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Almaty International School

Kazakhstan, Almaty

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KZT 3,563,827 - 12,204,890
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 450
Type Co-educational
Opened 1993
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Kazakh, Russian, Spanish, French, English
Typical class size 6
Strengths Academic Enrichment, Sport, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional, Arts and Creative
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Almaty International School (AIS) is a nonprofit private international school in Kalkaman, Almaty, serving students aged 3 to 18. Founded in 1993 by Quality Schools International, AIS offers an American college-preparatory curriculum taught in English, with mastery learning and Advanced Placement courses, including the AP Capstone Diploma Program (AP Seminar and AP Research with a score of 3 or better, along with four other AP exams). The curriculum includes Russian and Kazakh language and culture. The campus spans more than seven hectares and features purpose-built facilities completed in 2017, including a state-of-the-art library, three science laboratories, computer labs with portable laptops and iPad carts, more than 65 classrooms, two gymnasiums, a soccer field with track, and dedicated spaces for art and music. AIS is fully accredited by the Middle States Association and affiliated with the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. The school participates in COASH, CAFA, and CEESA networks for competitions and activities.

Baiken Ashimov Street, Nauryzbai District 185, Almaty 050006, Kazakhstan

The Essentials

Almaty International School has 450 pupils, typical class sizes of 6, instruction in English.

Location
Almaty International School is located at 185 Baiken Ashimov Street, Kalkaman 2 Micro-District, Nauryzbay District, Almaty, Kazakhstan 050006. The address places it in the Kalkaman area of Almaty and is accessible by road. The campus serves preschool through Secondary IV (Pre-K through 12).

Stages
Preschool through Secondary IV (Pre-K through 12)

Type
Private, nonprofit international school

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body represents over 32 nationalities

Country affiliation
Affiliated with the United States Department of State Office of Overseas Schools
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunches are provided by FG Company in a buffet. 3- to 4-year-old students are served in their classrooms. The menu includes an in-house bakery, a salad bar with fresh fruits and vegetables, dietetic options and vegetarian dishes, two entree selections with sides, two soups, and beverages; Korean food is offered for older students daily. Payments for the lunch program are accepted in cash or by card at the school office and must be made in advance on a monthly basis. If lunches are funded by a company, payments can be made by wire transfer in Kazakh tenge for a minimum of five months; an invoice and closing document are provided by FG Company.

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of Quality Schools International (QSI), a non-profit organization with 35 schools in 29 countries.
Fees

Annual tuition at Almaty International School ranges from KZT 3,563,827 to KZT 12,204,890 for 2026/27.

Application / Admission fee
- No publicly posted, itemised application or one-off admission fee amount was available in the school's published 2025–2026 enrollment materials. Parents should expect that a non‑refundable application or admission charge may exist and that payment is typically required at enrollment; the school's admissions materials and student handbook describe the admissions steps but do not list a specific fee amount.

Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts)
- Pre‑K (half‑day): USD 7,300.
- Pre‑K (full‑day): USD 8,800.
- Grades K–12 (annual): USD 25,000.

Note: per‑term (installment) breakdowns for these tuition figures were not published in the school materials accessible for 2025–2026; the annual figures above are the published annual amounts.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Lunch program: payments are made in advance on a monthly basis; lunch payments can be made in cash or by card (Visa, MasterCard) at the school office. Company payments for lunches may be paid by wire transfer for a minimum of five months at a time.
- Bus/transportation: the annual transportation fee is USD 2,200. The transportation fee may be paid for the whole year, by term, or by month (the school describes this service as flexible).
- Withdrawal and outstanding balances: families are required to give written notice when withdrawing a student (two weeks' notice is requested). Final school records, transcripts and diplomas will not be released while tuition or other school charges remain outstanding.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered. Almaty International School operates as a day school; no boarding fee schedule is published.

Other costs and recurring charges
- Lunch: KZT 2,400 per day (monthly payment required); snack (where offered) KZT 420 per day. Payments accepted in cash or by card (Visa, MasterCard) at the school office; company payments by wire transfer are accepted for multi‑month prepayment.
- Summer camp: Intensive English Camp KZT 75,000 per week (9:00–13:00); Summer Fun Camp KZT 70,000 per week (9:00–16:00) with an optional additional weekly KZT 22,000 to include snack and lunch.
- Transportation: annual fee USD 2,200 (see billing schedule entry above).
- Examination fees: externally graded exams (for example AP exams) incur additional exam fees charged to students.
- Items explicitly noted as not included in standard tuition: sports uniforms, books, voluntary trip fees (field trips), campus spirit shop and student centre charges, lunch (unless purchased), week‑without‑walls trips, and summer camp.
- Sibling discounts or other concessions: no specific public schedule for sibling discounts or fee waivers was published in the materials reviewed.

