75 Years of Dragon Spirit

1950s: The Early Years

On September 1, 1951, the International School of Djakarta officially opened its doors with three teachers and eight children, ranging in age from 3 to 10. Within a month, its two makeshift garage classrooms were already overflowing. To accommodate the growing student body, the school expanded into the “side yard beside the house,” where four open-air classrooms were built.

In 1952, the school acquired a plot of land in Pattimura, Kebayoran Baru, then on the outskirts of Jakarta. The timing was fortunate. The Stepanek’s had been notified that they would need to leave their UN-provided home by June 1953. 

After summer break in 1953, the new Pattimura campus opened its doors, offering nursery and kindergarten classes, as well as Grades 1 to 6. In just two years, the student body had already tripled. A definite sign of the remarkable growth still to come.

1960s: Building Our Foundation

The move to Pattimura transformed JIS from a small “living room school” into an established campus. Building on the Calvert curriculum adopted in its early years, the school broadened its approach to education. Alongside traditional academic subjects, students could now participate in art, music, and physical education. New teachers joined the faculty, and classes expanded from nursery and kindergarten through Grade 8.

In 1965, the International School of Djakarta became the Joint Embassy School (JES). Two years later Grade 9 was added, and plans for a complete High School program began to take shape.

As foreign investments in Indonesia increased, Jakarta’s international community, and the school’s enrollment, continued to grow. It soon became clear that the school needed both a larger campus and a program extending beyond Elementary and Middle School. In 1969, JES began searching for a new home where it could expand through High School and prepare for its next chapter.

1970s: Continued Growth and Expansion 

Just two decades after opening with two small classrooms, the school had grown into a complete Kindergarten - Grade 12 program. Enrollment rose rapidly throughout the 1970s reflecting Indonesia’s industrial development and the arrival of international professionals and their families.

As the student body grew, so did the need for additional space, expanded programs, and new opportunities for learning. The High School introduced the Advanced Placement (AP) program, reinforcing the school’s commitment to academic excellence. In 1973, JIS earned formal accreditation and, in later years added the International Baccalaureate(IB) program.

From its modest beginnings, JIS had emerged as a fully accredited international school with a growing reputation for educational excellence.

1980s: A Campus and Community Transformed

The 1980s brought both unexpected challenges and significant transformation to JIS. In the spring of 1981, a fire at the Cilandak campus destroyed five classroom modules. In the aftermath, the JIS community came together to clean-up and recover what it could, saving as many valuable records, books, and archival materials. 

Meanwhile, Pattimura Elementary School had reached capacity and was beginning to show its age. In 1985, JIS decided to rebuild the school on its original grounds while preserving the spirit of “old Pattimura.” The new design retained the campus’s open layout, with its iconic banyan tree and the heart of the school.

By the end of the decade, JIS had established a strong reputation for educational excellence and high academic standards. good foundation for its students. Enrollment reached capacity, and for the first time, the school introduced a waiting list. It was a clear sign of how fair it had come.

1990s: Growth, Change, and Resilience

Four decades after its humble beginnings in a house on Jl. Kebon Sirih, JIS continued to grow in both enrollment and campus size. 

A surge in Elementary School enrollment led to the opening of a second elementary campus, Pondok Indah Elementary (PIE). The Middle School then moved into the former Elementary School building, giving its space to expand as well. 

Toward the end of the decade, political unrest in Indonesia brought a period of uncertainty. Mandatory evacuations separated families, one graduating class held its commencement in Singapore, and the JIS community faced more goodbyes than usual. 

Yet the community remained resilient. Students and families returned after the summer break, enrollment began to recover, and JIS moved forward, ready to welcome a new generation of learners.

2000s: Same School, New Look

The 2000s ushered in a period of significant change for JIS. Campuses were renovated, new buildings were constructed, and facilities were modernized to serve a new generation of Dragons growing up in a rapidly changing, increasingly digital world. 

The decade also marked an important milestone: JIS’s 50th anniversary. Alumni from around the world returned to campus, many for the first time since graduating, to reconnect with old friends and celebrate the school that had helped shape them.

But the 2000s also brought tragedy and social upheaval across Indonesia. The JIS community responded by supporting those affected by disasters, including severe flooding in Jakarta and the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In response to the urgent needs of survivors in Aceh, JIS Peduli was established to help communities recover and rebuild their lives.

2010s: Six Decades Strong

More than 60 years after JIS opened its doors, the heart of the school remained rooted in the same spirit of community, curiosity, and possibilities that defined its earliest days.

Throughout the decade, learning spaces across the campuses were redesigned to incorporate emerging technologies and provide students with an increasingly connected and globally relevant education. JIS also introduced its current logo in 2010, creating a new visual identity for the school’s next chapter.

The 2010s also tested the strength of the community. When members of JIS needed support most, Dragons around the world came together through the Justice for the Innocent campaign. Amid significant change and challenges, the enduring values and heart of JIS remained stronger than ever.

2020s: 70 Years of Perseverance and Dragon Spirit

The new decade began in a world transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As JIS approached its 70th anniversary, familiar routines came to an abrupt halt, campuses grew quiet, and teaching and learning moved from the classroom to computer screens.

Yet even while physically apart, the JIS community remained connected. With resilience, creativity, and perseverance, teachers reimagined learning, students adapted, and families support one another through an extraordinary period. 

The life of the school continued. New buildings took shape, seniors celebrated their long-awaited graduation, and students found new ways to perform, compete, create, and share their work. graduation, and many of our students still performed, competed, and showcased their work.

Today: Facing the World with Confidence

The Class of 2027 looks toward a future filled with immense challenges but also extraordinary opportunities. From the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and the growing effects of climate change to the ever-changing geopolitical landscape, today’s students are preparing to navigate a world unlike any generation before them.

Building on more than 75 years of learning, growth and resilience, JIS continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the spirit of its founders. Today’s Dragons are preparing not only to meet the challenges ahead, but also to lead with confidence to make a meaningful difference in Indonesia, across Asia and beyond.