The American International School of Cape Town (AISCT) is a private, not-for-profit coeducational institution founded in 1997. The school educates 460 students from over 50 countries ranging in age between two and 18 years and employs teachers from around the world. The school has an average class size of 16 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. Following the northern hemisphere calendar, the school year begins in August and ends in June.
Organization: AISCT is overseen by a board of governors who have been appointed according to the bylaws of its Deed of Foundation. The board is responsible for the school’s fiscal solvency and overall success. In addition, AISCT convenes a school council throughout the course of the year. The council consists of seven members, three of whom are community members elected by the school constituents, three of whom are appointed by the board, and one teacher representative. The council serves to advise and help guide the direction of the school.
Curriculum: The school follows the American Common Core curriculum and offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes in the high school. Foreign language instruction in French and Spanish begins in grade 1. An extensive range of electives and after-school activities are taught from grades ECD-12. AISCT is endorsed as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) based in California, USA. AISCT is also a proud member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), the International School Foundation, and is a U.S. Department of State-assisted overseas school. Graduates from AISCT receive a US high school diploma and gain access to universities around the world with USA, Canada, UK, Europe, and South Africa the most popular destinations.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, AISCT has 92 total staff including 52 teachers, 15 of whom are U.S. citizens, 25 host-country nationals, and 12 third-country nationals. Our faculty and staff represent 12 nationalities, including USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, Zimbabwe, and Colombia. All teaching faculty maintain a teaching certificate/credential e.g., diploma of teaching/registered teachers certificate from their countries of origin.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 460. Of the total, 115 were US citizens, 125 were host-country nationals, and 220 were third-country nationals.
Facilities: AISCT is located on 12 acres in the heart of Constantia Hills with Table Mountain National Park towering in the background. The campus is divided into four sections: early childhood development center, elementary school, middle school, and high school. There are 48 classrooms, three science laboratories, two computer/design spaces, a library, a multipurpose covered gymnasium (basketball, volleyball, etc.), two basketball/netball courts, two tennis courts, two soccer fields, a six-lane 25-meter pool, a shallow pool for learn-to-swim, a dance studio, a performing arts center, a performance hall, and a fully-catered cafeteria.
Finances: In the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 90% of the school’s income derives from tuition and other fees. Annual tuition rates are listed in South African rand (USD amounts are added as a reference only and are derived from the current exchange rate). Annual tuition rates are as follows: ECD: R78,558 ($4,628); Kindergarten 1 & 2: R109,245 ($6,436); Elementary School 1-5: R143,923 ($8,480); Middle School 6-8: R168,240 ($9,912); and High School 9-12: R199,526 ($11,755). Other fees are as follows: registration fee – R1,000 ($60); capital fee paid each year during first 4 years – R37,500 ($2,210) and bus fare – R30,000 ($1,768).
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- South Africa, Cape Town) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and are provided by the school.