Refund information and early withdrawal
- Withdrawal procedure: the school requests two weeks' written notice of withdrawal. Credit for work and issuance of records follow the school's academic and administrative policy; families with outstanding tuition or other unpaid charges will not receive final documentation until accounts are cleared. The student handbook and admissions material set out withdrawal steps but do not publish a separate, detailed refundable / prorated tuition refund table in the publicly available 2025–2026 packet.

Fee payment options (methods explicitly stated)
- Lunch payments: cash or card (Visa, MasterCard) in the school office; company payments by wire transfer (in KZT) are accepted for multi‑month prepayments.
- Transportation payments: described as payable annually, by term, or by month; specific payment methods for the transportation fee are not itemised on the transportation page.
- General tuition and other school charges: the school's publicly available admissions and student handbook materials do not publish a full list of accepted payment methods for tuition (for example, card, bank transfer details or online payment portal). For payments related to the lunch program, the school accepts Visa and MasterCard; parents should coordinate directly with the school finance office for tuition payment methods and bank details.

Concise summary of findings and outstanding items
- Confirmed and published items (2025–2026 materials): annual tuition headline figures (Pre‑K and K–12), the annual transportation fee (USD 2,200), lunch pricing and payment methods, summer camp weekly fees, and the list of charges that are not included in tuition.
- Not published in the publicly available 2025–2026 enrollment materials reviewed: an itemised application/admission fee amount; a per‑term tuition breakdown (exact term instalment amounts derived from the annual fee); a detailed tuition payment policy listing all accepted payment channels for tuition (full bank details, online portal or card processing for tuition); and a formal, published refund/proration table for early withdrawal. These items were therefore not available to set out as fixed figures or formal policy text in this summary.

If you require the specific per‑term tuition instalments, an exact application/admission fee amount, or the school's bank details and formal refund/proration table for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 year, those items will need to be obtained from the school's admissions or finance office; the school's admissions page, student‑parent handbook and service pages are the documents consulted for this summary.
Academics

Almaty International School teaches Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school has mastery learning with an American curriculum. English is the language of instruction. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered, including the AP Capstone Diploma Program. AP Capstone requires completing AP Seminar and AP Research with a 3 or better along with four other AP exams. The curriculum includes Russian and Kazakh language and culture. After-school activities, music, and sports programs are available.

Student Teacher Ratio
The school has about 400 students and 64 teachers (48 full-time foreign teachers and 16 language teachers), yielding a student-teacher ratio of about 6:1.

Exam Results
In 2020-2021, 58 students were enrolled in AP courses and 87 AP exams were taken. The mean AP score was 3.1, with 73% of scores at 3 or higher. AIS offers the AP Capstone Diploma, awarded to students who complete AP Seminar and AP Research with a grade of 3 or better along with four other AP exams.

Higher Education Progression
Graduate SAT data for 2020-2021 shows a mean composite of 1273, with Critical Reading 620 and Mathematics 671. Recent AIS graduates have gained admission to universities in the United States and abroad, including Harvard University, Northwestern University, University of California Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, Amherst College, Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, and New York University.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
AIS supports social and emotional learning through the QSI Success Orientations, including Kindness and Politeness, Independent Endeavor, and Concern for Others. The school provides counseling and behavioral guidance through a dedicated Counseling program with whole-school activities, class lessons, small-group sessions, and individual counseling to address academic and social-emotional needs. Counseling topics include guiding students through cultural adjustments, relationship issues, conflict resolution, problem-solving, anger/frustration management, and crisis intervention. The program emphasizes well-being as a core focus of student development and prepares students to engage as global citizens. AIS also emphasizes 21st Century Skills and project-based learning to foster collaboration and empathy.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Quality Schools International has a special needs policy forming the learning support framework for students with mild to moderate learning challenges. The learning support program provides accommodations to help students master the curriculum, with regional Learning Support Coordinators and on-site Learning Support Teachers and paraprofessionals. AIS can develop and support appropriate academic and behavioral learning plans to meet individual student needs. For specifics on AIS learning support services, contact the school directly for details.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The language of instruction is English.

Mental Wellbeing
The well-being of students is prioritized; counselors work with students, parents, teachers, and the administrative team through classroom lessons and individual counseling to support academic and social-emotional needs. The counseling program offers academic support and social/emotional support, including guidance on cultural adjustments, relationship issues, conflict resolution, problem-solving, anger/frustration management, and crisis intervention. Secondary counseling topics include academic planning and post-secondary planning.

