At a glance
Taipei American School, known across the city as TAS, was founded in 1949 and is one of the oldest and largest international schools in Taiwan. It moved to its present purpose built campus in Tianmu in northern Taipei in 1989, a single site that houses a lower, middle and upper school alongside theatres, libraries, science and technology centres and extensive sports facilities. The school teaches an American based curriculum in English from kindergarten through to Grade 12, and at the high school it adds Advanced Placement courses and the full International Baccalaureate Diploma, so senior pupils can graduate on a US style transcript or with the IB. TAS is a non profit school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, a status it has held since 1972. For the wider market and how the city's schools compare, start with our guide to international schools in Taipei, or read the roundup of IB schools in Taipei.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum K-12; Advanced Placement (College Board) and the full IB Diploma at high school |
| Stages | Kindergarten through Grade 12 |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), accredited since 1972 |
| Fee band | Premium (see the Taipei landscape) |
| Campus area | Tianmu, Shilin District, northern Taipei |
Curriculum and academics
TAS follows an American based curriculum built on US standards and benchmarks, taught in English from the early years upward, with a structure of lower, middle and upper schools that mirrors the American system. The distinctive feature sits in the high school, where pupils can choose from honours courses, Advanced Placement subjects recognised by the College Board, and the full International Baccalaureate Diploma. That dual senior pathway is unusual and lets a family pick the route that suits their child and their university plans, whether that is AP credit toward a US degree or the breadth of the IB Diploma. We describe the programme in the terms the school uses and do not publish examination figures we cannot verify, so ask the school directly for recent AP and Diploma results and university destinations. Families weighing the IB route against other options in the city can compare schools in our roundup of the best IB schools in Taipei.
Taipei American School fees
Taipei American School publishes a fee schedule and sits firmly in the premium band for the city, among the most expensive international schools in Taipei, which reflects its size, facilities and long standing reputation. Tuition rises by stage, with the high school years the most expensive, and the full cost of a place is more than tuition alone. We do not print a headline number here because rates are revised each year and the school issues the current schedule to applicants. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a one off capital or facilities charge and optional school transport, and confirm which of these apply to your child's grade. To weigh TAS against other Taipei schools on cost and curriculum, use the fee tools below.
Comparing Taipei schools on fees?
Use the fee calculator to estimate the real annual cost, or put TAS next to two other Taipei schools side by side.
Admissions
Admission centres on the August start of the academic year, with entry into other grades through the year where space exists. Because TAS is heavily subscribed, families relocating to Taipei should apply as early as they can for the year they need a place, as some grades hold waiting pools and turnover depends on the movements of the expatriate community. Assessment is age appropriate, with readiness checks for the youngest children and a review of prior school records, references and, for older applicants, English and curriculum based testing. The admissions team looks at whether the school can meet a child's learning needs and at the fit between the family's plans and the American programme. The school sets out the documents it asks for, including transfer papers and residency information, during the application.
Location and who goes there
TAS sits on a single campus in Tianmu, a leafy residential district in the Shilin District in the north of Taipei that has long been the heart of the city's expatriate community, well served by the metro and by school transport that brings pupils in from across the city. The school draws diplomatic and corporate expatriate families, returning overseas Taiwanese and dual national households who want an American education with a recognised route to universities in the United States and beyond. The right school in Taipei usually comes down to the curriculum you want, the fee band you can sustain and the commute, so it is worth visiting in person and comparing shortlisted schools before you decide. For the wider picture of where families settle and how the schools compare, return to the Taipei city hub, or read our roundup of the IB schools in Taipei.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Taipei American School, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei American School fees?
Taipei American School publishes a fee schedule and sits in the premium band for the city, among the most expensive international schools in Taipei. Tuition rises by stage with the high school years the most expensive. Budget separately for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a one off capital or facilities charge and optional transport, and ask the school for the current schedule as rates are revised each year.
Is Taipei American School a good school?
TAS is a long established non profit American curriculum school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, offering Advanced Placement and the full IB Diploma at the high school. Whether it suits your child depends on whether you want an American programme, the premium budget it requires and the commute to Tianmu in northern Taipei.
What curriculum does Taipei American School follow?
TAS teaches an American based curriculum from kindergarten to Grade 12 in English. In the high school students choose from honours, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Diploma courses, so a pupil can graduate with a US style transcript, AP credit or the full IB Diploma depending on the pathway they take.
When do Taipei American School applications open?
The main intake is for the August start of the academic year, with mid year entry into other grades where space exists. Apply early because TAS is heavily subscribed and some grades hold waiting pools, and expect an age appropriate assessment with prior school records and references reviewed as part of the decision.
Where is Taipei American School located?
TAS occupies a single purpose built campus in Tianmu in the Shilin District in the north of Taipei, a residential area long favoured by expatriate families that is served by the city's metro and school transport.
