International Community School of Addis Ababa: quick facts

Fees
USD 11,985 (Early Years 3–4 half day) to USD 37,215 (Grades 11–12) a year in tuition, 2026–27; all fees payable in US dollars. Official fee pageNew pupils also pay a USD 300 application fee and a USD 10,000 capital fee from Early Years 5 (USD 300 in Early Years 3–4); returning Grade 1–12 pupils pay a USD 1,500 capital fee.
Entry
Early Years 3 (must turn 3 on or before 31 August) to Grade 12. Applications open 1 November for the next school year; the local-applicant deadline is 15 May, with August entry only.
Location
Mauritania Road, Addis Ababa
Also known as
ICS Addis

Checked against the school’s official website on October 8, 2026.

Curriculum
IB + American

Full continuum: PYP, MYP, DP and Career-related Programme

Ages
3–18

Early Years to Grade 12, ~920 students

Location
Old Airport

15-acre campus near the diplomatic cluster

What the school is

An association school with a US Embassy seat at the table

A 2008–09 State Department fact sheet describes a nine-member board: eight governors elected for two-year terms by the school association and one appointed by the US Embassy. It gives automatic association membership to parents or guardians of enrolled children and professional staff. That is the most recent published account of the board; the current constitution sets today’s arrangements and legal ownership.

The school describes a community of more than 60 nationalities. The 2008–09 State Department account recorded 488 pupils, including 168 US citizens, 46 host-country nationals and 274 other nationals. These historical figures should not be used as a current class profile or to infer compliance with newer enrolment rules.

ICS describes a US standards-based curriculum alongside its IB programmes, with a Reggio Emilia influence in early years. A transcript, an American high-school diploma and an IB award are different documents, each with its own requirements, and none guarantees admission to the next school or university.

Academics in practice

IB programmes and support

The Career-related Programme in Grades 11–12 combines IB learning with career-related study. It can support different further-study and career plans, including university entry where requirements are met. Ask which career-related courses are offered, how they are recognised by prospective universities and how students choose between the CP and Diploma Programme.

School materials describe athletics facilities, indoor and outdoor performance spaces, a student-run garden, water-collection systems and free-roaming tortoises on the 15-acre campus. A KOTRA briefing also discusses the school, but its favourable description does not provide a transparent comparative ranking. On a visit, ask how the facilities are used in your child’s division.

The admissions-directory profile describes extra charges for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, educational psychology assessments and STEP, stating that required services and fees cannot be waived.

Admissions and cost

Tuition and capital charges

The school’s 2026–27 Tuition and Fees Policy sets annual tuition at USD 11,985 for Early Years 3–4 half-day, USD 19,495 full-day, USD 30,080 for Early Years 5 (Kindergarten) to Grade 5, USD 34,115 for Grades 6–8, USD 35,785 for Grades 9–10 and USD 37,215 for Grades 11–12. All fees are payable in US dollars. New pupils pay a USD 300 application fee and a USD 10,000 capital fee from Early Years 5 (USD 300 in Early Years 3–4); returning pupils in Grades 1–12 pay a USD 1,500 capital fee and a USD 300 registration fee.

The State Department’s 2008–09 account gives historical tuition of USD 6,100–17,100 for different grades and attendance options. Ethiopia’s July 2024 currency changes affect older birr conversions; the school sets its own invoice currency, conversion method and payment deadlines.

Applications use OpenApply. The directory profile describes admission for pupils the school can serve in its regular programme and a non-discrimination policy. Its no-waiting-list field differs from general expat-guide reports of waiting lists. Ask admissions about current availability in your child’s grade, assessment, support review and the application fee before submitting.

The family experience

Continuity planning and enrolment questions

An April 2026 US Embassy advisory and accounts of earlier disruption are the background here. Ask the school about emergency communication, remote learning, evacuation-related absence and refund arrangements, and use current official advice for travel decisions.

A February 2026 press report described a proposed requirement for international schools to enrol at least 30% foreign citizens from 2026–27, without details of implementation or transition arrangements. ICS’s published nationality mix dates from 2008–09.

The campus is in Old Airport. Families considering homes there or in Sarbet, Bole or Kazanchis should compare exact school and work journeys. ICS describes a Parent Teacher Organization and an alumni network; ask how new families join activities and receive practical support during the move.

Related reading

Sources and reporting notes

Document-based research profile. We did not visit the campus or interview staff. The itemised USD fee schedule below is from the school’s 2026–27 Tuition and Fees Policy.

Access dates show when sources were checked. Consult the linked pages for current admissions rules, fees and programme details.