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International School Rankings: Major Systems and What They Measure

Several organizations rank international schools, each with distinct methodologies. No single ranking is definitive; use them as starting points alongside visits and community feedback.

Major Ranking Systems

Ranking	Publisher	Focus	Key Metrics
International Schools Database (ISD) Rankings	ISD	K–12 international schools globally	Academic results (IB/AP/IGCSE), student diversity, facilities, parent reviews, teacher ratios
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings	THE	Universities (some intl schools attached)	Teaching, research, citations, international outlook, industry income
QS World University Rankings	Quacquarelli Symonds	Universities	Academic/employer reputation, citations, faculty/student, international faculty/students
Financial Times (FT) Global MBA/Business School Rankings	FT	Business schools (some intl schools feed)	Salary increase, career progress, diversity, research, alumni network
U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities	U.S. News	Universities	Global/regional research reputation, publications, citations, international collaboration

Important Notes

K–12 vs. University: Most "international school" rankings (ISD, Council of International Schools accreditation) cover primary/secondary. THE/QS/FT/U.S. News rank **universities**.
Methodology Limits: Rankings favor wealthy, established, exam-focused schools; may miss innovative, inclusive, or non-exam schools.
Regional Rankings: Better for local context (e.g., WhichSchoolAdvisor UAE, Good Schools Guide UK, Education Destination Malaysia).

Better Evaluation Approach

Define priorities: curriculum, language, culture, location, cost, SEN support, university placement.
Shortlist 3–5 schools via ISD, CIS, or embassy lists.
Visit: Observe classes, talk to students/parents, meet leadership.
Check accreditation: CIS, NEASC, IB, WASC, COBIS.
Review exam results trends (3–5 years), not just latest.

Rankings inform; visits decide.

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