The Almaty International School (AIS) (QSI Almaty) is a fully accredited American curriculum and Advanced Placement (AP) School, founded in 1993 by Quality Schools International. The school year is comprised of three terms extending from late August until mid-June. AIS is fully accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and is a member of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA). It is also a charter member of CEESA, a charter member of Central Asian Athletic Arts and Academic Federation (CAAAF), and a charter member of the Confederation of Almaty Schools and Head Teachers (COASH).
Organization: AIS is governed by the Board of Directors of Quality Schools International (QSI), the membership of which is formed as set forth in the Bylaws of Quality Schools International. An advisory board – composed of seven members, two of whom are from the U.S. government and reside in Almaty – assists the school in its operation. The school operates with the approval of the Kazakhstan government.
Curriculum: AIS offers the American curriculum with a Mastery Learning approach. The school is also an Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone school, which includes AP Seminar and AP Research. In addition, AIS is offering AP courses in the following subjects: Art, literature, U.S. history, economics, calculus, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, Spanish, French, comparative government, environmental science, human geography, music theory, and world history. Instruction, leading to individual mastery, takes advantage of small class sizes and the diverse educational backgrounds of the students. Instruction is in English. Foreign language classes are provided to learn French, Spanish, and Russian. Extracurricular offerings include varsity sports, National Honor Society, drama, music (preschool through secondary, choirs, instrumental band, and orchestra), Model United Nations (MUN), local community service, and international excursions.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, AIS has 120 total staff, 78 teachers, 50 of whom are U.S. citizens, 20 host-country nationals, and 8 third-country nationals from UK and South Africa. Classroom teachers are certified teachers in the USA.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year enrollment was 430 (PK–grade 12). Of the total, there are 68 U.S. citizens, 220 host-country nationals, and 143 third-country nationals.
Facilities: AIS offers a modern campus, with separate elementary and secondary buildings, including a gymnasium; art, band, orchestra, and choir rooms that are attached to the main building by a suspended, enclosed walkway; and multiple covered playgrounds. In 2014, AIS added a new cafeteria hall and a classroom building, which includes 12 classrooms and a newly constructed library with about 25,000 books in English. Recent land purchases will enable expansion of prekindergarten, a sports complex, and a cafeteria. AIS also has three computer labs, multiple laptop and iPad carts, science labs, a large gym and a fitness area, a 400-meter track, two tennis courts, and a soccer field. AIS monitors indoor and outdoor Air Quality Index (AQI) with a state-of-the-art monitoring station and is equipped with high quality air purifiers for each classroom.
Finances: In the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 98% of the school’s income derives from tuition. Annual tuition rates are as follows: PK (half-day): $7,300; PK (full-day): $8,800; and grades K-12: $22,000. There is a one-time registration fee of $300. The annual capital levy fee is $1,600. These fees are payable in U.S. dollars. (All fees quoted in U.S. dollars and local currency.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs Kazakhstan, Almaty) 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 provided by the school