From a Bold Vision to a Thriving Community
The International School of Texas began with a question: What if Austin had a school that prepared students not just for college, but for the world?
In September 2013, thirteen founding families came together to answer that question. United by a shared commitment to exceptional education rooted in free thought, equal opportunity, and strong values, they launched IST with a handful of students and an outsized ambition.
Growing with Purpose
From its earliest days, IST embraced the International Baccalaureate framework as the foundation for its academic program. In 2017, IST earned authorization as an IB World School, offering both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). The school received authorization to offer the highly regarded IB Diploma Programme (DP) in February 2026, making IST Austin’s first independent, secular IB Continuum School.
As enrollment grew, so did the need for a campus that matched the school’s ambitions. After years of careful planning, IST opened its purpose-built campus in Bee Cave in August 2024 — a milestone that also marked the launch of the school’s first Upper School cohort.
Where We Are Today
Today, IST serves students from Junior Pre-K through Grade 12 on a state-of-the-art campus designed for inquiry-driven learning. With students representing over 40 nationalities and 24 native languages, IST is one of the most internationally diverse independent schools in Central Texas.
Our Trailblazer community continues to grow, guided by the same values that inspired our founding: Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Intellect, and Service.
