About
GISSV at A Glance: From Preschool - Grade 12
The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) is a nonprofit, independent school dedicated to providing exceptional dual language education for families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our two locations offer comprehensive programs for students from Preschool to Grade 12, preparing them for seamless transitions into both American and European educational systems. As an accredited institution of the German Government (ZfA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), we embrace families of all cultural and language backgrounds.
Our Mountain View and San Francisco campuses offer a bilingual education in German and English, addressing the academic and personal needs of our diverse student body. At GISSV, we are the sole elementary and secondary school in the Western United States to meet the rigorous accreditation standards of the German government, offering our students access to top colleges and universities in Europe and America.
German School Abroad
We are part of the worldwide network of ~140 German schools abroad, a system that is supervised by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Two Campuses - One School
Both our locations as well as our school divisions works together to create a cohesive educational experience across grades and campuses. Our schools are united in their dedication to our mission, including vigorous scholarship and a stimulating learning environment that fosters a passion for lifelong learning and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
All GISSV programs are dual language and based on the German curriculum of the state of Thuringia, known and respected for its well-rounded educational approach. Our curricula for English, American History, and Economics are based on the Common Core Standards. GISSV is a recognized MINT (the German equivalent to STEM) school, and we offer specialty classes in sports, music, the arts, as well as third and fourth languages, all taught by professionally trained specialists.
At GISSV, our experienced faculty is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential in a stimulating environment that fosters critical and imaginative thinking, as well as an appreciation for cultural diversity. Our dual-immersion programs focus on science and social studies, as well as arts and sports. We offer small class sizes, an excellent student-to-teacher ratio, and safe, stimulating learning environments. Our innovative and differentiated teaching methods encourage independent thinking and a passion for lifelong learning.
We believe in the importance of continuity and a strong bond between student and teacher for optimal learning success. Our teachers remain with their classes as homeroom teachers throughout a four-year school division, ensuring a shared curriculum approach and a smooth transition between all grade levels. At GISSV (Mountain View Campus), our students graduate with two diplomas: the American High School Diploma and the German International Abitur.
At GISSV, we are committed to providing a stimulating environment that fosters academic excellence, cultural diversity, and personal growth.
Children learning in
a German School Abroad
will not only benefit
from learning
a second language
but from a curriculum
built with innovation,
independence
and creativity.
> Learn more.
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