What American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST) does

American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST) is a private, independent K-12 international school founded in 1959 and located in Laouina, a suburb of Tunis, Tunisia. It serves approximately 450-650 students drawn from roughly 40 countries, with primary segments comprising embassy and diplomatic families, international business households, NGO families, and affluent Tunisian families. The school delivers an American curriculum from preschool through Grade 10, transitioning to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Grades 11-12, and is the only school in Tunisia authorized to offer the IBDP (since 2000). It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and sponsored by the U.S. Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State Department.

The school's core technology stack is standard educational infrastructure rather than proprietary technology: a 1:1 iPad program (K-3), school-issued Chromebooks (Grades 4-5), a BYOD laptop requirement for Grades 6-12 (Mac or Windows), Google Workspace for Education, SeeSaw for elementary parent communication, Google Classroom for secondary collaboration, and ClassLink for identity management. The curriculum follows the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, supplemented by unique programming such as the Tunisian Studies experiential field trip program (Grades 6-12) and a Model United Nations after-school activity. Student support services include EAL, Learning Support, counseling, and a full-time educational psychologist. ACST employs 184 staff and is governed by a nine-member Board of Governors, five of whom must be U.S. citizens, with two non-voting positions held by a teacher's representative and a U.S. Ambassador appointee.

Revenue is generated primarily through USD-denominated tuition ($7,513 for PK half-day to $26,765 for High School in 2026-2027), one-time registration fees ($6,000 per new enrollment, capped at $12,000 per family), an annual capital fee ($1,250 per student), transportation services ($1,600/child/year), and an incidental deposit ($250). Fees are set annually by the Board each April. The go-to-market model is direct enrollment via campus tours, open houses, and an online application portal, with a non-refundable $200 application fee. Distribution is single-country (Tunisia) through the in-house admissions office, supported by a digital presence across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. A 2021 Campus Master Plan and 2023 Strategic Plan govern multi-year facility and programmatic development.

Name

American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST)

Legal name

American Cooperative School of Tunis

Website

https://acst.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ACST is a private K-12 international school in Laouina, Tunis, founded in 1959, serving roughly 550 students from 40 countries with an American curriculum and the only authorized IB Diploma Programme in Tunisia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• K-12 international education
• IB Diploma Programme
• American curriculum school
• International school Tunisia
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Laouina (suburb of Tunis)

HQ country

Tunisia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges in US dollars, varying by grade level from Pre-K half-day ($7,513 for 2026-2027) to High School ($26,765 for 2026-2027). Tuition is non-refundable and charged per academic year with semester payment options (55% first semester, 50% second semester).
2. Registration and Capital Fees: One-time registration fee of $6,000 for new enrollment (max $12,000 per family), plus annual capital fee of $1,250 for campus development and facility improvements. Additional $500 reservation fee for returning students to guarantee seats.
3. Transportation Services: Full-time transportation at $1,600/child/year for morning pickup and afternoon drop-off, with half-year and half-day options available. Late bus for athletics at $150/season.
4. Incidentals and Lunch: $250 deposit for incidentals covering damaged items, bank transfer fees, and lunch charges. Lunch for Elementary and Middle School can be charged with tuition or invoiced separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ACST is a private, independent international school that delivers a comprehensive K-12 American-style education to approximately 200+ students from around 40 countries at its campus in Laouina, Tunisia. The school offers Preschool through Grade 12 academic programs culminating in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12 (the only IBDP program in Tunisia, authorized since 2000), supplemented by after-school activities, learning support services, and Tunisian Studies field trips. Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition (US dollar-denominated, tiered by grade level) plus one-time registration, capital, transportation, and incidental fees.

