American International School of Bucharest

The American International School of Bucharest is located north of the center of Bucharest, near the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport. The address is 196 Pipera Boulevard, Voluntari, Ilfov County, 077190 Romania. The campus sits on a 10-hectare site.

AISB caters for students from EC2 to Grade 12 and is divided into three divisions: Early Learning Center (EC2 to Kindergarten) for ages 2 to 6, Elementary School (grades 1–5), and Secondary School (grades 6–12). The Secondary School uses the IB Middle Years Programme in grades 6–10 and the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11–12.

not-for-profit organization

Students represent more than 60 nationalities; the community comprises around 900 students.

The school has Student Support Services with a dedicated Student Support Services Coordinator.

The school has a U.S. affiliation; it was founded in 1962 by the U.S. Embassy to serve the educational needs of the diplomatic community.

The timetable for the secondary program uses an eight-day rotation with four class blocks per day; Grade 6–10 must arrive by 08:00. The eight-day cycle determines which classes meet on which days.

The American International School of Bucharest offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) programme across all grades. The Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) are part of the curriculum. MYP is taught in Grades 6 through 10, and DP in Grades 11 and 12; all students participate in the IB programme, either through the DP or IB courses. AISB is authorized to offer the MYP and the DP, and is NEASC-accredited to award a U.S. High School Diploma to students who meet the required credits. The MYP uses eight subject groups within a concept-based inquiry framework. Graduation pathways include the DP and a U.S. High School Diploma depending on credit completion.

Graduates pursue higher education at universities in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with the United States and Canada also among common destinations. AISB provides College Counseling to assist with university research and applications.

The school does not have a Gifted and Talented program per se. The IB programmes extend learning for advanced learners. Extended Learning (EL) is available in Elementary, and Learning Support (LS) teams work across the school to differentiate instruction and support a range of needs.

The school uses a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to provide increased levels of both academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support based on student need. The MTSS uses early identification and intervention to help struggling students catch up with their peers, access grade level curriculum, and potentially prevent future participation in Learning Support. This is done through universal screeners, our RtI program, and our Student Care processes in which students are identified and provided tiered levels of increasingly intensive support based on their area of need. Our MTSS program also provides extension opportunities, both in class and in small group settings, for more highly capable students within the Elementary school. AISB Counselors aspire to cultivate a compassionate, safe and inclusive environment where all students feel affirmed, heard and empowered to be themselves and take courageous action in life. AISB Counselors deliver a comprehensive developmental counseling program working in partnership with students, parents, faculty and staff. They advocate for and value the diversity of all students within a global context and actively foster the wellbeing and the holistic development of each student. AISB Counselors believe that all students have unique skills, strengths and potential, have the ability and the right to learn, grow and develop, and have the right to feel safe, supported, and accepted in school. Our Counselors provide individual and family counseling (making referrals to outside providers as needed), facilitate small group workshops for students, and contribute to AISB's social emotional learning program and child protection education. Counselors lead parent workshops and offer transitional programs for students and families impacted by the transient nature of our community.

The school provides Learning Support for students with identified learning challenges through a team of Learning Support specialists who provide skill based interventions in the areas of reading, written expression, math, executive functioning, inattention, social skills, sensory needs and others. Learning Support specialists work alongside teachers to ensure students receive differentiated instruction, classroom and/or assessment accommodations, modified curriculum as needed, and progress towards their learning goals. If students require ongoing 1:1 support, a Learning Intervention Focused Tutor (LIFT) may be arranged at the family's expense. All students within the Learning Support program have Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) which document their service delivery program. In order to provide a sustainable and quality Learning Support program, the school admits a managed number of students with mild to moderate learning and social-emotional/behavioral needs.

At AISB, every teacher is a language teacher and each student is seen as a unique and competent learner. The EAL program empowers students to develop a proficient level of social and academic English language which enables them to access the curriculum independently. The EAL program uses a blended service delivery model which combines specialized instruction in English language acquisition in sheltered classes, and scaffolded in-class content instruction delivered through co-planning and/or co-teaching. Instruction and support is provided by qualified and experienced EAL teachers based on a student's grade level, proficiency level, and other scheduling needs. All students who are non-native English speakers are assessed with AISB's language proficiency test to determine their English proficiency and language placement. In Elementary, sheltered instruction is delivered during the language rotation block where students are grouped by proficiency level. Students also receive additional support through collaborative co-planned and co-taught instruction between the EAL and homeroom teachers during Literacy, and at other times based on proficiency level and need. In Secondary, sheltered instruction that provides academic language skills to access grade-level content occurs during an Academic Literacy class and through leveled English curricula in the MYP English Language Acquisition class. In addition, students receive differentiated instruction through co-taught Science and Humanities classes where the grade-level EAL teacher and content teacher collaborate and co-plan instruction and learning resources. EAL support is limited in grades 11 and 12; students are monitored and able to take the IB English Language B HL in the DP program.

