International Schools in Washington DC
Updated September 26, 2026
Quick answer
Our directory lists 20 international and bilingual schools in DC: 13 tuition-free public charters, 1 DCPS and 6 private. Two private IB schools in the city are Washington International School (WIS), age 3 to grade 12, and the British International School of Washington (BISW), ages 2 to 18; 2026-27 tuition at WIS is $34,315 to $56,820. A tuition-free IB option is DC International School (DCI), a public charter for grades 6-12; DCPS offers the IB Diploma at Banneker and Eastern. Language immersion: Mundo Verde, DC Bilingual and LAMB (Spanish), Washington Yu Ying (Mandarin), Oyster-Adams (DCPS). For 2027-28, the My School DC lottery opens December 14, 2026; private schools run their own admissions.
DC has international and bilingual options in every sector, from tuition-free public charter language immersion to private International Baccalaureate and British-curriculum schools. Browse by program type below.
Looking for the best international schools in Washington DC for 2026-27? The flagship IB schools are Washington International School (WIS) and District of Columbia International School (DCI). Top language-immersion charters include Mundo Verde and DC Bilingual (Spanish), Washington Yu Ying (Mandarin), and DCPS's Oyster-Adams Bilingual. For French, families look to the French Maternal School in DC and Rochambeau just over the line in Bethesda. Apply via the DC school lottery for charter options; private schools have their own admissions cycles. Weighing other private options too? See all DC private schools.
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.
Private international schools compared (2026-27)
Tuition, curriculum and admissions as published by each school on its own website, checked September 26, 2026. Tuition is the 2026-27 range from youngest to oldest grade.
| School | Grades | Curriculum | Tuition 2026-27 | Admissions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington International School (WIS) | Age 3 to grade 12 | IB Primary Years (preschool to grade 5) and IB Diploma (grades 11-12) | $34,315 to $56,820 | For 2027-28 entry: applications due January 5, decisions February 26, 2027 | Washington DC: 1690 36th St NW (preschool to grade 5) and 3100 Macomb St NW (grades 6-12) |
| British International School of Washington (BISW) | Ages 2 to 18 | English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma from Year 12 | $33,890 to $47,930 full time | Rolling admissions; no 2027-28 deadline published | Washington DC: 2001 Wisconsin Ave NW |
| Rochambeau, The French International School | Age 2 to grade 12 | French national curriculum (accredited by the French Ministry of Education) | $27,965 to $33,580 | Annual first-round deadline January 15, then rolling; no dated 2027-28 deadline published | Bethesda, MD (just outside DC), two campuses |
| The French Maternal School | 18 months to 6 years | French immersion preschool (French maternelle model) | $29,850 (full day) | Application window October 1 to February 1 (year not stated on the school site) | Washington DC (Georgetown) |
How to apply for 2027-28
Public charter and DCPS schools (DCI, Mundo Verde, Yu Ying, DC Bilingual, LAMB, Stokes, Oyster-Adams) admit through the My School DC lottery. Key dates for the 2027-28 school year, as published by My School DC:
- Application opens: December 14, 2026
- Deadline for grades 9-12: February 1, 2027
- Deadline for PK3 to grade 8: March 1, 2027
- Lottery results released: April 2, 2027
In-boundary students have a right to their DCPS school; out-of-boundary families apply through the same lottery. Read the full DC lottery guide →
Private international schools run their own admissions. WIS lists January 5 as its application deadline for 2027-28 entry. Rochambeau's first round closes January 15 each year, the French Maternal School takes applications October 1 to February 1, and BISW admits on a rolling basis; these three had not published dated 2027-28 deadlines as of September 26, 2026. Check each school's admissions page before applying.
For Spanish immersion specifically: apply by the published deadline and rank several immersion options (for example Mundo Verde, DC Bilingual, LAMB and Oyster-Adams) on the same application.
Key international and bilingual schools in DC
- Washington International School (WIS) - Private, age 3 to grade 12, two DC campuses. IB Primary Years and IB Diploma. 2026-27 tuition $34,315 to $56,820.
- District of Columbia International School (DCI) - Public charter 6-12, Ward 4. IB Middle Years, IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme. Free, lottery-based.
- British International School of Washington (BISW) - Private, ages 2 to 18. British curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma from Year 12.
- Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Public charter PK3-5, two campuses in Ward 5. Spanish-English immersion. Free.
- Washington Yu Ying PCS - Public charter PK3-5, Ward 5. Mandarin immersion. Free.
- Oyster-Adams Bilingual School - DCPS, Ward 3. Dual-language school for over 50 years. Free.
