Introduction
Welcome to the American
International School of Budapest! Whether you are a prospective
student or family, a teacher exploring career opportunities,
former students or faculty going down memory lane, or simply
someone interested in AISB, we welcome you to our website.
Our students
We at AISB are proud
of our vibrant international community. We have currently
students from over fifty different countries, with all that
this represents from the point of view of different languages
and cultures. They are here with us, living this very special
AISB experience in the wonderful city of Budapest. Our wish
is for all students to achieve their highest academic potential
and at the same time develop their individuality, interests
and special talents. We are an IB World School with a tremendous
record of success at the IB Diploma level. In addition, our
co-curricular programs are first-class, giving students access
to a wide range of sports, activities, theatre productions,
clubs, environmental protection action, student leadership
roles and the very important community service contribution.
Our Faculty
Our diverse student body is matched
by the vast international experience of our faculty. They
are a highly qualified, talented, dynamic, and highly motivated
group of educators who are committed to the spirit of internationalism
and global understanding. The vast majority of them have Masters
degrees and they are all committed to a personal professional
development program that aims to keep them at the forefront
of their area of expertise. Teachers at AISB tend to stay
longer than the average tenure enjoyed in most international
education institutions, with all the resulting benefits for
both the school and the students.
Our Parents
The third vital component in the
AISB experience is the parent community. Parents are focussed
upon how to play their part in their children’s learning
experience. One of their finest accomplishments, among the
many, has been the creation of the world-class Nagykovácsi
Campus. The facility has been completely funded by the parent
community and stands as a continuous tribute to the role the
parents want to play in making a significant difference in
the education of young people. The impressive Buda Campus
for our younger children has that same sense of quality in
the building design and construction.
The Interaction
and Support of our Constituents
In sum,
when you add the superb campuses to the excellent salary package
aimed at recruiting and retaining the best teachers, the materials
and equipment available for student use, the interaction with
faculty and parents in the pursuit of adding value to the
children’s education; clearly, we have tremendous support
from all the school’s constituents.
An invitation
to get to know us better
We invite you to
travel through our hallways by browsing through this web site.
You will begin to learn why we are a special educational institution.
Contact us through the e-mail address provided if you have
any questions that we have not answered for you. Best
of all, come for a visit. You will see that the reality is
totally in step with the virtual images!
School Governance
and Accreditation
Let
me now move into a greater amount of detail about AISB. We
are an independent, non-profit day school, which offers an
educational program from pre-kindergarten through grade 12
for students of all nationalities. The School was founded
in 1973 and is governed by a Board of Directors comprised
of 11 elected/appointed parents. AISB is accredited
by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle
States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS).
Student Numbers
Enrolment
currently exceeds 802 students, the largest group of which
are Hungarian citizens, (19%). Sixteen percent of the student
body is U.S. citizens, with Korea being the third biggest grouping
with 12%. The remaining 53% represent 54 other nationalities.
The responsibility for teaching and guiding these students
lies in the hands of a highly talented faculty of 98 full-time
and 16 part-time teachers, counsellors, and administrators,
including 64 U.S. citizens, 4 Hungarians, and 46 third-country
nationals from a dozen other nations.
Our Current
Facilities
The School operates
four divisions on two campuses. The Buda Campus (PK-grade
2) facility has 24 classrooms, an indoor swimming pool, computer
room, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, theatre, and ample support
facilities, including playgrounds. The 32-acre Nagykovácsi
Campus, located in a suburb of Budapest, houses grades 3-12
in a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility built in 2000,
complete with 54 classrooms, library, cafeteria, computer
rooms, double-sized gymnasium, 25-meter indoor swimming pool,
350 seat theatre, performing and visual arts facilities, and
beautiful playfields.
Our Future
Plans
AISB
is currently moving through a three-year building consolidation
program with the aim of having all of our students on the
Nagykovácsi site in August 2009. Land adjacent to the
NK site has been purchased upon which we shall build extra
sports fields during Spring 2007. We are currently involved
at the design stage of an elementary building, which will
house all grades that are currently on the Buda Campus. The
construction of the new building is expected to begin in Spring,
2008. These are indeed exciting times for AISB!
Our Academic
Year
Our school year begins
in mid-August and extends through mid-June, allowing for three
one-week breaks throughout the year plus a three-week holiday
in December. Students stay at AISB an average of three
years, so we are well prepared to welcome new students each
year, as well as during the school year. Life in Budapest
is exhilarating and accessible. Typically, our families love
this school and thoroughly enjoy Budapest.
Conclusion
In sum, AISB has
in place all the elements needed to give each student an exceptional
education and each faculty member a richly rewarding professional
experience. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ray Holliday-Bersegeay
School Director
