LIS is a private coeducational day school, which offers an English language educational programme for students from age 4 to 18 predominantly to the international community in Luanda.
 
History
Luanda International School was founded in 1996 and in 2003 moved to its purpose built campus in Talatona, a growing new development south of Luanda. Funding for the establishment of the school was provided by a group of six companies working in the oil sector.
 
Mission
The Luanda International School offers a balanced, academically challenging, English language education to the international community of Luanda, designed to develop individuals who are both independent learners and international citizens.
 
Philosophy
The Luanda International School believes that education should foster the development of the whole person. We believe students need to develop the ability to think critically, creatively and independently, and to reach their academic and personal potential. We want students to lead constructive and fulfilling lives, to appreciate and respect a diverse range of cultures and to have a sense of service and responsibility towards the world community.
 
School Governance
Representatives from the six companies that funded the establishment of the school serve on the school board, along with the Director of the school.
 
International Baccalaureate Organization
LIS is an IB World School. It was authorized to run the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) in 2001, the Diploma Programme (DP) in 2005 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in 2006.
 
Accreditation and Memberships
The Primary School was accredited by the Council of International Schools as well as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in June 2004. The two bodies extended their accreditation to the Secondary School in May 2007
 
Faculty Teaching Staff
Teachers at LIS are recruited through international job fairs held in different locations throughout the world. Currently the teaching staff come from Angola, Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe.
 
Curriculum
The school offers all three programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organization. The subjects offered in the Diploma Programme are as follows: English A1, Portuguese A1, Spanish A1, Spanish B, Spanish Ab Initio, Economics, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics Higher Level, Mathematical Studies. Theatre Arts and Visual Arts.
 
Grading system
As LIS offers all three of the IBO’s programmes, it uses the IB grading system, which scores students on a 7 – 1 scale, with 7 being the highest level of achievement.

Each of the programmes has its specific assessment criteria and grade descriptors.
 
LIS graduation requirements
Students require 21 credits over the last 4 years of their schooling in order to graduate from LIS.

• A credit is awarded upon the successful completion of each class meeting at least three periods per week for a full academic year.
• One-half credit will be awarded upon the successful completion of each class meeting fewer than three periods per week for a full academic year.
• A student must achieve a year-end assessment of at least 3 on the IBO’s 7 – 1 scale in order to receive a credit for a course
• Certified official transcripts from accredited schools are evaluated by the Enrolment Office to determine credit transferability of incoming students.

 The 21 credits must come from the following course minimums:

4 credits in English
3 credits in Mathematics
3 credits in Science
3 credits in Humanities
2 credits in 2nd Language
1 credit in Technology
1 credit in Physical Education
1 credit in the Arts
3 “other” credits

Calendar
LIS operates a similar calendar to Northern Hemisphere schools. The school year commences in August and ends in June of the following year. School is in session for 36 weeks, and a total of not less than 180 days.
 
Assessments
Luanda International School offers the Educational Records Bureau’s Comprehensive Testing programme, 4th Edition (ERB CTP-4) as an optional assessment for our students. It is offered annually in the fall. LIS also offers the PSAT/NMSQT each October onsite for our students in the secondary level. We cooperate with the Educational Advising Centre of the US Embassy to offer the SAT and TOEFL exams. Both exams are offered throughout the year.
 
Student body
The student body at LIS is made of students from 40 countries: Angola, Portugal, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil, United States, Namibia, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Germany, Colombia, Zimbabwe, England, Australia, Nigeria, Thailand, Spain, Finland, Venezuela, India, Argentina, Norway, Canada, Egypt, Malaysia, Israel, Austria, Peru, Switzerland, Indonesia, Iran, Denmark, Panama, Jordan, Italy, Croatia, The Netherlands.

We currently have 330 students in the primary school and 136 in the secondary school; a total of 466.
 
Rank in class
LIS does not assign rank to students. It is the goal of the teachers at LIS to help each student actualise their potential.
 
Academic reports
The primary school issues two written reports a year, and also schedules one parent-teacher conference and one student-led conference. The secondary school issues written reports at regular intervals and holds similar conferences to the primary school.
 
Extra-Curricular Activities
LIS runs an after-school activities programme throughout the week which includes a variety of sports. There are various age groups for participation. Some interscholastic games are played when available, and some teams in the older age-groups even travel outside Angola for tournaments. Other activities offered include choir, science, wildlife, photo-editing and board games clubs, and the school is commencing the International Award this year. www.intaward.org

There is also a ‘clubs’ slot on the school timetable with a great deal of choice, such as Mandarin Chinese and cookery.
 
Community and Service
Students at LIS are actively encouraged to participate in community and service projects right from the primary school years. Each year, as a culmination of the Primary Year’s Programme, the Year 7 class engages in a significant community and service project. Classes in the Middle Year’s Programme are involved in community and service projects each year and students in the Diploma Programme complete the Creativity, Action and Service programme as part of the IB Diploma.