I Liceum Ogólnokształcące z Oddziałami Dwujęzycznymi im. Ignacego Paderewskiego

"Named in honor of Ignacy Paderewski — the celebrated Polish pianist, composer, and statesman — I Liceum Ogólnokształcące z Oddziałami Dwujęzycznymi brings together a rich sense of national heritage and a firmly international academic outlook in the heart of Wałbrzych, Poland."

As a public school offering both the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme, it stands as a distinctive institution for families seeking a rigorous, globally recognized education within Poland's state school system. Founded in 2015, the school has built its identity around bilingual and multilingual learning, with English and French serving as languages of instruction alongside Polish. This multilingual environment makes it particularly well suited to expat families and internationally mobile professionals whose children need to maintain fluency in a major world language while integrating into Polish academic life. The dual-language structure is not simply a practical accommodation — it reflects a genuine institutional commitment to cross-cultural communication and global citizenship, values that sit at the core of the International Baccalaureate philosophy. The school's academic program is anchored by two IB frameworks. The Middle Years Programme provides students in the earlier secondary years with an intellectually challenging, concept-driven curriculum that encourages inquiry, critical thinking, and connections across disciplines. As students progress, the IB Diploma Programme offers one of the world's most respected pre-university qualifications, preparing graduates for entry to universities across Poland, Europe, and beyond. Together, these two programs create a coherent and ambitious academic pathway from the middle school years through to university entrance, giving families confidence in the continuity of their children's education. Wałbrzych itself is a city in Lower Silesia in southwestern Poland, a region with a layered history shaped by Central European influences and a landscape defined by the Sudeten Mountains. While the city has undergone significant transformation in recent decades, it offers a quieter, more affordable alternative to larger Polish urban centers, and its proximity to the Czech border and to cities such as Wrocław makes it accessible for families settling in the broader region. The school's location within this community means students benefit from an environment that is genuinely rooted in Polish cultural life while still engaging with international academic standards. What makes this school particularly noteworthy for relocating families is the relatively rare combination of public school accessibility and full IB programming. In many countries, IB schools operate exclusively in the private sector, making them financially out of reach for some families. Here, the international curriculum is delivered within a publicly funded institution, broadening access to world-class academic preparation. The school's bilingual divisions further ensure that students who arrive with English or French as a primary language are not left to navigate their education in isolation, but are genuinely supported within the structure of the school's daily academic life. For expat families weighing their options in the Lower Silesia region, I Liceum Ogólnokształcące z Oddziałami Dwujęzycznymi im. Ignacego Paderewskiego offers an earnest and credible option — one where international ambition and Polish educational tradition meet in a single, publicly accessible institution.