Kazakh American International School (KAIS)

Kazakhstan, Almaty

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Alexandr Lukashevich

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The school at a glance

Instructs in English, Kazakh, Russian

Fees KZT 2,430,000 - 3,000,000

Ages 6 - 19 years

Pupil numbers 600

Type Co-educational

Opened 1998

Bus Service Yes

Alexander Lukashevich

School Principal

Academic offering

Curriculum IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC Qualification

Taught languages English, Kazakh, Russian, Korean, Mandarin

Typical class size 20

Strengths Languages, STEM, Academic Enrichment

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional, Community and Service

Stages Primary School, Secondary School, High School, Middle School

Introduction

Kazakh American International School is a full-day international school in Almaty, Kazakhstan, educating students aged 6 to 19 with class sizes under 20 students to focus on individual progression. Founded in 1998, KAIS integrates the Kazakhstani curriculum with international (IB PYP), American (AP), and British (BTEC and Cambridge English Qualifications) programmes, delivering a trilingual education in English, Russian, and Kazakh. KAIS is an official AP exam test center. A defining feature of KAIS is its Career Navigation program, pairing high school students with mentors from universities who support real internship placements, SAT and IELTS preparation, and university applications. KAIS also offers high-quality college counseling and one of the first structured GAP year programmes in Kazakhstan. As a UNESCO Associated School, an independent centre for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, an NCSS member, and an Almaty School League competitor, KAIS offers wide-ranging leadership opportunities across STEM, sports, debate, and community projects. Partnering with Kazakh American University, KAIS offers students genuine research opportunities – rare at the school level in Kazakhstan. In the age of AI, KAIS emphasizes critical thinking and detail-oriented academic writing across all subjects, with AI and cybersecurity courses from an early age. We are one of the most affordable international schools in Almaty offering this breadth of international curricula.

www.kais.school Contact by phone

Toraygirov Street 43, Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Essentials

Location

KAIS is conveniently located at Toraigyrov Street 43, nestled in an ecologically clean area near the heart of Almaty. Our prime location ensures easy and comfortable access for families commuting across the city.

Stages

KAIS provides a comprehensive educational pathway structured across three stages. A student's journey begins in Primary School (Grades 1 to 4), progresses through Secondary School (Grades 5 to 8), and completes in High School (Grades 9 to 11).

Type

KAIS is a co-educational full-day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.

Pupil Nationality Mix

KAIS proudly welcomes a vibrant and diverse student body. Mirroring the rich multiculturalism of Kazakhstan – a country that cherishes and unites over 130 nationalities – our school deeply values international diversity, fostering an inclusive environment where every global citizen feels at home.

Additional learning support

KAIS provides multi-layered support tailored to each student's academic and emotional journey. Within the classroom, our strict limit of under 21 students allows teachers to focus intensely on individual progression, supporting students as they master each subject. For emotional and developmental well-being, on-site psychologists and speech therapists are available to assist with communication and peer integration. As students advance, support expands to include dedicated SAT and IELTS preparation, alongside our defining Career Navigation Program. This initiative matches high school students with mentors studying at universities who support them with exam preparation and university admissions. KAIS further offers expert college counselling. Our counselors boast 15+ years of global admissions experience and guide the students through university applications, real internship placements, portfolio preparation, and research opportunities in partnership with Kazakh American University.

Country affiliation

While proudly rooted in Kazakhstan, KAIS operates as an independent, globally minded institution. Rather than affiliating with a single foreign country, we offer an international educational experience by integrating the Kazakhstani national curriculum with premier American (AP), British (BTEC and Cambridge English Qualifications), and international (IB PYP) frameworks.

Religious affiliation

KAIS does not have any religious affiliation and operates as a secular educational institution.

School day structure

The school operates on a full-day schedule, with the educational day running from 8:30 to 18:00. This timeframe includes academic lessons, extracurriculars, club activities, supervised periods for completing homework, and scheduled breaks that include four meals in the school cafeteria.

Bus service

KAIS offers a dedicated school delivery service for its students. This transport option provides safe, daily travel from home to the campus and back. Families can utilize this service to assist with managing their daily school commute in Almaty.

Fees

Tuition & Enrollment
For the 2026/2027 academic year, monthly tuition is KZT 300,000, making KAIS one of the most affordable international schools in Almaty. A one-time enrollment fee of KZT 300,000 is required upon acceptance to secure a student's place.

Payment Plans & Discounts
Invoices are issued prior to the start of the academic year. Families may choose to pay the annual tuition in full by August, which qualifies for a prepayment discount, or opt for a convenient monthly installment plan. We are also pleased to offer a sibling discount for families with more than one child enrolled.

Additional Services
To provide flexibility for our families, daily meals and our dedicated school bus service are entirely optional and billed separately.

Academics

Curriculum

KAIS School follows the obligatory state educational program of Kazakhstan, integrating teaching methods drawn from both Kazakh and American pedagogical science. The academic structure begins with a preschool grade, followed by primary school for grades 1 to 4, basic secondary school for grades 5 to 9, and secondary school for grades 10 to 11. A central feature of the curriculum is its trilingual framework, which introduces English, Kazakh, and Russian in the early years with instructional hours gradually increasing at each subsequent educational stage. As students progress into the upper secondary levels, the academic program differentiates into specialized natural-mathematical and social-humanitarian tracks to focus on specific subject areas. At the conclusion of the 11th grade, students graduate with the official secondary education qualifications of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Student Teacher Ratio

Optimal class size up to 21 students.

