American School of Antananarivo

A School Born of Diplomatic Community Need

The American School of Antananarivo (ASA) traces its roots to September 1969, when families attached to the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar established a small school to educate their children. Beginning with just 45 students in Grades 1–8 and 7 dedicated teachers, ASA set out to provide an American-style education in one of Africa's most remote capital cities.

Growing Into a Full PreK–12 Institution

Through the 1970s and 1980s, the school found a more permanent home in the Ivandry neighborhood of Antananarivo, gradually expanding its facilities and enrollment. A pivotal decade arrived in the 1990s: 1991 saw the completion of a major facilities expansion, and in 1992 ASA received accreditation from the Middle States Association (MSA) of the United States — a formal recognition of its academic rigour that allowed graduates to be recognized worldwide. By 1994–95 a dedicated Middle School programme had been formalized, and in 2000 ASA celebrated a landmark moment: the graduation of its first-ever senior class from the newly established High School.

IB Authorization and Global Recognition

On 18 March 2013, ASA achieved authorization as an IB World School, initially for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) authorizations followed, making ASA one of a select number of schools in sub-Saharan Africa offering all three IB programmes under one roof alongside a U.S. Common Core–aligned curriculum. This dual-pathway model gives graduating students the choice of an MSA-accredited U.S. High School Diploma, the internationally recognized IB Diploma, or both.

A Modern Campus for the 21st Century

By the mid-2010s the school had outgrown its Ivandry facilities. In 2017 the ASA community made the ambitious decision to relocate to a purpose-built campus at Lotissement Le Park Alarobia — a three-acre site in central Antananarivo. The new campus, officially inaugurated in January 2018, was designed with modern pedagogy in mind: state-of-the-art science laboratories, computer labs and makerspaces, a performing arts hall, dedicated art studios, an expanded library, outdoor sports fields and courts, a gymnasium, natural playground areas and a cafeteria offering healthy daily meals. With more than 200 students enrolled at opening and community representation from over 30 nationalities, the Alarobia campus marked the beginning of ASA's most dynamic chapter yet.

A Purpose-Built Home for Learning

When ASA moved to its current campus at Lotissement Le Park Alarobia in 2017–18, it gained much more than new buildings. The three-acre site was designed from the ground up to support the school's educational vision: open, light-filled classrooms; dedicated spaces for arts and technology; and ample outdoor areas that reflect ASA's belief in the value of physical activity and connection with the natural world.

Facilities That Inspire

The campus houses state-of-the-art science laboratories, computer labs and makerspaces for creative technology projects, a performing arts hall with a stage for drama and music productions, dedicated art studios, and an expanded library. Outside, students have access to a full-sized soccer field, multi-use sports courts, a gymnasium and natural playground areas. The cafeteria is a social hub as much as a dining space, serving healthy balanced meals from early morning through lunchtime.

Health and Wellbeing at the Core

ASA takes student wellbeing seriously. A school doctor staffs the on-site health clinic and the campus is equipped with AEDs for emergency response. A qualified counsellor (Benjamin Logan) supports K–8 students' social and emotional development. The secondary school advisory programme gives every older student a dedicated adult mentor.

A Small School, a Big Family

With roughly 256 students from over 30 (some reports say 36) nationalities, ASA has the feel of an extended family. Students know their teachers by name; teachers know students' stories. The diversity of backgrounds — Malagasy, American, French, and many others — enriches daily interactions and creates a uniquely cosmopolitan yet intimate atmosphere. After-school clubs ranging from Judo and Basketball to Student Radio, Citizen Science and Crochet ensure that students have ample opportunity to pursue passions, make friends across year groups, and discover new interests in an unhurried, non-competitive environment.

Open Doors, Thoughtful Selection

ASA operates a rolling admissions process, accepting applications year-round while recommending that families aiming for the following academic year apply between November and March. This flexible approach reflects the school's awareness that expatriate families often receive postings to Madagascar on short notice, and a rigid single-deadline model would be impractical for much of its community.

What the Process Involves

All applicants submit an online application form together with English-language school reports, teacher recommendations and proof of vaccinations. A meeting or interview with the Admissions team is standard. For applicants entering Grade 6 or above, the school administers MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests in mathematics and English literacy to determine appropriate placement. Students whose first language is not English are required to sit the WIDA English proficiency assessment, which allows ASA's ELL team to determine the level of support the student will need.

