International School of Florence

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The International School of Florence (ISF) is one of the oldest international schools in Europe. It was founded in 1952 in Rome as a school for children from many different cultures. In 1963 the school moved to Florence to meet the demand for an English language-based school in Tuscany. In 1980 it moved to the present site of the Junior School, Villa le Tavernule, about 10 km from the center of Florence. In 2003, the Middle and Upper Schools moved to a separate campus, Villa Torri di Gattaia, in central Florence, to allow for the continued growth of the student body.

The International School of Florence is a coeducational, independent school of over 380 international students, from Pre-School to Grade 12. Classes are small and students benefit from individualized instruction within a rigorous curriculum, close student-teacher relationships, and experiential learning that takes advantage of our unique location. Over the years the school has grown and evolved, developing an international character better able to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

ISF's Junior School, Villa le Tavernule, is built around a central courtyard which gives access to offices and classrooms, an art studio, computer lab, lunchroom, aula magna, science lab and the Paul Burke-Mahoney Library. The school grounds comprise beautiful Italian gardens, surrounding fields, ancient cypress groves and a variety of play areas with modern recreational equipment and a new all-weather sports field.

As of September 2003, the Middle and Upper Schools are housed in a separate campus, Villa Torri di Gattaia, a stone's throw from the renowned Piazzale Michelangelo with its comparable panorama of Florence. The new site has ample room for classes and includes a state-of-the-art computer lab, an art studio, a library/media center, a cafeteria with covered terrace, three science labs, and access to a track and various other sport facilities at the nearby ASSI. In addition, it is ten minutes from the center of the city and offers immediate access to the cultural wealth and historic treasures of Florence.

The city of Florence is an inexhaustible resource and ISF does not overlook this. Students are exposed to the city's museums and artistic history while fully savoring the 21st century rhythm of Italian life. Field trips are often planned for all age levels. Students can discover every aspect of Tuscan life - from olive picking and marketing to Leonardo's home and Brunelleschi's dome. Frequent excursions outside of Florence include destinations such as Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Venice, Rome, Milan and Paris.

Before the School was called ISF, it was called AISF (American International School of Florence), but they changed it due to 911. The International School of Florence is an independent, coeducational, and nonsectarian institution. The school is fully accredited with the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS).