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The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi

Georgia, Tbilisi

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Georgian, Russian
Fees GEL 200
Ages 13 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 372
Type Co-educational
Opened 2001
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Georgian, English, Russian, German
Typical class size 10
Strengths STEM, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Academic and Intellectual, Social and Hobbies
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, High School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy is a high school in Tbilisi with 372 students in grades 8–12. The five-year bespoke curriculum prepares students to study at Georgian universities and universities abroad. English is the language of instruction, with Georgian and Russian used exclusively in their language classes. The school emphasizes daily preparation, homework, active participation, and frequent writing and assessment, with technology integrated in instruction. The academic year runs two semesters; classes meet four times per week (50 minutes) and one double period (80 minutes). Courses are typically more intensive than the Georgian program, with small class sizes and hands-on activities and current textbooks. Founded in 2001 by Guivy Zaldastanishvili and Donald Thomas, the academy carries US-supported aims to foster critical thinking and writing. Facilities include three science laboratories and modern library. Extracurriculars include Drama, Debate, Chess, Kendo, and a Saturday Community Service program; it competes in FIRST Global Challenge.

01/014 Lisis Tba (Lake, Tbilisi 0186) , Georgia

The Essentials

The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi has 372 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English, Georgian, Russian.

Location
The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi is located in Tbilisi, Georgia. The campus address is 7a Leo Kvatchadze Street, 0186 Tbilisi, Georgia. The school serves grades 8 through 12. It is a private high school.

Stages
Junior High (Grade 8); Grades 9-12.

Type
Private high school.

Additional learning support
Academic support for Junior High is built within the daily schedule on a need-based calendar and it not only assists academically vulnerable students but also focuses on developing other areas of interest. All teachers in grades 9-12 will set public weekly hours of extra help for students who are in need of catching up with their studies. Students in academic probation are placed on a mandatory schedule. If, despite the extra help offered, the student fails to improve, the student may be asked to leave the Academy.

Country affiliation
American in name; of, by, and for Georgians.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The American Academy is governed by the Board of Trustees, the Director, and the Faculty. The Board of Trustees manages the Academy's financial resources and meets at least four times a year to hire, evaluate, and if necessary terminate the Director's employment; the Director reports to the Board. The Board is comprised of nine voting members, with no limit on terms. The school is organized as a joint-stock company (JSC) registered as JSC 'Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi' (I/N 204958000).
Fees

Annual tuition at The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi ranges from GEL 200 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- A non-refundable application fee of 200 GEL is required at the time of application. Payment is made by bank transfer to the school's TBC Bank account (account details provided by the school during application).

Tuition fees (2026/2027 academic year) — annual amounts

- Grade 8 (Junior High): Annual tuition: 19,500 GEL.
- Grades 9–12 (High School): Annual tuition: 31,000 GEL.
- Security deposit: 600 GEL per student, collected when the student enters the school; this deposit covers school property issued to students (books, locker key, graduation gown, etc.) and is refundable at the end of the senior year subject to deductions per the Educational Services Agreement.

Tuition fees — per term / billing frequency

- Tuition is published as an annual total by year group. The school issues an Educational Services Agreement to enrolled families that contains the specific billing schedule and payment terms; families receive that agreement during the admissions/acceptance process.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The school provides an Educational Services Agreement (ESA) to families that specifies payment deadlines, late-payment conditions, and any applicable deductions; the ESA is provided to parents after acceptance. The security deposit (600 GEL) is collected at enrollment.

Boarding fees

- The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi operates as a day secondary school (grades 8–12); there is no public boarding program or boarding fee schedule.

Other costs and typical ancillary charges

- Security deposit: 600 GEL (see above). This covers books and locker keys issued to students.
- Diploma/replacement document fees (examples of small administrative fees published for document services): School charges for a replacement diploma are listed as GEL 15 (diploma without cover) and GEL 35 (diploma with cover) for diploma-service requests. Administrative services and document requests are payable by bank transfer to the school account.
- Uniform: the school is listed in independent school directories as not requiring a uniform. Specific clothing or dress-code expectations for students are determined by the school and communicated to families.
- Extracurricular programs, Summer Academy sessions, special exams or optional trips may carry additional fees; those activities and their charges are managed separately from standard tuition and are announced when applicable.

Refund information

- The security deposit (600 GEL) is refundable at the end of the senior year, less any deductions permitted under the Educational Services Agreement. The Educational Services Agreement clauses govern other refund scenarios and any deductions.

Fee payment options

- Bank transfer to the school's TBC Bank account is an established payment method and is used for application fees, document-service fees, and other school payments (the school provides the account details during the application or administrative process). For document-service payments the school explicitly accepts bank transfers. The Educational Services Agreement provided to families sets out the accepted payment methods for tuition and any other permitted instruments.

