Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
Admissions
Extra curricular activities
Curriculum
Our program is oriented towards the French Baccalaureate and follows
the French National Curriculum. The French system is one of the oldest
and most respected educational structures in the world. This program,
when blended with an American English curriculum, allows the school to
deliver a dynamic course of study, which is rigorous and disciplined,
while at the same time nurturing creativity in order to create a
balance. Emphasis is placed on building a solid foundation of basic
skills and learning tools. The program stresses that teachers work to
stimulate intellectual curiosity, encourage independent thinking, and
foster individual responsibility. Small class sizes provide students
with a supportive learning environment and a great deal of personal
attention.
Click here to read an ENGLISH version of the French Curriculum
Click here to read a FRENCH version of the French Curriculum
General questions
How much does it cost
to send my child to your school?
Depending on age, tuition is on average
$8,000 per year.
When does registration
start?
Anytime.
At what age can I apply
for my child?
Children qualify for the
pre-kindergarten program if they turn three years old by December 31 of
the year enrolled, four by December 31 for MS and five by December 31
for Kindergarten. An individual observation is administered for class
placement.
What if we don't speak
French?
Over fifty percent of our families
speak no French. There are infrastructures and resources available at
the school to support the educational success of children whose
families are non-French speakers.
What if we speak a
third language at home?
Children whose families speak a third
language at home tend to thrive in our bilingual program. This is
assuming the child has mastered one dominant language prior to
enrollment and identifies each language according to his/her
environment.
What extra-curricular activities are available?
Extra-curricular activities are
available throughout the school year (e.g. dance, music, gymnastics,
ballet, acting). Fees for these activities are paid directly to the
after-school teacher.
What languages do
children learn in your school?
All instructions are given in French,
English and Spanish.
What is the homework
policy?
Homework begins in first grade (Cours Pr
éparatoire).
Teachers for each class discuss daily the amount of homework that is to be
assigned for each student, in order to optimize the benefits of home study.
Do the children have
the opportunity to write creatively?
Creative writing is continually
fostered and encouraged. The frequency depends on the age of the child.
How much outside
reading is required? How are the books chosen?
Students are consistently encouraged to read
on their own from first through fifth grade. The choice of books
is monitored by the teachers. These books are usually classics chosen
to complement the core literature being taught at each level. A variety
of book reports/projects are assigned to these books throughout the
school year. Finally, students are required on a weekly basis to choose
books from our trilingual library and keep their reading log updated.
How does the English
program accommodate non-native speakers of English?
Students are placed in an ESL program
in which the main goal is to develop communication, grammar, reading
and writing skills. The curriculum is designed to enable the student to
be mainstreamed into the regular English program by the following year.
Is my child reading and
testing on the same level with his/her counterpart in
the American system?
Student skills are evaluated regularly
by English teachers who have been trained in the American system. The
success rate of graduates is comparable to that of students from
American schools.
If my child transfers
to an American school after attending the Austin International School,
will he/she be behind, ahead or on target?
During the first six years at AIS, students tend to score as well as or better than their
peers at American schools, therefore they should be ahead or on target.
Do you have a summer
program?
Yes, we do. The six-week summer program
starts after the end of school in mid-June and ends the last week of
July. Children who are not enrolled at The Austin International School
during the regular school year are welcome to attend. The summer
program is offered in both French and Spanish languages.
