GISSV.MySchool

Quicklinks
- News
- Contact Us
- Make a Gift
- Spirit Store
- WebUntis

Search

Preschool-12 Dual Language Education in
Two Locations in the Bay Area

Navigation

About
- Welcome to GISSV
  The German International School of Silicon Valley is an independent, nonprofit preschool–grade 12 school with two locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Learning in German and English
  Our high-quality dual-immersion education helps students reach their full potential in a stimulating environment that fosters critical and imaginative thinking, a passion for lifelong learning and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
Admissions
- Meeting Students’ Needs From Preschool Through High School
  GISSV welcomes students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We serve students from two to eighteen years old.
- Enrollment
  The enrollment period begins during the months of January and February of each year for the upcoming school year. We also accept new students throughout the school year based on availability. Knowledge of the German language is required for all children who enroll after 1st grade (See also our German Fast Track Program).
Learning
- Nurturing Holistic and Individual Development
  Our well-balanced program provides rich project-based and differentiated learning experiences, fostering interests across all subject areas as well as social-emotional competency, critical thinking, artistic expression and physical motor skills.
- Safe and Stimulating Learning Environments
  We provide highly qualified teachers, small class sizes and an excellent student-to-teacher ratio. Our engaging and ambitious curriculum is enhanced by comprehensive science and technology resources.
School Life
- Rich Experiences in the Classroom and Beyond
  At GISSV, we are instilling an appreciation of life, music, sports, culture and arts among our students. We take responsibility and action for ourselves, others and our planet.
- Strong Sense of Community
  GISSV has a vibrant international school community thanks to our small class sizes, cohesive, dynamic preschool–12 structure and enriching events that involve all our students, teachers and parents.
Campuses & Camps
- Serving Families Across the Bay Area
  GISSV has campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco. We also connect our students to their local environment by exploring the cultural, natural, academic and entrepreneurial destinations the Bay Area has to offer.
- Two Campuses, One School
  All GISSV programs are bilingual and based on the German curriculum of the state of Thuringia, which is known and respected for its well-rounded educational approach
Support GISSV
- Enhancing the GISSV Experience
  Family and community support is a vital part of GISSV. Voluntary contributions of time, resources and expertise are key to our success.
- Every Gift Matters
  Donations are essential to preserving and advancing GISSV’s exceptional educational programs. Tax-deductible contributions enable us to realize our most important current and long-term priorities, preparing our students for the world ahead.

Ambassador Christina Beinhoff Visits GISSV

Ambassador Christina Beinhoff Visits GISSV

Ambassador Beinhoff speaking with students

Aug 24 2026

GISSV was honored to welcome Ambassador Christina Beinhoff to its San Francisco campus, where she met with students and experienced firsthand the academic engagement and achievements of our school community.

Last Friday, GISSV was honored to welcome Ambassador Christina Beinhoff, Head of the Directorate-General for Culture and Society at the Federal Foreign Office, to our San Francisco campus.

Accompanied by Franciska Obermeyer, Deputy Consul General, GISSV Board President Shamala Hinrichsen, and members of our school leadership team, Ambassador Beinhoff toured the campus with students from our Elementary and Secondary School.

During her visit, Ambassador Beinhoff and the delegation experienced several highlights of learning and life at GISSV. Students introduced their guests to Jugend debattiert, with school winner Shay opening the debate, followed by a presentation by members of our SF Debate Club (Shay, Nila, Jan and Jonathan).

The visitors also met our Jugend forscht winners, MV High School students Aarav and Viyona, who presented their research projects and shared insights into their work. Together, the students demonstrated the curiosity, initiative, and academic excellence that are an important part of the GISSV experience.

We are grateful to Ambassador Beinhoff for taking the time to visit GISSV and for her interest in our school and students. Her visit provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the strong connections between education, culture, research, and the German-American community.

The visit coincided with GAIN26, the annual conference bringing together researchers, German research institutions, funding organizations, and partners from science and politics, which took place in San Francisco from August 21–23.

We thank Ambassador Beinhoff for visiting GISSV and for engaging with our students. It was a pleasure to welcome her to our school!

Photos: Stefanie Wenk

<< Back to All News