Product overview

American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST) is a private, independent international school offering a comprehensive K-12 American-style education with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in grades 11-12. The school operates as a single unified educational institution with multiple academic divisions (Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, High School) supported by supplementary programs including After School Activities, Student Support Services (EAL, Learning Support, Counseling), and specialized curricular programs such as Tunisian Studies Trips and Model United Nations. ACST's core educational offerings are organized by grade-level bands, with the IB Diploma Programme serving as the primary differentiated program for upper-grade students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Play-based preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds that nurtures curiosity, independence, and social connection through structured play and inquiry, offered as part of ACST's K-12 continuum.
• Elementary School (Kindergarten - Grade 5) Comprehensive elementary education (Kindergarten through Grade 5) covering core subjects (literacy, math, science, social studies) complemented by specialist instruction in art, music, PE, and World Language, with EAL and learning support services, delivered via 1:1 iPad (K-3) and 1:1 Chromebook (Grades 4-5) technology.
• Middle School (Grades 6-8) Middle school program (Grades 6-8) with core classes (English/language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, world language), electives, Falcon Time advisory, and Tunisian Studies fieldwork trips; uses a Bring-Your-Own-Device laptop model.
• High School (Grades 9-12) High school program (Grades 9-12) with core academic courses, electives, Falcon Time advisory, and preparation for the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11-12; first Grade 12 graduating class was 1997.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Two-year academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12 providing preparation for university-level study, recognized worldwide for academic challenge and holistic education; the only authorized IBDP in Tunisia, sustained 91% pass rate over 2020-2024.
• After School Activities (ASA) Diverse array of sports, arts, clubs, and community service initiatives that enrich student experiences and foster personal growth outside regular class hours.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive student support services including English as an Additional Language (EAL), Learning Support, Counseling, and a full-time Educational Psychologist to serve diverse learner needs.
• Tunisian Studies Trips Multi-day experiential field trips for grades 6-12 to different locations in Tunisia, integrated with the social sciences and natural sciences curriculum, including service work at the INSTM Sea Turtle Center for Grade 7.
• Model United Nations (MUN) After-school activity program where students participate in simulated United Nations committees, developing diplomacy, public speaking, and global awareness skills; includes the ACST MUN II Conference.
• Learning Centers (Libraries and Media Labs) Two learning centers each containing a library and media lab, supporting student research, literacy, and technology instruction across grade levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% IBDP pass rate over five years (2020-2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Embassy TuniscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005The U.S. Embassy opened its new complex across the La Marsa Highway in 2002, with its recreational complex including a swimming pool inaugurated in 2005 and shared with ACST. The school is sponsored by the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State Department. Following the 2012 attack, the U.S. State Department provided a generous grant for reconstruction.
• INSTM Sea Turtle CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACST has collaborated with the INSTM (National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies) Sea Turtle Center to promote the rescue of turtles and raise awareness among the local and national public. Grade 7 students engage in service work at the turtle sanctuary during Tunisian Studies fieldwork trips.
• Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACST is sponsored by the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State Department, which supports American-sponsored schools abroad. This sponsorship provides alignment with U.S. educational standards and connections to the broader American overseas school network.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American School of Marrakesh: U.S.-accredited international school in Morocco offering American curriculum K-12. Highly comparable as a North African American-style international school competing for similar expatriate and local family pools, with comparable tuition bands and accreditation positioning.
• American International School in Cairo (AISC): K-12 American international school in Egypt offering college-prep curriculum and IB pathway to a comparable diplomatic and multinational community. Functions as a North African benchmark for scale, tuition pricing, and program structure relative to ACST.
• Lycée Français de Tunis: French-curriculum K-12 institution operating in Tunis that competes for the same international and local elite family segment seeking globally portable credentials. Comparable as a parallel foreign-curriculum school offering an alternative (French Bac) pathway to ACST's American/IB track.
• Cairo American College: American international school in Egypt offering K-12 instruction culminating in the IB Diploma Programme. Directly comparable as a U.S.-sponsored, IB-authorized institution serving a similar mix of diplomatic, multinational, and local affluent families across the MENA region.
• American School of Doha: U.S.-affiliated international school in Qatar delivering K-12 American curriculum with IB Diploma Programme. Directly comparable as a U.S.-State-Department-sponsored, IB-authorized school serving a high concentration of diplomatic and multinational families in the MENA region.
• British School of Tunis: Tunis-based international school delivering K-12 instruction in English; directly competes with ACST for the same diplomatic, expatriate, and affluent local family segment in the Tunis metro. Explicitly relevant because ACST's own marketing manager previously held marketing roles there, confirming direct competitive overlap.
• American School of Tangier: U.S.-style international school in Morocco delivering American curriculum with college-prep focus, sponsored through the same U.S. Office of Overseas Schools network. Directly comparable in mission, accreditation profile, and customer base of diplomatic families in a North African context.
• International School of Dakar: American international school in Senegal offering K-12 instruction to a comparable expatriate and diplomatic community in West Africa. Comparable in scale, mission, and customer profile to ACST, and serves as a regional benchmark for international school operations across francophone and anglophone Africa.
• American International School of Johannesburg: U.S.-style international school in South Africa offering American curriculum K-12 with IB and AP pathways. Comparable as an African anchor for American international education with similar target customer mix of diplomatic, corporate expatriate, and affluent local families.

Broad incumbents

• American School of Paris: Larger, more established U.S.-sponsored international school in Europe offering K-12 American curriculum with IB Diploma Programme. Comparable as an aspirational benchmark for programming, alumni outcomes, and tuition positioning, though operating in a more mature and competitive market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/american-cooperative-school-of-tunis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST)