The American International School of Bamako (AISB) is an independent, coeducational, private day school which offers a full U.S. educational program from pre-kindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. The School was established in 1977 to serve the needs of American and international community students seeking an English-language education. The school year is divided into 2 semesters. AISB also operates a satellite campus in Sadiola, Mali for the AngloGold mining company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 9-member Board of Directors governs the School, with 7 members elected by the AISB Association. There is also an appointed representative of the U.S. Embassy and the school director serves on the Board as a non-voting member. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School and to all professional staff.

AISB is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools through 12th Grade. It is also approved as a class school by DoDDs.

ENROLLMENT

Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is around 200, including U.S. citizens and more than 28 other nationalities.

CURRICULUM

AISB offers a full U.S. educational program from pre-kindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. The curriculum is similar to that of other American International Schools. Classes use up-to-date American textbooks and teaching materials from the United States and around the world. In addition to the regular academic courses, French, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Computer, Music, Drama, Art, and Physical Education classes are offered. The School has a purpose-built library with 10,000 volumes for reference work and for supplemental reading. There is an 20-station iMac computer lab in the elementary and a 16-station computer lab in the Secondary School plus a 14 station mobile Mac Lab. The science lab also has a 5-station mini-hub of personal computers.

FACULTY

The faculty includes a full-time school director, a secondary principal, and 23 full-time and 4 part-time teachers, including 19 U.S. citizens and 8 other nationals. All professional staff members have university degrees or teacher certificates. More than half of the faculty hold Master's degrees.

CALENDAR

The school year of approximately 176 days is comprised of 2 semesters divided into 2 quarters each. School runs from late August until early June. Three long holidays occur during the year, one in October, one in December and one in April. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:20 p.m. Grades are issued at the end of each quarter.

SPORTS / EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

An athletic program and a wide variety of extra-curricular and club/service activities are available for AISB students. The extra-curricular PK-12 activities, organized by the After-School Activities Coordinator, are offered in 4 sessions throughout the year. After-school activities include: a wide variety of sports including rock climbing, music, arts and crafts, and African drumming and dance. Athletics and academic activities like, Model United Nations, are geared for participation in WAISAL, the West African International Schools Activities League.  There are three dynamic student government organizations representing the high school, middle school and elementary levels.  Community service activities are a regular, planned part of the upper elementary and secondary programs.

ADMISSION

Admission is based on previous school records, age, and a personal interview. Students may be required to provide both testing documentation or take basic entrance examinations during the admissions process. AISB does not provide special needs services –other than ESOL and possibly learning support– and is normally unable to accept special needs children. Admission is open to students of all nationalities and is based on the following: -full completion of application forms - educational history -personal interview/entrance tests.

CURRENT FACILITIES

The School occupies purpose-built facilities located on a site overlooking the Niger River. The buildings include 14 classrooms, a computer lab, a library, a Multi Purpose Room used as a performance space and indoor activities area for PE, an office, a flagstone courtyard, and landscaped grounds with playground equipment and a playing field. One nearby villa serves as the Early Learning Center. Two, large nearby villas serve as the Middle School and High School (grades 6-12). Both the ELC and the Middle/High School villas have recreation areas, lunch areas and complete educational facilities with newly remodeled Science and Computer Labs. There is a covered play area in the elementary school. AISB also operates a satellite-campus in Sadiola for the children of the AngloGold Mining Company employees.

 

NEW FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

To meet the growing demand for an expanded purpose-built facility here in Bamako, a new campus has been under construction since the Spring of 2009. The expected completion date is in the December, 2010. Classes will begin in January at the new facility. The new campus will include the following facilities: individual classrooms for all primary grades, a secondary campus, athletic facilities, science labs, two computer labs and a wirelessly connected campus, library and performing and visual arts facilities.

 

Construction Site July, 2010

For more information or to register, please contact the registrar by e-mail at registrar@aisbmali.org or by telephone at (223) 2022 47 38