Admissions

The admissions journey begins with families scheduling a personal interview for their child. Following the interview, students complete English and Mathematics proficiency assessments on our custom-built, digital testing platform. To ensure every student thrives, our admissions team carefully evaluates both the interview insights and test results to offer the most supportive placement – either in our full English-immersion curriculum or our blended mixed-language classes.

Scholarships

KAIS focuses on keeping our baseline tuition affordable. While we do not offer full scholarships at this time, we are fully committed to supporting families through multi-child sibling discounts, flexible installment plans, and prepayment incentives. This structure allows us to ensure a world-class education – providing an exceptionally diverse international curricula and growing student leadership programs – while remaining the core fees affordable.

Waitlist

The KAIS does not provide specific information regarding the operation of a formal waitlist or pool system.

FAQs

Where is Kazakh American International School (KAIS) located and what ages does it serve?

KAIS is located at Toraigyrov Street 43 in an ecologically clean area near the heart of Almaty. It is a full‑day, co‑educational school serving students aged 6 to 19 (grades 1–11 plus preschool grade).

What type of curriculum does KAIS follow?

KAIS integrates the Kazakhstani state curriculum with international frameworks, including IB PYP in early years, American AP courses, and British BTEC and Cambridge English qualifications, delivered within a trilingual model (English, Russian, Kazakh). Upper secondary students can choose natural‑mathematical or social‑humanitarian specialization tracks.

How large are classes at KAIS and how many students attend the school?

KAIS limits class sizes to under 21 students to focus on individual progression, and the school currently educates around 600 pupils.

What are the tuition fees and are there any additional upfront costs?

Monthly tuition for the 2026/2027 academic year is KZT 300,000. A one‑time enrollment fee of KZT 300,000 is required upon acceptance to secure a place.

What payment options and discounts are available for tuition?

Families may pay the annual tuition in full by August to receive a prepayment discount or choose a monthly installment plan. A sibling discount is available for families with more than one child enrolled; daily meals and the school bus are billed separately.

How do I apply to KAIS and what assessments are required?

Admissions begin with a scheduled personal interview for the child, followed by English and Mathematics proficiency assessments on KAIS's digital testing platform. The school uses interview and test results to place students into either full English‑immersion or blended mixed‑language classes.

Does KAIS offer scholarships or a formal waitlist?

KAIS does not offer full scholarships at this time but provides affordability through competitive baseline tuition, sibling discounts, prepayment incentives, and flexible installment plans. The school does not provide specific public details about a formal waitlist system.

How is academic instruction structured across grade levels at KAIS?

The school follows the Kazakhstani state program across three stages: Primary (grades 1–4), Basic Secondary (grades 5–9), and Secondary/High School (grades 10–11). Instruction is trilingual with increasing hours of English, Russian, and Kazakh as students progress, and upper secondary students follow specialized academic tracks.

Is KAIS an AP test center and what university-preparation support is available?

KAIS is an official AP exam test center. High school students receive strong university‑preparation support through a Career Navigation program that provides university mentor pairings, SAT and IELTS preparation, internship placements, college counselling with 15+ years of admissions experience, and a structured GAP year programme.

What is the school campus like and are the facilities modern?

The campus is situated in an ecologically clean area near central Almaty and completed maintenance in 2021 to meet global standards. Classroom sizes are kept optimal for focused learning, and the school operates as part of the Kazakh American University structure.

What meal and transport services does KAIS provide?

KAIS Canteen provides three meals a day for primary and middle school students and two meals a day for high school students; menus are developed with a paediatrician and comply with sanitary authority requirements. A dedicated school bus service offers daily transportation to and from the campus for families who opt in.

Are there sports, arts or clubs available outside regular lessons?

Yes—KAIS provides sports sections and art classes either free of charge or on preferential terms, and organizes circles and studios to broaden learning beyond classroom lessons. Extracurriculars include competitive opportunities through the Almaty School League and a range of student‑led projects.

What leadership and extra‑curricular programs does KAIS offer?

KAIS is a UNESCO Associated School, an independent centre for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, an NCSS member, and competes in the Almaty School League, offering leadership pathways across STEM, sports, debate, and community projects. The school also emphasizes student responsibility and independent thinking through varied extracurricular formats.

Can KAIS students undertake research or internships while at school?

Yes—KAIS partners with Kazakh American University to offer genuine research opportunities unusual at school level in Kazakhstan, and the Career Navigation program arranges real internship placements for high school students in addition to mentor guidance for university applications.

What emotional and developmental support is available for students?

KAIS provides multi‑layered support including on‑site psychologists and speech therapists to assist with emotional development, communication, and peer integration. Small class sizes further enable teachers to monitor individual progress and provide targeted support.

Does KAIS provide additional academic support such as exam preparation?

Yes—KAIS offers targeted SAT and IELTS preparation as part of its high school support, alongside college counselling and mentoring through the Career Navigation program to help students prepare for international university admissions.

Is KAIS a secular school and what are the school hours?

KAIS is a secular (non‑religious) institution. The school operates a full‑day schedule that typically begins at 8:30 and includes academic lessons, extracurriculars, supervised homework time, and scheduled meal breaks.

Does KAIS offer boarding or only day schooling?

KAIS is a day school and does not offer boarding facilities.

What formal recognitions or memberships does KAIS hold?

KAIS is a UNESCO Associated School, an independent centre for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, an NCSS member, an Almaty School League competitor, and an official AP exam test center, reflecting a range of international and local engagements.

Which languages are used for instruction at KAIS?

KAIS delivers a trilingual education in English, Russian, and Kazakh. English was introduced widely from 1999 for older grades and Kazakh instruction began in 2006; instruction hours for each language increase progressively through the grades.

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