills, problem solving skills, social development, I could go on! I love the IB primary years program that TIS uses - it really gets the kids invested and engaged in an organic learning process. Her teacher is nurturing, communicative, available, and comes up with creative ideas for the class. I have nothing but positive comments when it comes to TIS!
--Submitted by a parent

Our experiences have been positive here in so many expected and unexpected ways. We are confident that this school is truly a gem. The school is EXCEPTIONALLY well run - great vision, compassion, flexibility and commitment to cultural, social and academic values. I can't imagine finding a more enriching community anywhere in Portland or any other city for that matter. The classrooms are very well organized and meticulously supervised. The instructional materials are engaging, diverse, complex and entertaining (it is absolutely FUN to be there) and the staff do a great job of combining song, dance, hands-on materials, traditional instructional methods, performance, field trips, and lots of community involvement and engagement of students in question asking and self-exploration. Our child has been so enriched by her experience and the compassion and skill with which her needs were identified and actively met in her small class was just amazing. Our teacher shares weekly newsletters, DAILY photo albums, fast response to emails, and ready availability for ad-hoc conversation before and after school. It is amazing how she is able to manage this all so skillfully.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter joined TIS last year in 1st grade. The teachers, including the English, Art, PE, and Music, are dedicated, enthusiastic, and intelligent. The TIS International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program is proving to be an exceptional educational experience. The depth of learning is quite amazing and it is great to see all of the classes work together to teach and guide students. Financially this is a stretch at times, but it's the best investment we've made. My daughter is very happy.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is 3 and absolutely loves his new school. The transition couldn't have been easier!
--Submitted by a parent

Language rich, dynamic teachers, global-minded and future-driven. Very welcoming to new families. Love the cross-cultural opportunities with Chines, Japanese, and Spanish tracks.
--Submitted by a parent

An excellent school. The Head of School was an inspired choice. He has reinvigorated TIS, as has its status as an IB school. The academic philosophy and curriculum are fantastic. This is my daughter's third year in the Chinese track, and she loves it. The teachers are incredibly warm and nurturing; they are always down on the child's level, greeting them with open arms from the moment they enter the classroom. They inspire them to ask their own questions and then figure out the answers themselves. It's incredible to watch--the children are thinkers, they're engaged, they're creative, they're having fun, being resourceful, learning how to uncover knowledge, and they're being joyful and playful all the while. My daughter is in Kindergarten; earlier this year, I told her I had an email from her teacher that they were going to learn this week about Vincent Van Gogh. She said, "Well, we already learned about Kandinsky!" By the time they're in the fifth grade, they're fluent in their track language, and picking up a third language in after-school programs, if they wish. Fifth-year trip to China, Japan or a Spanish-speaking country. It's incredible. We couldn't be happier.
--Submitted by a parent

We were initially drawn to TIS by the Spanish immersion and the small class size. Although we appreciate both of those aspects, I am amazed by the quality of the English, Music, Art and PE instruction. We have been very impressed with the International Baccalaureate program and the way in which learning is addressed on multiple levels. We see the Principal and the Head of School every day and it feels like everyone at the school is looking out for all the children. It is a stretch for us financially at times, but I can not think of anything more important to spend our money on.
--Submitted by a parent

I believe that the current headmaster and president of the board have set it on a course to be one of the finest multi-lingual, immersion, Pre-K through 5th schools in the country.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter started in the Japanese track one year ago. With no previous exposure to the language and no native speaker at home, we were curious to see how she would do. Her experience at The International School has been phenomenal. She speaks Japanese fluidly, speaking to her teachers, her classmates and even their parents only in Japanese. She is excited to go to school each day and comes home excited to tell us about things she has made and the things she has learned. The spirit of inquiry and intellectual curiosity that is natural at her age is encouraged and nurtured by her teachers and the curriculum.
--Submitted by a parent