The American School of Warsaw is the longest established of the international schools in Warsaw and the reference point against which many families measure the rest. It was founded in 1953 by members of the United States Embassy community and has grown from a handful of pupils into a large all through school of more than a thousand students drawn from dozens of nationalities. Teaching is entirely in English, the curriculum is American in shape but framed by the International Baccalaureate, and the school runs from early childhood right through to the IB Diploma on a single campus south of the city.
American School of Warsaw at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | American based curriculum through the IB continuum; PYP, MYP and the IB Diploma; English medium |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early childhood, elementary, middle and high school, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 1953; Konstancin-Jeziorna campus opened 2001 |
| Accreditation | New England Association of Schools and Colleges; IB World School; member of CEESA |
| Type | Private, not academically selective, coeducational day school |
| Fee band | Premium; broadly the 65,000 to 110,000 zloty Warsaw senior tier |
| Campus area | Konstancin-Jeziorna, south of Warsaw |
Curriculum and academics
The school teaches an American based curriculum delivered through the International Baccalaureate continuum. Younger children follow the Primary Years Programme, the middle years are framed by the Middle Years Programme, and students in the final two years work towards the IB Diploma. Even pupils who do not take the full diploma are taught within the IB framework, so the inquiry led approach runs through the whole school rather than appearing only at sixth form. Teaching is in English throughout, with English as an additional language support for children who need it.
This continuum model is the school's distinguishing feature in the city. Families who specifically want the diploma route should weigh it against other options on the Warsaw IB schools hub and read our shortlist of the best IB schools in Warsaw before deciding, since the choice of programme shapes everything from teaching style to university preparation. The school's accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and its long membership of CEESA give a useful external check on standards.
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American School of Warsaw fees
American School of Warsaw fees sit at the premium end of the Warsaw market. Our guide to international school fees in Warsaw puts the premium tier at roughly 65,000 to 110,000 zloty a year at senior level, and the school's published schedule falls within that range, rising grade by grade from early childhood to the final years. The school sets its fees in a mix of United States dollars and zloty, which is unusual for the city and worth factoring in if your income is in another currency.
Tuition is comparatively inclusive. The school states that it covers textbooks, everyday class supplies, field trips, most after school activities and IB examination entries, so the headline figure carries fewer extras than at some competitors. Families should still budget for registration, lunches, transport and any capital or building contributions, and confirm the current schedule directly with admissions because fees are revised each year. To plan the full cost of a place against other Warsaw schools, the fee calculator is a useful starting point.
Admissions
The American School of Warsaw is not academically selective, and admission is shaped by place availability rather than competitive testing. The main intake aligns with the August start of the school year, and applications are then taken on a rolling basis through the year as spaces open, which suits families arriving mid year on a posting. The school reviews previous school records, reports and any relevant assessments to place a child in the right year group and to arrange language support where needed.
Because the school is large and long established, some year groups fill and operate waiting lists, so relocating families should apply as early as the move allows. Allow time too for the Polish residence and registration steps that run alongside any school place. For the wider set of options across the city, the Warsaw city hub lists schools by curriculum and stage so you can line up alternatives while an application is in train.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Konstancin-Jeziorna, a green and affluent area just beyond the southern edge of Warsaw that has long been associated with spa villas and, more recently, with families who want space and quiet within reach of the city. The purpose built site opened in 2001 on a large plot, giving the school its own grounds, sports facilities and specialist spaces rather than adapted premises. It is reached mainly by car or school bus from the southern and central districts.
The student body is genuinely international, mixing children of diplomats, corporate transferees and internationally minded Polish families. Many families live in the southern districts of Mokotow and Wilanow and in Konstancin itself, areas that also host much of the city's diplomatic and corporate community. The school runs an extensive bus network, which widens the realistic catchment well beyond walking distance of the campus.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are American School of Warsaw fees?
The American School of Warsaw sits at the premium end of the Warsaw market, the tier where the city's fee guide puts annual tuition at roughly 65,000 to 110,000 zloty. The school publishes its own schedule in a mix of US dollars and zloty that rises with each grade, and tuition covers textbooks, class supplies, most after school activities and IB examination entries. Confirm the current figure and any registration or capital charges directly with admissions.
What curriculum does the American School of Warsaw follow?
It teaches an American based curriculum delivered through the International Baccalaureate continuum, with the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme in the final two years. Teaching is in English and the school is an IB World School.
Is the American School of Warsaw a good school?
It is the oldest English medium international school in Warsaw, founded in 1953, and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and a member of CEESA. Whether it is the right school depends on your child and priorities, so visit, read the inspection and accreditation record and compare it against other Warsaw schools.
When do American School of Warsaw applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August start of the school year and applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the year as places come up, which matters for families relocating mid year. Apply as early as you can because popular year groups fill and some have waiting lists.
Where is the American School of Warsaw?
The campus is in Konstancin-Jeziorna, a leafy residential area on the southern edge of Warsaw, on a large purpose built site that opened in 2001 and is shared within a wider school complex.
