Who we are

The German International School Washington D.C. (GISW) is a private, co-educational institution with more than 500 students in preschool through 12th grade, set on a quiet campus in Potomac, MD. Representing more than 20 different nationalities, our student body is truly international, united by a shared interest in German language and culture. The only full-time German day school in Washington, we offer rigorous academics in a warm, multicultural setting.

The school has a challenging German curriculum mixed with some American elements. Graduates receive the globally recognized German International Abitur (DIA) as well as a high-school diploma from the state of Maryland. We have two academic focus areas: foreign languages and science. Students gain fluency in at least two foreign languages and achieve mastery of biology, chemistry, and physics. Our teachers prize critical inquiry, teaching students how—not what—to think. On graduation, they are prepared to enter any prestigious university worldwide.

The GISW is accredited by the German Ministry of Education and approved by the Maryland Department of Education. Our German curriculum is based on that used in the state of Thuringia, known for its high academic standards. 

The German International School Washington D.C. is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) charitable status (EIN: 54-0740278).