Viewbook 2025-26

Where curiosity meets courage.

Every student brings their own story.

So why do so many schools feel identical?

Ours doesn’t.

At The International School of Texas, we are bold in our teaching, learning, and in the way we prepare students to lead with curiosity and courage.

From age 3 through high school, our students are immersed in the International Baccalaureate framework, giving them the freedom to inquire, create, and connect their learning to the wider world within a community that celebrates individuality and collaboration.

While we hold students to high academic standards, our teachers go far beyond preparing them for exams—they cultivate resilience, empathy, and a love of discovery that fuels success well beyond the classroom.

Here, students don’t just attend school. At IST, they grow into globally minded thinkers, compassionate leaders, and Trailblazers ready for college and for life.

Here,, curiosity Here curiosity meets courage. meets courage.

Other schools can prepare students for one thing: tests.

At IST, we prepare them for anything.

Welcome to our Trailblazer Family!

At IST, we promise to provide our students a holistic, challenging, and innovative education with a firm grounding in a global mindset. Through this foundation, our students are provided opportunities to extend their learning into the real world and pursue their passions. As an institution that values character development along with academic growth, our culture is marked by free thought, equal opportunity, and our core values of Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Intellect, and Service.

True to our Trailblazer identity, our graduates will seek to understand themselves, their passion and calling in the world, and forge their own paths. They are Servant Leaders, Community Builders, Global Citizens, and Classically Liberal Thinkers. They will embody the values of our community, the IB Learner Profile, and pursue lives that mirror our mission as a school of building respectful global communities and serving the world around them.

We invite you to come join us and find out how your child’s curiosity can meet their courage as an IST Trailblazer!

Dr. David Watson

Head of School

Students thrive when they have the chance to explore, discover, and ignite their passions.

Our close-knit community is small enough to give every student limitless opportunities to try anything and do everything.

International Baccalaureate Advantage

A Community that Cares STEM, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship

SEL & Student Well-Being Global Perspective, Learning Beyond Local Heart the Classroom A Safe Campus Designed for Discovery Excellence in Teaching & Student Support The Arts, Athletics, & Whole Student Development World Languages: Spanish & Mandarin

At IST, At IST, potential potential meets preparation meets preparation..

Curious Igniting a lifelong love of learning

Early Childhood School

8:1

Our Early Childhood program (Junior PreK, PreK, and Kindergarten) lays the foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. Rooted in the International Baccalaureate framework, our youngest learners develop critical early literacy, numeracy, and social skills through inquiry-driven, play-based experiences that spark curiosity, imagination, and confidence.

Student to Teacher Ratio in Early Childhood

Specials include weekly STEM, Library, Music, Art, P.E., Mandarin, & Spanish

Daily instruction includes phonics, pre-writing, and early math to ensure strong academic readiness. Social-emotional learning is woven throughout the day, helping children build empathy, resilience, and collaboration, skills we view as essential as reading and math.

Spanish and Mandarin are introduced early, expanding communication skills and broadening global awareness, while our specials keep students engaged and curious.

Small class sizes allow teachers to individualize instruction, ensuring each child is known and supported. Whether exploring in the STEM Lab, engaging in bilingual story circles, participating in outdoor discovery, or learning through imaginative play, students ask questions, investigate ideas, and reflect on their learning—the very skills that will guide them as future IB scholars.

Mandarin & Spanish Language Learning

one of the only schools offering Early Childhood students multiple language learning pathways By the time students leave our Early Childhood School, they are not only emerging readers and writers with strong numeracy foundations, but also confident, compassionate learners prepared to thrive in Lower School and beyond.

One of only 3 schools in the Austin metro area offering IB programming for Early Childhood students.

At IST, learning in Early Childhood is joyful, purposeful, and rooted in wonder, where every child is empowered to explore the world with curiosity, courage, and care.

Confident Building the skills to thrive

Lower School

98%

At IST, our Lower School program (Grades 1–5) builds on the strong foundations established in Early Childhood, guiding students toward greater independence, fluency, and confidence as learners. Grounded in the IB framework, students master core academic skills of reading fluency and comprehension, writing, numeracy, public speaking, and problem-solving, while continuing to nurture their natural curiosity through inquirybased projects that bring learning to life and promote connections across disciplines and curriculum. As students enter Grades 3, 4, and 5, they start to go into greater depths through Socratic seminars, project-based learning, and transdisciplinary connections.

of IST Lower School students score above average in reading and math compared to their grade level peers nationwide Reading and writing are central, with a strong culture of literacy fostered through daily practice and weekly library visits. Students develop fluency, comprehension, and a love of books while sharpening their ability to communicate ideas clearly and creatively. Mathematics and science instruction emphasize both mastery and application, encouraging students to see patterns, test ideas, analyze information, and make connections.

Specials in Spanish, Mandarin, STEM, music, art, and PE provide a well-rounded education, cultivating creativity, collaboration, and global awareness. Frequent field trips expand classroom learning into the world beyond IST, allowing students to explore history, culture, business, and science firsthand. With small class sizes and a close-knit community, teachers are able to personalize instruction, ensuring that every child is both supported and challenged.

