Leysin American School in Switzerland

"Developing innovative, compassionate and responsible citizens of the world"

At the core of LAS is a guiding set of principles and beliefs that set the highest standards for preparing today's youth for tomorrow's challenges.

The School

· Excellent teaching, learning and boarding facilities

· Less than 2 hours by either car or train from Geneva Airport

· Students from over 60 countries

· Accredited by Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Council of International Schools (CIS), & International Baccalaureate Organization World School (IBO)

Academic curriculum

· International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) Program

· American High School Diploma Program

· Integrated English as a Second Language program (ESL)

· Extensive cultural travel program, with exploration of major European cities, forms important part of curriculum

Pastoral care

· Eight boarding houses: four for boys and four for girls. Students are supervised and cared for by live-in faculty members and dorm parents who provide a positive "in locis parentis" role model

Extra curricular program

· All major sports played, with teams competing with other international schools

· Winter term from January - March, with Tuesday and Thursday afternoons dedicated to winter sports including skiing, snowboarding and ice skating

· Comprehensive performing and visual arts program

· Weekend trips and activities within Switzerland

University preparatory with 100% of graduates being successfully placed at colleges and universities worldwide.

Education at Leysin American School is based on a multicultural approach. When there are students from all over the world, it is necessary to find standards that address all cultures. This is why we have proudly embraced the International Baccalaureate Program. In fact, we were one of the first international boarding schools in Switzerland to do so, simply because it made sense. Our students come from everywhere around the globe, so why not work with a program accepted all over the world? The IBO philosophy works well with our traditional American program. Students have a multitude of options: Pursue the full IB Diploma; take just some of the IB classes offered and receive a Certificate for each; or focus on our established ESL program.

Given that many of our students also speak English as a second language, we also wanted to build an ESL program that would not only challenge our students to achieve levels appropriate to the IB, but also reflect our essentially American philosophy: Each child must succeed.

Balancing the needs of our different population groups underscores a guiding principle to our academics, that education equates challenge, and that our programs must provide appropriate challenge for each of our students.

All students are given placement tests on arrival. Our highly trained faculty will provide each learner with advice on appropriate class selection. Our ESL teachers will do their best to identify each student's level of English language proficiency and place each student in the appropriate class in accordance with his or her abilities. The Academic Dean's office, along with the IB Coordinator, will help design an individual two-year program for students who are willing to pursue the full IB Diploma. Our College Counselor will work with students individually to assist in choosing a university where the academic potential of each student will be realized. The College Counselor's office will also assist the preparation of application forms, essays, and testing for an expedient college acceptance.