WELCOME
ISC Research
The most comprehensive, current and objective data and intelligence on the world’s international schools.
DATA COLLECTION
International school data you can trust
We process over 200,000 data points every year and spend 4,500 hours on verification. Here is a snapshot of the new data points collected in the past year alone.
13,292
ON CURRICULUM
52,574
ON ENROLMENT
51,062
ON TUITION FEES
93,643
ON CONTACTS
OUR EXPERTISE
Market experts for 30+ years
ISC Research is the leading provider of English-medium K-12 international school data, trends and intelligence. We have been collecting market intelligence and data on international schools throughout the world since 1994.
We identify international schools using these criteria:
- a privately operated school that has chosen to deliver a curriculum wholly or partly in English to some or all of its students between 3 and 18, in a country where English is not an official language; or
- a privately operated school that delivers a curriculum other than the host country’s national curriculum wholly or partly in English to some or all of students between 3 and 18, in a country where English is an official language.
Net Promoter Score
ISC Research use the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to benchmark customer satisfaction for the ISC Outreach product and our service and support to clients.NPS is measured as a score from -100 to +100 and we are proud that our clients rate our service as ‘World Class’ with a rating of +85 and our ISC Outreach product as ‘Excellent’ with a +58 rating.
DATA
15,075
Schools
7.7m
STUDENTS
730,500
STAFF
$69.4bn
FEE INCOME
DATA
Data
Much of our international schools data is gathered year-round from primary sources (governments, established international schools, and market experts) by a team of skilled researchers, including a team of field researchers based in key locations of the world where international education is in most demand. Our data is accessible via our live data portals.
INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence
We compile our analysis of both quantitative and qualitative international schools data into a comprehensive range of reports, including white papers and specialist reports on trending topics, global and market-specific intelligence reports. We also produce bespoke reports, designed to provide you with the answers you need, such as benchmarking.
What parents value most from their International school
July 2022
WHAT WE DO
Services tailored to your needs
For Schools
Whether you wish to grow your community, develop your peer network, keep informed of best teaching and learning practice, or refine your development strategy, we will adapt our data subscription services and market intelligence reports to your needs.
For Education Suppliers
Develop your marketing and business development strategy with reliable and trusted market data and intelligence to inform your segmentation, lead generation, content marketing, community and relationship building.
For Educational Investors
Overcome the challenges faced in your search for a school partner. We will support you through every step of your selection process, providing you with historic and current market data and intelligence, as well as expert advice.
For Higher Education
Enhance your market knowledge to build strong relationships with international schools. Identify influential organisations and contacts to recruit good fit international students, in terms of language and independent learning skills, and mobility aspirations.
EVENTS
Let's meet!
NABSS 48th Annual Conference
Event date -March 7, 2026
Join ISC Research at NABSS 2026 for a session led by Elena Mora exploring key international school market trends across Spain and Europe, plus the latest wellbeing insights shaping long-term sustainability.Find out more
3rd Conference of the Forum of International Schools in Poland
Event date -March 7, 2026
Join ISC Research at the Forum of International Schools in Poland Conference 2026 as Malia Rowe shares the latest data on international school growth across Europe and Poland.Find out more
NEWS
Stay informed
Co-Designing for Impact: How the Global Impact Diploma is Changing the Story About International Education
February 2026
As international schools rethink how learning prepares students for an uncertain world, the Global Impact Diploma offers a bold alternative: a co-designed, competency-based program that puts agency, well-being, and real-world impact at the heart of secondary education.Read more
The AI Safety Capsule: A Leadership Framework for Safe and Strategic AI in International Schools
January 2026
Artificial intelligence is already transforming teaching, learning and leadership but most schools lack a clear, strategic framework for safe adoption. The AI Safety Capsule offers international school leaders a practical model for governance, capability-building and risk management in an AI-driven world.Read more
Sustaining Schools Through Wellbeing, Values, and Culture
January 2026
This quarter’s ISL Magazine theme explores a question every school, regardless of context or curriculum, must eventually face: how can support for staff, students, and communities be sustained over time? Three contributors – Matthew Savage from The Mona Lisa Effect, Steven W. Edwards from Vega Schools, and Olivia Bugden from Hochalpines Institut Ftan (HIF) – approach this question from different angles, yet their insights reveal a shared imperative. For schools to truly flourish, they must treat wellbeing, values, and culture not as parallel initiatives but as interconnected forces shaping international education.Read more
GET IN TOUCH
Let's discuss your needs
We are dedicated and committed to supporting the broader international schools community by providing data, trends and intelligence. Since 1994, we have guided schools with their growth plans, informed investors on new school development, helped universities to engage with international schools, and advised education suppliers that are supporting the market.
COLLABORATION
Research collaborations
ISC Research has long-established research collaborations with most of the leading international school associations and organisations. Through our research collaborations, we share data and intelligence and are able to develop a much deeper understanding of specific sectors of the international schools market. We are very proud to have such collaborations with the following organisations and associations:
