Almaty International School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$9K - US$25K
Curriculum: American · AP
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~400
Location: Nauryzbay, Almaty
Updated April 2026
In Brief
AIS suits families on US government or NGO packages - or those who specifically want AP courses and an American framework - rather than families weighing it against Haileybury or KIS on general grounds. The fees are the most accessible of the three.
Almaty International School has been open since 1993, making it the oldest international school in Kazakhstan. It is part of the QSI network, the US State Department-supported nonprofit that runs schools in difficult postings worldwide, and the QSI mastery model it uses is genuinely different from British or IB frameworks. Progress is tracked by unit mastery rather than year group, which takes adjustment for families coming from conventional systems.
Around 400 students from 28 nationalities attend, spread across preschool through Grade 12, on a campus in the Nauryzbay district in the city's south-west. The school holds MSA Systems Accreditation from 2022 and is a CEESA member. AP courses are available in the senior school and the school is an SAT testing centre. Fees run from KZT 3.9M for preschool to KZT 10.8M for secondary, plus a KZT 720K annual capital fund fee from Kindergarten upwards.
The Nauryzbay campus is a real consideration for families living near the Al-Farabi corridor. The drive adds meaningful time each day, and transport availability is worth confirming. Almaty's international community has contracted in recent years as Astana has grown, so ask the school directly for a current breakdown of nationalities and the proportion of native English speakers.
What parents value
- –The most affordable of the three main international schools in Almaty, with secondary fees around KZT 10.8M per year - roughly half of Haileybury's upper range. For self-funding families, that gap is meaningful.
- –Nearly 30 nationalities represented and AP courses available in the senior school, giving a US college application pathway. SAT testing centre on-site removes a logistical hurdle.
- –The longest-established international school in Kazakhstan, with over 30 years of operation. That longevity means a settled institution with real knowledge of the local context.
Points of consideration
- –The QSI mastery-learning model is meaningfully different from British, IB, or standard US grade-level approaches. Families coming from other systems should ask for a clear explanation of how progression and reporting work before enrolling.
- –The Nauryzbay campus is in the south-west of the city. If you are based near Al-Farabi or Medeu, build in the commute time and ask about transport availability.
- –Almaty's international community is smaller than it was a decade ago. Ask the school for the current breakdown of nationalities and the proportion of children whose home language is English.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool 3-4yr (half-day) | 3 | NaN |
| Preschool 3-4yr (full-day) | 3 | NaN |
| Kindergarten and above (K-12) | 5 | NaN |
Fees converted from KZT. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | NaN |
| Capital Fund Fee (annual, K-12) | NaN |
Academic Results
| Accreditation | MSA Systems Accreditation (2022) |
Key results: Accreditation MSA Systems Accreditation (2022).
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Almaty's international schools draw a mix of corporate-package families, diplomatic staff, and locally-based families seeking an English-medium education. Contact the school for current enrolment breakdown.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for details.