Almaty International School

Last updated
QSI - Almaty International School
Almaty International School.jpg
Almaty International School, as seen from above
Address
Baiken Ashimov Street 185

Kalkaman Village
,
050006

Information
TypePrivate, non-profit
MottoSuccess For All
EstablishedAugust 1993
School districtNauryzbai District
Oversight Quality Schools International
DirectorsMr. Jon Routh
Directors of InstructionTravis Moore
Natalie Mahon
Grades K-12
Years offeredPre-K to 12th Grade
Enrollment469 (as of February 2023)
Education systemAmerican/QSI
LanguageEnglish (Kazakh, Russian, Spanish and French in the case of World Languages)
Hours in school day8:00-3:30 (normal school day)

3:30-5:00 (athletics/after-school activities)

8:00-11:16 (half days)
Campus size7 hectares
Campus typesuburb
Color(s)   Blue and White
AthleticsYes
Athletics conferenceCOASH/CAFA
SportsFootball, Basketball, Cross Country, Volleyball, Track and Field, Badminton
MascotSnow Leopard
Nickname AIS
TeamsVarsity Boys, Varsity Girls, JV Boys, JV Girls (varies by sport)
Team nameSnow Leopards
AccreditationMSA/CEESA
Annual tuitionPre-K (half-day): $7,300, Pre-K (full-day): $8,800, grades K-12: $22,000
Website www.qsi.org/almaty/

Almaty International School (AIS) is a private school located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Founded by QSI (Quality Schools International) in 1993, it is the third largest school out of all the QSI schools. The school offers an American-based Pre-K and K-12 programs. School facilities include: an elementary building, secondary building, annex (music building), small gym, big gym, library, cafeteria, birch room, birch tree area, field with an Olympic size track, 3 playgrounds, and the teachers apartments. The school hosts international events and participates in many sports events such as the CAXC (Central Asian Cross Country Classic), CASC (Central Asian Soccer Classic), CABC (Central Asian Basketball Classic), and CAVC (Central Asian Volleyball Classic). The school is also used as a site for SAT, PSAT and AP testing. The school is operated with the authorization of the Kazakhstani Government.

Contents

Study and Programs

Elementary students learn Literacy, Math, Cultural Studies, Science, World Languages, Music, Technology, Art, and PE (physical education). Middle and Secondary Students get to choose electives which include PE/Wellness, Technology, Music (Band/Orchestra/Choir/Guitar), Drama or Art. Students that can not go yet into the appropriate age program go to IE (Intensive English) classes for Literacy and World Languages. They move up when they can go to the appropriate program of their age. The school has 7 Success Orientations to follow:

The school is funded partially by the U.S. Department of State. [1] The school is accredited by CEESA [2] and MSA. [3]

History

Founded by QSI (Quality Schools International) in 1993, it is the third largest school out of all the QSI schools. The school offers an American-based Pre-K and K-12 programs. The school is fully accredited through Middle States Association (MSA) and affiliated with the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools (AOS).

Curriculum

The QSI education system differs from the traditional American system in several aspects. The naming of the key stages in the QSI curricular system diverges from typical naming. Additionally, the different stages cover different age groups. The table below represents all the changes:

QSI Education System
Traditional American

Schools

QSI SchoolsAge Group
PreschoolPre-K3-4
Kindergarten4-5
Elementary School5-6
Lower Elementary6-9
Upper Elementary9-11
Middle School11-12
Middle School12-14
High SchoolSecondary14-18

A variety of AP Courses is offered, ranging from AP World History to AP Chemistry. Spanish, French, Russian and Kazakh languages are offered in QSI Almaty. The school, being located in Kazakhstan, is obligated to abide by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education's regulations. [1] To meet the regulations, QSI Astana, QSI Aktau, QSI Atyrau, and Almaty International School (QSI Almaty) made Kazakh History, Kazakh Language, and Military Preparation classes mandatory for all Kazakh nationals. [4] Intensive English class is compulsory for ESL (English as a Second Language) students who have struggles effectively communicating in English. A university counselor is also offered to the senior class. An AP Lab/Study Hall is offered to high school students with tight schedules and/or numerous AP subjects.

