Yangon International School

Yangon International School (YIS) is a private college-preparatory school, located in Yangon, Myanmar. YIS offers an American, standards based curriculum in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, and High School programs. The school enrolls students from age 3 to age 18. High school students complete at least 26 credits to earn the American high school diploma. Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered to high school students. Graduates have been offered placement at universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, and Singapore. YIS has been accredited by WASC since 2009. The school is managed locally in Myanmar by ILBC in partnership with US-based International Schools Services (ISS). The school is currently celebrating the community's 15th anniversary, throughout the 2019-2020 school year.

YIS was founded in 2004 to offer a premium international, university preparatory educational experience to Myanmar and expatriate students. The school's mission is to: "foster the development of the whole child who is a participating global citizen and lifelong learner: one who is academically well-prepared, socially responsible, culturally sensitive, and personally fulfilled." The school's vision is to prepare students for higher levels of learning and to be responsible global citizens by developing a special appreciation of the Myanmar culture and demonstrating respect to all cultures; serving and contributing to their community, home country, and world; and becoming life-long learners.

Students come from throughout Myanmar and more than a dozen different countries including but not limited to China, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, France, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Bhutan, South Korea, Japan, and Chile. As the school is committed to improving access to international standard education within Myanmar, the admissions process does not use any nationality quotas. The Lower Elementary Campus, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 2, is purpose-built for young learners and has its own library, gymnasium, playground, technology integration program, art, music, Myanmar Studies and Myanmar Music and Dance classrooms. The Main Campus, serving students in Grade 3 through Grade 12, is equipped with a library, gymnasium, swimming pool, technology integration program and computer labs, science labs, art studios, ceramics kiln, spacious classrooms, and multi-purpose area. Middle school students are allowed to bring their own devices to school. High school students are required to participate in the school's 1:1 laptop program as classes utilize Google Classroom and online learning resources. Student services include guidance and character development, college counseling, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialists, quarterly after school activities (ASAs), and athletics program from elementary to high school including basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, swimming, badminton, table tennis, and Ultimate Frisbee. YIS is a founding member of the Yangon Athletic Conference along with the International School of Yangon, International School of Myanmar, and ILBC. The school works with adventure learning professionals to provide Week Without Walls experiential learning programs for all Grade 6-Grade 12 students.

Faculty are recruited primarily through International Schools Services and Search Associates. Teachers are qualified by a combination of their bachelor's degree, master's degree, certificates, licenses in their home country, background checks, and visa approval from the Myanmar government. The 2019-2020 faculty includes a School Director, Secondary Principal, Elementary Principal, Director of Curriculum and Professional development, Head of Myanmar Studies, Athletic Director, Dean of Students, Admission and Communication Coordinator, and instructional faculty. Each elementary class has a Teaching Assistant to support the lead teacher. The teacher:student ratio averages 1:7 in lower elementary, 1:14 in upper elementary, and 1:20 in middle school and high school, with TAs providing additional support.

The curriculum follows the American Common Core curriculum in English Language Arts and Math. Social Studies classes follow the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) Standards. Science classes follow the Next Generation Science Standards. For technology, the school uses the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards.

The first graduating class completed their studies in 2009. Over the last ten years, YIS students have been offered admission to more than 120 universities around the world.