Comparing 3 schools side by side in USD.
Located in Vienna, Austria, in the 22nd district (Donaustadt). The campus is at Wagramer Strasse 175 / Panethgasse 6a, 1220 Vienna, Austria. It has excellent access to public transportation within walking distance of the U1 subway line Rennbahnweg, and is a few stations from the United Nations building, about 20 minutes from the city center.
Elementary School – Primary (age 5) through Grade 5; Secondary School – Middle School: Grades 6 to 8; High School: Grades 9 to 12.
Private international Christian school with Öffentlichkeitsrecht status, fully accredited by ACSI and MSA, and an IB World School offering an American curriculum with the IB Diploma Programme option for Grades 11–12.
340 students in grades Primary through 12; 65 nationalities represented; welcomes international, diplomatic, missionary, and local families.
English language learner (ELL) support is provided; grades for ELL may be reported as Pass/Fail.
Austria
Christian; weekly Chapel sessions and Bible classes four times a week; school operates from a Christian worldview.
Language of instruction is English; German instruction is provided at varying levels from Primary through Grade 12. IB Spanish ab initio is available in Grades 11–12, with IB French and IB Mandarin offered through the online IB Pamoja platform. School hours: Elementary 8:30–15:20; Secondary 8:30–15:25; Thursday late start 8:55; doors open at 7:50; After School Care for Elementary 15:35–17:30; Middle/High School after 16:00.
The school does not provide boarding facilities; students must live with a parent or guardian while enrolled.
The school does not have a uniform. A dress code emphasizes modesty, academic attire, and neatness.
Yes, a lunch program is offered in partnership with Kulinario. The menu includes a small or regular three-course option or a sandwich option, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices; weekly menus and allergen information are posted. Participation is optional, meals are charged via a cashless prepaid lunch card, and Grades 7–12 may leave campus for lunch on designated days with parental permission.
The school is governed by a School Board and led by Director Siebert J. Myburgh, M.Ed. Board members include Chair Marin Kalinov; Treasurer Ing. Othmar Scharrer; Secretary Carrie Brinegar; Vice-Treasurer Robert Schoklitsch; and board members David Phillips, Mike Walt, and Dr. Gregor Klammer. The school is an Austrian private school with Öffentlichkeitsrecht (public status) and has its own statute, and it is fully accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); it is an IB World School.
The International Christian School of Vienna follows an American curriculum from Primary (age 5) to Grade 12, with an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme option for High School in Grades 11 and 12. The curriculum is aligned with the National Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and American Education Reaches Out (AERO).
Average class size across the school is 15 students per class, with a maximum of 24; IB classes in Grades 11 and 12 average 11 students.
IB Diploma pass rate has been 100% in the last few years; in 2023-2024, 100% of IB Diploma candidates passed with an average score of 33.
A School Counselor supports post-high school planning and university preparation; graduates have gained admission to universities worldwide; the IB Diploma is accepted as a university entrance qualification by Austrian universities, and the American High School Diploma is recognized as well.
ICSV supports social and emotional development through a dedicated student support system and a School Counselor. The Student Support Services program offers English Language Learner (ELL) instruction at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, along with Learning Support for mild to moderate learning challenges. Both ELL and Learning Support are available in Elementary and Secondary and incur an additional fee. The School Counselor provides academic and social-emotional guidance, helps with time management, and assists with post‑high‑school planning. Spiritual Formation activities—including Bible study, weekly chapels, mentoring, and small groups—contribute to a caring community and character development. All staff teach from a biblical worldview and model Christ-like relationships, reinforcing students' well-being.
ICSV provides Learning Support for students with mild to moderate learning challenges. Elementary Learning Support includes in-class and small-group help from a learning support teacher and assistants, focusing on re-teaching in math, reading, and writing; some students may take LS in place of English or a foreign language. An Individual Learning Support Plan outlines each student's goals and accommodations. Both Elementary ELL and LS options incur an additional fee. In Secondary, Learning Support is available on a varied basis with a trained learning specialist, including group and pull-out support, based on need and capacity. There is an additional fee for LS services.
ICSV provides an English Language Learner (ELL) program to assist non-native English-speaking students. The classroom and ELL teachers lead instruction, with additional support from English language teachers who provide consultation and evaluation. Students' English proficiency is assessed using test results, work samples, and prior records to tailor support. Elementary students in Extended ELL (ELL1) replace German class and receive pull-out support; Regular ELL (ELL2) continues English instruction in place of German. In Secondary, Middle School uses Extended ELL (ELL1) and General ELL (ELL3), while High School uses General ELL (ELL3). The goal is for students to become independent learners in an English-language environment.