The QSI grading system also differs from that of traditional American schools:

QSI Grading System
A levelB LevelP (In Progress)H (On Hold)W (Withdrawal)D (Deficient Effort)
Student illustrated knowledge beyond mastery, went beyond what was expected of him/her and has completed all the TSW'sStudent illustrated mastery in the unit and completed all the TSW'sStudent is in progress of mastering the unit and has not completed the unit at that point in timeStudent is placed on hold for a particular reason by the teacher; H's can be issued to a whole class or one studentStudent withdrew from the particular unit or the subject as a wholeStudent showed lack of effort, therefore, receives a D for a particular unit

TSW ("The Student Will") are a set of guiding points that illustrate what the student should learn in the unit/subject. A TSW sheet is created by a group of teachers with expertise in that particular subject. Every unit in every subject has a TSW sheet.

All QSI schools are based on the course credit system. Each whole-year subject contains 10 units. Each semester-long subject contains 5 units. A single completed unit with a grade of B or above will earn a student 1 credit. A pupil must earn 220 credits throughout his secondary (high school) years and complete all mandatory subjects such as Algebra I and Biology to earn a Standard Diploma. If a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma, they must earn 240 credits and embark on additional English and Social Science classes. With a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma with Honors, he/she must complete 2 AP subjects between Secondary 1 and Secondary 4 as well as meeting the requirements of both the Standard and Academic Diploma. The student must complete the subject's AP exam with a score of 3 or above. [4] The mandatory courses for the 3 diplomas are as listed:

QSI Diploma Requirements
EnglishMathematicsScienceSocial ScienceArtsPhys. Ed. and HealthAdvanced Placement

(Only for Academic DiplomaWith Honors)

Standard/

General Diploma

  • Writing I and II
  • Literature I and II
  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Physical Science
  • Biology
  • Physics or Chemistry
  • World Geography
  • Modern World History
2 of the 3:
  • Drama (1 semester)
  • Music
  • Art
  • Wellness
  • PE
Any 2 of the following:
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Economics
  • Biology
  • Physics B
  • Physics C
  • Chemistry
  • Calculus AB
  • Literature
Academic Diploma+
  • Research Project
  • American Literature
  • British Literature or

AP Literature

  • Algebra II
  • Pre-Calculus
--------------------------------+
  • U.S. History
  • Economics (5 credits)
  • World Government

(5 credits)

  • Selected arts course for 1 year out of 4 years in Secondary
-------------------------------
Academic DiplomaWith Honors--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AP Courses

The school offers 18 AP Courses [5] which include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirana International School</span> Private school in Albania

Tirana International School, established in 1991 directly before the fall of the communist system in Albania, is an English-medium international school in Tirana, Albania. Its curriculum, while similar to US schools, contains links to both local culture and international educational elements. The current enrollment is approximately 400 students from 35 countries in preK – 12th grade classes. Tirana International School is part of Quality Schools International and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Director : Dan Waterman. The Ashgabat International School is an international school in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Founded by QSI in 1994, it is a private, non-profit, coeducational, day school which offers an educational program from a 3 to 4 year old program through high school for students of all nationalities. High school students may take courses by distance learning through Quality Schools International Distance Learning. School staff monitors all distance learning courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QSI International School of Yerevan</span> School in Yerevan, Armenia

The QSI International School of Yerevan (QSIY) is an international school in Yerevan, Armenia, part of the Quality Schools International group. It is an independent, coeducational day school that offers an education to children of all nationalities ages 3 to 18. QSIY was founded in 1995.

Kyiv International School is a private international school located in Kyiv, Ukraine. It opened in 1992. The school is a member of Quality Schools International (QSI), a consortium of nonprofit college-preparatory schools following an American-style, international curriculum. It is a current member of CEESA. The school operates with the approval of the Ukrainian government and offers a PreK - Grade 12 education in the English language, including a DP International Baccalaureate program as well as Advanced Placement courses. The school year is from August to June.