For students applying directly to Grades 11–12 (DP), the school may recommend that students who have not completed MYP spend a preparatory year in Grade 10 first, ensuring they are ready for the demands of IB Diploma study. Additional placement assessments in mathematics and English are required for DP entry.

Financial Accessibility

ASA's fees are denominated in US dollars, reflecting its primary expat audience. The school charges a one-time application fee of $150, an annual re-registration fee of $250 and a one-time capital fee of $6,000. Annual tuition ranges from $23,147 (Elementary, K–Grade 5) to $29,320 (High School, Grades 11–12).

To make the school more accessible to multi-child families, ASA offers a sibling discount on tuition: 15% off the youngest child's tuition for families with three or more children enrolled in K–Grade 3, 10% for Grade 4–6, and 5% for Grades 7–12.

Perhaps most notably, since 2022 ASA has offered a Secondary Scholarship programme for Malagasy citizens and residents in Grades 7–9 who demonstrate strong English fluency, academic merit and financial need. The scholarship can cover up to 90% of tuition and is renewable through graduation subject to performance criteria — a meaningful commitment to local community access in a country where international school fees are far beyond most families' reach.

A Community Built on Inclusion

At the heart of ASA's educational philosophy is a simple but powerful mission: "We are an inclusive and caring community that embraces diversity. We nurture inquiry, integrity and innovation to prepare for future challenges." This mission shapes every dimension of school life, from classroom instruction to co-curricular programming.

Five Core Values in Practice

ASA articulates five core values — Creativity, Open-mindedness, Inquiry, Passion, and Balance — which align closely with the IB Learner Profile. These are not merely aspirational posters on a wall; they are embedded in the IB programmes that form the backbone of the curriculum. The PYP's transdisciplinary units of inquiry, the MYP's community service requirement, and the DP's Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay all reinforce these values in age-appropriate ways.

Student-Centred, Inquiry-Driven Learning

ASA's teaching approach prioritises student agency. Rather than passive knowledge transfer, teachers act as facilitators who guide students through genuine questions and real-world problems. In the Secondary School, an advisory programme ensures every student has a trusted adult mentor, while the service-learning component of the MYP connects academic study to community impact — particularly meaningful in a context like Madagascar, where students interact daily with one of the world's most biodiverse and economically complex environments.

Vision: Your Best Self for a Better World

ASA's vision statement — "Your best self for a better world" — signals that the school sees education not just as preparation for university but as the cultivation of human character. This manifests in small class sizes (approximately 7:1 student-teacher ratio), a well-being counselling programme, a health clinic staffed by a resident school doctor, and a broad after-school activities programme that spans circus skills, citizen science, student radio and mindful art. The school believes that when students feel known, safe and challenged, they rise to their potential.

Two Internationally Recognised Credentials

ASA is one of a small number of schools in Africa to offer both a fully accredited American curriculum and the complete IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Graduates leave with an MSA-accredited U.S. High School Diploma and the option to sit the IB Diploma — a combination that opens doors to universities in the United States, Europe, Australia and beyond.

The IB Continuum at ASA

• PYP (Kindergarten–Grade 5): The Primary Years Programme develops foundational academic skills and the IB Learner Profile attributes through transdisciplinary inquiry units. Classroom structures are collaborative and cross-subject.
• MYP (Grades 6–10): The Middle Years Programme introduces subject-specific study (English, mathematics, sciences, individuals and societies, arts, PE, design and language acquisition) while maintaining a holistic approach. Community service and the MYP Personal Project in Grade 10 are hallmarks.
• DP (Grades 11–12): The Diploma Programme offers rigorous subject study at Higher and Standard Level across six groups, plus the core components (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS). Students not taking the full DP still follow a U.S. High School–aligned programme.

Language Acquisition

English is the sole language of instruction across all programmes, but ASA values multilingualism. French is offered from elementary level and Spanish is available in Secondary. Non-native English speakers are supported by the WIDA-aligned ELL programme (Grades K–9), ensuring that language acquisition does not become a barrier to academic success. ASA is an associate member of the WIDA International School Consortium, using WIDA standards to assess and support English language development.

Academic Rigour in a Small-School Setting

With approximately 256 students across 13 year levels, class sizes are genuinely small. The school does not publish a precise average class size, but with roughly 37 teachers the student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 7:1 — far below the averages at most international schools. This intimacy allows for differentiated instruction and close teacher-student relationships that are a defining feature of the ASA experience.