Leysin American School, known as LAS, is a mixed full boarding school in the alpine village of Leysin in the canton of Vaud, teaching grades 7 to 12. Family owned and founded in 1960, it offers an American curriculum with Advanced Placement alongside the IB Diploma, and it sits at the premium end of the Lake Geneva region market mapped across the Geneva international schools hub.
This profile sets out the curriculum, the fee level, the admissions route and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. LAS also appears on our shortlist of the best American schools in Geneva and the surrounding region.
Leysin American School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | An American curriculum leading to the High School Diploma with Advanced Placement, alongside the IB Diploma and individual IB classes |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Grades 7 to 12, full boarding |
| Founded | 1960, by Fred and Sigrid Ott; family owned |
| Accreditation | IB World School, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; confirm current memberships with the school |
| Fee band | Premium. Full boarding fees published at roughly USD 128,000 a year, with financial aid and scholarships available |
| Campus area | The alpine village of Leysin, above the Lake Geneva valley in Vaud |
Curriculum and academics
Leysin American School pairs an American academic structure with international qualifications. The core is an American curriculum leading to the High School Diploma, with Advanced Placement courses for students who want university level work and recognised credit before they leave. A grade 7 pre high school year and an English as an additional language programme support younger and newer arrivals into that structure.
Alongside the diploma, the school offers the IB Diploma and the option of taking individual IB classes, so students can blend the breadth of the IB with the flexibility of the American system. With around 300 students from more than 60 nationalities and a high ratio of staff living on site, the school leans on its small size and alpine setting, with skiing and mountain activity built into the week. Ask about subject availability across both routes and recent university destinations during admissions.
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Leysin American School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Full boarding and tuition (all grades) | CHF 128,000 |
Source: Leysin American School (las.ch). Full-boarding fee covering tuition, room and board (grades 7 to 12/PG). Plus one-time security deposit and capital fund. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Leysin American School is a premium full boarding school and sits well above the regional day schools, in the same band as the other alpine boarding schools mapped in our Geneva school fees guide. The school publishes boarding fees at roughly USD 128,000 a year, covering tuition, accommodation, meals and supervision across the week, and it reports that a significant share of students receive financial aid or scholarships.
Plan for the costs that sit outside the headline boarding fee. These typically include travel to and from Switzerland, personal insurance, pocket money, optional trips and expeditions, certain activities and equipment, and examination entry in the Advanced Placement and IB years. Confirm the current schedule and exactly what the boarding fee includes directly with the school.
Admissions and intake
Leysin American School admits to grades 7 to 12 across the year subject to availability, with the main intake at the start of the academic year in late August or early September. Boarding capacity is limited, so the school recommends applying early once a move is confirmed.
Admission is based on prior school reports, an interview and age appropriate assessment, with an English language review where needed, since the programme is taught in English and an English as an additional language route is available. Applicants supply recent reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record, and boarding arrangements are settled as part of the process.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Leysin, an alpine village above the Lake Geneva valley in the canton of Vaud, reached by rail and road from the lakeside cities. Because the school is full boarding, its community is international rather than tied to a neighbourhood, with students arriving from across the world and most staff living on site, which gives the school its close knit feel and its strong link to the mountains and the ski season.
For the wider picture of how the American, IB, British and bilingual schools sit across the canton and the lakeside, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Geneva schools hub.
Leysin American School reviews
No verified parent reviews of Leysin American School have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Leysin American School fees?
Leysin American School is a full boarding school and sits at the premium end of the Lake Geneva region market, with boarding fees published at roughly USD 128,000 a year. The school reports that a significant share of students receive financial aid or scholarships. Budget separately for travel, insurance, trips and examination entry, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is Leysin American School a good school?
Leysin American School is a long established American boarding school and an IB World School, offering the American High School Diploma with Advanced Placement alongside the IB Diploma. Suitability depends on whether a small alpine boarding community fits your child. Confirm current accreditation and university destinations directly with the school.
What curriculum does Leysin American School follow?
The school offers an American curriculum leading to the High School Diploma with Advanced Placement courses, alongside the IB Diploma Programme and the option of individual IB classes. It also runs an English as an additional language programme and a grade 7 pre high school year.
When do Leysin American School applications open?
Leysin American School admits to grades 7 to 12 across the year subject to availability, with the main intake at the start of the academic year in late August or early September. Boarding places are limited, so apply early once a move is confirmed; admission involves reports, an interview and assessment.
Where is Leysin American School?
The school is in the alpine village of Leysin in the canton of Vaud, above the Lake Geneva valley, with ski slopes on its doorstep and access to the wider region by rail and road.
