Welcome to the American International School · Vienna, the oldest English-instruction international school in Austria, with students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. We have about 790 students representing over 60 countries, with at least 120 students with dual nationalities.
AIS Vienna, has a colorful and fascinating story that has been shaped by the thousands of families, teachers, and staff that have been part of our community for close to six decades. We continue to evolve and develop as we say goodbye to and welcome almost 200 students yearly.
Every family has a story to tell and a reason for coming to AIS Vienna. At least half of our students belong to diplomatic and multinational expat families expecting to live in Austria for only a few years and thereafter go back home or move to yet another new country. Many of our international families have also chosen Austria as their new home. A significant number of Austrian families have returned after living abroad for a long time, while many families from the local community wish to prepare their children for higher education, a career, or a life abroad.
Our core values - to Nurture, Include, Challenge, and Respect - define who we are as a school and community. We encourage you to read through our website to learn more about our programs and services. We would be happy to share our story with you and learn more about your family’s story. Together we can explore whether AIS Vienna is the right school for your children.
Please contact us to schedule a visit. If you live overseas, you are welcome to contact us on call or email. We look forward to meeting your family and children.
School Capacity and Class Size
Admissions will be granted according to class size limits that ensure that standards of excellence will be maintained.
Academic Standards
Students will be admitted only when their previous records and/or screening indicate a high likelihood that they can successfully complete grade level requirements in Grades K-8 or, in Grades 9-12, the requirements for the AIS U.S. High School Diploma. Additionally, students may pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Admission decisions are made upon review of transcripts, other records, placement tests and, when possible, an interview. Applicants with below satisfactory grades or the equivalent for students coming from non-graded instructional institutions may be considered ineligible for admission.
Age
A child must be four (4) years old by September 1st of the year entering Pre-Kindergarten, five (5) years old by September 1st of the year entering Kindergarten, or six (6) years old by September 1st of the year entering first grade.
Students must be on track to graduate before they reach their 20th birthday.
Living Arrangements
Throughout their attendance at AIS, all students must live with their parent(s) or AIS approved guardian(s), who must furnish evidence of guardianship and power of attorney. Otherwise, the student will be required to withdraw. Students must be legally authorized to reside and attend school in Austria during their period of enrollment at AIS. Proof thereof may be requested by AIS at any time. If proof is not provided, the student may be asked to withdraw.
English Fluency
In the Elementary School, the number of students requiring additional English language support is limited to 20% of each grade level 1-5 and 30% of PK and K.
The Middle School EAL program is limited to approximately 20% of students in grades 6-8; EAL classes are restricted to 12 students. Each grade-level 6-8 offers an intermediate / advanced EAL class, Core Class (EAL 2). Depending on enrollment, a beginning EAL class may be offered for English language learners in Grade 6 students only. Students in Grades 7-8 are required to demonstrate intermediate or advanced EAL skills based on admissions testing. Exceptions to these guidelines may be made by the Middle School Principal in consultation with the EAL department.
High School applicants must have advanced proficiency in English. Applicants to the high school may be required to take an English proficiency test during the application process to establish the applicant’s fluency in writing, reading and speaking English and will not be eligible for admission unless found to be sufficiently fluent or considered capable of meeting requirements.
Special Learning Needs
The American International School · Vienna welcomes students with mild to moderate learning difficulties who are able to work toward the successful completion of AIS academic requirements. Services and programs for these students will be provided within the limits and capacity of the school's resources and personnel.
Reserved Spaces
As part of the contractual agreement between AIS and its teaching staff, the right of admission is granted to children of faculty whose needs can be met by the available services.
Note on placement: For students attending non-American / non-IB schools, please check the grade level equivalent with the Admissions Office before you apply. The September 1 age cut-off date applies strictly to Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. Students admitted mid-year may only be placed into the same grade levels.
Elementary School (PK, KG, Grades 1 to 5)
Confidential Classroom Teacher Reference
Middle School (Grades 6 to 8)
High School (Grades 9 to 12)
All forms and instructions are included in the online Application Portal
Application
Parents must complete and submit an online application for each child. For a list of the application requirements. The Admissions Office will contact parents about pending or missing requirements.
