International school of Almaty

What International school of Almaty does

The International School of Almaty (ISA, also branded AHM and MShA) is a private K-10 international school at Satpaev Street 40B, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Operating since 2000 as a branch of the NNEF Public Foundation (Қоғамдық Қор «NNEF»), a non-profit foundation, ISA delivers an integrated curriculum combining Kazakhstani state educational standards (ГОСО РК) with International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP, grades 1-5) and Middle Years Programme (MYP, grades 6-10). The school has held continuous IB World School authorization for over 20 years, with successful recent re-authorization of both programmes, and is licensed by the Republic of Kazakhstan to operate as an educational institution. Class size is capped at 20 students, with instruction delivered in English and supported by Kazakh and Russian language offerings, on-site psychologist/doctor/security staff, and a teacher body qualified to IBO standards.

The school's product surface comprises two core academic programmes — IB PYP and IB MYP — plus the integrated Kazakh national curriculum, mandatory Personal Projects and Social Projects, after-school clubs and extracurricular activities, and cafeteria/meal services bundled into tuition. Facilities include interactive whiteboards, computer laboratories, a library and research center, and a football field and gym. Grade 10 students participate in IB MYP e-Assessments, externally moderated by IBO examiners, with successful completion leading to internationally recognized certificates that enable university admission without additional entrance exams. ISA is embedded in the NNEF network alongside Miras early-childhood and K-12 schools across Almaty, Astana, and Atyrau, Lyceum Arystan, and several higher-education institutions (IITU, KBTU, AITU, AUES, UIB), creating a feeder-to-university pipeline.

ISA's revenue model is a tuition-based annual subscription. Fees are billed in two installments (50% by September 1, 50% by December 15) with a 5% discount for full prepayment by September 1, plus a separate one-time entrance fee upon contract signing. Pricing is identical for citizens of Kazakhstan and eleven CIS countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Georgia) and includes educational services and meals. Sibling discounts of 5% (second child) and 10% (third and subsequent children) apply across the NNEF system. The school markets primarily through its trilingual website (isoa.kz), Instagram (@isoa.kz), and parent newsletters, with admissions handled exclusively through on-campus visits, entrance testing (minimum 60% required), interviews, and contract signing — there is no online enrollment channel or third-party distribution.

Name

International school of Almaty

Legal name

NNEF Қоғамдық Қорының «Алматы Халықаралық Мектебі» Филиалы (Branch of NNEF Public Foundation "International School of Almaty")

Website

https://isoa.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International School of Almaty is a private K-10 international school in Almaty, Kazakhstan, operating since 2000 as a branch of NNEF Public Foundation. It delivers an integrated Kazakhstani national curriculum with IB PYP and MYP programmes for families seeking globally-recognized education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education (IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• International baccalaureate education
• K-12 international schooling
• Primary years programme
• Middle years programme
• Private school Kazakhstan

Headquarters

HQ city

Almaty

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The International School of Almaty is a private K-12 school that delivers an integrated curriculum combining Kazakhstani state educational standards (ГОСО РК) with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for grades 1–5 and Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) for grades 6–10. The school sells annual tuition-based educational services bundled with meals, plus a one-time entrance fee, preparing students for both Kazakhstani and international university admissions.

Product overview

International School of Almaty (ISA/AHM) operates as an educational institution offering a dual-program approach combining Kazakhstani national curriculum (ГОСО РК) with International Baccalaureate programmes. The core educational products include IB PYP (Primary Years Programme for grades 1-5) and IB MYP (Middle Years Programme for grades 6-10). The school provides an integrated curriculum enabling students to take both national and international exams, with IB MYP students participating in electronic online exams moderated by IBO and completing mandatory Personal Projects. Supporting services include after-school clubs and extracurricular activities, cafeteria/meals services, and social community projects. The school is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization and has operated as a branch of the NNEF Public Foundation for over 20 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for primary school students (grades 1–5), focusing on inquiry-based learning and holistic child development.
• IB MYP (Middle Years Programme) International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for secondary school students (grades 6–10), featuring electronic online exams, personal projects, and external moderation by IBO examiners.
• After-school clubs and extracurricular activities After-school clubs and extracurricular activities supporting holistic student development, including various sports, arts, and academic enrichment programs offered to enrolled students.
• School meals and cafeteria services Daily meal services and cafeteria provided to students, bundled with tuition and included in the published fees for the academic year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ students admitted to world's best universities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NNEF Public Foundation (Национальный Образовательный Фонд)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is a branch of the NNEF Public Foundation, which operates multiple educational institutions across Kazakhstan. The foundation provides organizational, administrative, and strategic oversight. Fee payments are made to the NNEF head office.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA is an authorized IB World School offering PYP and MYP programmes. The school undergoes regular authorization and evaluation processes by IBO.
• Miras Schools NetworkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated educational institutions under NNEF: Miras Kids (Almaty, Astana, Atyrau), Miras School (Almaty, Astana), providing early childhood and K-12 education across Kazakhstan
• IITU (International IT University)minorOthersListed as subsidiary/partner organization of NNEF - higher education institution in Astana
• KBTU (Kazakh-British Technical University)minorOthersListed as subsidiary/partner organization of NNEF - higher education institution
• AIU (Astana IT University)minorOthersListed as subsidiary/partner organization of NNEF - higher education institution
• AUES (Almaty University of Energy and Communications)minorOthersListed as subsidiary/partner organization of NNEF - higher education institution
• Lyceum ArystanminorOthersListed as subsidiary/partner organization of NNEF - secondary education institution

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cambridge International School Almaty: Cambridge curriculum school in Almaty offering international secondary education with comparable university preparation outcomes. Targets overlapping affluent Kazakh and expatriate family segment.
• Tien Shan International School: International school in Almaty offering K-12 programs to local and expatriate families. Competes in the same market with similar international curriculum positioning and premium pricing.
• Miras International School Almaty: Sister school within the NNEF Public Foundation network, offering K-12 education in Almaty with overlapping IB-style curriculum and shared organizational parent — directly comparable in mission, customer base, and pricing structure.
• QSI International School of Almaty: Quality Schools International branch in Almaty offering K-12 international education with US-style curriculum. Competes directly with ISA for expatriate and Kazakh families seeking international accreditation in the same city.
• Haileybury Almaty: Premium international school in Almaty serving affluent Kazakh and expatriate families with a British-style curriculum. Competes for the same premium-segment families in the same city with comparable tuition positioning.
• British International School Almaty (BIS): British-curriculum international school in Almaty serving similar affluent local and expatriate families. Comparable in target market, premium positioning, and university-prep focus.
• Lyceum Arystan: Sister institution under NNEF Public Foundation providing secondary education with similar admission standards and shared organizational parent. Directly comparable in operating model and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS): Network of state-funded elite schools across Kazakhstan offering trilingual education and advanced STEM/humanities programs. Comparable in mission to develop globally competitive graduates, but operates at much larger scale under government backing.

Regional players

• International School of Astana: International school serving the expatriate and elite community in Kazakhstan's capital. Comparable international curriculum offering and premium positioning, but operates in a different city (Astana vs. Almaty).

Others

• UIB (University of International Business): NNEF-affiliated higher education institution in Almaty. Not a direct competitor but represents a downstream university pathway partner for ISA graduates, illustrating the broader NNEF educational ecosystem.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/isoa.kz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-school-of-almaty

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International school of Almaty