Safeguarding
AIS follows the CEESA Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement and Commitments. Safeguarding policies include staff training, safer recruitment, and procedures for safeguarding and reporting concerns. A comprehensive Child Protection Handbook outlines reporting protocols and a school-based Child Protection Team, and child protection instruction aligns with QSI success orientations such as concern for others, group interaction, independence, and responsibility.
Parent Experience

History
Almaty International School is a nonprofit institution founded by Quality Schools International (QSI) in 1993. It offers an American college-preparatory curriculum with English as the language of instruction. The school is fully accredited through the Middle States Association (MSA) and affiliated with the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools (AOS). The student body comprises about 450 students representing 32 nationalities. AIS is part of Quality Schools International, a global network of 35 schools in 28 countries.

Community
Almaty International School maintains an active community through an events calendar that features activities such as Ice Cream Fridays, Spirit Shack, Literacy Week, Poetry Café, and CAFA MUN. The school supports family involvement through the Parent Support Group, which works to build a strong community at AIS.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parent Support Group builds a strong community at QSI's Almaty International School. E-mail ais-psg@almaty.qsi.org to get involved.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
AIS occupies over seven hectares of land in Kalkaman Micro-District, with additional land for future expansion. Several purpose-built facilities with building additions were completed in the winter of 2017. The campus includes a state-of-the-art library, two computer laboratories, portable laptop laboratories and iPad carts, three science laboratories, and elementary and secondary gymnasiums. It also features two art rooms, music rooms for choir and band, a soccer field with track, and over 65 classrooms.

Sports Facilities
The campus includes separate elementary and secondary gymnasiums and a soccer field with a track.

Academic Facilities
State-of-the-art library; two computer laboratories; portable laptop laboratories and iPad carts; three science laboratories; and over 65 classrooms.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field, and Speech and Debate.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Speech and Debate is a COASH activity with participation in four to five large tournaments throughout the year. The National Honor Society provides opportunities for scholarship, service, leadership, and character development. A Yearbook Club publishes the year's work and fosters collaboration among students. AIS participates in COASH, CAFA, and CEESA networks for athletic and academic competitions.

Arts & Creative
The school offers art, drama, and music classes. The arts cultivate creativity and expression. Clubs and community service are integrated with arts through Roots and Shoots and Helping Hands, with Service Learning Week and a Certificate of Community Service. Concert Band and various art projects illustrate student creativity.

Cultural & Language
Intercultural participation is promoted through COASH, which fosters participation, fair play and respect among member schools. AIS has a diverse student body with students from many nationalities. Cultural awareness is a focus of the program.

Social & Hobbies
Yearbook Club, Dance Squad, eSports, and Student Council are part of AIS's social and hobby opportunities. eSports includes Just Dance, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros, with a Eurasian division championship in 2023-2024. National Honor Society also provides student-life activities.

Community & Service
Clubs and Community Service include Roots and Shoots and Helping Hands, a Service Learning Week, and a Certificate of Community Service. These programs encourage students to engage in community service and outreach.

Leadership & Professional
Student Council is a member of the US National Organization of Student Councils and is built around four tenets: Leadership Development, Service to the Community, Amplifying Student Voice, and Promoting Active Engagement. Programs such as the National Student Council, Distinguished Student Leaders Program, and Emerging Student Leader Program develop leadership skills. National Honor Society emphasizes leadership alongside scholarship, service, and character.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The athletics program participates in a city league and two international conferences through COASH, with sports including Soccer, Badminton, Swimming, Basketball, Volleyball, and Track and Field. Summer Camp offers Intensive English Camp and Summer FUN Camp with weekly schedules. The Fine Arts program includes performances such as Concert Band, contributing to student well-being and classroom life.
Languages

Language Provision
The school offers Russian and Kazakh to native or non-native speakers as part of the regular program, and also offers Spanish and French.
Reputation

Accreditations
Middle States Association, accredited since 1999.
Admissions

Admissions
STEP 1: Schedule a School Tour. Applications are accepted throughout the year, and admission is based on space availability. To visit the campus, schedule a Tour. STEP 2: Submit Application Form. Access the application form on OpenApply. An OpenApply Tutorial is available to help families complete the form. STEP 3: Submit Documents. Documents are uploaded into OpenApply in PDF format and include a passport-sized photo, copy of Passport, copies of school records from the last two years, and copies of secondary transcripts for students 14 years old and older. You will need to bring hard copies of the following on the first day of school: Medical Form #052-2/y (Health Passport) and Medical Form #065/y (formerly 063/y). STEP 4: Take a Placement Test. Schedule a time to take the placement test and sit for an interview with the Director of Instruction. The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) computer-based test provides placement data for Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage, all in English. Students ages 8 and older also complete a written essay. Results from the MAP tests are one factor in determining readiness and placement. STEP 5: First Day of School. A buddy helps new students adjust during the first days. Parents receive weekly AIS newsletters to stay connected to the school community and engage in the Parent Support Group.
School Events
The school has not added events
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