American International School – Salzburg

Salzburg

Austria

Overview

The American International School-Salzburg is an international, college-preparatory boarding school for students in grades 7 through 12 (ages 12 to 19) offering the best of American private school education in an international setting. As a community of learners which high goals and standards, we pride ourselves on our commitment to effectively and personally addressing the educational needs of students who have the ability and motivation to strive intellectually, grow individually, and contribute socially. Founded in 1977, the school has been serving an international community of families who have chosen AIS-Salzburg for the profound cultural richness of the region of Salzburg, Austria, the excellent academic preparation for university studies, and the small, caring, and familiar environment the school provides. Only those who have had the opportunity to experience life and learning in this unforgettable and timeless city can truly understand what an international education in a boarding school can provide and how it can equip a student not only for the challenges of university but bring out hidden talents and further an understanding of our world which is truly global and universal. Living and attending AIS-Salzburg will challenge your beliefs, excite your senses, and broaden your mind like nothing else. For the thousands of students who have attended our school over the years, we are absolutely certain that the events they experience here, the diversity of the students with whom they study, and the remarkable dedication of their teachers left a mark on them which they continue to carry today. It is the mark of wisdom, discernment, and fairness which can only come through experiencing life and study abroad within an internationally diverse community. This culturally and historically-rich city of 150,000 provides the perfect setting for an international education. The American International School-Salzburg is an independent, coeducational, private boarding and day school which serves students from around the world. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is recognized as a private school by the Austrian Ministry of Education. AIS-Salzburg is a member of the European Council of International Schools, the Association of Boarding Schools and the College Board.

Academics

Summary: The American International School-Salzburg is a purely college-preparatory school. 100% of our graduates go on to study at universities and colleges around the world following the reception of our diploma. In order to provide the highest-quality preparation, AIS-Salzburg has developed a progression of courses and requirements which will allow the student to participate in AP-level coursework in the 11th and 12th grade. To be successful at the AP level (equivalent to first-year university work) the students must have a strong foundation of skills and knowledge as well as the necessary habits, motivation, and goals. Therefore, it is appropriate to say that every aspect of the school’s programming serves our preparatory ideals. Students at AIS-Salzburg are attractive candidates for universities for several profound reasons. Firstly, they are international in their outlook and can rely on a wide variety of experiences which set them aside from the average high school student. Secondly, they have earned their grades, test scores, and evaluation results in a boarding program where they have also been required to attend to their daily needs, demonstrate maturity and independence in their daily lives, and have a wealth of experiences behind them which have taught them flexibility, determination, and self-directedness. Finally, graduates of our program have proven intellectual breadth through the successful completion of our requirements at the AP level as well as in the significant foreign-language requirement in German language. It is not surprising that our graduates have a much higher acceptance rate to selective universities worldwide. Students interested in tertiary studies in Great Britain can achieve equivalency through the successful completion of at least three AP Examinations. Other universities such as those in continental Europe may require between 2 and 4 exams for equivalency plus proof of language proficiency. Graduates of AIS-Salzburg can point to an outstanding and broad education in all subject areas and are characterized by strong development of interpersonal skills as wells as experiences and abilities which go far beyond the norm; guaranteeing that they stand out in any group of applicants. The average graduate of the American International School-Salzburg carries at least four and up to 9 AP courses completed and examinations written.

Department Director Jeff Agardy

Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1

Average Class Size: 8

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 17

Number of AP Courses Offered: 10

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 85.0%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Noteworthy Information:
Graduates complete between 4 and 9 AP examinations annually.

English

Classics
Literature
Poetry

History

Classical History
European History
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

French
German
Italian
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

Ethics
Moral Philosophy
Mythology
Philosophy
The Bible

Sciences

Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Health
Physical Science
Physics
Physiology

Math

Music

Individual Instructions
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Art History
Dance
Drama
Drawing
Journalism
Printmaking
Publications
Studio Art
Theater Arts

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Leadership
Outdoor Education

Distinctive or New Programs

Summer Language Courses In German And English In July And August. Double Foreign Language Requirement For All Students At All Grade Levels. All Students Must Earn A Full Credit In German Each Year As Well As In Either French Or Spanish.

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 2

Average Students Per Dorm: 35

Number of Girls Dorms: 1

Number of Boys Dorms: 1

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Vending Machines
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

All student dormitories are single, double, and triple rooms with en suite bathroom and shower.

