By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
Published Thursday, August 21, 2025
The International School of Beijing (ISB) is once again celebrating a remarkable milestone, as the Class of 2025 delivered another set of impressive results in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme – affirming ISB’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence.
ISB’s most recent graduates achieved an average score of 35.4, beating the global average by 4.9 points. ISB students’ performance in this globally recognized, rigorous program consistently soars above that of their peers around the world. Over the past 15 years, the gap between ISB students’ average IB score and the global average IB score has been as wide as six points.
Behind these statistics lies a story of perseverance, passion, and the power of a learning community that challenges and supports its students in equal measure.
Achieving with joy and purpose
The IB is considered one of the most prestigious and demanding high school qualifications in the world, preparing students not just for university but for life beyond the classroom. At ISB, students meet this challenge head-on – not only succeeding academically but also growing as individuals. The Class of 2025 navigated their final years of schooling while overcoming the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected two of their four high school years.
Despite this, 22 ISB students scored 40 or above out of a possible 45, with five reaching 44 points.
Thirty-two of the 85 IB Diplomas awarded to the Class of 2025 were bilingual diplomas – a testament to the school’s excellence in language learning and internationalism. ISB has now seen more than a quarter of its IB students earn bilingual diplomas for five consecutive years.
The school is proud of all its learners realizing their potential in this challenging program. They pursued a diverse range of IB courses aligned with their interests and ambitions, supported by ISB’s unique open enrollment policy. Unlike many schools that restrict access to the IB based on performance predictions, ISB encourages any student to pursue the program if it aligns with their aspirations, and if, in collaboration with their University Advisors and School Counselors, it is identified as the right fit.
A whole-school commitment to excellence
These results are not achieved in isolation. They are the culmination of years of intentional learning, beginning in Elementary School and continuing through Middle and High School. In fact, a third of the Class of 2025 were at ISB since their earliest school days, a powerful indicator of the school’s ability to nurture and guide students over the long term. ISB students benefit from high-quality teaching, carefully researched and crafted programs, and robust learning support and counseling. This ensures excellent outcomes for the students, with these exam results being one of the most eye-catching products of all their learning and character development.
High School Principal Will Paananen praised the graduating class:
“Well done to our newest alumni – you’re a credit to yourselves and to ISB! At this school, we build strong relationships between teachers, students, and families, and we set high expectations together. We also provide students with a high level of support to help them meet those expectations. After such strong preparation for life after school, I wish these graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
Head of School Daniel Rubenstein echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the broader picture of sustained excellence:
“ISB’s long history of academic excellence continues with these exam results. Throughout this school’s 45 years, ISB students have been taught by some of the world’s best teachers and benefited from quality programs that we keep updating in line with the latest research on education. We are experts in developing young people’s potential.”
A legacy of learning and leadership
With graduates now embarking on new journeys across the globe – armed with university offers and the skills to thrive in a complex world – ISB continues to stand as a beacon for international education in Beijing and beyond. These achievements reflect the school’s Strategic Focus Area of “challenging and joyful learning,” a philosophy that informs every aspect of the ISB experience.
Mr. Rubenstein was quick to credit the entire ISB community:
“These results are a team effort. I want to thank our High School principals, IB Curriculum Coordinator, University Advisors, School Counselors, and teachers – along with all our High School families – for their role in preparing students so thoughtfully and thoroughly.”
With ISB’s 2025-2026 academic year underway, the school is already building on this success – welcoming new and returning students into a community defined by curiosity, care, and commitment to excellence.