Welcome to the International School of Texas!
13 years ago, a brave and dedicated group of parents were inspired to establish a new school that could provide their children with a truly modern, holistic learning experience that prepared them for our rapidly changing world. They knew that preparing their children would take a new approach and a stellar environment—one that is academically rigorous, fosters innovation, and is focused on whole-child wellness. 10 years later, their original mission has manifested itself as a thriving, international community that remains just as eager to grow and learn as it was in the beginning.
As the incoming Head of School, I am eager and excited to get to work with such a stellar community of learners. I fell in love with the Trailblazer community from the moment I met the students, teachers, and parents who call this school home. The passion and excitement around learning, exploration, collaboration and caring for one another and the world around us is second to none. As an authorized PYP and MYP International Baccalaureate World School, we are one of the few IB Continuum schools in the Austin area—and we will be adding a high school next year too! With small class sizes and tailored, differentiated learning experiences, our students excel in our wide diversity of programs that include Mandarin, Spanish, STEM, Art, Music, IT, Singapore Math, PE, Mindfulness and Well-Being, not to mention our vibrant after-school activities and competitive sports teams as well!
In a rapidly changing and globalized world, we all know that finding the right balance of what to teach and how to teach it is the key to success for our children. At IST, we believe that we have found that balance. We have created an ecosystem that fosters the learning, collaboration, problem-solving, resilience, and resourcefulness that our students will need to be leaders in the future. We help them understand who they are, who they want to be, and how to make it possible. In short, our students are preparing to have a meaningful impact on the world, no matter which corner of the globe they are from or which corner they are headed next.
I warmly invite you to please come and visit one of our campuses! I’m confident that you will be just as impressed as I was when I first met the IST community—there’s no better way to know if a school is a good fit for your child than to walk our halls, visit our classrooms, and meet our warm, vibrant community. Come see what it means to be a Trailblazer!
Warmly,
Brian Couch, IST Head of School
Our students learn. They learn to speak Spanish and Mandarin; they learn how to truly evaluate and solve math problems with Singapore Math. They learn how to build robots, write code, and design solutions in STEM. They learn how to collaborate with their peers, as they share feedback, ask questions, and truly engage with one another. They learn the importance of fresh air, physical activity, strength and discipline, and healthy food.
Our students care. They care about the beautiful and fragile planet we live on, and brainstorm how to take measurable steps to protect the Earth. They care about other cultures and learn how embracing and celebrating other cultures heightens our understanding of one another for the greater good. They care about each other, as they collaborate and learn together, recognizing that teamwork isn’t always easy but is always important. They care about the future. They learn about local and global events so that they can shape the future – as they prepare to lead it.
Our students lead. They lead in their classrooms as they collaborate on their research, their projects, and their growth as a group of peers. They lead their teams, with regionally ranked accomplishments in soccer, First Lego League Robotics, Destination Imagination, and cross-country. They lead their clubs, creating an annual yearbook, exploring creativity through fiber arts, using hands-on technology in robotics, and perfecting their layups in basketball. They lead themselves, actively learning about the Learner Profile attributes and reflecting on how they can be exemplars of these attributes on a daily basis. They lead our world. Or, they will. And it’s our honor to prepare them for it.
IST has high standards for all its students. Our faculty have a broad range of advanced degrees, decades of teaching experience, and extensive international work and travel experiences. Led by these multi-faceted educators, our students are engaged and challenged every day, as their desire to learn sparks and grows. The high expectations and academic rigor of IST set our students up for success, here and in the future. IST students have gone on to some of the nation’s best private high school and prep schools, and we can’t wait for our graduates to start applying to college! We have no doubt their lifelong journeys of education start here, as IST Trailblazers.
As a private school, IST is not required to administer the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). We believe students learn best when they are not under pressure to learn content specific to a standardized test. We do recognize that having a progress assessment for each student is a valuable educational tool. To that end, IST uses MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing. MAP is a computerized, adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child’s academic growth. For more information about MAP testing, click HERE.
IST provides a comprehensive education that is inquiry-based and internationally-minded, enabling children to become life-long learners.
IST students are knowledgeable, empathetic and caring global citizens, inspired to take action and solve problems for the betterment of themselves, others, and the world around them.
IST is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), making it one of the few IB continuum schools in Central Texas. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that IST believes is important for our students. We are delighted to be an official part of a worldwide network of IB global schools, as well as an active member of Texas IB Schools (TIBS). IST is also a member of the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS). To learn more about the benefits of an International Baccalaureate education, click HERE.
IST is proud to share that its Senior Soccer Team won first place in this year’s Austin Private School Association championship. The team scored a resounding victory in its final game ...
In Ms. Boccieri’s art class at IST, Thursday, February 24, was a “provocation” for creative thinking. The first graders are about to enter their 5th planner of the Yea...
