"The International School of Ouagadougou (ISO) is a private, English-language international school located in the Zogona neighborhood of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso."
Founded in 1976, ISO has spent nearly five decades serving the international community in one of West Africa's most culturally vibrant capitals, offering families a stable, academically rigorous educational environment from prekindergarten through Grade 12. The school was originally established to meet the educational needs of expatriate families living and working in Burkina Faso, though it warmly welcomes host-country students as well, creating a genuinely diverse and cross-cultural community. Academically, ISO offers a dual-track approach that sets it apart from many schools in the region. The school follows an American curriculum framework across its grade levels while also offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) for students in the upper years of secondary school. This combination gives families both the familiarity and structure of an American-style education and the internationally recognized rigor of the IB Diploma, a credential respected by universities around the world. For relocating professionals whose children may later transition to schools in the United States or internationally, this dual offering provides meaningful continuity and flexibility. English is the primary language of instruction throughout the school, making ISO a natural choice for anglophone expat families as well as international families who prioritize English-medium education. The school's relatively intimate size — with an enrollment of approximately 180 students recorded in the 2019–2020 school year — means that students tend to benefit from close relationships with teachers and a strong sense of community that can be harder to find in larger international schools. ISO holds assisted status from the U. S. State Department, a designation that reflects its strong ties to the American diplomatic and development community present in Ouagadougou and underscores the school's commitment to maintaining quality standards aligned with American educational expectations. This connection also makes ISO a particularly familiar and trusted option for U. S. government employees, Foreign Service families, and NGO workers stationed in Burkina Faso. The school's Zogona campus places it within a residential area of Ouagadougou, the country's capital and largest city. Ouagadougou is a dynamic urban center known for its arts scene, including the internationally renowned FESPACO film festival, and its position as a hub of regional commerce and diplomacy. For families new to West Africa, ISO offers not only a solid academic foundation but also a welcoming community of fellow international families navigating life in the same city. For expat families and relocating professionals seeking an English-language school in Burkina Faso, the International School of Ouagadougou represents a long-established and well-regarded option. Its nearly fifty-year history, combined with its American and IB academic offerings and its close-knit international community, makes it a thoughtful choice for families who want their children to thrive academically while experiencing the richness of life in West Africa.