ICSV supports mental wellbeing through the School Counselor, who provides academic and social-emotional guidance and assists with post-high-school planning. The counselor offers individual and small-group support, and parents may schedule meetings by appointment. Spiritual Formation activities, including Bible classes and weekly chapels, contribute to a supportive community and values-based development. All staff teach from a biblical worldview, and daily interactions model Christ-like relationships. The school emphasizes a caring culture and balanced living as part of its approach to student wellbeing.
ICSV maintains a Child Protection Policy to safeguard the welfare of all students. All employees and volunteers are mandatory reporters for suspected abuse. Suspicions of abuse are reported to the Jugendamt (MA11) for determination. Abuse is defined as physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect. The policy adheres to Austrian regulations and emphasizes reporting, safeguarding, and prevention.
Online Application Form and Supporting Documents are submitted in the online application portal. The child's Passport or Birth Certificate is required. School reports/transcripts must be in English or German; Elementary and Middle School applicants provide the two most recent reports, while High School students provide official transcripts with a timetable indicating hours per subject or credits. The non-refundable Application Fee is €400. Admissions Testing is conducted to determine academic needs after application and documents are submitted. An Admissions Decision is communicated by email if the child is accepted. Enrollment requires paying a Registration Fee of €1680 and submitting the Enrollment Contract within five business days of acceptance. Students who have not lived in Austria for at least three months before the start date must provide TB Clearance. The school has more than 320 students from over 65 countries.
Tuition Waiver Fund provides tuition waivers to families with limited resources; donations support this program.
American International School Vienna is located at Salmannsdorfer Strasse 47, 1190 Vienna, Austria. The campus sits on the edge of the Vienna Woods and is adjacent to the Neustift vineyards, providing a quiet, green learning environment. The Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5), Middle School (Grade 6–8), and High School (Grade 9–12) share a single interconnected facility with separate wings. The main entrance and bus parking are near the Main Gate, and AISV is accessible by public transportation.
Elementary (Pre-K–Grade 5); Middle School (Grade 6–8); High School (Grade 9–12).
Not-for-profit international school.
69 nationalities represented school-wide; High School has 51 nationalities.
The English as an Additional Language (EAL) team provides small-group pull-out and push-in support; AIS Vienna differentiates instruction and offers accommodations, learning support, and study-skills classes to help students succeed in mainstream classrooms.
Affiliated with the United States and Canada.
The school day runs Monday–Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; lunch is staggered across grade levels; the Elementary Library operates 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and the Secondary Library 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
There is a bus parking lot at the Main Gate. Public transportation serves AIS Vienna via bus 35A from Spittelau (U4/U6) to Salmannsdorf; a walk up Sulzweg and Maulbertschgasse leads to the school. The main entrance (Entrance V) is on Salmannsdorfer Strasse.
The school does not have boarding facilities.
There is no school uniform; sports tracksuits are available for purchase for athletic tournaments.
The food program is outsourced to SV Group; lunch and breakfast services are provided; lunch fees are billed directly to parents; students may bring their own packed lunch.
The school is governed by a 10-member Executive Board, eight of whom are elected by the Parents' Association that sponsors the School, one who is appointed by the U.S. Ambassador, and the Director (ex-officio). The Association sponsors AIS Vienna; the school is incorporated under Austrian law and is affiliated with the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State.
The school teaches a rigorous, relevant and holistic American/IB curriculum.
The typical class size is twenty students. AIS Vienna serves around 800 students.
The Class of 2023 achieved a 100% IB Diploma pass rate; an IB Results Summary for the classes of 2019-2023 is published.
Recent AIS Vienna graduates have enrolled in colleges and universities in several countries around the world, with the majority choosing United States or United Kingdom universities. Graduates may pursue either the U.S. High School Diploma or the IB Diploma.
The school supports social-emotional learning through counseling services and Learning Support programs. Five counselors serve the school community: one in Elementary, one in Middle, and three in High School. This collaborative approach with students, parents, and teachers supports positive social-emotional well-being, resilience, and academic success. Learning Support targets social-emotional growth alongside literacy, numeracy, time-management, organization, self-advocacy, and study skills. Counselors and Learning Support staff work with classroom teachers to develop strategies that help students manage challenges and reach their potential. This integrated approach places social-emotional learning at the center of AIS Vienna's student support.
The school enrolls students with mild and moderate learning differences who can be successful in mainstream classrooms with support. Learning Support teachers differentiate instruction and provide accommodations in collaboration with classroom teachers. Support is provided in addition to core instruction, not in place of it. Areas targeted include social-emotional growth, reading, writing, mathematics, time-management, organization, self-advocacy, study skills, and learning strategies. The program uses a service-delivery model offering small-group or in-class support, with the goal of helping students become independent, lifelong learners. AIS Vienna does not accept students with significant behavioral or emotional challenges or learning differences beyond staffing capacity.
