Austin International School provides high-quality international education accredited by the French Ministry of Education and ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest), fostering independent thinking, building confidence, and broadening students' perspectives, laying the groundwork for success in the global community.

Communications and Marketing Coordinator Martha Kanaan said the trilingual private school is the only one of its kind in Central Texas. Students from Pre-K3 to eighth grade receive an immersive language experience in English, French, and Spanish. At AIS, students are not just taught languages; they receive instruction in all three languages.

"We want to shape global citizens, and we want our students to be comfortable with people of different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, and languages," Kanaan said. "We believe that by the end of their academic journey at AIS, students will be more aware of the world, themselves, and their place in it as global citizens."

The French and international school is in an exciting period of growth and expansion with the implementation of its new International Baccalaureate (IB) and Middle Years Program (MYP), which will open up the school to any interested student, regardless of their language background.

Kanaan said opening up the school to all students at the middle school level is part of the school's strategic plan to continue its growth in the Austin area. AIS saw interest and demand for this type of education in the community and knew it needed to accommodate those students wanting to join in the higher grade levels that did not have the language proficiency.

"By second grade, kids are fluent [in French], so it'd be virtually impossible to join in fifth or sixth grade because instruction is mostly done in French [by then]," Kanaan said.

AIS will be opening up the school to non-French speakers by providing language support for those entering the school later. They are now offering FLE (French as a Foreign Language) through 5th grade and creating foundational language classes in the middle school so students can integrate into their trilingual program at their own pace.

In addition to immersive international education, Austin International School offers extracurricular activities such as theater, string ensemble, basketball, and soccer, as well as after-school programs in cooking, theater, and art, which are taught in English, French, or Spanish. One of the unique outcomes of the rigorous trilingual program is that by the time students graduate in eighth grade, they have become fluent in all three languages and completed their high school language requirements.

"We really want to celebrate language and encourage language in children," Kanaan said. "We want to ensure that our kids are not just learning French, Spanish, and English but also soft skills. By applying these skills to other parts of their lives, we are creating well-rounded individuals."

Kanaan said many families at Austin International School have moved to Texas from other countries around the world, and several families have moved to Austin for the school alone. Families that share a global perspective will find a close-knit and diverse community of students, staff, and parents.

For more information about admission, parents can visit the school’s website and contact the admissions coordinator. However, to truly understand the school's atmosphere, Kanaan highly recommends booking a tour. By visiting the school in person, parents can determine if this is the right place for them and their children.

"You can only get so much from the website, and you really have to walk through our doors and talk to our staff to get a feel for what we're about," Kanaan said. "There’s an energy that people can pick up."

As the private school expands to reach new populations, Kanaan said the goal is to continue providing opportunities for students to become well-rounded thinkers.

"We're really focused on providing a holistic, comprehensive education—children who are globally minded, interested in the arts and sports, and enjoy learning," Kanaan said. "Our program is rigorous, but it's also student-driven and meant to be fun."

To learn more about the trilingual private school, visit the Austin International School website.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Summer El-Shahawy with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information provided solely by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.