International School in Genoa (AISGEN)

The American International School in Genoa was founded in 1966. It is the only academic institution in the region of Liguria which provides complete elementary school and middle school programmes in the English language. For the 2003-2004 academic year the school began a grade 12 program. The school is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Delaware. It is a regular member of the European Council of International schools and is recognized as a private school by the Italian Ministry of Education. The governing Board of Directors consists of ten people who are elected for two-year terms from amongst the parents and friends of the school.

The school follows an American core curriculum of reading, writing, English, science, mathematics, and world studies. Students are required to study Italian as a mother tongue or foreign language in grades PS-12. Computer, music, art and physical education are part of the regular school programme. The Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate is being implemented throughout the elementary school and in several content areas at the early middle years level. In 2002-3 the school began the IB Diploma programme for students in grade 11. All teachers hold university degrees with several years of teaching experience and classroom teachers have an American, Italian or Australian teaching certification. The student body is composed of 19 different nationalities including American, Italian, British and Singaporean. Admission to the school is based on the ability to offer a suitable academic programme for the applicant.

Classes meet five days a week for 180 days a year. The school year begins in September and extends to mid-June with breaks for Christmas, ski-week, Easter and various national holidays. The school is located in a villa overlooking the sea, 20 minutes from the centre of Genoa. It contains 13 classrooms, a library, a computer lab, a science lab, a multi-purpose room with gymnasium facilities, a large playground and an adjacent space for high school use.

The school is a fully accredited institution with ECIS and NEASC, and is authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organisation and the IB Diploma.