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Kazakh American International School (KAIS) logo

Kazakh American International School (KAIS)

Kazakhstan, Almaty

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Kazakh, Russian
Fees KZT 2,430,000 - 3,000,000
Ages 6 - 19 years
Pupil numbers 600
Type Co-educational
Opened 1998
Bus Service Yes
principal
Alexander Lukashevich
School Principal
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC Qualification
Taught languages English, Kazakh, Russian, Korean, Mandarin
Typical class size 20
Strengths Languages, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional, Community and Service
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, High School, Middle School
Introduction

Kazakh American International School is a full-day international school in Almaty, Kazakhstan, educating students aged 6 to 19 with class sizes under 20 students to focus on individual progression. Founded in 1998, KAIS integrates the Kazakhstani curriculum with international (IB PYP), American (AP), and British (BTEC and Cambridge English Qualifications) programmes, delivering a trilingual education in English, Russian, and Kazakh. KAIS is an official AP exam test center. A defining feature of KAIS is its Career Navigation program, pairing high school students with mentors from universities who support real internship placements, SAT and IELTS preparation, and university applications. KAIS also offers high-quality college counseling and one of the first structured GAP year programmes in Kazakhstan. As a UNESCO Associated School, an independent centre for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, an NCSS member, and an Almaty School League competitor, KAIS offers wide-ranging leadership opportunities across STEM, sports, debate, and community projects. Partnering with Kazakh American University, KAIS offers students genuine research opportunities – rare at the school level in Kazakhstan. In the age of AI, KAIS emphasizes critical thinking and detail-oriented academic writing across all subjects, with AI and cybersecurity courses from an early age. We are one of the most affordable international schools in Almaty offering this breadth of international curricula.

Toraygirov Street 43, Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Essentials

Kazakh American International School (KAIS) has 600 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English, Kazakh, Russian.

Location
KAIS is conveniently located at Toraigyrov Street 43, nestled in an ecologically clean area near the heart of Almaty. Our prime location ensures easy and comfortable access for families commuting across the city.

Stages
KAIS provides a comprehensive educational pathway structured across three stages. A student's journey begins in Primary School (Grades 1 to 4), progresses through Secondary School (Grades 5 to 8), and completes in High School (Grades 9 to 11).

Type
KAIS is a co-educational full-day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.

Pupil Nationality Mix
KAIS proudly welcomes a vibrant and diverse student body. Mirroring the rich multiculturalism of Kazakhstan – a country that cherishes and unites over 130 nationalities – our school deeply values international diversity, fostering an inclusive environment where every global citizen feels at home.

Additional learning support
KAIS provides multi-layered support tailored to each student's academic and emotional journey. Within the classroom, our strict limit of under 21 students allows teachers to focus intensely on individual progression, supporting students as they master each subject. For emotional and developmental well-being, on-site psychologists and speech therapists are available to assist with communication and peer integration. As students advance, support expands to include dedicated SAT and IELTS preparation, alongside our defining Career Navigation Program. This initiative matches high school students with mentors studying at universities who support them with exam preparation and university admissions. KAIS further offers expert college counselling. Our counselors boast 15+ years of global admissions experience and guide the students through university applications, real internship placements, portfolio preparation, and research opportunities in partnership with Kazakh American University.

Country affiliation
While proudly rooted in Kazakhstan, KAIS operates as an independent, globally minded institution. Rather than affiliating with a single foreign country, we offer an international educational experience by integrating the Kazakhstani national curriculum with premier American (AP), British (BTEC and Cambridge English Qualifications), and international (IB PYP) frameworks.

Religious affiliation
KAIS does not have any religious affiliation and operates as a secular educational institution.

School day structure
The school operates on a full-day schedule, with the educational day running from 8:30 to 18:00. This timeframe includes academic lessons, extracurriculars, club activities, supervised periods for completing homework, and scheduled breaks that include four meals in the school cafeteria.

Bus service
KAIS offers a dedicated school delivery service for its students. This transport option provides safe, daily travel from home to the campus and back. Families can utilize this service to assist with managing their daily school commute in Almaty.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
KAIS Canteen provides three meals a day for primary and middle school students and two meals a day for high school students. The menu is drawn up with a paediatrician and complies with the Sanitary and Epidemiological Authority (SES) requirements. The canteen has two halls—one for primary and middle school children and another for high school—with a separate area for preschool children.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a structural division of the Kazakh American University.
Fees

Annual tuition at Kazakh American International School (KAIS) ranges from KZT 2,430,000 to KZT 3,000,000 for 2026/27.

Tuition & Enrollment
For the 2026/2027 academic year, monthly tuition is KZT 300,000, making KAIS one of the most affordable international schools in Almaty. A one-time enrollment fee of KZT 300,000 is required upon acceptance to secure a student's place.

Payment Plans & Discounts
Invoices are issued prior to the start of the academic year. Families may choose to pay the annual tuition in full by August, which qualifies for a prepayment discount, or opt for a convenient monthly installment plan. We are also pleased to offer a sibling discount for families with more than one child enrolled.

