Dominican International School, Taipei

In Brief

If you want a Catholic ethos and an American curriculum in central Taipei with genuinely small classes, DIS is worth a serious look. Fees are lower than TAS and TES, and the Zhongshan location is more central than either Morrison or Linkou alternatives.

DIS sits in a different market segment to TAS and TES. It's a Catholic school, managed by the Dominican Sisters since 1957, and that shapes the culture. The student body is predominantly Asian and English-as-a-second-language learners, and the school's modified American curriculum is designed with that in mind - including a dedicated EAP programme for Grades 9-10. Eighteen AP courses are on offer, and the school posts respectable results on the AP Scholar awards table.

Class sizes average 16 students - genuinely small by Taipei international school standards - and the 1:16 teacher-to-student ratio means students get real attention. Families who've spent time at the school mention the welcoming community and the diversity: DIS draws teachers from Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa, giving the classroom culture a different texture to the more homogeneous environments at TAS. The Dazhi Street campus is compact but functional, with a strong campus ministry and 31 active student clubs.

The school's location in Zhongshan is central and convenient, but the campus itself is not large - it doesn't have the sports facilities of TAS or Morrison. If your child is driven by sport and needs a wide range of athletics, the offering here is more limited. Fees are meaningfully lower than TAS, which makes DIS a practical option for self-funding families who want an AP-pathway school without the TAS price tag - but confirm exactly which AP subjects are available for your child's year before committing.