Student Life

Although there is a great deal of academic intensity associated with enrollment at the American International School-Salzburg, as a full-boarding school, we also place great emphasis and focus on the non-academic programs and the educational development that takes place during those hours. Academic and intellectual development must always be balanced by an engaging, well-rounded, and positive personality. As a true boarding school with over 85% of our students resident on campus, AIS-Salzburg provides a wide variety of competitive athletics activities, excursions, and countless opportunities for social engagement and involvement. Any given weekend during the school year, our students be found playing soccer at a tournament in Switzerland, skiing in the beautiful Austrian Alps, taking in a museum in Vienna, or watching a film with their friends. At AIS-Salzburg, we believe that in order to be a truly educated person, you have to be driven to find your limits, challenged to know your talents, and tested to develop your character. That a great deal of this will necessarily take place during non-academic hours is obvious as we place great emphasis and go to significant expense to provide a boarding and pastoral care program which is directed by a staff which is talented, energetic, and has our mission and goals as their guide. The resident staff at AIS-Salzburg do not teach credit-bearing classes. Instead, they focus on the immediate and real needs of our students during the non-academic hours as well as instruct them in physical education and sports. The resident staff is made up of Dorm Parents and Resident Assistants. The Dorm Parents are adults who have raised their own children through university level and know the trials and difficulties of adolescence firsthand.

Facilities

All-Weather Track
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Indoor Climbing Wall
Indoor Pool
Pool
Racquetball Court
Sand Volleyball Court
Technology Center
Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

All Sports Facilities Owned By Salzburg University

Clubs & Organizations

Arts & Athletics

Summary: The athletics program at AIS-Salzburg is composed of a number of competitive teams which participate in regular practices and competitions with teams from other international schools. The school offers involvement at the competitive level based upon the talent and ability of the students as determined by the individual coaches of each sports team. Involvement in competitive athletics at AIS-Salzburg is available to all students in all grade levels. There are three seasons of competition at AIS-Salzburg which roughly coincide with the school’s trimesters. The Fall Trimester is the season for boys’ and girls’ volleyball as well as the boys’ soccer team. In years where there is enough interest, a girls’ soccer team is also organized. The Winter Trimester includes competition in boys’ and girls’ basketball exclusively. The Spring Trimester—dependent upon interest—involves AIS-Salzburg students in competitive athletics in boys’ baseball, girls» softball, tennis, and golf. Success on our athletics teams is not measured in terms of games won or lost but in the quality of sportsmanship expressed and achieved. AIS-Salzburg student-athletes learn the important lessons that competitive sports provide (teamwork, leadership, and cooperative effort towards a goal) as well as involve themselves in travel and experiences with other international-school students which are rewarding and exciting. AIS-Salzburg is a member of the Danube Valley Athletics League which organizes competitive tournaments in all high-school sports throughout the calendar year. International schools from Hungary to Switzerland are involved in the league and host as well as travel to the various tournaments held each year. Additionally, the school’s Athletics Director schedules singlegame events both at home and away as well as our traditional Basketball Jamboree in March and competitions with local club teams here in Salzburg.

Arts Department Director: Michael Lente

Athletics Department Director: David Burns

Arts

Art History
Dance
Drama
Drawing
Journalism
Printmaking
Publications
Studio Art
Theater Arts

Interscholastic Sports

Basketball
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Volleyball

Recreational Sports

Aerobics
Alpine Ski Racing
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Camping
Cross Country Running
Dance
Golf
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Outdoor Education
Rafting
Rock Climbing
Snowboarding
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Weight Lifting
Cycling

Graduates

Summary: Students at AIS-Salzburg are attractive candidates for universities for several profound reasons. Firstly, they are international in their outlook and can rely on a wide variety of experiences which set them aside from the average high school student. Secondly, they have earned their grades, test scores, and evaluation results in a boarding program where they have also been required to attend to their daily needs, demonstrate maturity and independence in their daily lives, and have a wealth of experiences behind them which have taught them flexibility, determination, and self-directedness. Finally, graduates of our program have proven intellectual breadth through the successful completion of our requirements at the AP level as well as in the double foreign-language requirement (German plus French or Spanish). It is not surprising, then, that our graduates have a much higher acceptance rate to selective universities worldwide. Students interested in tertiary studies in Great Britain can achieve equivalency through the successful completion of at least three AP Examinations. Other universities such as those in continental Europe may require between 2 and 4 exams for equivalency plus proof of language proficiency. At present, approximately one-third of our graduates enroll for tertiary studies in North America, one-third in the U.K, and one-third in continental Europe. Graduates of AIS-Salzburg can point to an outstanding and broad education in all subject areas and are characterized by strong development of interpersonal skills as wells as experiences and abilities which go far beyond the norm; guaranteeing that they stand out in any group of applicants. The average graduate of the American International School-Salzburg carries at least four and up to 9 AP courses completed and examinations written.

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Quotes From Alumni

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Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %

Average Merit Scholarship: 15,000

Current Endowment Amount: $500,000

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Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 58

Total Day: 10

Total Enrollment: 68

Boys: 36

Girls: 32

Boarding Grades Offered: 7-12

Day Grades Offered: 7-12

School Type: Middle, High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Other

Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep

Application Deadline: January 1st

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $35,460

5-Day Boarding: $34,360

Day Tuition Fee: $20,100

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Not Offered

Students Receiving Aid: %

Average Awarded: $15,000

School Finances