Westwood International School

"Westwood International School is a private English-medium school located in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, offering a comprehensive education from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12."

Founded in 2001, the school has built a reputation as one of the region's leading international institutions, providing a rigorous and globally recognized academic experience to students at every stage of their educational journey. At the heart of Westwood's academic program is a dual framework combining an American-style curriculum with the full continuum of International Baccalaureate programmes. Younger learners in the primary years are guided through the IB Primary Years Programme, which emphasizes inquiry-based learning and the development of the whole child. Students in the middle school years engage with the IB Middle Years Programme, which fosters critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and a broad academic foundation across disciplines. At the senior level, students have the opportunity to pursue the IB Diploma Programme, a demanding and internationally respected qualification that opens doors to universities across the world. This seamless progression through all three IB programmes, layered onto an American curricular backbone, gives families confidence that their children will be both well-prepared for higher education and adaptable to academic environments in virtually any country. Westwood holds the distinction of being a U. S. State Department assisted school, a designation that reflects its strong ties to the American expatriate community and its adherence to high standards of educational quality and student support. This connection makes the school a natural choice for U. S. diplomats, government employees, and international professionals relocating to Botswana, while also welcoming families from across the broader global community and local Botswana families seeking an internationally oriented education for their children. Instruction at Westwood is conducted entirely in English, providing a consistent and immersive language environment that benefits both native English speakers and students developing their English proficiency. This English-first approach ensures that students can engage fully with the IB curriculum and are well-positioned for university study at institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Situated in Gaborone, Westwood occupies a setting that reflects the city's character as a modern, cosmopolitan African capital. Gaborone is a relatively compact and navigable city, making the school accessible to families living across its various residential neighborhoods and diplomatic enclaves. The city's stability and growing international business community mean that Westwood serves a genuinely diverse student body, drawn from the diplomatic corps, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and Botswana's own professional community. What ultimately distinguishes Westwood International School is the coherence of its educational vision. By offering the complete IB continuum within an American-influenced framework, and by maintaining its standing as a State Department assisted school, Westwood delivers an experience that is simultaneously globally minded and practically grounded. For expat families navigating the challenges of an international move, finding a school that can provide continuity, academic excellence, and a welcoming international community is essential — and Westwood is clearly designed with exactly those families in mind.