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The International School of Milan (ISM) is a leading international school in Milan, giving children aged 2 to 18 the chance to thrive in a genuinely international, English-language community. Students learn through the world-respected International Baccalaureate (IB) from their earliest years right through to graduation, with both day and boarding places and boarding offered from age 14. Founded in 1958 as Milan’s very first IB school, ISM has spent generations helping young people discover what they are capable of. Its connected Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) mean every student grows with confidence, each stage building naturally on the last.
Set on a purpose-built campus northwest of central Milan, ISM brings Early Years, Elementary, Middle and High School students together in one vibrant community. Here, over 800 day and boarding students from more than 60 nationalities learn side by side, making friends across cultures as they explore academics, sport, the creative arts and everything campus life has to offer. For families arriving in Milan, a globally respected curriculum, easy school transport and warm admissions support mean children settle quickly and can stay from their earliest years all the way to university.
ISM is the only international school in Milan to offer four IB programmes — the PYP, MYP and Diploma— as one continuous journey, so students never lose momentum as they grow. Its inquiry-led approach means children don’t just absorb facts; they learn to think critically, communicate with clarity, research independently, manage themselves and understand other cultures — skills that last a lifetime. Both English and Italian run through the curriculum, with language support shaped around each student.
The IB Diploma lets students shape their own path with six subject choices, alongside Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay. ISM students rise to the challenge: the 2026 cohort achieved an average score of 34.5 and a top score of a perfect 45. Because the IB is recognised by universities in more than 150 countries, graduates can aim anywhere in the world, and Italian students can also prepare for the relevant Italian state examinations.
Opened in 2013 and continually expanded since, the campus is a place where students of every age feel they belong and are inspired to try new things. Bright classrooms with interactive technology sit alongside specialist spaces for science, art, drama, music, dance and sport, so every talent has room to grow. Students enjoy modern science laboratories, two libraries, a theatre, a full-size indoor swimming pool, a large gymnasium, outdoor sports areas and welcoming spaces to eat, relax and spend time with friends.
Sport and the arts aren’t extras here; they’re woven into everyday life. Students can throw themselves into lunchtime and after-school clubs, performances, inter-school projects, tournaments, global exchanges and camps, discovering passions and building confidence along the way. Younger children have their own green outdoor spaces to play, while shuttle and door-to-door buses make the journey easy for families right across the Milan area.
University counselling starts well before the final Diploma years, so all students have the time and personalised support to discover the course and institution is their ideal fit. Each young person is helped to understand their own interests, strengths, subject choices and how different university systems work, then supported one-to-one through applications, personal statements, essays, portfolios, interviews and any admission tests. University fairs, presentations and planning tools such as Unifrog give students the knowledge and confidence to choose their next step wisely.
As part of Inspired, a global family of premium schools, ISM students can take up exchanges, overseas experiences, collaborative projects and specialist-led activities far beyond the campus gates. These adventures broaden already open minds, letting students build friendships across borders and grow into confident, globally minded young people ready for whatever comes next.
The on-campus Boarding House is home to up to 42 students in single and double rooms, with weekly, termly, full- and part-time places available subject to space. Live-in house parents and tutors are always close by, offering warm pastoral care, help with homework and a genuine sense of family, all with 24-hour security so students and parents can feel completely at ease.
Boarders enjoy extra access to selected sports and arts facilities and a lively programme of on-site activities and trips exploring Milan and northern Italy, turning every week into a new opportunity. Catering caters for vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher and other dietary needs when arranged with the school, so every student feels looked after.
Admissions stay open throughout the year, subject to availability. The journey begins with a simple application, followed by a friendly meeting with the relevant Principal or Deputy Principal. Applicants from grade 5 complete an online CAT4 assessment, and any further reports help ensure each student is placed exactly where they will thrive.
The International School of Milan (ISM) is an English-language international school founded in 1958 as Milan’s first IB school. It teaches students aged 2 to 18 through all three International Baccalaureate programmes and offers both day and boarding places.
ISM is located on a purpose-built campus at Via 1 Maggio 20, 20021 Baranzate (MI), just northwest of central Milan. Shuttle and door-to-door school buses connect the campus with families across the Milan area.
ISM is the only international school in Milan to offer all three IB programmes as a continuum: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). English is the language of instruction, with Italian and further languages built into the curriculum.
Yes. ISM offers boarding for students aged 14 to 18 in an on-campus Boarding House, with weekly, termly, full- and part-time places available subject to space, live-in house parents and 24-hour security.
The 2026 cohort achieved an average IB Diploma score of 34.5 and a top score of a perfect 45. The IB Diploma is recognised by universities in more than 150 countries.
Admissions are open throughout the year, subject to availability. Families submit an application and then meet the relevant Principal or Deputy Principal; secondary applicants also complete an online CAT4 assessment. You can book a personalised tour or send an enquiry to begin.
The best way to picture your child here is to visit in person. Families can book a personalised tour, review the admissions process or send an enquiry to IS Milan to talk through age placement, availability, tuition, boarding and transport — and imagine your child as part of the ISM community.
Tel. +39 02 872581 | Email: admissions@ismilan.it | Web: internationalschoolofmilan.it