Discounts / financial assistance

- Sibling discount: a 15% discount is available for an elder sibling when two or more siblings are enrolled simultaneously (applicable to high school students). Tuition abatement (need- and merit-based financial assistance) is offered annually through a formal application process; recipients must meet academic and behavioural conditions to retain abatement.

Contact and payment logistics

- For payments and account details, families use the bank-account information supplied by the school during application or in the enrollment package; the school's admissions office provides the Educational Services Agreement and billing schedule to enrolled families.
Academics

The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 13 to 18.

Curriculum
The five-year program of study is designed to produce well-rounded students who are prepared to enter local universities in Georgia as well as highly-regarded universities in Europe and the United States. English is the primary language of instruction, except in classes which study Georgian and Russian where these languages are spoken exclusively. Daily preparation is stressed, with homework in every subject, and students are expected to participate actively in every class. Wherever and whenever practicable, technology will be integrated into classroom instruction; frequent writing and assessment will be given high priority; attendance is mandatory. The academic year is divided into two semesters, with classes meeting four times per week (50 minutes each) and one double period (80 minutes). Most courses are more intensive than the typical Georgian program, meeting five hours per week in small classes throughout the year, with a high degree of hands-on activities and the use of advanced textbooks and technology.

Higher Education Progression
90% of graduates continue their studies at universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe. The College Counseling program begins in the tenth grade with a university orientation, and from the junior year the school helps students select universities, prepare documents, and submit applications through group and individual meetings. The Class of 2024 had 71 graduates; 19% enrolled in US institutions, 63% in non-US institutions, 4% in Georgian universities, and 14% took a gap year. College acceptances include a wide range of US and European universities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school supports social and emotional learning through a holistic student-support framework. Academic support for Junior High is integrated into the daily schedule on a need-based basis, and teachers in grades 9–12 publish weekly hours for extra help. Students on academic probation follow a mandatory schedule, and if progress remains insufficient, the school may ask the student to leave. The school encourages families to discuss tutoring with teachers and to coordinate interventions as needed. Extracurricular clubs and activities, school ceremonies, and field trips foster teamwork, leadership, and social engagement.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Parents must inform the school about any special needs their child may have. In such cases, additional assessments may be conducted to ensure the school can provide the needed support. The school provides academic support for students who struggle, including a need-based schedule and formal extra-help hours for grades 9–12.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the primary language of instruction in grades 9–11. Incoming students must demonstrate fluency and an academic record that prepares them for a rigorous course of study. Admissions testing for Grade 8 includes Georgian, English, and Math; Grades 9–11 take English and Math tests, with Grade 9 Math offered in Georgian or English as needed.

Mental Wellbeing
The school provides mental wellbeing support through Student Health Services. The school counsellor handles student counselling and the school doctor manages health matters. Counselling is available to students, and health services are provided on campus to support wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The school maintains a Privacy Policy that outlines data-protection practices. Safety initiatives include first aid training delivered to staff and students. The health staff (school psychologist and doctor) contribute to safeguarding by addressing wellbeing and safety concerns.
Parent Experience

History
The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi was founded in 2001 by Guivy Zaldastanishvili, a Georgian businessman who spent much of his life in the United States, and Donald Thomas, an American educator who taught at and led schools in the Boston area. Receiving US State Department grants of over two million dollars, the school was established to be a model for the transformation of Georgian education as the country moved from the Soviet system to a democratic free‑market economy. Education shifted from rote methods to an interactive classroom that stresses critical analysis, writing, and creative thinking. The founding teachers were sent to the United States for Master's Degrees in Education from Harvard University, Simmons College, and Phillips Exeter Academy, forming the core of the Academy's staff and offering seminars to Georgian teachers through an NGO. The first class of seniors graduated in 2005, and Academy alumni have attended colleges and universities in the US, the UK, Europe, and Georgia, with Georgian history and culture woven into the curriculum alongside Western pedagogy.

Community
The school hosts a Regional Teachers' Conference to provide a forum for educators to share ideas, discuss educational improvements, and disseminate a philosophy of national education. GZAAT Saturday Academy offers combined courses for 1st–12th‑grade students at the Lisi campus to broaden knowledge, foster curiosity, and help students master advanced material; updated course information is available via the program's FB page. Saturday School is listed as a program (Coming soon). Online GZAAT provides online learning, and GZAAT Teacher's Blog offers resources for teachers and the wider school community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parents Council. Eka Tatishvili, the Dean of Students, coordinates the Advisory Program, student services, special events, field trips, the speaker series, and extracurricular activities. The Dean is also a liaison with the Parents Council, which contributes in many ways to the life of the school. The Convocation Ceremony calls together the students, teachers, the Parents Council, and the trustees to begin the school year. The Closing Ceremony/Parents Conference is part of the academic calendar, reflecting ongoing parent involvement. The Dean's liaison role and the active participation of the Parents Council support ongoing engagement in student services and governance.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi is a private high school enrolling 372 students in grades 8 through 12. The mission is to help Georgia compete globally by preparing its children to study locally and abroad. The school is located at 7a Leo Kvatchadze Street, 0186 Tbilisi, Georgia.