Parents are partners in education. Our IST parents gain insights into our classrooms through Toddle, a communication app that our teachers use every day to post pictures and updates of classroom activities and what students are learning.

By the time students complete Lower School, they are not only confident readers, writers, and problem-solvers, but also inquisitive thinkers and compassionate classmates that are ready to take on the deeper explorations of Middle School with courage and curiosity.

Known Every student seen, every student heard

Middle School

At IST, Middle School (Grades 6–8) is a time for students to grow both academically and socially in a community where they are known, valued, and supported. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme challenges students to think critically, make cross-curricular connections, and apply their learning in meaningful and rigorous ways, while the close-knit environment ensures they feel a strong sense of belonging during these formative years.

Belonging

We believe that for a student to learn, excel, and succeed, they need to feel confident and a strong sense of belonging.

Inquiry and independence are emphasized in all aspects of Middle School life, preparing students to take ownership of their learning while strengthening time management, research, and communication skills. Opportunities for exploration abound: students dive into world languages, design and innovation, the arts, athletics, and entrepreneurial service projects, all while developing leadership within their houses and advisory groups. Field trips, experiential learning, and community engagement extend their studies into real-world contexts. Paired with rigorous core academic coursework, our Middle School students are well-rounded and well-prepared.

By the time they complete Middle School, students are not only ready for the challenges of Upper School, but also confident in their identities as learners, friends, and global citizens, ready to embrace new opportunities with purpose.

Prepared Ready for college, career, & beyond

Upper School

In Upper School (Grades 9–12), IST students take on their most ambitious challenges yet, building the skills and character needed for college, career, and life. As candidates for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, an advanced curriculum preferred by elite colleges and universities worldwide, students engage in rigorous, university-level coursework that emphasizes research, critical thinking, and global perspective. Strong communication skills and ethical decision-making are core components of student development in IST’s upper school.

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is recognized by over 2,000 universities worldwide and is preferred by many elite colleges for its rigor. At IST, DP students engage in in-depth research, inquiry-based learning, and cross-disciplinary connections, ensuring they graduate not only with strong grades and admissions offers, but also with the skills, confidence, and independence to thrive in college and beyond.

Academics are complemented by signature experiences—capstone projects, service learning, leadership opportunities, travel, athletics, and the arts—that connect classroom learning to the world around them. Small class sizes and individualized college counseling ensure each student is supported in charting their own path to higher education and beyond.

Graduates of IST don’t just earn strong grades and college admissions; they enter university already equipped for success. With the ability to think independently, communicate effectively, and manage the demands of higher education, they are prepared not only to excel in college but to thrive in life.

Here, you can play everything.

From instrumental music to swimming, volleyball, and basketball, IST offers numerous competitive athletics programs and music opportunities for all ages.

Athletic offerings include: Cross Country Volleyball Flag Football Tennis Golf

Basketball Track & Field Soccer Wrestling Cheerleading

Beginning in Grade 3, students are introduced to string instruments. As they progress, they gain the freedom to choose from a wider range of options, including additional instruments, vocal music, and performing arts, allowing them to personalize and expand their artistic journey at IST.

Here, you can create anything.

At IST, creativity takes many forms, on the stage, in the studio, and in the lab. Students explore visual arts, digital storytelling, graphic design, and technical theater, while also engaging in STEM, design, architecture, and coding. Whether sketching, building, programming, or performing, they learn to express ideas with imagination and precision.

These courses are more than electives, they are opportunities to innovate, problem-solve, and bring bold ideas to life. By combining artistic expression with scientific and technical skills, students gain the confidence to create, collaborate, and design solutions for the world around them.

At IST, traditions do more than mark the calendar; they shape our community, spark joy, and deepen belonging. Students take pride in belonging to one of four Trailblazer Houses: Armstrong, Earhart, Malala, or Mandela. Each is inspired by trailblazers who embody courage, perseverance, advocacy, and leadership. These Houses bring everyone together through friendly rivalry and shared values, earning points by living out IST’s core values and the IB Learner Profile. From House shirts on Fridays to pep rallies, each tradition is a chance for students to shine, connect with peers, and grow in confidence.

Here, you can celebrate everyone.

Our calendar is a tapestry of cultural highlights, learning, and celebration. Holi bursts with color and community, the International Harvest Festival fills the air with music and shared dishes, and the Lunar New Year arrives with dragon dancers. Events such as Sports Day, Spirit Week, and the Grade 4 STEM Egg Drop are not just fun; they offer hands-on collaboration, creativity, and opportunities to lead. At IST, tradition means belonging, culture, and growth, where every member of our community plays a part in our story.

Here, you can experience everywhere.

At The International School of Texas, travel is a key part of learning. Each year, students in Grades 2–12 take part in Trip Week, exploring places like London, NASA, Big Bend, and the Teton Science School, while also enjoying 4–6 local field trips that bring classroom themes to life. Families can also join our annual international trip to destinations such as Peru, Morocco, or Thailand, creating experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and connect students to the wider world.

Contact us to schedule a visit and to learn more! admissions@istexas.org

15506-C TX 71 Austin, Texas 78738 512.351.3403 www.istexas.org