Belgrade, Serbia Report of what it's like to live there - 08/13/26
Personal Experiences from Belgrade, Serbia
School Name:
ISB
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
A parent.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Grades K through 3.
3. What years did you live here?
2023-2027.
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Diplomatic mission.
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
We initially chose ISB because it was the school most of the children in our neighborhood and community attended, which we felt would be important in helping our child build friendships and a sense of belonging. We were also drawn to the IB curriculum and the emphasis on critical thinking.
What has exceeded our expectations is how well ISB has supported our child as a learner who had some challenges. ISB was able to provide a full educational assessment and the individualized services needed. The combination of a strong international community, strong academics, and individualized support has made it the perfect fit for us.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
I believe so. We came several months into the school year and found the head of admissions to be the warmest and most welcoming person. She made our child's first day the smoothest transition, which is not easy considering the school year had already started several months before. But she is truly so kind and caring and provided us with all the information we needed prior to our arrival. Additionally, the class sent a video introducing each student which made the transition that much better.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
10.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
I find there to be a lot of communication. Sometimes too much communication and sometimes not specific enough. However, I think this is a pitfall of most schools. I would say the one-on-one communication directly with the teachers has been excellent and I default to that.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Not for the lower school but I do think that there are additional costs in the upper school.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
Our child is still in the lower school so I don't know all of the details. However, I do know there is a dedicated school counselor and there was a very successful outcome with the graduating class placement this year, including several US and UK universities.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
There are after school classes and an after school bus. There are no additional costs for these classes.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes. The library is newly renovated and extremely well stocked. Families are welcome to take out books and bring them home over the weekend as well.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
Technology is definitely integrated in the classroom but we've felt there's a good balance. For example, in our child's class, they may write a small summary on an iPad but they're still using notebooks for creative writing and have their own handwriting notebooks as well. At the end of the year, we received three notebooks that contained not only their creative writing, but also dedicated notebooks for their personal inquiry (subjects and ideas they want to learn about) as well as for mathematics.
5. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
There is no computer lab but they do have in-classroom technology. However, they still do a great balance of using internet resources as well as books when the children are researching for their personal inquiry. Many times they start in the library to find books on the subject that they are looking for. They may also then use online resources to further their knowledge.
6. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a gym and fields. There is swimming but it is not on campus. There are several playgrounds and a newly built one opening this year.
7. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Typically classes are 15 students to a teacher.
8. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
Yes, IB courses are available in the upper grades. I do not believe that a full diploma is required of all students. I believe they can get a US high school diploma equivalent as well.
9. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
With the director who started as we entered, the school has grown the curriculum in leaps and bounds. She has put a focus on US Embassy families specifically and introduced the Arlington County curriculum as a guide post for teachers, so that children who are coming in or possibly leaving here will be on track at any school in the US or any other IB school around the world. She has done immensely wonderful work and families have been extremely happy.
10. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes. We are still in the years of no homework. There is required reading but that is all for these lower grades. That obviously changes beyond second grade where we are now.
11. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
There is music, drama, and so many more. There's a large focus on the design department which students in the upper school seem to enjoy very much as well.
12. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Absolutely.
13. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I do not know exactly but I know that they have made accommodations for students who are gifted since the new director took over.
14. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Many. ISB offers a wide range of support for students with additional learning needs, including individualized support plans, academic interventions, and access to specialists. The school can also provide and coordinate assessments to help identify a student’s specific needs and determine the best way to support them. For our family, this has been especially helpful because ISB was able to assess our child's needs and then provide the ongoing support and accommodations needed at school.
15. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I do not know specifics but there are EAL teachers who work in the classroom with students that need extra support. They also have separate classes for those students.
16. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
My child very much enjoys several of the afterschool classes. I don't know much about the sports because they have not been interested but I do believe there are several. Swim and dance are popular ones but so are cooking, band, and many more.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for children with special needs? Is there a general attitude of inclusion for children with special needs?
Absolutely.
2. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes. My child has many friends, both local and other expats.
3. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
The school is excellent when it comes to their anti-bullying. The climate at the school feels very much like a community and when students have seen another student say something unkind to someone, they have always reported it to teachers and come together to make the targeted child feel included. It's extremely rare for it to even happen at the school. We felt that from the moment we arrived. Our child was immediately brought in and felt part of the group. For example, a buddy was assigned to our child to help them adapt because we came at midyear. After a while, our child was more than adapted but still requested to have the buddy. It was a comfort. And every day, a student still volunteered to be that person for our child. I think that speaks highly of the inclusivity of the school.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
A - absolutely.
2. Please describe some of your child's/children's highlights and challenges during their time at this school.
There are so many it's hard to write them all. I think, starting from the beginning, having a video sent welcoming her from each of the classmates really started our experience - lifelong friends have been made. Teachers have become like family. It is truly such a community and we feel so lucky to be a part of it.
3. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
I think it's important to know that outside of the excellent academics, the dedicated teachers will go above and beyond for your child; there is true inclusivity for different types of learners; this place is also its own little community - it has given us so much and our social lives outside of the embassy. We are lifelong friends now with so many people and we can't imagine having to leave the school and go anywhere else.
