The International School of Hyderabad (ISH) was established by a group of parents in 1972. In 1982, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) received permission to operate a school to provide education for children of its employees. This was later amended to include children of expatriates living in the twin-cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In 2002, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted ISH permission to admit a limited number of Indian Nationals.

The school functioned for many years on the premises of ICRISAT Social Club at Banjara Hills in the heart of the city.

In 2006, the commissioned a purpose built Secondary School on the ICRISAT Campus on the outskirts of the city. The new Secondary School was completed in 2007 with Secondary Students shifting to the new Secondary School.

In 2009, the Elementary School moved to temporary buildings on the main ICRISAT campus. Later in 2009, ISH broke ground on a purpose built Elementary School next to the Secondary School. The whole of the new Elementary School building should be complete within the 2010-2011 school year.