In 2015 and 2016, ISM was ranked as the top private school in Minnesota as well as the most challenging school in the state of Minnesota. All students at ISM have daily World Language instruction given by native speakers and they have the opportunity to take AP courses in Language and Literature for World Languages. ISM offers Spanish, French, and Chinese to their students and students who are not native-English speakers are provided ELL Language Courses. Students in grades 4 - 8 are able to attend Concordia Language Villages for each language, if they choose. ISM has The SABIS Student Life Organization as a part of the SABIS Educational System that emphasizes real-life experiences and skills. It is a student-led society that participates in every day roles and tasks to teach responsibility and accountability. It also emphasizes organizational, managerial, academic, and leadership skills and how to balance all of those together while participating in academic and non-academic activities. For example: peer tutoring, planning events, community service projects, school newspaper and yearbook. ISM offers eighteen Advanced Placement Courses listed here: Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chinese Language & Culture, Computer Science Principles, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, European History, French Language & Culture, Government & Politics: United States, Human Geography, Music Theory, Physics C, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature & Culture, Statistics, and Studio Art: Drawing. On average, students at ISM complete seven AP courses by graduation; during the 2014-15 school year, fourteen AP scholars, two AP scholars with Honor, twelve AP scholars with Distinction, and three National AP scholars. Over 92% of AP Exams received scores of 3 or higher. ISM opened a Residence Hall in the Fall of 2014. It is and 3 stories tall. Since its opening, it has housed students from China, Ivory Coast, Korea, Nigeria, Spain, Algeria, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and The United States. Residence Hall managers plan weekly outings for the students who reside in the Residence Hall. It houses up to thirty-two students; it has a theater, recreation center, laundry room, study areas, and a fitness center. ISM offers Fall, Winter, and Spring sports including:  School teams participate in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), Eastern Minnesota Athletic Conference (EMAC), and the South Side Youth Organization (SSYO) for their sports teams.