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International School of Arizona

United States, Scottsdale

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French, Spanish
Fees $20,075
Ages 1 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 371
Type Co-educational
Opened 1998
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish
Typical class size 14
Strengths STEM, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

International School of Arizona is nonprofit school offering dual-language curriculum with French and Spanish immersion from 18 months through 8th grade. Affiliated with AEFE network, ISA blends a French language tradition with US Honors core curriculum. Three divisions organize the school: Early School (PK1–K), Lower School (Grades 1–5), and Middle School (Grades 6–8). Instruction is delivered by native-language teachers, with daily English lessons to support bilingual fluency. In Middle School, students pursue a U.S. Honors Core Curriculum in a bilingual environment, with opportunities in robotics, public speaking, collaboration, and Personal Inquiry Project; language proficiency is tracked from 3rd grade, culminating in DELE and DELF diplomas aligned to CEFR. ISA offers small classes and after-school program with activities through Explorer's Den and Camp Pathfinders, plus on-campus music lessons via Arizona School of Music. The school carries accreditation from French Ministry of Education, Cervantes Institute, Spanish International Academy, globally aware, and Cognia.

9522 E San Salvador Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, United States

The Essentials

International School of Arizona has 371 pupils, typical class sizes of 14, instruction in English, French, Spanish.

Location
9522 E. San Salvador Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85258. The school is a private nonprofit corporation located in Scottsdale, Arizona. It serves students from 18 months through grade 8 and offers immersion in French and Spanish as part of its dual international curriculum.

Stages
Early School (PK1-K), Lower School (1-5), Middle School (6-8).

Type
Private nonprofit independent school.

Country affiliation
Affiliated with France through the AEFE network.
Diving Deeper

House System
We have Houses: Coyotes, Bobcats, Gila Monsters, Roadrunners; students are assigned to a house for teams, sports days, and positive reinforcement.

Governance and Ownership
ISA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of up to twelve members with fiduciary responsibility for governance, policy-making, and strategic planning; the Board selects the Head of School, approves compensation, and oversees finances.
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Arizona ranges from USD 20,075 for 2026/27.

Tuition by year group (annual and notes)

- Early School (hours 8:30am–2:30pm; half day 8:30am–12:00pm)
- PK1–PK3 (Part‑time, three days: Tue/Wed/Thu): USD 14,000 per year.
- PK1–PK3 (Half days, M–F): USD 16,250 per year.
- PK1–PK4 (Full time): USD 18,000 per year.
- Kindergarten: USD 19,500 per year.

- Lower School and Middle School (Grades 1–8; typical day hours shown in tuition document)
- Grades 1–8: USD 20,540 per year.

Application / enrollment / one‑time fees

- Registration Fee (per student): USD 250.
- Building Capital Fee (new families only; one‑time per family): USD 500.
- A tuition deposit equal to 10% of the tuition is required at the time the enrollment agreement is signed.

Recurring / annual fees and supplemental fees

- Experience Fee (covers yearbook, standardized testing (DELE/DELF), classroom supplies for Early and Lower School, school‑provided snacks for Early Childhood, field trips and textbooks): USD 500 per student; Middle School Experience Fee: USD 750.
- Parent Association & Staff Appreciation Fee: USD 75 per individual student, with a family maximum of USD 150.

Payment plans, billing schedule and payment terms

- A 10% tuition deposit is due when the enrollment agreement is signed; the balance is payable under the school's payment options.
- Payment options offered include: pay‑in‑full, semi‑annual, quarterly and monthly payment plans. A transaction fee of USD 35 applies to quarterly and monthly payment plans (per transaction). Pay‑in‑full and semi‑annual payments carry the stated discounts below.
- Discounts tied to payment method and family circumstances:
- Pay‑in‑Full Discount: USD 750 (applies per the enrollment window rules).
- Semi‑Annual Pay Discount: USD 350 (applies per the enrollment window rules).
- Sibling Discount: 7% (applies to eligible siblings).
- Military Discount (new families): 7% (eligibility per school procedures).
- Transaction fee: USD 35 applies for each quarterly or monthly payment transaction.

Billing mechanics and accepted payment channels

- Tuition invoicing and account management are handled through the school's Parent Portal (FACTS tuition management). Common payment channels used with FACTS include electronic bank payment (ACH/eCheck) and payment by credit/debit card; credit card payments are commonly subject to card processing or convenience fees through the payment processor. The school applies the USD 35 transaction fee to quarterly and monthly plans as noted above.

Boarding

- Boarding is not applicable. The school is a day program serving students from 18 months through Grade 8; there are no boarding fees.

