International School Manila

The primary mission of International School Manila is to educate expatriate students who are temporarily residing in the Philippines with their parents who must have legal residence in Manila. We do not have boarding facilities, nor do we allow guardianship placements without prior approval of the school administration.

Non-Filipino parents of enrolling/enrolled students at ISM must be in one of the following categories:

• Personnel of foreign diplomatic and consular missions residing in the Philippines; Personnel of duly accredited international organizations residing in the Philippines
• Aliens with valid working permits under Section 9(d), 9(g) and 47(a)(2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended
• A permanent foreign resident; or
• Holders of Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) or Special Retirees Resident Visa (SRRV); or other special investor zone visas

Please note: IS Manila cannot enroll children who do not have appropriate legal visas to reside temporarily in the Philippines with their parents. 

Tourist visas and short term Visitor visas are not acceptable for study purposes.

Waitpool

In the event of capacity enrollment at a grade level or in a program, the Admissions Office will maintain a Waitpool. Candidates on the Waitpool will be considered for admission as openings become available.  We do have a Admissions Priority consideration, but there is no chronological or predetermined order in which students are selected to fill these openings within that Priority grouping. 

We strive to obtain a balance in gender, diversity in nationalities and predictable academic success for the candidate within the programs offered; when a space becomes available, we determine which candidate best complements the class.  If and when a space is available in a class or program, the parents will be advised immediately and asked to confirm that they still wish their child to enter ISM.  Parents confirming their continued interest in having their child attend ISM will be required to pay the current tuition and fees immediately.

Please take note of the following:

• Candidates who presently have siblings in school are given priority within their particular category.
• The Application Fee is valid for two academic school years for applications on the Waitpool.
• Parents must request for an Application File to be rolled over at the end of the school year should a space not be offered for the year of application. A rollover is not done automatically.
• It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to complete the candidate’s Application File and keep it up to date.
• Due to the volume of requests, we can only accommodate one exploratory visit per family.
• It is the School’s prerogative to accept or reject any application.

Guardianship

Request for considering applicants under guardianship requires the Superintendent’s approval, which, generally, is contingent on evidence that the student(s) will be supervised by a close relative able to provide the support and care of a family home.  A Letter of Appointment for Local Guardian, to be accomplished jointly by the legal parents, ISM candidate, and appointed guardian, is required for approval by the Superintendent before commencing the admission process.  Submit the completed Guardianship Agreement Form along with the application, school records, teacher recommendations, and copies of the parent, child, and guardian’s passports to the Admissions Office.  The parents will be informed of the decision as soon as possible.