The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Team provides English language support to help students reach grade-level academic language in the social-cultural context of the grade-level classroom. The program is committed to helping each EAL student be socially and academically successful while valuing home culture and language development. AIS Vienna serves a large population of students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and strives to respect, value, and celebrate this diversity. EAL learners gain language skills to communicate effectively in social and academic settings throughout their education. EAL teachers collaborate with classroom teachers and the Student Support Team to integrate language development with content learning when appropriate.
The school supports mental wellbeing through a dedicated counseling program. The counseling team includes five counselors serving Elementary, Middle, and High School. The collaborative approach with students, families, and teachers supports positive social-emotional well-being, resilience, and academic success. Learning Support also emphasizes social-emotional growth as part of its services. The wellbeing framework is designed to help students develop coping strategies and thrive academically and personally.
AIS Vienna maintains strong safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. The welfare of students is the overriding focus, and AISV aims to provide a caring, safe and stimulating environment that promotes holistic development. All adults, including temporary staff, administrators, faculty, volunteers, and Board members, have a full and active part to play in protecting children from harm. AISV adopts the World Health Organization definition of child abuse and neglect, including physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and failure to act to prevent harm. Staff are regularly trained about child protection responsibilities, and background checks are completed for all employees with renewals every five years; the Director reviews this policy annually. The policy is underpinned by a shared ethics of responsibility, accountability, and student success.
1. Contact AIS Vienna Admissions before starting the application to inquire about grade-level availability, confirm the grade level by consulting the grade-level chart, and request a virtual or in-person appointment with an AISV Admissions representative to learn more about the school and your family's needs. 2. Complete your application by visiting the Apply Now! page, creating an account to access the Application Portal, and submitting an application for each student with the required items; missing items should be discussed with AISV Admissions. Submitting an application does not guarantee admission; admission requires a completed and positively reviewed application and a grade-level place to be available. 3. Complete Academic Screening after your application is finished; screenings may be online or in-person. Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grade 1 use an in-person Early Childhood Screening; Grades 2-8 complete in-person or online math and English screenings; Grades 9-12 complete in-person or online math placement tests and online English assessments if applicable; additional screenings or documents may be requested. 4. Receive Admissions Decision after the admissions committee reviews the completed application; decisions can be an Offer of Admission (place available and in order of AISV Admissions Priority Categories), a Waitlist (place not yet available), or Denied (not meeting standards or programs at capacity). AISV maintains waiting pools in each grade level for one school year; if no place becomes available, the family may roll the application over to the next school year. 5. Confirm Enrollment if an offer is accepted by paying the Reservation Fee within 10 days, agreeing to AISV policies within 10 days, and signing the enrollment contract within 10 days; submit medical forms by May 31 or upon mid-year entry, provide final report card or transcript from the previous school by July 31 or upon mid-year entry, and be prepared for any additional screenings before arrival. 6. Start School and participate in New Family Orientation (August only) the day before the first day of the school year; orientation covers meeting teachers, touring the school, meeting student buddies, tech training for Grades 6-12, and logistics like bus and lunch; mid-year admits receive orientation information on arrival. 7. Start-of-year application timelines include opening in autumn, a best-possible “best consideration” deadline of February 1, and admissions decisions on or after April 1, with priority categories honored through April 1; rolling admission is available for Pre-K to Grade 8 and semester-based admissions for Grades 9-11 pending place availability. Acceptance requires completion of all items, and places are not guaranteed until contracts and payments are settled. 8. Payments typically occur as follows: Application Fee at application, Reservation Fee within 10 days of offer, and the remaining tuition and fees by August 31 (or by the due date if mid-year enrollment). 9. Start-of-year and mid-year entries may involve additional screenings or documentation before arrival.
AIS Vienna maintains waiting pools in each grade level for positively reviewed applications for one school year; if no place becomes available, the family may roll over the application to the next school year. An offer of admission can be made when the itemized requirements are completed, the application is positively reviewed, and a place is available in the required grade level; the pool and offer timings follow the process outlined above.
Moosstrasse 106, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. Situated near the base of the Untersberg in the green suburbs of Salzburg, the campus is about ten minutes from the center. The setting offers Alpine scenery and access to Salzburg's cultural attractions.
7-12
Independent private international boarding school; primarily a full boarding school with day students.
Around 25 nationalities represented.
English language assistance program for non-native English speakers with four levels; after testing, students are placed in a level and mainstreamed into the regular program.
Non-denominational / non-sectarian.
