By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
Published on Monday, May 26, 2025
Congratulations to our students who graduated this weekend! The International School of Beijing (ISB) is proud of its newest alumni, who have exciting futures after discovering their passions, excelling academically, and growing socially and emotionally at the school. These students have received offers from universities worldwide, having identified the best-fit courses, majors, and institutions for them. A few of the Class of 2025 are looking forward to other options including gap years and military service.
Late spring is a momentous time of year for ISB students eyeing graduation. They enjoyed the Seniors Parade around campus on April 18, with younger classes, parents, faculty and staff lining the corridors to celebrate their achievements. Over the past few weeks, our Seniors have taken International Baccalaureate (IB) tests, the culmination of a prestigious two-year program resulting in a qualification recognized by universities worldwide.
On Saturday, they celebrated with their families and friends at their Graduation Ceremony. Around a third of this year’s Seniors have been at ISB all the way since Elementary School, so this is an especially sweet moment for the ISB community.
Graduating with purpose
While IB exam results are only posted in July, college acceptance notifications have been flooding in for the Class of 2025. They have received offers from a wide range of institutions.
ISB prides itself on ensuring its students find the option that is best for them after graduation. If applying for further study, they will be attending the college and course that is most appropriate for them based on their passions and talents. The wide scope of university offers and the subjects ISB graduates will be studying signals that our students are pursuing their passions at many of the world’s finest educational institutions.
Most of the Class of 2025 have set a firm plan for life post ISB. Of the 111 graduates, three will be engaged in national military service or are planning gap years to pursue their interests, reflect, and assess their options. Students have been accepted to prestigious universities around the world and to a huge variety of academic programs ranging from engineering to performing and visual arts to business and economics.
Celebrating exciting futures
“What a joy it was to see our oldest students graduate!” said High School Principal Will Paananen. “Our Seniors’ impressive university acceptances and bright futures are based on ISB’s culture of high expectations and high support. Throughout their school careers, these students have challenged each other to excel with Dragon Spirit. Each of these students has taken their own path to success, and their teachers, coaches, and club supervisors have always been there to guide them to reach their goals. Well done to all of our graduates and to our colleagues and families who helped them reach this point.”
Kevin Keller, ISB’s Head of University & Career Advising, added, “ISB’s Class of 2025 looked inward to understand their passions and strengths, which led them to secure places at a range of best-fit universities, many of them among the world’s most prestigious.
“Their accomplishments reflect the strength of ISB’s academic and university advising curriculum, the support of ISB faculty and staff, and the strong relationships our University & Career Advisors have built with university representatives to ensure they understand the value of welcoming ISB students to their campuses.
“We celebrate each student’s unique journey and their readiness to thrive at universities and in gap year experiences around the world. The Class of 2025’s outstanding university admission offers are a testament to their resilience, dedication, and the community support that underpins their journey to graduation.”