- DC Bilingual PCS - Public charter PK3-5, Ward 5. Spanish-English. Free.
- Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB) - Public charter, Ward 4. Spanish-immersion Montessori. Free.
- Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS - Public charter PK3-5, campuses in Wards 5 and 7. Dual language. Free.
- Rochambeau, The French International School - Private, age 2 to grade 12, just outside DC in Bethesda. French national curriculum.
Frequently asked questions
What is an international school in Washington DC?
In DC, "international school" usually means one of two things: (1) a school teaching an international curriculum such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the British curriculum, for example Washington International School and the British International School of Washington; or (2) a bilingual or language-immersion school where instruction is delivered in two languages, such as Mundo Verde (Spanish) or Washington Yu Ying (Mandarin).
What is the best international school in Washington DC?
Two private IB schools in the city are Washington International School (WIS), age 3 to grade 12 with the IB Primary Years and IB Diploma programmes, and the British International School of Washington (BISW), ages 2 to 18 with the British curriculum and the IB Diploma. A tuition-free IB option is District of Columbia International School (DCI), a public charter for grades 6-12, and DCPS runs the IB Diploma at Benjamin Banneker and Eastern high schools.
Which international and bilingual schools are in DC?
Private: Washington International School (WIS), British International School of Washington (BISW) and the French Maternal School in DC, plus Rochambeau, The French International School, just outside DC in Bethesda. Tuition-free public charter: District of Columbia International School (DCI), Mundo Verde Bilingual, DC Bilingual, Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB), Elsie Whitlow Stokes and Washington Yu Ying. DCPS: Oyster-Adams Bilingual School and several other dual-language schools. Charters and DCPS admit through the My School DC lottery; private schools run their own admissions.
Is DC International School the same as Washington International School?
No. District of Columbia International School (DCI) is a tuition-free public charter school in Ward 4 for grades 6-12, offering the IB Middle Years Programme, IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme; admission is through the My School DC lottery. Washington International School (WIS) is a private school for age 3 to grade 12 on two DC campuses, with IB Primary Years and IB Diploma programmes and 2026-27 tuition of $34,315 to $56,820.
Which DC schools offer Spanish immersion?
Tuition-free public charter options include Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS (two campuses in Ward 5), DC Bilingual PCS and Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB). The best-known DCPS option is Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Ward 3, which has run a dual-language program for over 50 years. Our directory also lists dual-language programs at DCPS schools including Bancroft, Bruce-Monroe, Cleveland, Marie Reed, Houston and Powell; check each school profile for the language offered.
Which DC schools offer Mandarin immersion?
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in Ward 5 is the Mandarin-immersion public school in our directory, serving PK3 through grade 5. It is tuition-free and admits through the My School DC lottery.
Which DC schools offer French?
The French Maternal School in Georgetown is a private French-immersion preschool for children 18 months to 6 years (2026-27 tuition $29,850). Rochambeau, The French International School, in Bethesda MD teaches the French national curriculum from age 2 to grade 12.
Which schools in DC offer the IB Diploma?
Private: Washington International School (all students in grades 11-12 take the IB Diploma) and the British International School of Washington (IB Diploma from Year 12). Public: District of Columbia International School (DCI, public charter) and, in DCPS, Benjamin Banneker and Eastern high schools.
How do I apply to an international or bilingual public school in DC for 2027-28?
Public charter schools (DCI, Mundo Verde, Yu Ying, DC Bilingual, LAMB, Stokes) and DCPS schools such as Oyster-Adams admit through the My School DC lottery. For the 2027-28 school year the application opens December 14, 2026; the deadline is February 1, 2027 for grades 9-12 and March 1, 2027 for PK3 to grade 8, and results are released April 2, 2027. In-boundary students have a right to their DCPS school. Private schools have their own deadlines (see the comparison table above).
How do I apply to Washington International School (WIS)?
Apply directly through wis.edu. For entry in 2027-28, applications and fees are due January 5, financial aid applications January 15, and admission decisions are released February 26, 2027.
Are international schools in DC tuition-free?
Public charter schools (DCI, Mundo Verde, Yu Ying and others) and DCPS dual-language schools such as Oyster-Adams are tuition-free for DC residents. Private international schools charge tuition. For 2026-27: Washington International School $34,315 to $56,820, British International School of Washington $33,890 to $47,930 (full time), Rochambeau $27,965 to $33,580, French Maternal School $29,850. WIS and Rochambeau publish need-based financial aid.
Do international school applicants need to be DC residents?
For public charter and DCPS schools, yes: DC residency is required. Private international schools set their own admission rules; check each school directly.