Cities / Almaty / Shoqan School
Shoqan School
A high profile new private school opened in 2020 by Kazakh business figures Kenges Rakishev and Aselle Tasmagambetova, and named after the 19th century Kazakh scholar Shoqan Walikhanov. National curriculum with a heavy university prep overlay.
In brief
A high-profile new private school opened in 2020 by Kazakh business figures Kenges Rakishev and Aselle Tasmagambetova, and named after the 19th-century Kazakh scholar Shoqan Walikhanov. National curriculum with a heavy university-prep overlay.
Around 1,300 students and an entrance acceptance rate near 10 percent, which sets the tone. The flagship Mentorship Program, designed by London consultancy Luminary Education, has already placed students at Harvard and UC Berkeley in its first year. Founders publicly commit to fully funding any student who lands a place at a top-ten global university.
Library is housed in a yurt-shaped reading space and is among the largest school libraries in the region. Mix of locally trained and foreign teachers, average class around 20. Best fit for academically driven Kazakh families with global university ambitions. Less suited to families looking for a portable IB or British qualification mid-school.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 1-4 | 6 | KZT 4,500,000 |
| Grades 5-11 | 11 | KZT 4,680,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance Fee | KZT 800,000 |
Reviews
A young private school in Samal-3 with modern facilities, advanced maths, and dual Kazakh/Russian instruction. Parent voices are split: praise lands on infrastructure, specialist teachers, and an ambitious olympiad track; concerns cluster around steep fee rises, cafeteria food, and turnover in the teaching ranks.
Positives
- Facilities and learning environment. Purpose-built campus reads as one of the more polished private settings in the city. Bright classrooms, well-kept sports spaces, and a green relaxation zone come up often in positive notes.
- Maths and olympiad track. Advanced maths and a structured olympiad-prep system are the school's clearest selling points. Families with academically driven children speak warmly about the rigour.
- Individual teachers. Specific primary teachers draw consistent warmth for atmosphere and motivation. The bright spots tend to be tied to named individuals rather than the staff as a whole.
Considerations
- Fees and value. Tuition has climbed sharply, with parents flagging annual jumps of 30 to 40 percent. The increases land hard because many families also pay for tutors to top up subjects they expected the school to cover.
- Teacher turnover. Mid-year staff changes come up repeatedly, including reports of multiple maths teachers cycling through a single year. Continuity for individual children takes a hit when that happens.
- Cafeteria and food. Food draws the sharpest criticism, with repeated complaints about quality, repetition, and stomach upsets. Cafeteria prices are felt to be high on top of tuition.
- Language instruction outside maths. English provision gets praise in places, but Kazakh and broader language teaching come in for criticism. Some children reportedly score well internally yet struggle on external benchmarks.
- Administration and communication. Parents describe a top-down style on fee changes and policy shifts, with limited consultation. Responsiveness varies by who you reach.
Leadership
Niyazov Daulet Tulkibayevich
Daulet Tulkibayevich Niyazov serves as the Principal of Primary and Middle School at Shoqan Walikhanov Private School, where he also teaches mathematics. He emphasizes a learning environment that goes beyond mere academic instruction, focusing on the joy of discovery and student self-realization. Under his leadership, the school implements practical educational programs and individualized learning trajectories tailored to the unique talents and pace of each student. Niyazov is committed to nurturing socially successful individuals who possess critical thinking skills and a strong foundation in key scientific fields.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- University destinations (2025) Harvard, UC Berkeley
- Rating 4.4 on 2GIS (791 reviews)