Sports Facilities
The page does not describe specific sports facilities.

Academic Facilities
The school features three state-of-the-art laboratories for Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, with all required safety and storage facilities. A modern library supports study and research.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular Activities include Drama, Debate, Kendo, Intellectual, Chess, Music, Archaeology, Newspaper, and Community Service Clubs.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Student participation in extracurricular activities is essential. Activities are scheduled after the school day or on Saturdays and vary from year to year based on student demand. Clubs operate as independent student organizations or under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The school offers academically oriented clubs such as Drama, Debate, Intellectual, Chess, Computers, and Newspaper, and participates in competitions such as the FIRST Global Challenge, where the Georgian team placed third among 193 countries in 2018.

Arts & Creative
Drama, Music, and Studio Arts are active arts-focused clubs. Students collaborate on performances and visual projects as part of club activities. These clubs contribute to a vibrant creative culture within student life.

Cultural & Language
Archaeology is offered as a cultural club. The school hosts a range of cultural-focused student groups as part of Clubs/Activities. These activities expose students to historical and cultural topics beyond class.

Social & Hobbies
Drama, Debate, Chess, Computers, Movie, Music, and Newspaper clubs are available as social and hobby groups. Clubs meet after school or on Saturdays, providing opportunities for teamwork and personal interests. Past successful clubs have included Drama, Debate, Intellectual, Chess, Computers, Movie, Music, Kendo Club, Archaeology, Studio Arts, Newspaper Club, and the Saturday Community Service program.

Community & Service
Saturday Community Service program is part of student life. Community Service Clubs provide opportunities to contribute to local communities. The programs emphasize service and social responsibility.

Leadership & Professional
Clubs function as independent student organizations or under supervision of a faculty advisor. Participation provides leadership opportunities and project-management experience. The school also participates in competitions such as the FIRST Global Challenge, which fosters teamwork and leadership.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Field trips include grade-specific trips to various parts of Georgia and a ski trip to the local mountains. Kendo Club and other sports-oriented clubs promote physical activity. Clubs meet after school or on Saturdays, supporting a balanced, active student life.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the primary language of instruction; Georgian and Russian are spoken exclusively in Georgian and Russian language classes. The German language program begins in grade eight and aims to provide a solid command of the language by graduation, with a target of at least B1 on the CEFR.

Bilingual Teaching
English is the primary language of instruction; Georgian and Russian are spoken exclusively in classes studying those languages.
Reputation

Awards
The school has been recognized as Best Private School.

Accreditations
The school is accredited by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement.
Admissions

Admissions
The school enrolls 372 students in grades 8–12 and admits 72 new students each year, primarily into Grade 8. Spaces may be available in Grades 9–11 depending on capacity. Upper-grade admissions are conducted exclusively on a reserve list. English is the language of instruction in upper grades, and 8th-grade applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Georgian to be considered.

The school requires an online application; applicants upload a current photo (3x4), a birth certificate, a current transcript, and a handwritten statement in English describing why the student wishes to attend. A non-refundable 200 GEL application fee must be transferred to the school's bank account. The Admissions Calendar lists important dates, including Open House and the application deadlines.

The school administers admissions tests; Grade 8 entrants take three tests (Georgian, English, Math), while Grades 9–11 take two tests (English, Math). A personal interview follows, and the results from tests and interviews determine the final selection. Parents must disclose any special needs, and additional assessments may be conducted if needed.

The List of Accepted/Waitlisted Students is published on defined dates, with waitlisted candidates identified. Open House events and key deadlines are published in the Admissions Calendar, and families receive guidance on tuition-related steps, including Tuition Abatement information and language proficiency requirements via email as part of the enrollment process.

Scholarships
Tuition Abatement is offered to students with strong academic abilities and demonstrated financial need; abatement requires maintaining at least a C average and no disciplinary incidents, and the school may rescind the abatement for academic or disciplinary reasons. Parents must reapply for tuition abatement each year. A 15% elder-sibling discount applies to high school tuition. Annual tuition is 19,500 GEL for Grade 8 and 31,000 GEL for Grades 9–12, with a 600 GEL security deposit; a sibling discount is available for the elder sibling.

Waitlist
The admissions process uses a reserve list for upper grades, and the school publishes lists of accepted and waitlisted students on defined dates. Waitlisted candidates are identified and notified as part of the published admissions timeline. The process includes a published waitlist date in the Admissions Calendar.
School Events
The school has not added events
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