American International School of Cape Town

Admissions
Admission to the American International School of Cape Town is open for and granted to students of any nationality when the requirements of application have been fulfilled and space allows for their enrollment. Those requirements may include:

Completion and delivery of the AISCT application with the non-refundable R850 application fee. (Note: An application form is available on this website)
Delivered copies of the student’s passport or other identification documents
Demonstration of probable success in the AISCT program as indicated by previous school records and reports
A personal interview, conducted in person, via email or telephone with the parents and student, if possible
Completion of AISCT health forms and record of immunizations

Tuition and Fees 2010-2011
All fees are payable in South African Rands (ZAR)

APPLICATION FEE (non refundable):	R850

ANNUAL CAPITAL CHARGE:	R21 000

TUITION FEES
Grade	Annual Payment by Due Date Aug 2, 2010	Semester Payments (includes 5% levy) 1st Semester: Aug 2, 2010 2nd Semester: Dec 10, 2010

PRE-K (Half Day)	R30,650	R16,091.25

KINDERGARTEN (Full Day)	R40,748	R21.392.70

GRADES 1-5	R56,074	R29,438.85

GRADES 6-8	R66,172	R34,740.30

GRADES 9-11	R76,388	R40,103.70

GRADE 12	R81,378	R42,723.45
OTHER FEES
	Annual Payment	Payment per Semester 1st Semester: Aug 2, 2010 2nd Semester: Dec 10, 2010

Busfare	R16,416	R8,208 (or R4,104 per term)

Extended Day (PK students)	R10,692	R5,346 (or R2,673 per term)

ESL (R205 per hour)		R4,647 (2 lessons per week)

Busfare: no one way discounts granted.

IMPORTANT

The information stated below is the official policy of the American International School of Cape Town. All students and families enrolled at AISCT are subject to the conditions of school policy.

Application fee: R850

The application fee is non-refundable and payable when the student’s application is completed and submitted to the school for consideration.

Seat deposit guarantee: R5,000

Upon acceptance to AISCT, this deposit of R5,000 will secure the seat until 2 August 2010, the fees payment deadline.
The seat deposit is due for all returning families by June 7, 2010.
The seat deposit is credited towards 2010-2011 fourth term tuition fees for those selecting semester payment option.

Capital Charge: R21,000

The Annual Capital Charge is payable for each student for the school year. It is non-refundable and not transferable at any time.
All currently enrolled South African Nationals and foreign nationals who have already paid the Capital Charge for four years are not subject to the Annual Capital Charge for the 2010-2011 school year.
Foreign nationals who have paid the Capital Charge for more than four years will not receive a retroactive refund.
New South African students joining AISCT are subject to a one time Annual Capital Charge, non-refundable. South African ID documentation must be submitted together with the application form.
All foreign nationals attending AISCT will pay the Capital Charge on an annual basis for four years.

Payment of Fees:

If payment is made by wire transfer, any bank charge will be the responsibility of the payer.
Regardless of payment option, all fees must be settled before the student begins class.
In order to trace payments made directly into our bank account, we ask that you please reference your payment with the Admin Number as recorded on the accounts statement, and fax us a copy of the remittance advice to fax number 021 715 4165 for attention of Accounts Department.
Early tuition payment OR a seat deposit of R5,000 per learner is due on 7 June 2010. The R5,000 seat deposit will be credited towards 2010-2011 fourth term fees.

Refund Policy:

Prior to the withdrawal of enrollment by any student from AISCT, the parent/payer of said student will submit, in writing, a minimum of one term’s advance notice, or pay for the term in lieu of notice.
A full one term’s notice is required for any subsequent tuition refunds. No refund, or partial refund, will be made for any term during which the student is in attendance. (For example, withdrawal notice given on the final day of Term 1 would result in Terms 3 and 4 tuition being refunded. Withdrawal notice given at any point during the 2nd term would result in Term 4 tuition, only, being refunded. Families giving withdrawal notice at any point in the 3rd or 4th terms will not be eligible for a tuition refund.)
Refunds, if any, are processed at the end of the school year in June, and only when all school books and materials are returned. Refunds will be transferred only to the party making the payments.
School fees are not transferable.

