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 The Upper School of the International School of Prague is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education in colleges and universities throughout the world. Students earn the ISP diploma by acquiring the requisite number of credits in various curriculum areas, described in our Program of Studies, and may also opt to pursue the International Baccalaureate diploma. A full host of academic and elective courses offer students a most challenging program while also allowing them opportunities to stretch themselves by exploring interests in a variety of special areas.
The Upper School faculty are highly trained specialists, the majority of whom have Masters or higher degrees in their fields of expertise. Meeting the needs of individual students is recognized as a priority by the staff who place paramount importance on the development of social and academic skills. There tends to be a close student-teacher relationship, cited by many former students as what is most special about our school.
THE DAILY SCHEDULE
The Upper School runs a block schedule of 80-minute classes, four classes meeting on one day and four the next. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 7 classes each semester. If a student opts for an open period during a semester, s/he may use the time to visit the library, work in the computer lab, seek a teacher out for help and support, or grab a snack in the cafeteria which is open throughout the school day. There are no formal study halls at ISP as students are expected to be responsible for organizing and using their time wisely and productively.
SUPPORT SERVICES
The English for Students of Other Languages (ESOL) is primarily run as an immersion program. ESL students enroll in all mainstream classes with one supporting class called English as an Additional Language (EAL). The exception is for students who enter ISP with insufficient skills to be fully mainstreamed. These students are enrolled in two intensive EAL classes in year one and a special schedule to help them maximize their academic English growth.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
The Upper School has a full-time learning specialist who assists students with mild to moderate learning disabilities, students who are experiencing academic difficulties, or students who wish to strengthen their organizational and study skills. The learning specialist works with students in the learning lab, giving them direct services, sometimes assists teachers in mainstream classrooms, and assists teachers with lesson design, assessments, and other strategies to ensure that the individual needs of each special needs student is met. In addition, there is a Guided Study Program occurring during the day and one hour after school in which students can access assistance and structure to accomplish academic tasks.
SCHOOL and HOME COMMUNICATION
Communication between school and home is vital to ensure that the needs of each student are met. There are ample opportunities for communication and we encourage parents never to hesitate to call a teacher, the counseling office, or the Principal should there be questions or concerns regarding the academic or social growth of their child. Formal reports from school and parent-teacher evenings are frequent, giving parents important information and keeping them always in touch with their child’s progress. These include:
- Open House - An opportunity early in the school year to find what will be taught in each of your child’s classes, what the classroom expectations will be, and how your child will be assessed.
- Narrative Progress Reports - During each of the two semesters, there will be up to two formal, narrative reports outlining how your child is currently performing in class with suggestions on how s/he might improve. These narrative reports will include a grade in progress, though this grade is not official and will not be placed on a report card.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences - Two parent conferences are held during the year, one each semester. These conferences are close to the mid-point of the two narrative report dates, thus giving parents very timely information throughout the semester. All parents are expected to attend the conferences accompanied by their son or daughter. These conferences are split between day and evening to give working parents options as to when they will attend.
- Report Cards - Report cards are distributed at the end of each semester to the student and copies sent home to parents. The report cards include the final average for the semester and the grade on the final exam in each subject. Final exams or another alternative-type assessment constitute 20% of a student’s grade for the year.
THE CURRICULUM and GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
As described earlier, ISP offers a variety of courses including options for students to earn the International Baccalaureate diploma. Courses are designed to challenge students academically, help them to better think critically and creatively, and to give them the tools to tackle problems they will encounter in both their daily and academic life with confidence and success. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 7 classes each semester and pass a minimum of 23 credits as described in our Program of Studies to earn an ISP diploma. These requirements include four credits of English, three of foreign language and mathematics, two of social sciences, laboratory sciences, physical education/health, and fine arts, and one-half credit in computer study. Naturally, most students earn far more credits in each of the disciplines offered.
Teachers have worked many long hours to ensure that the curriculum is articulated and coordinated from grade level to grade level, ensuring that students are well prepared to handle an increasingly rigorous course load.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
ISP is the official testing center in the Czech Republic for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT examinations, all important in the college admissions programs of the United States. In addition, students at ISP may take International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement examinations in a variety of subjects that help them gain entrance into universities around the world. All students in grade 10 are given the PSAT; students in Grade 11 are highly encouraged to repeat this practice test for the SAT test. The associated online career and personality inventory will be individually suited to each student and will help them gauge what career might suit them best. The counselor will review this assessment with each student during the school year. Grade 9 students take the ISA (International School Assessment) which measures English and mathematical skills, comparing our students’ performances with their counterparts throughout the world.
For more detailed information on Graduation Requirements, Credits, Grades, Tests, Progress Reports, Honor Rolls, Community Service, Co-Curricular Activities, Student Leadership, Senior Awards, Attendance, School Rules and Regulations and more - see PARENT HANDBOOK /PDF/
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