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.

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.