Email: aisb@aisbmali.org
Web: www.aisbmali.org
2011-2012
The American International School of Bamako (AISB) is an independent, coeducational private day school which offers a full U.S. educational program from prekindergarten (age 3) through grade 12, and offers a complete high school program including Advance Placement (AP) courses. The School was established in 1977 to serve the needs of American and international community students seeking an English-language education. The school year is divided into two semesters which begin in late August and in January. There are 176 days in the school year.
Organization: The School is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors with 7 voting members elected by the AISB Association. Membership in the association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School and to all professional staff.
Curriculum: The curriculum is similar to that of other American international schools with AP courses. Classes use up-to-date American textbooks and teaching materials from the United States and around the world. In addition to the regular and AP academic courses, French ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Technology, Music, Drama, Art, and Physical Education classes are offered. The school has a PreK-Grade 12 counselor. The school has a purpose built library with 10,000 volumes for reference work and for supplemental reading. There are two 20-station iMac computer labs. In addition there is a 15 station mobile Mac Lab. A wide variety of extra curricular activities are available. AISB does not normally provide special needs services- defined as any learning disability or related need other than ESOL - and is unable to accept special needs children within the offered program. Please note that consideration may be given on a case-by-case basis if the parents or company can provide additional funding or staffing for a special needs student. The School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Faculty: In the school year 2011-2012, the faculty includes a full-time school director, a secondary principal, 23 full-time and 5 part-time teachers. All professional staff have university degrees or teacher certificates and more than half of the faculty hold Master’s degrees.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, enrollment was 194.
Facilities: The School occupies a recently completed purpose-built facility located on 5 hectares of land on the banks of the Niger River. The buildings include 15 classrooms, science labs, 2 computer labs, a library, a multipurpose room used as performance space and indoor activities area for PE, office areas, basketball courts, playground equipment and a playing field. AISB also operated a satellite-campus in Sadiola for the children of the Anglo-Gold Mining Company employees.
Finances: In the 2011-2012 school year, admission is based on previous school records, age, and a personal interview. The annual tuition rates are as follows: PK3: $4,000; PK4: $4,500; kdg.-grade 5: $16,300, and grades 6-12: $17,400. There is a one-time registration fee of $350 and a one-time capital development fee of $5,000. ESOL classes are available for students for a fee of $1,800 per year. Transportation service is available along the most frequented routes for $1,800 per year. The director must grant permission to parents to make payments using a payment plan. AISB uses a School Board set rate for school fees paid in Francs CFA. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.)