Other potential costs to expect

- The Experience Fee covers many routine instructional and activity costs (yearbook, language testing fees, many classroom supplies for Early and Lower School, student snacks for Early Childhood, field trips, textbooks). Items specifically excluded from the Experience Fee include PK1/PK2 diapers, wipes and nap bedding; individual student classroom supplies for Middle School may also be excluded.
- Optional or incidental costs (may be billed separately as incurred): specific after‑school programs, camps, certain specialty activities or extra curricular trips beyond standard field trips; these are charged in addition to tuition and the Experience Fee as applicable. The school includes a separate Parent Association / staff appreciation fee as noted above.
- Uniforms are not listed as a mandatory fee in the published tuition and fees schedule. Any uniform or clothing purchases, if required, would be additional to the items listed above.

Refunds and withdrawal / contract notes

- A 10% tuition deposit is required at enrollment. Specific refund, cancellation and withdrawal terms are governed by the family's enrollment agreement; the enrollment agreement and school billing terms define how deposits and tuition payments are handled if a family withdraws.

Summary of the common fee items (quick list)

- Annual tuition (examples): Early School part‑time USD 14,000; Early School half‑day USD 16,250; Early School full time USD 18,000; Kindergarten USD 19,500; Grades 1–8 USD 20,540.
- Registration fee: USD 250.
- Experience fee: USD 500 (USD 750 for Middle School).
- PA & Staff Appreciation fee: USD 75 per student / USD 150 max per family.
- Building Capital fee (new families): USD 500 per family.
- Transaction fee for quarterly/monthly plans: USD 35 per transaction.
- Deposit at enrollment: 10% of tuition due when signing the enrollment agreement.
- Discounts: Pay‑in‑Full USD 750; Semi‑Annual USD 350; Sibling 7%; Military 7% (new families).

If you need these figures placed into a specific field format for your database (for example separate fields for one‑time fees, annual fees, per‑student vs per‑family fees, and the transaction fee rule), the entries above list each fee and whether it is per student or per family for direct entry.
Academics

International School of Arizona teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 1 to 14.

Curriculum
The International School of Arizona offers a dual international curriculum with French and Spanish language immersion beginning at 18 months and continuing through 8th grade.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes. Enrollment is nearly 380 students.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Character Strong program supports student wellbeing and character development; Kevin Wilkinson is the director of student support and wellbeing. The program emphasizes values of respect, integrity, and community. The Portrait Of A Graduate defines SEL-related outcomes with traits such as Compassionate Communicator and Citizen Of The World. The school's guiding principles include developing Active Citizens of the World and fostering Multilingualism, contributing to SEL through global citizenship and language learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The International School of Arizona offers French and Spanish language immersion programs that begin at 18 months and continue through 8th grade. Early School starts bilingual fluency from 18 months to 5 years old. Lower School develops knowledge and skills in two languages from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Middle School provides a robust, bilingual academic environment for Grades 6-8. Accreditations include AEFE of France and Instituto Cervantes of Spain.

Mental Wellbeing
Character Strong program supports student wellbeing and character development; Kevin Wilkinson is the school's director of student support and wellbeing. The program teaches values such as respect, integrity and community. The school emphasizes developing compassionate leaders through character education.
Parent Experience

History
ISA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. It has been operating for about 25 years. The school is organized into three divisions: Early School (PK1–K), Lower School (Grades 1–5), and Middle School (Grades 6–8). The language immersion program offers French and Spanish from 18 months through 8th grade.

Community
ISA is an engaged community where everyone contributes to the mission and vision. Like a family, ISA builds and sustains connections among students, staff, families, alumni, and the local and global community, enriching the learning experiences of all. Families are encouraged to participate in school life and collaborate through events and activities that involve the broader ISA community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents Association is a component of ISA; every parent automatically becomes a member and may participate to the extent they choose. Classroom Representatives in the PA organize events for the whole family.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
ISA comprises three school levels: Early School (PK1-K), Lower School (Grades 1-5), and Middle School (Grades 6-8). Language immersion begins from 18 months and continues through 8th grade, with instruction delivered in French or Spanish by native-language teachers and daily English lessons integrated into the curriculum. The program teaches in the target language to build fluent bilingualism, and class sizes are small to support personalized learning.

Academic Facilities
ISA provides advanced foreign language instruction with daily English lessons integrated into an immersion program delivered exclusively by native-language teachers. The Early School begins at 18 months with a language-emergent experience, offering PK1 through PK4 with flexible enrollment options and fully immersive PK1–PK4 classes. Lower School (Grades 1-5) develops listening and speaking in French/Spanish with reading and writing activities designed to build comprehension and critical thinking. Middle School (Grades 6-8) offers a U.S. Honors Core Curriculum in a bilingual environment, with opportunities to learn robotics, public speaking, collaboration, and the Personal Inquiry Project; students study core subjects in both target language and English. Foreign language fluency is tracked from 3rd grade, with Spanish DELE and French DELF diplomas, using the CEFR framework to measure proficiency.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Trailblazer Auxiliary Programs include Extended Care with before- and after-care for PK1–K and Grades 1–8, enrichment activities, and summer camps. The Explorer's Den provides after-school opportunities in STEM, creative arts, language, sports, and leadership. Camp Pathfinders runs six weekly summer sessions with full-day and half-day options, specialty camps, and open community access; extended care is available. The school offers on-campus music lessons for Kindergarten through 8th grade through a partnership with the Arizona School of Music (Kirk's Studio for the Performing Arts) for an extra fee.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Language immersion in French and Spanish begins at 18 months and continues through 8th grade. There are three divisions: Early School (PK1–K), Lower School (1–5), and Middle School (6–8), each with small class sizes and two immersion tracks. By around third grade, students are proficient in English and their track language; in fourth grade the third language is introduced so they can converse in that language; by eighth grade they could be multilingual in English, French, and Spanish.

