KIS - Kazakhstan International School

What KIS - Kazakhstan International School does

Kazakhstan International School (KIS) is a private international school founded in 1998 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, operating as an authorized IB World School delivering the full International Baccalaureate continuum: Early Years (ages 3–5), Primary Years Programme (PYP) through Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12, with 15+ IB courses offered at the Diploma level. In 2024 the school opened a second purpose-built campus in Astana, currently serving Preschool through Grade 9, with each class staffed by a mix of international and local teachers. The school reports 50% international student composition at Almaty and 33% expat composition at Astana, supported by 29 full-time foreign faculty at the Astana campus alone, positioning KIS as a multicultural, English-medium environment serving both expatriate and local Kazakh families.

The core platform is built on standard IB-aligned technology: ManageBac for curriculum, grading, and reporting; OpenApply for admissions inquiry and application workflows; SchoolsBuddy for extracurricular (BSA/ASA) registration; NWEA MAP Growth Tests for grades 6–10 benchmarking; Seesaw for early-years digital portfolios; and Finalsite for web content. Instructional design is centered on inquiry-based, student-led learning rather than proprietary technology, with enrichment modules spanning Before & After School Activities, an annual Summer Camp, Performing Arts, College Counseling, and a KIS Founder's Scholarship program targeting Grade 11 entrants.

KIS monetizes through annual tuition subscriptions (pricing not publicly disclosed) plus ancillary recurring fees for extracurriculars, summer camp, school bus, lunch, and uniforms. The go-to-market is direct-to-family enrollment via OpenApply and on-campus tours and events (International Day, Nauryz, Winter Fun Day, Parent Academy, university fairs). Distribution is entirely domestic across the two Kazakhstani campuses, with no online or international delivery channel; outbound value is captured through global university placements of Diploma graduates.

Name

KIS - Kazakhstan International School

Legal name

Kazakhstan International School

Website

https://kisnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kazakhstan International School is a private IB World School operating two campuses in Almaty and Astana, delivering the full PYP-MYP-DP continuum to expatriate and local Kazakh families from Early Years through Grade 12.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Test Prep & Exam Readiness (K–12) (EDAJALAC)

Keywords

• International school education
• IB curriculum programs
• K-12 education services
• University placement counseling
• Early childhood learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Almaty, Almaty

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition fees for IB Programme education from Early Years through Grade 12. Fee structure includes separate charges for extracurricular activities (BSA/ASA), school bus services, lunch programs, and school uniforms.
2. Extracurricular Activities (BSA/ASA): Before and After School Activities program generating additional revenue through activity registration and fees
3. Summer Camp Programs: Annual KIS Summer Camp generating seasonal revenue
4. KIS Founder's Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships for outstanding students entering Grade 11 IB DP, with application deadline April 7, 2026

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KIS is a private international school that delivers International Baccalaureate (IB) education from Montessori-based Early Years through Grade 12 at two physical campuses in Kazakhstan (Almaty flagship and Astana). The school offers the IB Primary Years Programme (Kindergarten-Grade 5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10), and Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12), supplemented by extracurricular activities, summer camps, college counseling, and merit-based scholarships.

