The International School of Azerbaijan, Baku (AIOC-TISA)

The International School of Azerbaijan is a non-sectarian, co-educational college-preparatory day school of 380+ students from ages 3-18 years that serves both the expatriate community and those in the local community who are seeking an international education. The school aims to prepare students to be independent, life-long learners and to acquire the problem-solving skills and knowledge necessary for educational success. Teachers encourage self-expression and creative thinking as well as the respect and understanding of different philosophies and cultures, especially those represented in the school. TISA is housed in a new purpose built facility located on the outskirts of Baku, a capital city of three million inhabitants situated on the Absheron Peninsula bordering the Caspian Sea. The campus includes a gymnasium, soccer field, and separate laboratories for biology, chemistry, and physics. There is a well-resourced library and fully equipped IT rooms, as well as a languages suite and Art and Design Technology rooms. An Early Learning Centre operates in a separate building adjacent to the main site. Over 40 nationalities are represented in the total enrollment, with the highest percentages being from the UK and the USA. Instruction is in English, and all students work towards earning a TISA High School Diploma at the end of Grade 12 (IB2). All secondary students are enrolled in the IB courses whether they are seeking the International Baccalaureate Diploma, IB Certificates or the TISA High School Diploma. TISA has 46 full-time faculty members representing 13 countries, including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Holland, France, Spain, Sweden, Lebanon, Russia, and Azerbaijan. All teaching staff are university certified and most hold advanced degrees. The average class size is 12 for all secondary school courses, allowing for significant personal attention. English as a Second Language instruction is available for non-native speakers, but the school makes no provision for children requiring significant additional educational support. TISA is fully accredited by CIS, authorized to offer all three International Baccalaureate Programmes, and is an IB World School.