Meridian International School is one of the longer established bilingual options among the international schools in Warsaw, and it sits in a clear niche: a Polish and English education that keeps children on the national curriculum while teaching them in English from the early years. Rather than importing a foreign syllabus wholesale, Meridian was built for families who want their child fluent and confident in English without stepping outside the Polish system, and who value the option to finish on the International Baccalaureate Diploma. That blend of local roots and an international finish runs through everything the school does.
Meridian International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Polish national curriculum taught in English; IB Diploma route at the senior stage |
|---|---|
| Stages | Through school across primary and high school campuses |
| IB authorisation | Meridian International High School is an authorised IB World School |
| Type | Private, coeducational day school |
| Languages | English medium with Polish; bilingual delivery |
| Campuses | Primary on Wawelska in central Ochota; high school on Gladka |
The figures families most want, current tuition by stage and the exact entry ages for each campus, change year to year, so we describe the school qualitatively here and point you to the school and our tools for live numbers. Nothing on this page is a substitute for the schedule Meridian publishes for the coming year.
Curriculum and academics
Meridian teaches the Polish national curriculum but delivers it in English, so a child follows the same syllabus as peers in the Polish system while building genuine fluency in English across every subject. Polish is taught throughout, which keeps the door open to moving back into a fully Polish school or sitting Polish examinations later. At the senior end the high school is an authorised International Baccalaureate World School, which means students can carry their bilingual grounding into the IB Diploma rather than being limited to the national track alone. That continuity, local curriculum in the early years and an internationally recognised diploma at the finish, is the school's main academic argument.
For families weighing the diploma specifically, it helps to see Meridian alongside the other campuses that carry the programme through to eighteen. Our Warsaw IB schools hub maps which schools offer each stage of the IB continuum, and our shortlist of the best IB schools in Warsaw compares the through schools head to head, so you can judge where Meridian sits among them on programme, size and location.
Comparing Meridian with other Warsaw schools?
Line up to three Warsaw schools side by side on curriculum, stage and location with our free compare tool, then confirm the details that matter to your child.
Meridian International School Warsaw fees
Because Meridian runs the full span from primary to high school, its fees cross the city bands rather than sitting in a single tier. Our guide to international school fees in Warsaw places primary tuition broadly between 18,000 and 65,000 zloty a year across the market, with the senior and diploma years rising above that as schools add the cost of examinations and specialist teaching. Bilingual schools that share the Polish curriculum, as Meridian does, often sit a little below the most premium international names, but the only reliable figure is the current schedule the school issues by stage.
Treat any number you find online as illustrative until you have that schedule, because Warsaw schools revise fees each year and the rate usually steps up grade by grade. Beyond tuition, budget for the familiar extras of registration, lunches, optional activities and any transport between home and the relevant campus. The fee calculator is a practical way to model the full cost of a place and to set Meridian against the other schools on your shortlist before you commit.
Admissions
Families apply directly to Meridian, and because the school sits across two campuses the entry point depends on the stage your child is joining. The primary on Wawelska admits from the early years, while the high school on Gladka takes students into the senior stage and the diploma route. Admissions teams typically review previous school reports and assess the level of English and Polish a child brings, arranging support where it is needed so a new arrival can settle into bilingual lessons rather than being left to sink or swim.
The main intake follows the September start of the Polish school year, but places can come up during the year as international families move in and out of the city, so it is worth asking about mid year entry if you are relocating outside the usual cycle. Visit the specific campus your child would attend, since the primary and senior sites differ in feel and facilities. For the wider set of options, the Warsaw city hub lists schools by curriculum and stage so you can plan a full pathway while a Meridian application is in train.
Location and who goes there
The primary campus stands on Wawelska in the Ochota area, a central and well connected part of Warsaw close to tram and bus routes, in a renovated period building near the city core. The high school sits to the south on Gladka, giving senior students their own dedicated site. Between them the two campuses cover much of the inner city, which makes Meridian practical for families spread across the central districts rather than concentrated in one suburb.
The community reflects the school's bilingual model: internationally minded Polish families who want their child fluent in English without leaving the national system, alongside expatriate families who value keeping a foot in the local curriculum. That gives Meridian a different texture from the large diplomatic and corporate through schools, more of a city school with an international finish than an enclave. Many families choose it precisely because a child can stay on the Polish track while gaining English fluency and the option of the IB Diploma at the end.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Meridian International School Warsaw fees?
Meridian spans primary through high school, so its fees cross the city bands rather than sitting in one. Our Warsaw fee guide places primary tuition broadly between 18,000 and 65,000 zloty a year, with senior and diploma years higher again. Meridian publishes its current schedule by stage, so confirm the figure and any registration charge directly with admissions before you budget.
What curriculum does Meridian International School Warsaw follow?
Meridian teaches the Polish national curriculum in English, so children keep the local syllabus while learning bilingually. Its high school is an authorised IB World School, which means students can continue into the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the senior years rather than only the Polish track.
What ages does Meridian International School Warsaw take?
Meridian runs as a through school across separate primary and high school campuses, taking children from the early primary years up to school leaving age. Families should check the exact entry points for each campus, as the primary and senior sites admit at different stages.
Where is Meridian International School Warsaw?
The primary campus sits on Wawelska in the central Ochota area, close to tram and bus routes, while the high school is on Gladka in the south of the city. Both are within easy reach of central Warsaw, which suits families spread across the inner districts.
Is Meridian International School Warsaw an IB school?
Yes. Meridian International High School is an authorised IB World School, so it can deliver the IB Diploma alongside the Polish curriculum. The primary stage focuses on bilingual learning in English and Polish that prepares children for that senior route.