Additional Services
To provide flexibility for our families, daily meals and our dedicated school bus service are entirely optional and billed separately.
Academics

Kazakh American International School (KAIS) teaches IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC Qualification for students aged 6 to 19.

Curriculum
KAIS School follows the obligatory state educational program of Kazakhstan, integrating teaching methods drawn from both Kazakh and American pedagogical science. The academic structure begins with a preschool grade, followed by primary school for grades 1 to 4, basic secondary school for grades 5 to 9, and secondary school for grades 10 to 11. A central feature of the curriculum is its trilingual framework, which introduces English, Kazakh, and Russian in the early years with instructional hours gradually increasing at each subsequent educational stage. As students progress into the upper secondary levels, the academic program differentiates into specialized natural-mathematical and social-humanitarian tracks to focus on specific subject areas. At the conclusion of the 11th grade, students graduate with the official secondary education qualifications of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Student Teacher Ratio
Optimal class size up to 21 students.
Parent Experience

History
The KAIS School is a structural division of the Kazakh American University and opened in 1998 with 11th grade and two 10th-grade classes, one taught in Russian and the other in English. In 1999, grades 7–11 were opened with English instruction, and in 2000 grades 5–6 were added with Russian instruction and 30% English glossary in the classroom. In 2002 the Primary Educational Complex was created, including a pre-school Rostock, and in 2003 the KAIS School was associated by UNESCO. In 2006 two first grades were adopted with Kazakh instruction; in 2008 the school merged with the PEC; in 2014 state certification was passed as a general education secondary school. In 2016 a contract with the Swiss-American School enabled a second high school diploma; the training model was modernized around 2014–2015; in 2021 maintenance was completed, the building meets global standards, and the school rebranded as the School of Multifaceted Opportunities—KAIS School, with free sports and art programs and extended office-hour study opportunities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school is located in an ecologically clean area near the center of Almaty. Optimal class size is up to 21 students. The educational process runs from 8:30 to 16:30 under the supervision of teachers. Safe transportation of children to school and back home is provided.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school organizes a continuous learning process with educational and methodological support in English. It optimizes classroom load by increasing and varying forms of independent work, including teacher-guided tasks. The school emphasizes student responsibility for their own labor and the development of independent thinking, preparing students for study at the Kazakh-American University in English. Gifted students may pursue an individualized educational trajectory.

Arts & Creative
Sports sections and art classes are provided by the school free of charge or on preferential terms. The arts program supports the development of students' aesthetic talents. Circles and studios are organized in the interests of children to expand, understand, and deepen knowledge beyond the lessons.

Cultural & Language
The school prepares students for training at the Kazakh-American University in English. The mission emphasizes forming independent thinking and motivation for learning with English-language preparation. The school aims to provide a continuous learning process and educational support in English.

Social & Hobbies
Circles and studios are organized in the interests of children to expand, understand, and deepen knowledge beyond the lessons. Circle work has educational and developmental value. One of the ways to optimize the educational process and the full development of the child's personality is to organize circles and studios in the interests of children.

Leadership & Professional
The school discloses the potential and personal qualities of the students and develops motivation for learning. It fosters independent thinking and the ability to freely express oneself, to be responsible in relation to others, and to cooperate. The school prepares highly educated students capable of continuing their studies at prestigious universities in Kazakhstan and abroad. Gifted students may engage in an individualized educational trajectory.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school is located in an ecologically clean area near the center of Almaty. The educational day runs from 8:30 to 16:30 under the supervision of teachers. Sports sections and art classes are provided by the school, supporting physical and mental wellbeing. The classroom environment emphasizes comfort, friendliness, and mutual assistance.
Languages

Language Provision
The school has used English, Russian, and Kazakh in instruction at different times. English instruction was present from 1999 for grades 7–11, with 30% English glossary in Russian classrooms in 2000. Kazakh instruction began in 2006. The mission emphasizes aligning the educational process with international standards and preparing students for English-language study at the Kazakh American University.

Bilingual Teaching
English and Russian have been used as languages of instruction at KAIS School. English was used for grades 7–11 starting in 1999. In 2000, Russian-language classrooms included 30% English glossary. Kazakh instruction began in 2006.

Immersion Programs
The school offered the opportunity to attend language courses in the United Kingdom.
Admissions

Admissions
The admissions journey begins with families scheduling a personal interview for their child. Following the interview, students complete English and Mathematics proficiency assessments on our custom-built, digital testing platform. To ensure every student thrives, our admissions team carefully evaluates both the interview insights and test results to offer the most supportive placement – either in our full English-immersion curriculum or our blended mixed-language classes.

Scholarships
KAIS focuses on keeping our baseline tuition affordable. While we do not offer full scholarships at this time, we are fully committed to supporting families through multi-child sibling discounts, flexible installment plans, and prepayment incentives. This structure allows us to ensure a world-class education – providing an exceptionally diverse international curricula and growing student leadership programs – while remaining the core fees affordable.

Waitlist
The KAIS does not provide specific information regarding the operation of a formal waitlist or pool system.
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