Almaty, Kazakhstan: QSI International School of Almaty: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

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 Asia Federation of Athletics, Activities and Arts (CAFA), 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 2023-2024 school year, AIS has 120 total staff, 80 teachers, 42 of whom are U.S. citizens, 26 host-country nationals, and 12 third-country nationals. Classroom teachers are certified teachers in the USA.

Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year enrollment was 495 (PK–grade 12). Of the total, there are 78 U.S. citizens, 253 host-country nationals, and 164 third-country nationals. 30 different nationalities represented among the student body.

Facilities: AIS offers a newly renovated purpose-built campus on 7 hectares at the edge of the city. The campus includes multiple interconnected buildings which include an annex that houses the music and fitness classes, a lower elementary, an upper elementary, and a main building that holds the middle school and secondary classes including fully functioning science labs. In addition, AIS has a fully functioning cafeteria that serves daily hot lunches, a spacious library with over 25,000 books in English and a maker’s space area, a FIBA regulation gymnasium, multiple covered playgrounds, multiple technology rooms and iPad carts, and a soccer field and 400-meter track that has a breathtaking view of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The school has updated Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the campus, vape detectors in the bathrooms, a state-or-the-art air quality monitoring station, and air purifiers in each classroom.

Finances: In the 2023-2024 school year, approximately 98% of the school’s income derives from tuition. Annual tuition rates are as follows: PK (half-day): $7,700; PK (full-day): $9,200; and grades K-12: $23,000. 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: Review the Special Needs Profile 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 2023 and provided by the school