Among the international schools in Taipei, Taipei American School is the largest and best known American programme, and the Upper School is the division that carries students through to graduation. It covers grades 9 to 12 on the school's Tianmu campus and is where the subject choices that shape a university application are made. The whole school was founded in 1949 and has grown into one of the most established not for profit schools in East Asia, with the Upper School sitting at the top of a continuous kindergarten to grade 12 pathway.
Taipei American School Upper School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | American high school programme with Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma Programme offered alongside; leads to a United States high school diploma |
|---|---|
| Stages | Upper School, grades 9 to 12, ages roughly 14 to 18 |
| Founded | 1949, as the whole school; the Upper School is its senior division |
| Accreditation | Accredited by WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Fee band | Premium, among the highest in the city (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Tianmu, Shilin District, northern Taipei |
Curriculum and academics
The Upper School runs an American programme built around a core of required courses and a wide menu of electives, with standard, honours, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate options layered on top. Advanced Placement courses begin in grade 10 and the school publishes a long list of them, around thirty in total, while the IB Diploma Programme is available from grade 11 for students who prefer a single integrated diploma. Every student graduates with a United States high school diploma, and many leave holding AP results, an IB Diploma, or a mix of the two.
This dual pathway is the Upper School's defining feature. A family can choose the breadth and subject by subject flexibility of Advanced Placement, or the structured, all round demands of the IB Diploma, without changing schools. University counselling is a serious part of the senior years, with students applying to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and across Asia. For how the school sits against the rest of the field, our guide to the Taipei schools places it in the wider landscape of American, British and IB options.
Counting the real cost of a year in Taipei?
Our fee calculator turns tuition, deposit, transport and exams into one annual figure so you can budget with confidence.
Taipei American School Upper School fees
Taipei American School sits at the top of our guide to international school fees in Taipei, in the premium band alongside the senior years of the Taipei European School. Upper School tuition is the highest stage in the school because of the small classes, the breadth of AP and IB teaching and the laboratory, arts and sports facilities. Fees are revised each year, so treat any single figure as a snapshot and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Beyond tuition, plan for the costs that the city fees guide sets out for premium schools: a refundable deposit, a registration or application fee, school transport if you live away from Tianmu, uniform, lunch, and the examination entry fees that fall in the AP and IB years. Our fee calculator brings tuition and these extras into one annual figure so you can compare the Upper School with the IB and British alternatives on the same basis.
Admissions
The main Upper School entry point is grade 9, though the school admits in other grades when places exist. Admission reviews prior school reports and transcripts, looks at English language readiness for students joining from a different system, and considers how a candidate fits the academic programme. Places at the senior grades are limited, so an early application ahead of a move is sensible.
The intake follows the August or September start of the North American school year. Families relocating partway through should contact admissions directly, as mid year places open when other expatriate families rotate out of Taiwan. Grade 9 entry is also the moment to discuss whether a child is heading towards the AP route or the IB Diploma, since that shapes course selection across the four Upper School years.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Tianmu, in the Shilin District of northern Taipei, a neighbourhood that has long been the centre of the city's expatriate community and home to several embassies and international families. The Taipei Japanese School sits across the road, and the area is well served by international supermarkets, clinics and housing aimed at relocating households. Many Upper School families live in Tianmu itself or in nearby Shilin and Beitou, with the school running buses for those further out.
The intake is international and mobile, with a large share of families on corporate or diplomatic assignments, returning Taiwanese American households and others drawn by the American university pathway. For how Tianmu compares with the central districts and Yangmingshan on housing, commute and school choice, the Taipei city hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Taipei American School Upper School reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of the Taipei American School Upper School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei American School Upper School fees?
The Upper School sits in the premium band for Taipei, among the highest tuition in the city, and senior grades are the most expensive stage. Fees are revised each year, so confirm the current schedule with the school and budget also for a deposit, registration, transport and AP or IB examination fees.
What grades does the Taipei American School Upper School cover?
The Upper School covers grades 9 to 12, roughly ages 14 to 18, and is the senior division at the top of the school's continuous kindergarten to grade 12 programme.
Does Taipei American School offer AP and IB?
Yes. The Upper School teaches an American diploma with Advanced Placement courses from grade 10 and the IB Diploma Programme from grade 11, so families can choose the AP route, the IB Diploma, or a combination of the two.
Is Taipei American School a good school?
It is the largest and most established American programme in Taipei, accredited by WASC and known for its breadth of AP and IB teaching and its university counselling. We do not publish rankings or invented ratings, so use the profile and an in person visit to judge fit for your child.
When do Taipei American School Upper School applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August or September start of the school year, with grade 9 the usual entry point. The school also admits in other grades when places open, so contact admissions early if you are relocating mid year.
