FAQs

Our priority is the health and safety of our community. Starting on 21 September 2020, ICS is following Learning Path 2, which allows for both on campus and online learning experiences. To see the re-opening plans, click HERE. We may need to move between Learning Paths throughout the year, depending on the situation in Ethiopia.

ICS plans to move to Learning Path 1, with all students on campus, in January 2021.

Please note that students must complete a 14-day quarantine period before coming onto the ICS campus. Face coverings are required for anyone entering the campus, and the Ethiopian government also requires face coverings in public.

School starts at 8:00 AM. Early years 2-4 students finish at 12:00 PM. Early years 5 to grade 12 finish at 3:20 PM (2:00 PM on Wednesdays).

EY3 and EY4 students may attend half or full day. Half day is 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM; full day is 8:00 AM - 3:20 PM / 2:00 PM on Wednesdays.

In the 2020-21 school year, the EY3 and EY4 full day programs will not be available for the first month of school, to ensure a cautious and safe opening to the school year. This will be reviewed during the school year.

Starting School in 2020-21:

The first day of classes is 21 September 2020. The 2020-21 school year calendar is available HERE.

The ICS Re-opening Strategy is available HERE. Please contact the Admissions Office (admissions@icsaddis.org) to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on re-opening at ICS.

Plan your travel dates to ensure your family arrives in Addis with time to quarantine for 14 days prior to entering campus.

Note: The school year at ICS usually begins in August and finishes in June.

In the 2020-21 school year, ICS serves approximately 800 students from about 65 countries, from early years 2 (EY2) to grade 12.

Elementary School

Grades 1-5 are set up in learning hubs, with a team of four teachers and four educational assistants working with students in a flexible learning space.

• Early Years 2: 4 to 1 student to teacher ratio
• Early Years 3 and 4: 8 to 1 student to teacher ratio
• Early Years 5: 9 to 1 student to teacher ratio
• Grade 1: 10 to 1 student to teacher ratio
• Grade 2: 11 to 1 student to teacher ratio
• Grades 3-5: 12 to 1 student to teacher ratio

Middle and High School

• Classes have a maximum of 24 students. Some classes may be smaller, especially in the high school, due to the range of class options available.

Most grade levels have three or four sections at each grade level.

We encourage families to plan your transition to Addis to allow your children to start school at the beginning of the school year. The beginning of the second semester in January is a good alternative. However, we understand that this is not always possible.

In the 2020-21 school year, students may be able to start school at ICS online, prior to arrival in Addis. Please contact the Admissions Office for further information.

Please contact the Admissions Office to discuss your child’s start date. This is critical for incoming high school students, due to credit requirements for graduation. Elementary and middle school students are generally not allowed to start school less than 30 days before the last day of the school year. Students who wish to start during quarter 4 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

ICS Addis is a responsibly inclusive school. We welcome students with different learning needs, within the capability of our student support program. As we have limited space in our student support program, and there are few local resources in Addis, families must contact us in advance to confirm if we are able to support a student.

ICS does not have a school uniform. Students in middle and high school (grades 6-12) are expected to follow the ICS dress code. Students in grades 6-10 must purchase ICS shorts and a t-shirt for their physical education (PE) classes.

ICS does not provide a bus service. Many families live in the Old Airport neighborhood and drive their children to school, or hire a driver. Some families may walk to school and older students sometimes ride their bicycles to school.

Students may choose to purchase school lunch or bring lunch from home on a daily basis; there is no meal plan. Students in early years 5 up to grade 5 may purchase the buffet lunch. Students in grades 6 and above may purchase the buffet lunch or à la carte items from the snack bar. 

Parents deposit money in their student's Amole account (in local currency with the school cashier) and students use their ID cards to purchase school lunch. The buffet menu is published in the weekly newsletter, so parents and students may plan which days they wish to purchase school lunch. For more information, click HERE.

Note: cafeteria services may be limited during the 2020-21 school year, due to health concerns around COVID-19.

ASA sign up information will be sent to parents of students in early years 5 to grade 5 by email in the first couple weeks of school. Middle and high school athletics have tryouts and signups in the first weeks of school as well.

Families arriving after the start of the school year will receive information from the Admissions Office about how to sign up for ASAs and athletics. For more information, visit our ASA page and Athletics page.

Note: athletics and activities may not be available during part or all of the 2020-21 school year, due to health concerns around COVID-19.

ICS runs a half-day summer camp for the two weeks after school closes in June. The summer camp is open to current and entering ICS students; students entering EY4 up to grade 6 in the next school year are eligible. Registration opens in May and new families will receive more information by email.

Other international schools in Addis offer summer programs for elementary school-aged children and the Admissions Office will share information on these programs with new families when available.