Following independence from the Soviet Union, a major economic depression cut "public financing" for education in Kazakhstan, "which dropped from 6% of gross domestic product in 1991 to about 3% in 1994, before rising to 4% in 1999. Elementary- and secondary-school teachers remain badly underpaid; in 1993 more than 30,000 teachers left education, many of them to seek more lucrative employment.

KIMEP University is a private university founded in 1992 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Quality Schools International (QSI) is a group of non-profit international schools offering education in the English language, in a number of countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South and North America. The first school was founded in 1971. The organization's world headquarters is located in Naxxar, Malta. The organization's founders and co-presidents are Jim Gilson and Duane Root.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American International School in Egypt</span> Private school in Egypt

The American International School in Egypt (AISE) is a co-educational college preparatory school in Greater Cairo. Its original East Campus is in New Cairo, Cairo, while its newer West Campus is in Sheikh Zayed City, 6th of October City.

QSI International School of Sarajevo is an international school in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The American International School of Zagreb is an international school located in Zagreb, Croatia, Europe. Founded in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John Villa Academy</span> Private, school in New York City , , New York, United States

St. John Villa Academy was a private, Roman Catholic School on Staten Island in New York, New York. Its senior high school was all girls, while the K-8 school was co-ed. The school was located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. St. John Villa Academy, owned and operated by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, was located on the east shore of Staten Island, in the Arrochar neighborhood, overlooking the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge and Lower New York Bay.

QSI International School of Tbilisi (QSIT) is a nonprofit English-language International school in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was established in 1995. Its curriculum is similar to that of U.S. Schools. Students range from Pre-K to Grade 12. The current enrollment is about 250 students from 35 different countries. QSIT is part of QSI and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The accreditation was renewed in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stamford American International School</span> International school in Singapore established in 2009

Stamford American International School (SAIS) is a co-educational international school in Singapore. The school is owned and operated by Cognita and enrolled its first students in August 2009.

Baku International School (BIS) is an international school located in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was established by the Quality Schools International (QSI) group in 1994. The school provides preschool education, elementary education, middle school, and secondary education. The school programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) in the United States.

Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) is a Kazakh research and educational institution located in Almaty. It was founded in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American International School in Cyprus</span> Private school in Nicosia, Cyprus

American International School in Cyprus (AISC) is a private coeducational school in Nicosia, Cyprus. It offers an American and international university preparatory education, including the option of the International Baccalaureate program for the last two years of secondary school. AISC is owned by Esol Education.

QSI International School of Phuket is a non-profit institution that offers education in the English language for pre-school, elementary, and secondary students. The school is a part of the Quality Schools International group, which enrolls student from around the world.

A high school diploma or high school degree is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school. A high school diploma is awarded after completion of courses of studies lasting four years, typically from grade 9 to grade 12. It is the school leaving qualification in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QSI International School of Astana</span> Private school in Astana, Akmola Region, Kazakhstan

QSI International School of Astana is a branch of Quality Schools International located in Astana, Kazakhstan. QSI Astana was founded in 2005 as a non-profit, private institution. QSI International School of Astana has an English language of instruction; it offers a curriculum taught entirely in English from elementary school to secondary school. In 2013 a new facility completed construction. The facility contains 32 classrooms, 3 computer labs, an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, library, outdoor soccer field and basketball court, and several playgrounds. Classes range from Preschool to High School level.

QSI International School of Dushanbe is a branch of the non-profit organization Quality School International and is located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. QSI International School of Dushanbe was founded in 2004 as a private institution and currently has approximately 150 students. QSI International School of Dushanbe teaches students from preschool to secondary school with a curriculum entirely in English. In addition to English, there are also other foreign-language classes offered in Russian, German, and French.

References

  1. 1 2 "Almaty, Kazakhstan: QSI International School of Almaty: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. "QSI School Directory – CEESA" . Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  3. "School Profile". MSA-CESS. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  4. 1 2 "Academics - Quality Schools International". www.qsi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  5. "About Us - Almaty International School". almaty.qsi.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.