Academic Program

The ICS Addis elementary school is authorized as an IB Primary Years Program (PYP) school, integrating subject areas to support inquiry and learning in meaningful contexts. The transdisciplinary nature of the curriculum enables students to experience how subject knowledge and understanding work together in the real world towards sustainable action. 

We know that students learn best when their learning is significant, relevant, engaging, and challenging. We provide a rigorous and differentiated learning experience based on the very best instructional practices, all designed to tap into each individual student’s passion and creativity. 

As part of the ICS Addis personalized learning journey, we work in learning communities where teams of teachers work together to support students’ individual needs and choices in their learning experiences. At the same time, this format allows a higher level of flexibility and collaboration among students. High academic expectations at ICS Addis are based on the Common Core standards for literacy and math. Academic instruction is balanced with a belief in the development of the whole child, which is a prominent feature of our PYP curricular framework, and students participate in specialist classes including music, physical education, French and art.

The PYP units of inquiry are organized into six themes: Who We Are, Where We Are in Place and Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves and Sharing the Planet. Each of the units of inquiry provides opportunities for students to develop the essential elements of the PYP: Knowledge, Skills, Concepts, Attitudes, and Action. 

One of these units each year is designated a personalized learning experience (PLEx) unit where students are given extended time and personal agency to focus on something they feel passionate about or want to learn more about within the conceptual focus of the unit. We have found this provides an essential opportunity for students to develop a plethora of 21st-century skills, such as self-organization, time-management, working with peers, and independence in learning. All our units end in some kind of showcase of learning.

Learn more about our program of inquiry (POI),

 

Curriculum and Programs