Our school serves more than 300 students enrolled in Grades Pre-Nursery (age two) to Gr. 10 (age sixteen). The students represent over 25 different nationalities. A large proportion of the students come from the local community that includes the city of Trieste and the surrounding region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Many international families are associated with the local scientific institutions such as the International Center for Theoretical Physics (I.C.T.P.), the International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A./I.S.A.S.) the Syncrotrone, and the Area Science Park, or are involved in import-export enterprises. Almost all of the students are bilingual and for most English is a second language. The school has an E.S.L. department for international students transferring into the school who need to improve their language skills. The school appreciates and encourages diversity in both its student population and staff and tries to create a solid sense of community that is open and receptive to new students transferring in at all levels. Class sizes vary, often a result of the international nature of the families but average class sizes are 20 in the Early Childhood Section, 24 in the Elementary School, 20 in the Middle School and 10 in the High School.