Approach to Learning

The International School of Kigali provides students with high-quality learning through a balance between rigorous standards-based education and an engaging student-centered approach that promotes the development of the whole child. 

Inclusion and global citizenship form the core of everything we do in all subject areas. The ISK Learner Competencies ground student learning in the school’s core values of curiosity and compassion. Teachers use a data-informed approach in the core subject areas to drive student growth, while also creating interdisciplinary learning experiences that make their learning come alive. Critical thinking and real-world application are key to student engagement in all subjects.

Our school-wide curriculum is based on the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards, an international version of the US Common Core Standards aligned with research-based trends in education worldwide. ISK uses the AERO standards as the foundation for a standards-based learning system in which student achievement is reported in terms of their progress towards mastery of these standards.

The ISK team has carefully selected curriculum resources at the cutting edge of educational research in each subject area and at all grade levels to provide an educational experience of the highest quality. Each of our chosen resources emphasizes real-world application and understanding of rigorous standards to provide deep learning to our students.

ISK gives a high degree of support to all students through use of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). With the goal of inclusion for all, our support staff provides students with English language support, academic support, socio-emotional support, and enrichment to target the individual needs of all learners.

In addition to learning in the core academic subjects, ISK provides students with a variety of enrichment experiences, specialist classes, electives, and extracurricular activities. Students learn more about themselves, their communities, and the world around them through subjects such as PE, health, integrated arts, Rwandan culture, and other such classes that complement learning and develop a well-rounded mindset and worldview.

Overall, learning at ISK aims to prepare students for success in much more than the school setting. Silverbacks will leave ISK as global citizens prepared to tackle the issues of their community and the world.