The American School in Switzerland

The story began in 1956 when M. Crist Fleming fulfilled her dream of establishing an American boarding school in the heart of Europe, designed to prepare students for American colleges and universities and to introduce them to European culture and languages.

Today we welcome more than 700 day and boarding students from Pre-Kindergarten to Postgraduate, with 250 students between ages 12-19 residing on campus. With a student body that represents approximately 60 nationalities each year and speaks more than 35 languages as a mother tongue, cultural differences are celebrated as students challenge and inspire one another to become global citizens.

Our academic programs provide a rich and varied curriculum that encourages students to find their own voice no matter what the discipline. High School students can choose from a selection of Advanced Placement courses or pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, providing access to colleges and universities around the world. Accredited by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), we are proud to employ gifted, passionate educators who encourage intellectual curiosity.

Our campus includes 25 buildings dating from the 17th century Villa De Nobili to the state-of-the-art Campo Science Center, which opened in 2014. Our enviable location—perched on a hillside in sunny southern Switzerland that commands views of snow-capped mountains to the north, and palm trees, lakes, and the Italian border to the south—makes possible an impressive travel program.

Academic travel experiences throughout the year bring students face-to-face with the rich cultural heritage of Europe and the spectacular natural beauty of the Alps and beyond. Our pioneering Global Service Program awakens students to humanitarian needs, inspires them to build enduring relationships, and leads them toward a life of active citizenship and committed service.

We encourage physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. Sports teams compete throughout Switzerland and Europe, and a wide variety of other recreational sports and adventure trips are offered to cater to all interests.

The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) is a family of international schools that welcomes young people from all nationalities to an educational community that fosters a passion for excellence along with mutual respect and understanding. Consistent with the vision of its founder, M. Crist Fleming, TASIS is committed to transmitting the heritage of Western civilization and world cultures: the creations, achievements, traditions, and ideals from the past that offer purpose in the present and hope for the future. Seeking to balance the pursuit of knowledge with the love of wisdom, and promoting the skills of lifelong learning, an appreciation for beauty, and the development of character, each school combines a challenging academic program with opportunities for artistic endeavor, physical activity, and service to others. Believing in the worth of each individual and the importance of enduring relationships, TASIS seeks to embody and instill the values of personal responsibility, civility, compassion, justice, and truth.

Academics at TASIS are focused on challenging and inspiring students of all ages and abilities. Structured by the fundamental ideas expressed in the TASIS Mission Statement, students develop a passion for excellence, a respect and understanding of others, and the personal values of responsibility, civility, compassion, justice, and honesty.

The content of our courses is strongly oriented toward the classical liberal arts tradition as it is expressed in the heritage of Western civilization and world cultures. In addition to the classroom experience, TASIS also makes great use of its location in the heart of Europe to visit many of the sites where this long-standing cultural heritage is displayed, and to bring to campus artists and speakers who can enhance and complement the curriculum.

In order to implement these goals, TASIS draws on the strengths of the Core Knowledge, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate programs. While English is the primary language of instruction, there is also a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) program in place throughout the curriculum. Fluent English-speaking students at all grade levels are required to study at least one modern language in addition to their native language. In Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8, all students are taught in a parallel English-language and Italian-language program. This strong emphasis on language acquisition continues through the IB Diploma Program, where TASIS teaches four primary A1 languages (English, Italian, German, and Russian) and supports a variety of self-taught languages.

TASIS students have consistently outperformed their peers in their pursuit of the IB Diploma, which opens doors to outstanding colleges and universities around the world. Diploma candidates have achieved pass rates of 97 percent or higher each of the past six years and typically earn IB Bilingual Diplomas at a rate of around 50 percent.

Our dedicated University and College Counseling Office helps all students develop a detailed academic plan that aligns with their postsecondary goals. Over the past five years, our counselors have helped students gain acceptance to nearly 400 colleges and universities in 20 nations, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Pennsylvania, Cornell, Duke, UC–Berkeley, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Bowdoin, and Middlebury.