TIS Fact Sheet
News Contacts
Phil Sylla, Head of School, PSylla@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x109
Linda Bonder, Marketing Director, LBonder@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x104
Founded
1990, by Douglas and Frey Stearns
Mission
Provide children with a comprehensive and challenging education in which fluency in more than one language is central to development. Encourage children to be culturally aware, responsible, and productive citizens of a diverse and increasingly interdependent world.
Languages & curriculum
An American curriculum, with all subjects taught in Spanish, Chinese, or Japanese except art, music, and physical education, which are taught in English. In addition, children in grades 1 through 5 study English language arts daily.
Grades
3-year-old preschool through 5th grade.
Teaching staff
International faculty from China, Taiwan, Japan, Spain, and all over Latin America, plus specialists in music, art, English, and physical education.
Class size
Average class size is 13, maximum is 19.
Student body
Over 370 culturally diverse students from all over greater metro Portland.
Financial aid
25% of students receive financial aid. (National average for independent elementary schools is 13.7% )
Accreditations
Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and Oregon Green Schools Association.
Application process
3 year olds through kindergarten are admitted on a space-available basis. Children in grades 1-5 must demonstrate appropriate language fluency.
Fundraising
100% of families make financial contributions to the school through various fundraising activities - over and above the cost of tuition. Fundraising contributes ten to fifteen percent of school operating expenses.
Location
Downtown South Waterfront, 025 SW Sherman Street, Portland, Oregon.
Status
501(c)3 organization as determined by the IRS.
