Our Story
1992 — The Beginning
Danube International School Vienna was founded in 1992, born from a clear vision: to create a genuinely international school in the heart of Europe where children from every background could receive a world-class education. From its earliest days, DISV was committed to the International Baccalaureate framework, becoming Vienna's first IB World School and one of the pioneering IB schools in the German-speaking world.
The school opened its doors to a small but determined community of families who believed in the power of international education to shape confident, open-minded young people. That founding spirit — curious, principled, and globally aware — remains at the heart of everything DISV does today.
Growing Our Community
Over the following decades, DISV grew steadily — in enrolment, in reputation, and in the richness of its community. Today, 502 students from 64 nationalities and 47 mother tongues fill our classrooms, hallways, sports hall, and library. The diversity of our community is not incidental to our mission — it is central to it.
Families from the diplomatic community, international business, academia, and the arts have all called DISV home. Alumni have gone on to study at leading universities across the globe, to pursue careers in science, diplomacy, the arts, and entrepreneurship, and to carry the values of the IB Learner Profile into every corner of the world.
Three IB Programmes
A defining milestone in DISV's development was the achievement of full IB authorisation across all three programmes. Today, DISV is the only school in Vienna to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP) — providing a seamless, coherent IB education from age 3 through to Grade 12.
This continuity matters. Students who join DISV in Early Years grow into the same inquiry- based mindset, the same learner profile values, and the same high expectations that will accompany them all the way to their IB Diploma. There is no disruptive transition between philosophies — just a deepening engagement with learning.
Today
More than 30 years after its founding, DISV continues to deliver on its founding promise. Our Class of 2025 achieved a 100% IB Diploma pass rate, with a five-year average score of 34.5 and 60% of students earning a bilingual diploma. These results reflect not just academic rigour, but the holistic development of students who are ready for whatever the world asks of them.
Our 5:1 student-to-staff ratio remains one of the most distinctive features of a DISV education — ensuring that every learner receives the individual attention they deserve. It is a commitment we have held since 1992, and one we intend to keep for the next thirty years.