The Easiest Way to Start a School: The SISU® Model

Dec 2023

When it comes to starting a school, there are so many different choices that investors have. You can go the fully customized route, where you as the investor pick and choose each design factor or you can utilize the offerings of school design experts with the SISU Schools® model. These are two very different approaches to starting a school. In this article, we are going to focus on the SISU model as a simple approach to starting a new school and showcase some of the benefits of this model.

Interested in starting your own school? Contact our School Start Up Team today!

What is the SISU Model?

SISU Schools® is a revolutionary school model designed by experts in education from International Schools Services (ISS) and Lumo Education. This model allows you to start a quality school in any country, any language, and at any school level. The SISU way is a unique blend of the best educational practices from two of the world’s most acknowledged and recognized educational systems: Finnish and American. SISU Schools® nurture an entrepreneurial mindset and the holistic growth of students. With over 100 schools started and managed worldwide, this is a proven model for academic excellence.

“SISU is a Finnish word representing courage, tenacity, and determination”

What makes SISU Schools® Special?

The SISU Schools® model places an increased emphasis on balance, identity, mindset, and challenge. Through these principles, K-12 students are able to become the best version of themselves showing that student well-being and academic performance can go hand in hand. Additionally, SISU Skills develop an entrepreneurial approach to teaching and learning. This allows each student – and teacher – to grow into their own hero version of themselves. The core SISU skills are:

Think and Learn – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Express and Interact – Creativity and Expression
Communicate – Multi-literacy and Information and Communication Technology
Do It Yourself – Healthy Lifestyle and Self-Management
Take Action – Entrepreneurship

Utilizing these skills along with a coherent curriculum based on the Finnish National Curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and the Next Generation Science Standards for Science, SISU Schools® offer state of the art academics. Another unique feature about this model is the ability to modify the curriculum based on local culture including language and other cultural components.