NOTE: We cannot accept any Foreign Currency Cash or Travellers Cheques or Credit Card Payments.

Download the Fees Notice in PDF format.

Download an application form in PDF format. Download an application form in WORD format.

You can fax completed application forms to +27 21 713 22240 or e-mail them to aisct@aisct.org.za.

We believe in integrating academics, the fine arts, technology, and physical education in order to promote the development of the whole child.

The following are part of your child’s school day at AISCT and are included in the tuition fee:

All textbooks (current and imported from the U.S.)
Stationery items
Computers in each classroom (with full Internet access)
Foreign language instruction (from grade 4 and up)
Art classes
Music classes
Instrumental music from age 7

Physical Education classes which may include swimming, tennis,
basketball, volleyball, badminton, or other group and individual sport
Imported educational materials from the U.S., Canada, U.K., etc.
A beautiful, spacious, secure venue
An international focus of study and appreciation

AISCT Admissions Policy
AISCT is open for admission to expatriate students and locals who have a reasonable expectation of academic and personal success within the AISCT program.

AISCT will admit students who are complete beginners in English. AISCT will enroll children if they show evidence of being able to adapt to the language and program even if this will require a considerable period of transition. As the ability to learn English is essential for academic and social success at AISCT, the school reserves the right to restrict the admission of non-English speaking children in a given class or grade if it is felt that additional non-English speaking children at this grade level would be difficult to accommodate effectively. However, due to the nature of the school and its student population, all teachers at AISCT are expected to modify their programs to accommodate those students who are still learning to speak English.

AISCT will in practice deny admission to those students who can be determined, on the basis of the above criteria and other information which may be available, to have learning difficulties which are beyond the scope of the school’s educational programs or who have not performed adequately at the previous school(s), regardless of the reason. The school expects all teachers to cater to their students’ individual needs, and of course, with the range of language proficiencies at a school like this, each teacher is called on to develop individualized programs and expectations. AISCT hopes to continue to admit students who have a desire and motivation to succeed but who have had difficulties which can be addressed within the normal framework of its classroom program. If the expectations and performance of these students are significantly different than those of the other students in the class(es), the school’s Progress Reports will so indicate this "Modified Program" to ensure clear communication with parents and other educational institutions.

If, however, the requirements or individual needs of a student are so great as to demand an inordinate amount of time and attention from teachers, to the detriment of the other students in the class(es), then admission will not be offered to that child. In older grades particularly, poor past performance, whether due to learning differences or other problems, can result in denial of admission to AISCT.

After a child has already been enrolled and the school becomes aware of learning differences outside of the range described above, the school reserves the right to withdraw the offer of enrollment. This admission revocation is particularly applicable if the parents have not been completely honest in the presentation of information at the time of application.

Sometimes, learning difficulties are obscured by language difficulties and do not become evident for several months. Or, a student who is achieving at first and second grade level within the range described above is not able to achieve in the third grade for developmental or other reasons. In cases of students already enrolled at AISCT who subsequently evidence learning differences, the criterion for continued enrollment becomes this: "Are we doing this child, or the other children in her/his class, a disservice by continuing to enroll her or him?" The first half of this question is often complicated by the subsequent consideration, "What will the parents do if the child is asked to withdraw?" However, the school must make its determination on the basis of what the parent should do in the child’s best interest, which in some cases means leaving South Africa. Thus far in such cases, the school administration and teachers involved have been able to work with the parents to pursue alternative programs at least several months prior to withdrawal from AISCT, and the children in question have usually been able to complete the school year at AISCT.

AISCT does not employ a school psychologist or psychiatrist and has no program specifically for children with significant learning differences. As such, the students the school admits are expected to be able to succeed to some degree within the existing program, with only the sort of support routinely expected of an international school teacher. (To succeed means to learn and show academic and social progress. Routinely means the same level of extra support which a teacher might be expected to provide a beginning English student.)

AISCT will continue to refer children to qualified educational psychologists when testing can provide information which will help with an admissions decision, or in cases when testing will help the school to work more effectively with students already enrolled. Students with emotional or behavioral problems beyond the range which the school is qualified to address may be required to arrange counselling as a condition of continued enrollment.