Accreditation

International School Manila (ISM)  is accredited by both the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization.

In March 2023, ISM hosted representatives from ACS-WASC for a mid-cycle visit. At the end of the two-day virtual visit, the visiting committee submitted their Report which concludes:

“The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC) has determined that the accreditation for International School Manila (PK-12) is now reaffirmed through the end of the current accreditation cycle, ending on June 30, 2025. Congratulations on this achievement. This status is based on the information and evidence provided by the school, including the school's progress report, and the satisfactory completion of the mid-cycle accreditation visit that demonstrates the school meets the ACS-WASC criteria.”

The visiting committee observed the many strengths of ISM that are documented in the mid-cycle report. Many more strengths were identified during conversations with ISM faculty, students, parents, and staff. These conversations verified the extraordinary efforts that supported the school community’s responses to the challenges of the Covid pandemic and to the “rebuilding” of ISM after the campus was able to open for face-to-face instructional and co-curricular activities. Among those many strengths are:

• The Board’s stewardship of fiscal planning and management, along with skillful navigation of numerous challenges to successfully reopen the campus for in-person instruction.
• The entire school community’s resilience and ability to creatively and thoughtfully adapt to especially challenging pandemic conditions while maintaining a focus on student learning, wellbeing, and community connections.
• The community’s embodiment of the school's values and promotion of a global ACS WASC Mid-cycle Visiting Committee Report mindset that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice.
• The leadership, staff, and students’ focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, from the Cantina “carry your own container” program to SDGs in the classroom to the achievement of the Eco Schools Award.
• The leadership’s creation of a culture where communication and feedback are valued and directed toward making intentional adjustments while preserving the ISM identity.
• Leadership, staff, students and parents’ commitment to targeted programs through the creation of the purpose-built Early Childhood Center and the thriving Specialized Learning Support Program.
• Leadership and staff’s recognition of student and staff well-being as essential to the kind of learning environment described in the school’s mission and a priority after the pandemic.
• Students' ability to recognize and take advantage of the wide range of learning and leadership opportunities offered by ISM as well as their deep appreciation for the diverse and inclusive ISM community of which they are a part.
• Parents’ authentic partnership with school leadership, enthusiastic contributions to fostering a strong sense of community for new and existing families, and outreach to local organizations for social initiatives and advocacy on behalf of the school.