The International School of Texas

What The International School of Texas does

The International School of Texas (IST) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) independent school operating from a purpose-built campus at 15506-C TX-71 in Bee Cave, Texas, in the Austin metropolitan area. Founded in 2013 by thirteen families in the Lakeway/Hudson Bend area, IST serves students from Junior Pre-K through Grade 12 and is the only independent, secular PK-12 institution in the Austin area authorized to offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum — the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The DP authorization, received in February 2026, made IST one of only thirteen IB Continuum schools in Texas.

IST's core product is the IB continuum delivered through four program divisions (Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School), augmented by a dual language program (Spanish and Mandarin), STEM and design labs, an experiential travel program (Trip Week) covering Grades 2-12 with domestic and international destinations, the Trailblazer House System across four houses, visual and performing arts, athletics, and a student support and wellness function (including the Second Step SEL program). The school operates the Veracross platform for inquiries, applications, and enrollment management.

The business model is tuition-driven: tuition ranges from $26,250 (Early Childhood) to $29,400 (Upper School) per year, with a $2,050 comprehensive fee and a one-time $3,000 new-student enrollment fee. Revenue is supplemented by philanthropic contributions through the Trailblazer Annual Fund and Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) state ESA funding of approximately $10,000 per eligible student. Need-based financial aid is administered through Clarity. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, leveraging campus tours, an annual November open house, class visit days, virtual information sessions, and parent coffee events targeting Austin-area families. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led by Head of School Dr. David Watson (joined July 2025).

Name

The International School of Texas

Legal name

International School of Texas

Website

https://internationalschooloftexas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The International School of Texas is a private, nonprofit IB World School in Bee Cave, Texas, offering the full International Baccalaureate Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) to students from Junior Pre-K through Grade 12 in the Austin metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Project-Based/Inquiry-Based Learning (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAN), International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• K-12 private education
• IB World School
• Dual language immersion
• College preparatory program
• Experiential learning travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Bee Cave

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees charged across four program levels (Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School). Tuition ranges from $26,250 to $29,400 annually depending on grade level. Payment options include annual, semi-annual (3 payments), or monthly (10 installments).
2. Comprehensive Fee: Annual comprehensive fee of $2,050 for new and returning students in Kindergarten through Grade 12, covering technology, materials, and facility access.
3. New Student Enrollment Fee: One-time new student enrollment fee of $3,000 for Kindergarten through Grade 8 students.
4. Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA): School participates in Texas state ESA program accepting approximately $10,000 per child in state funding (up to $30,000 for students with documented disabilities and current IEP).
5. Trailblazer Annual Fund: Philanthropic donations supporting areas of greatest need including academics, athletics, arts, STEM, faculty innovation, and global travel programs. EIN: 46-2877379.
6. Financial Aid: Need-based financial aid distributed through Clarity assessment platform, considering family income, dependents, medical expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International School of Texas is a private, independent, nonprofit PK-12 IB World School delivering the full International Baccalaureate Continuum (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes) on its purpose-built Bee Cave, Texas campus. The core offering combines inquiry-based IB academics with dual language immersion in Spanish and Mandarin, STEM and design instruction, social-emotional learning, and signature experiential travel for Grades 2-12, sold to families through recurring annual tuition.

Product overview

The International School of Texas is an IB World School offering a unified educational program across a PK-12 platform. The core product is the full IB Continuum comprising the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), authorized in February 2026. This academic platform is enhanced by integrated modules including a Dual Language Program (Spanish and Mandarin from age 3), STEM & Innovation labs, Experiential Travel/Trip Week, the Trailblazer House System, Visual & Performing Arts, and Athletics & Activities. Supporting services include Student Support & Wellness, college counseling, and TEFA financial support. The school operates from a purpose-built campus in Bee Cave, TX (opened August 2024) and serves students from Junior Pre-K through Grade 12.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB framework for ages 3-11 covering Early Childhood and Lower School that nurtures curiosity through inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning, developing early competencies in STEM, world languages, and the arts.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB framework for ages 11-16 spanning Middle and Upper School that challenges students to make connections between studies and the real world through interdisciplinary learning, design projects, and service-learning opportunities.
• Diploma Programme (DP) Rigorous college-preparatory IB program for ages 16-18 in Upper School with coursework across six subject areas and three core components: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. Recognized by over 1,000 North American colleges and universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• IB Diploma graduates are 21% more likely to be admitted to top-tier institutions per IB research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIST is an authorized IB World School offering the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). The school received PYP and MYP authorization in 2017 and DP authorization in February 2026, becoming Austin's first independent, secular IB Continuum school. IB provides curriculum framework, professional development, and global network support.
• Teton Science SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrade 5 students conduct hands-on field research at Teton Science School in Wyoming as part of experiential learning curriculum. Partnership provides outdoor education and environmental studies programming.
• NASA Space Center HoustonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLower School students visit NASA Space Center Houston for STEM exploration and overnight adventure. Partnership supports science curriculum and STEM education.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)minorOthersIST holds membership in NAIS, representing the school in national independent education community.
• Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAAPS)minorOthersIST holds accreditation/membership with TAAPS for Texas private school recognition.
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)minorOthersIST advancement team holds membership in CASE for educational advancement and fundraising support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Awty International School: Houston-based IB World School offering PYP, MYP, and DP across PK-12. Awty is IST's most direct Texas-based IB continuum peer, and former IST Head of School Dr. Watson previously held leadership roles there.
• British International School of Houston: Houston private K-12 offering international curriculum with global-minded pedagogy. Comparable to IST as a Texas-based international school targeting globally mobile families in the premium tuition tier.
• Garden International School: Long-established IB World School in Kuala Lumpur offering full PYP-MYP-DP continuum. Comparable to IST as an international IB continuum school; IST Head of School Watson previously held leadership roles there.
• Greenhill School: Independent, nonsectarian PK-12 school in Dallas offering rigorous college-preparatory education. Comparable to IST as a secular, independent Texas private school with strong college placement focus, though without IB continuum.
• St. Andrew's Episcopal School: Independent PK-12 school in Austin serving similar locally-affluent families. Comparable as same-metro private school competitor, though faith-affiliated vs. IST's secular positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Singapore American School: Large international American-curriculum school in Asia. Comparable to IST in its international, globally-minded pedagogy and demographic reach, though operating at much larger scale in an international market.
• The Kinkaid School: Established Houston-area independent PK-12 school with large endowment and broad college-prep curriculum. Comparable to IST as a Texas private school competing for the same high-income Houston/Austin families.

Others

• Veracross: School management and admissions platform provider used by IST and many peer independent schools. Included as a relevant ecosystem enabler (technology vendor) rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Keystone School: Independent PK-12 school in San Antonio offering accelerated and gifted college-preparatory education. Comparable to IST as a Texas-based private school with academically rigorous curriculum and similar tuition tier.
• Casady School: Independent PK-12 college-preparatory school in Oklahoma City. Comparable to IST as a small-to-mid-size independent private school with strong college placement outcomes and similar governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/internationalschooloftexas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-school-of-texas
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalschooloftexas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The International School of Texas