Submitting an application does not guarantee admission. A student may be admitted only if his/her application has been completed and reviewed positively and if a place is still available. Donations are not accepted from parents of applicants, their friends, or employers during the application process.
Review
Each completed application is reviewed by the respective division's "Admissions Committee". The committees send the reviewed files back to the Admissions Office with their recommendations ("Accepted" / "Waitlisted" / "Denied").
In cases where any part of the application raises questions about learning abilities or behavior, we may require a psycho-educational evaluation through school-recommended specialists to accurately determine the level of support needed.
The Admissions Office will contact parents to inform them of the status of the application and next steps. Admissions decisions or testing requirements for the first semester are communicated or scheduled in April of the same year.
Admissions Testing
Whenever the application information, reports, and recommendations are not sufficient to confirm that the applicant meets the academic criteria, tests in English and Mathematics are required before a final decision is made.
For Elementary School applicants, testing may be required to confirm social-emotional readiness, academic readiness, and/or English proficiency, if places are still available. All Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grade 1 applicants as well as all local applicants will be invited to academic readiness and/or English screening. Decisions will be made and communicated after the required screening or testing.
Grade 6 to 12 applicants who have never attended an English-instruction school but have otherwise performed well academically must first pass an English test to be admitted.
If places are still available, applicants with requirements submitted after March will be tested in May or early June (depending on teachers' availability), over the summer break (schedule-permitting), or in the first half of August.
Admission and Enrollment
Acceptance documents (welcome letters and information from the nurse, the Parent-Teacher-Forum, the lunch program and school bus service providers, etc.) are published on the online portal to parents. Parents must complete the Online Enrollment process, sign and return the Enrollment Contract and medical forms to the Admissions Office and pay a Reservation Fee before the given deadline.
Placement Testing for Middle and High School
Placement testing for all newly-admitted Middle and High School students (who have not been previously tested) must be completed the week before school begins. These tests help determine individual levels or possible gaps in Mathematics, Writing, and if applicable, in German, French, or Spanish.
High School student appointments must be arranged with our HS Counselors after testing to finalize course selection and the student's schedule before the first day of school. Parents must attend this meeting.
Final Admissions Requirements
Final reports and official transcripts of grades (with official English translations if not issued in English) of all new students from the previous school year or semester must be submitted to the Admissions Office except when the previous school issued no reports (younger students). Enrollment certificates may suffice.
The required medical forms must also be submitted to the school nurse before students start attending school.
New Student Orientation (August only)
All new students and parents are invited to attend the New Student Orientation scheduled the day before the first day of school. Tours will be arranged by student/parent volunteers and school personnel.
First Day of School
A new student will be assigned a Homeroom Teacher / Adviser. In addition, the division counselor will also assign a "buddy" to help the new student find his/her way around the school and adjust to the new environment within the first few weeks.
Start-of-Year Admission
The application for the following school year will open in September.
Deadline for "best consideration" for start-of-year admission (based on Admissions Priority Categories) is February 1. After this date, candidates will be considered based on priority, availability of grade level places, and date of completed application. Admissions Priority Categories will be honored until April 1. Admissions decisions are sent via email on or after April 1.
For start-of-year applications completed after May and during the summer break, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for processing. Please contact us to inquire about places available in the relevant grade level(s).
Rolling Admission
AIS offers "rolling" admission for Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 8, and semester-based admission for Grades 9-11, pending availability of places in each grade level. Grades 9-12 applications must be completed no later than August 1 for Semester 1 consideration, or by December 1 for Semester 2 consideration. International families moving to Austria for work-related reasons are prioritized for mid-year admission.
Acceptance & Waiting Pools
AIS maintains waiting pools in each grade level for one school year only. An Admissions decision will be made only once:
Once an offer of admission has been made, a place at AIS is not guaranteed until:
Payments
Fees are payable at the following times:
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