AISB Counselors aspire to cultivate a compassionate, safe and inclusive environment where all students feel affirmed, heard and empowered to be themselves and take courageous action in life. AISB Counselors deliver a comprehensive developmental counseling program working in partnership with students, parents, faculty and staff. They advocate for and value the diversity of all students within a global context and actively foster the wellbeing and the holistic development of each student. AISB Counselors believe that all students have unique skills, strengths and potential, have the ability and the right to learn, grow and develop, and have the right to feel safe, supported, and accepted in school. Our Counselors provide individual and family counseling (making referrals to outside providers as needed), facilitate small group workshops for students, and contribute to AISB's social emotional learning program and child protection education. Counselors lead parent workshops and offer transitional programs for students and families impacted by the transient nature of our community.

AISB is a school-wide priority. Safeguarding at AISB is a commitment to safeguarding processes to prevent the risk of harm to children's health or development. Safeguarding children from harm works best when the entire community is involved. AISB expects all individuals and groups associated within our school community to act with integrity and to take responsibility for keeping students safe and included. Whether you are a staff member, a coach, a tutor, a contractor, a guest, parent or visitor, it is expected that you will support our students and act with their wellbeing in mind at all times. To ensure this happens, students, parents, and faculty and staff are familiar with the child protection policy and Safeguarding Handbook to educate themselves about how to identify and respond to concerns. As a member of our school community, you recognize your role and responsibility to safeguard students and to keep an eye out for one another. If you see something, say something, and we thank you for helping build AISB school culture and community where safety and wellbeing is paramount.

Step 1: Inquiry/Book a tour. Families are welcomed to explore AISB by arranging a campus visit. During the visit, families meet with staff, receive detailed information, and meet with principals or faculty members to address questions; a follow-up email provides application details and next steps.
Step 2: Applications Checklist. All applications are submitted online through the Admissions Portal. Required documents include a recent passport-style photo of the applicant, copies of the applicant's and parents' IDs, a non-refundable €250 application fee, vaccination records, birth certificate, and reports from previous schools. Two completed recommendation forms must be submitted via AISB's Admissions Portal: Elementary (EC2–G5) forms from the principal or counselor and the homeroom teacher; Secondary (G6–12) forms from the principal or counselor, English teacher, and Mathematics teacher. Legal Custody Documents must be provided if applicable.
Step 3: Admission Assessment. After the checklist is complete and space is available, admissions testing is conducted. ELC and KG/Early Learning applicants meet with the Principal, Pedagogical Coordinator, or ELC Pastoral Lead to discuss the application and meet the student; in Romania, EC4/KG applicants may have in-person assessments with an Early Intervention Specialist, while outside Bucharest online assessments may be used. Elementary applicants take English proficiency tests and literacy/math assessments; Secondary applicants take English and Math tests and may have an IB meeting as needed.
Step 4: Admissions Review Process. Final admission decisions are made by the School Director based on recommendations from the ELC, Elementary, and Secondary Principals. The review considers factors such as potential to benefit from AISB's IB programs, capacity to support the applicant's educational and behavioral needs, attendance, behavior, finances, health, international diversity, language proficiency, current schooling, and wellbeing needs. Additional meetings or testing may be required for certain applicants, particularly those with learning or language needs or overseas transfers.
Step 5: Acceptance Process. The Admissions Office notifies parents with one of three outcomes: Acceptance with a starting date; Conditional Acceptance with specific terms and a timeframe; or Not Accepted, with possible placement in a waiting pool. AISB provides feedback on the reasons for non-acceptance; information about the waiting pool is described in the FAQ.
Step 6: Enrollment & Re-enrollment. Upon acceptance, families sign online Enrollment Steps and Policies and the AISB Parent Code of Conduct; a contract is issued and must be returned signed within two weeks. Re-enrollment invitations are sent in early February for the upcoming school year, with a February 15 deadline to complete the online process. The school may deny re-enrollment for overdue invoices or failure to meet behavioral or other requirements, and may require a student to repeat a year if readiness is not demonstrated.

The objective of the AISB Scholarship Program is to provide qualified students of any nationality who are unable to afford AISB full access to a challenging international education.

Not Accepted: Students who are not accepted may be placed in a waiting pool if parents express continued interest. AISB provides feedback on the reasons for non-acceptance; information about the waiting pool is described in the FAQ.