Product overview

KIS is an international school offering a comprehensive IB (International Baccalaureate) educational programme from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The school operates as a unified platform of interconnected educational programmes: the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Early Years through Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6-10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12. Supporting these core academic programmes are enrichment modules including Before & After School Activities, Summer Camp, College Counseling services, and the recently launched KIS Astana Campus (2024) expanding the school's reach to a second location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Two-year pre-university IB curriculum for Grades 11-12 students, leading to the IB Diploma recognized by leading universities worldwide. Includes 15 IB courses and a comprehensive arts program culminating in annual DP Visual Arts Exhibition.
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate programme for Grades 6-10, emphasizing critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, community service, and preparation for the IB Diploma Programme.
• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Inquiry-based IB programme for Elementary/Grades 1-5, focusing on holistic child development, transdisciplinary learning, and bilingual/multicultural exposure.
• Early Years Programme Montessori-based kindergarten programme for children ages 3-5, the first Montessori-based kindergarten in Kazakhstan, emphasizing student-centered, inquiry-based learning and social-emotional development.
• Before & After School Activities (BSA/ASA) Extracurricular activities program including sports, arts, and academic enrichment offered before and after regular school hours, managed through SchoolsBuddy registration platform.
• KIS Summer Camp Seasonal summer camp offering STEAM activities, creative arts, sports, and outdoor adventures for students during summer break.
• College Counseling University advisory services for Grades 10-12, including college fairs with US, UK, Canadian, European, and Asian institutions, application guidance, and career readiness support.
• KIS Astana Campus Second KIS campus location in Astana, Kazakhstan, offering Preschool through Grade 9 education with international and local faculty in a purpose-built facility with modern amenities and virtual tour availability.
• KIS Founder's Scholarships Merit-based scholarships for outstanding students entering Grade 11 IB Diploma Programme, available to Kazakhstani passport holders with applications due April 7, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perfect IB score of 45/45 achieved by Class of 2026 graduate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed IB World School offering Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. KIS is authorized to deliver IB curriculum and issue IB diplomas recognized globally by leading universities.
• FinalsitecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite content management system powering kisnet.org and campus-specific sites (almaty.kisnet.org, astana.kisnet.org) with enrollment management and communication features.
• ManageBaccoreTechnology or IntegrationIB-specific learning management system used for grade reporting (1-7 scale), Approaches to Learning tracking, teacher comments, and semester report distribution.
• OpenApplycoreTechnology or IntegrationAdmissions management platform enabling online inquiry submission, tour booking, and application processing for prospective families.
• Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional network for international education professionals providing resources, conferences, and best practices sharing.
• CAFA (Central Asian Foreign Schools Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional athletics and activities conference organizing tournaments in basketball, volleyball, and Model United Nations across Central Asian international schools.
• CEESA (Central and Eastern European Schools Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional educational association connecting international schools in Central and Eastern Europe for collaborative events and professional development.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth achievement program offering extracurricular development opportunities for students alongside academic education.
• COASH (Conference of Overseas Schools in Central Asia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebate tournaments and academic competitions among Central Asian international schools including KIS, QSI, AIS, and others.
• SchoolsBuddycoreTechnology or IntegrationExtracurricular activity management system for Before School Activities (BSA) and After School Activities (ASA) registration and scheduling.
• Project AerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIB programme resource and assessment alignment platform for MYP and DP curriculum delivery.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tien Shan International School: TSIS is an international school in Almaty serving K-12 students with English-language curriculum, competing with KIS for the same demographic of international and Kazakh families seeking globally recognized credentials.
• British School of Almaty: British School of Almaty is a long-established international school in Almaty offering British curriculum alongside international programs, competing with KIS for English-medium international education demand.
• QSI International School of Almaty: Quality Schools International operates an IB-style international school in Almaty serving expat and Kazakh families with a comparable K-12 offering, making it KIS's most direct domestic competitor in the same city and curriculum space.
• Haileybury Almaty: Haileybury's Almaty campus extends the Haileybury brand into KIS's home market with a premium British-curriculum offering, intensifying competition in the upper-premium international segment.
• Haileybury Astana: Haileybury Astana is a premium British-curriculum international school in Astana that competes for the same high-end expat and Kazakh families, with overlapping university-prep value propositions.
• Miras International School: Miras International School in Almaty offers IB programmes to local and international students, making it a direct KIS competitor in the Almaty market with a similar pedagogical approach.
• Astana International School (AIS): AIS is a well-established international school in Astana offering K-12 programs, directly competing with KIS Astana for the same corporate-diplomatic expat and premium local segments.
• QSI International School of Astana: QSI's Astana campus competes head-to-head with KIS Astana for the same expat and affluent local families, with a similar full K-12 international curriculum profile.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Academy Almaty: Aga Khan Academy Almaty is a prestigious IB-affiliated school backed by the Aga Khan Development Network, competing for premium-segment families and raising the competitive ceiling in the Almaty international school market.

Regional players

• International School of Central Asia (ISCA): ISCA operates across Central Asia and competes with KIS for families seeking international education credentials, offering an alternative regional brand for expat and Kazakh students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/KIS_Almaty
• Facebookfacebook.com/kischoolalmaty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kis-almaty
• Instagraminstagram.com/kischool_almaty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 KIS - Kazakhstan International School