International & Bilingual Schools in Washington DC
DC has one of the highest concentrations of international and bilingual schools of any US city — from public charter language immersion to private International Baccalaureate programs. Browse by program type below.
International Curriculum Schools (IB & British)
Schools offering the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, or other internationally recognized curricula.
Spanish Bilingual & Immersion
Schools where instruction is delivered in both Spanish and English.
Mandarin Immersion
Schools where instruction is delivered in Mandarin Chinese alongside English.
French Language
Schools offering French immersion or French-language tracks.
Multilingual Public Charter Schools
DC public charter schools serving multilingual families with curriculum that emphasizes language and global perspectives.
How to apply
Public charter & DCPS schools: Apply through the unified DC school lottery lottery between November and late January. Read the full DC lottery guide →
Private international schools (Washington International School, British International School of Washington, Rock Creek International, French Maternal School) have separate applications, typically with December–January deadlines for the following school year. Check each school's admissions page for testing, interview, and tuition deposit requirements.
For Spanish immersion specifically: Mundo Verde, DC Bilingual, and Oyster-Adams are highly competitive — submit a lottery application as early as possible and rank multiple immersion options.
Frequently asked questions
What is an international school in Washington DC?+
In DC, "international school" usually refers to one of two things: (1) a school offering international curricula like the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge — examples include Washington International School and the British International School of Washington; or (2) bilingual or language-immersion schools where instruction is delivered in two languages, such as Mundo Verde (Spanish) or Washington Yu Ying (Mandarin).
Is DC International School the same as Washington International School?+
No. They are two different schools. District of Columbia International School (DCI) is a public charter school in Ward 4 serving grades 6-12, with a tuition-free language immersion program. Washington International School (WIS) is a private K-12 school in Ward 3, with two campuses (Primary and Tregaron), offering the International Baccalaureate curriculum and tuition over $50,000/year.
Which DC schools offer Spanish immersion?+
Public charter Spanish immersion includes Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS (two campuses in Ward 5), DC Bilingual PCS, and Latin American Montessori Bilingual. The DCPS option is Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Ward 3. Each follows a different immersion model — some are 50/50 Spanish/English, others lead with Spanish in the early grades.
Which DC schools offer Mandarin immersion?+
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in Ward 5 is the primary Mandarin immersion option in DC, serving PK3 through grade 5. Other DC schools offer Mandarin as a foreign language but not full immersion.
Which DC schools offer French language?+
The French Maternal School (private, Ward 2) serves PK through grade 3 with French immersion. Several public charter schools offer French as a language of study, and some private schools include French in their curriculum from elementary onward. Lycée Rochambeau, located in Bethesda MD just outside DC, serves many DC families seeking the French national curriculum.
Do public DC charter schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB)?+
District of Columbia International School (DCI) offers IB programming for grades 6-12. A few DCPS schools also offer IB pathways. Washington International School is the most established IB-authorized school in DC, but it is private with significant tuition.
How do I apply to an international or bilingual public school in DC?+
For DC public charter schools (including DCI, Mundo Verde, Yu Ying, Bridges, Stokes), apply through the DC school lottery between November and late January. For DCPS schools like Oyster-Adams, in-boundary students are guaranteed a seat; out-of-boundary students apply through the lottery. Private international schools (WIS, BISW) have their own application processes, typically with December-January deadlines.
Are international schools in DC tuition-free?+
It depends. Public charter schools (DCI, Mundo Verde, Yu Ying, etc.) are tuition-free for DC residents. DCPS bilingual programs (Oyster-Adams) are also tuition-free. Private international schools — Washington International School, British International School of Washington, Rock Creek International School, French Maternal School — charge tuition, often in the $35,000-$55,000 range per year, with some financial aid available.