Arts & Creative
The Explorer's Den offers after-school enrichment in STEM, creative arts, language, sports, and leadership opportunities. Camp Pathfinders provides summer camp with specialty camps in STEM, art and creative expression, technology, sports, and leadership. Extended care is available with before- and after-care options.

Cultural & Language
French and Spanish language immersion programs begin at 18 months and continue through 8th grade. There are two immersion tracks: French and Spanish. The DELE testing center is on campus. The school is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, the Cervantes Institute, the International Spanish Academy by the Spanish Government, and Cognia.

Social & Hobbies
The Explorer's Den offers after-school enrichment in STEM, creative arts, language, sports, and leadership opportunities. Camp Pathfinders features specialty camps in STEM, art and creative expression, technology, sports, and leadership. Extended care provides before- and after-care options to extend the school day.

Community & Service
Portrait of a ISA Graduate defines six core characteristics that guide student development. Compassionate Communicator and Inspirational Leader emphasize empathy, effective communication, and leadership for the benefit of others. The values 'Purposeful, Ambitious, Balanced' and 'Citizen of the World' highlight serving others, the community, and the world.

Leadership & Professional
Inspirational Leader is one of the six Portrait of a ISA Graduate characteristics. Leadership development begins in Early School and grows through 8th grade. The 'Citizen of the World' attribute fosters global leadership and responsibility.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
A balanced approach to life and personal well-being is emphasized as part of the Portrait of a ISA Graduate. Extended care and after-school programs support balanced, well-being-friendly schedules. The Explorer's Den offers engaging after-school activities that promote joy and meaningful experiences.
Languages

Language Provision
French and Spanish are the languages taught through immersion. Immersion begins at 18 months and continues through 8th grade. The school is organized into three divisions: Early School (PK1–K), Lower School (1–5), and Middle School (6–8).

Bilingual Teaching
The International School of Arizona has two immersion language tracks: French and Spanish. Language immersion begins at 18 months and continues through 8th grade. Students learn in their chosen language, and by about 3rd grade are proficient in English and their track language. In 4th grade, the other language is introduced with the goal of conversing in that language, and by 8th grade students could be multilingual in English, French, and Spanish.

Immersion Programs
ISA offers two immersion language tracks: French and Spanish. Immersion begins at 18 months and continues through 8th grade. The other language is introduced in 4th grade with the goal of conversing in that language.
Admissions

Admissions
Apply anytime during the year; the admissions process is designed to be as easy as possible. For the 2026-2027 school year we are accepting applications for all grades, and applications for 1st grade or higher require a good command of French or Spanish. Contact the Admissions office by submitting an information request form to learn more, schedule a campus visit, or set up a meeting to experience ISA firsthand.

Submit an Online Application. When completing the application, upload or email the following documents: copy of birth certificate; copies of parents' ID (passport or drivers license); educational records for K-8th grade; diagnostic/educational testing results, if applicable; records release form (to be submitted to your child's current school if transferring). Prepare these materials in advance to avoid delays, and ensure they reflect your child's current situation. The documents help the Admissions Review Committee evaluate the application and make a decision.

Shadow Day. If your child is entering PK4 or above, arrange a Day In The Life / Shadow Day to experience a day at ISA. Shadow Day provides an opportunity to see language immersion in action and to meet teachers and students. Visiting students gain a sense of how language learning is integrated into everyday classroom activities.

Application Review. The Admissions Review Committee will review the application and grant or deny acceptance. If accepted, parents receive the information necessary to complete the online enrollment process. The enrollment steps continue after notification of acceptance.

A 10% tuition deposit is due upon signing the enrollment agreement.

Scholarships
The International School of Arizona supports families in affording its multilingual education. The Scholarship Program is supported by the Arizona Private School Tax Credit and the French Bourse (for French citizens). All students are eligible for at least one form of scholarship and many qualify for several. Types of Scholarships include Private School Tax Credit Scholarships for All Students; Private School Tax Credit Income-Based Scholarships; French Bourse Need-Based Scholarships. For further information contact Francis Hewitt, Director of Admissions & Marketing (fhewitt@isaz.org, 480-874-2326 ext. 881).
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