Cities / Almaty / Almaty International School
Almaty International School
One of the oldest international schools in Kazakhstan, established in 1993 as part of the QSI network. It serves over 28 nationalities from a campus in the Nauryzbay district, with fees from KZT 3.9M to KZT 10.8M per year.
In brief
The QSI Almaty campus, opened in 1993 and one of the older schools in the QSI network. American curriculum with AP courses for high school, MSA-CESS accredited, and a long-standing default for the diplomatic and oil-and-gas community in Almaty.
The student body of around 600 spans more than 30 nationalities. The QSI mastery learning model is the structural feature most parents either value or push back on, with consistent feedback that academics are solid and pastoral care is strong.
The international community in Kazakhstan has shifted progressively towards Astana over the past decade, and the Almaty cohort now includes a higher proportion of local Kazakhstani families than it once did. Facilities are functional rather than impressive, and the AP route is the clearest university pathway. The natural choice for diplomatic and corporate families staying in Almaty for two to four-year postings.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool 3-4yr (half-day) | 3 | Annual | KZT 3,431,000 |
| Preschool 3-4yr (full-day) | 3 | Annual | KZT 4,042,000 |
| Kindergarten and above (K-12) | 5 | Annual | KZT 11,233,000 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | KZT 141,000 | |
| Capital Fund Fee (annual, K-12) | One-time | KZT 752,000 |
Reviews
- One detailed Expat Exchange parent review and a steady stream of Reddit comments give a usable picture of the QSI Almaty campus.
- Strengths: one ex-teacher said "I was at QSI Almaty for several years...overall it was all very positive", and a visiting reviewer called the school "very modern and well run". Caring teachers and a diverse, multinational student body recur across voices.
- The QSI "mastery learning" model divides parents. The Expat Exchange reviewer said the system "is something to get used to" and is "very confusing for the parents and for the children who are used to a standard way of learning".
- The same reviewer flagged a missing elementary guidance counsellor, with issues "solved through the principal who is not necessarily trained adequately", and said the school "is mostly local as the international community has moved to Astana".
- One Reddit voice noted "more foreign teachers than local ones", consistent with the QSI staffing model, but creativity in art classes and elementary was called "very low" by the Expat Exchange reviewer.
- Location is consistently praised: a hillside campus near the mountains with cleaner air than central Almaty.
Head of school
Mr. Jon Routh
Mr. Jon Routh serves as the Director of Almaty International School. With an extensive background in leadership within the Quality Schools International (QSI) network, he has previously held directorship roles at QSI International School of Ashgabat and QSI International School of Chisinau. He is dedicated to fostering a supportive and rigorous academic environment, emphasizing mastery learning and character development through the school's American-based curriculum.
Accreditations
- Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 01
Academic results
- Accreditation MSA Systems Accreditation (2022)
Location
185 Baiken Ashimov Street, Kalkaman 2 Micro-District, Nauryzbay District, Almaty 050006, Kazakhstan