Three trimesters run from September to May. Students receive about 36.5 hours of classroom instruction per week. Day students may remain on campus until 17:00 and can be dropped off in the morning or collected in the afternoon.
No school bus service; day students travel by public transport or are dropped off/picked up by family.
Boarding is provided on campus in school dormitories for full and five-day boarders. About 85% of AIS-Salzburg students are full or five-day boarders, and boarders reside on campus for approximately nine months each year. The resident-care staff consists of dorm parents and resident assistants who supervise boarders, with the dean of students coordinating the boarding program. Boarding students have curfew and lights-out times, and all full- and five-day boarders participate in weekend activities and evening study halls as part of the program.
The dress code does not include a uniform; students wear academic day attire in accordance with AIS-Salzburg's dress guidelines.
Dormitories serve as the living units with house staff on each floor; there is no separate, named school-wide house system described, and dorm parents plus resident assistants oversee housing duties.
The school is an independent private, non-denominational boarding-and-day school. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of ECIS and The Association of Boarding Schools. The headmaster has overall authority over the academic and boarding programs, and the office manager sits on the governing body; the staff-to-student ratio is about 1:3.
AIS-Salzburg offers an American Curriculum for grades 1–12 with English as the language of instruction. In grades 11–12, the school also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). The school is Cognia-accredited and provides a broad Advanced Placement (AP) program, with full-credit and half-credit AP courses such as AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP European History, AP English Literature, AP German Language and Culture, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP French Language and Culture, AP Italian Language and Culture, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, and AP Human Geography. Gifted and Talented Enrichment is available, including national competitions. The curriculum includes Arabic Language and Identity Studies and Islamic Studies for Muslim students, along with Physical Education and Social-Emotional Learning; university and career readiness starts in Grade 10 with a college counselor and on-campus university placement support. Standardized testing on campus includes MAP assessments and AP and SAT examinations to support university admissions and credentialing.
Teacher-to-student ratio is about 1:3.
Graduates matriculate to universities in North America, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and elsewhere worldwide, with about one-third each going to North American universities, UK institutions, and European universities, respectively.
Gifted and Talented Enrichment is offered, including participation in national competitions.
AIS-Salzburg focuses on intellectual development as well as emotional, physical, and ethical development. The Mission and Beliefs describe Balance and Wholeness and emphasize a safe, respectful environment, individual guidance, and the development of character to prepare students for responsible citizenship.
The language of instruction is English. The school requires English proficiency for non-native speakers, with accepted tests including TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, Cambridge, IELTS and SLEP; AIS-Salzburg also offers its own English proficiency examination during a campus visit.
AIS-Salzburg prioritizes emotional development as part of its educational program. The Mission & Beliefs highlight Balance and Wholeness, including emotional development, while safeguarding provisions focus on health and well-being and providing support when needed. Staff training and a safe environment support students' mental wellbeing.
AIS-Salzburg has a Child Protection Policy and Procedures. Safeguarding is a daily duty implemented by all staff, with regular training and ongoing updates. The policy defines safeguarding, protection, and support and includes reporting procedures, investigations, and coordination with authorities as required. It applies to day students and boarders, including students aged 18 and older, on campus and during school activities. Parents and guardians are provided access to the full Child Protection Handbook; the policy aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Austrian laws.
Step 1: Download the Student Application Form and return it to AIS-Salzburg with an appropriate photo of the applicant. The Application Form can be filled out using the provided link. This initiates the admissions process in an orderly manner. Step 2: Submit up-to-date copies of transcripts from the present school with translation if necessary; for grades 7–9 only the previous year's transcripts are required, while grades 11–12 require records from all high school grades completed or currently enrolled. Step 3: Submit a copy of the applicant's passport photo page along with any currently-held visas for Austria or another Schengen nation. Step 4: Request that the applicant's current English and mathematics teachers submit a confidential recommendation to AIS-Salzburg. The teacher recommendations can be forwarded or downloaded. This helps inform the admission decision. Step 5: Pay the application fee (€150.00) by bank or online transfer to the AIS-Salzburg account. Upon reception, AIS-Salzburg will make a decision concerning enrollment or determine that further testing (English proficiency) and/or a personal or online interview with the applicant is required. If the applicant is accepted, a copy of the Enrollment Agreement and invoices for tuition and fees, the Capital Levy, and mandatory fees will be sent; parents of applicants have 30 days to consider the offer before it is revoked. AIS-Salzburg does not publish a hard application deadline, but visa-required enrollment may necessitate timely action (visa processing can take up to 90 days), and enrollment should be secured before the end of May for the following school year.
Scholarships and Financial Aid at AIS-Salzburg. The administration provides support for Ukrainian families displaced by the conflict. Further scholarship considerations are suspended until the conflict ends.
