The American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) is an independent college preparatory coeducational school founded in 1982.  AISJ is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  Admission to AISJ is contingent upon a determination by school officials that:

• The student will be able to meet AISJ’s academic and behavioral standards.
• The school will be able to meet any special needs of the student.
• The school will be able to meet the needs of the student in the development of English language skills.

Due to the increased number of students seeking admission to AISJ, the School Board has ratified the introduction of a Wait List Policy.  The intention of establishing the Wait List Policy is to ensure the integrity and quality of the educational programs at AISJ, while being sensitive to the needs of the greater community.   A waiting list will be established once all classes in a grade have reached seventeen (17) and students on the list will fall into the following categories and be ranked accordingly:

1. Children of parents employed by the United States Embassy, Consulate General or other official U.S. Government agencies
2. Siblings of currently enrolled students
3. Children of faculty and newly-hired faculty
4. Children of any nationality who are coming in from another U.S. curriculum school
5. United States citizens
6. Other international students
7. All other applicants

Within each of the categories, students will be given priority based on the date on which the application process is COMPLETED.  Please see the School Board Policy No. 1005 to read the Wait List Policy and its associated regulations.

Student applications are taken throughout the school year.

1. Age Requirement:  Students may be considered for entrance to pre-Kindergarten if they reach the age of four (4) years old on or before September 1 of the school year and for Kindergarten if they reach the age of five (5) years old on or before September 1 of the school year.  Students applying for admission to Grades 1 – 12 will be placed in the grade level that is age appropriate according to their date of birth or appropriate academic year.  In all cases, the final decision regarding admission and grade placement rests with the AISJ administration.
   
2. Graduation Requirement:  Students who intend to graduate from AISJ must be in attendance at AISJ for the complete Grade 12 year.  Please note that it is a policy of the school that a student must graduate before his/her twentieth (20th ) birthday.
   
3. Admission Conference:  Parents are expected to make an appointment with the Admissions Department to visit the school and to submit enrollment documents. Parents and applicant(s) should not arrive unannounced and expect to begin classes immediately.  Students who do not achieve the required criteria at the admissions screening will be referred to the appropriate administrator and the resource department for review.  Students who score two (2) years below grade level on the Admissions Screening will not be considered for admission.
4. Special Needs Students:  AISJ has limited services for students with special needs.  These support services are available through the Resource Program.  Applicants with special needs will be reviewed to determine the appropriateness of admission based on their ability to succeed in the standard curriculum in a normal classroom setting.  Parents are required to provide all relevant information at the initial contact with the school.
5. Testing/Placement/Scheduling:  Students applying to enter middle school (grades 6 – 8) are required to meet with the middle school counselor to finalize the student’s schedule and gain insight into the middle school.  High school students will meet with the high school principal/IB coordinator/counselor to schedule classes and subjects for the student to meet his/her educational needs, accomplish his/her educational goals, and to meet AISJ’s graduation (diploma) requirements.  Parents should accompany students to these meetings.  High school students may be required to complete a math assessment, foreign language assessment and a writing sample before they are admitted to AISJ.  All students for whom English is not their first language (unless they have exited an ESL Program at another school) will be tested for placement in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.  Arrangements for these appointments should be made through the Admission Office.
6. A minimum of forty eight hours (48) notice is given to teachers in order for them to be prepared for the arrival of a new student.
7. Special note for those applying during School Holidays: During school holidays the Admissions Office will not always be open but you may continue to send applications which will be dealt with as soon as possible.  Please note that administrators will be away during all holidays and therefore will not be able to grant admission until their return to campus.     

In order to complete a student’s registration as a student the following documents should be completed and returned to the Admissions Office and required payment must be made:

• Enrollment Form.  Completed and signed by parent or guardian.
  
  
• Complete all items as fully and accurately as possible.  Incomplete information may cause delay in the admission process.
  
  
• One Enrollment Application – Student Information form must be submitted for each applicant and one Enrollment Application - Parent Information (general information) form per family.
  
  
• Indicate the applicant’s requested grade level, keeping in mind that final determination of grade level placement is the decision of the school administration.
  
  
• Record the child’s full name as it appears on his/her passport.
  
  
• Contract for Enrollment.
  
  
• Registration Fee.  A registration fee of R1500 (or the US Dollar equivalent) must accompany each application.
  
  
• Request for School Records.  Complete one form per applicant.
  
  
• Confidential School Report.  This document is a school-to-school document and must arrive at the Admissions Office directly from either the teacher or the school by email or fax.
  
  
• Parent Statement and Parent Input.  Completed Parent Statement for elementary students (Kindergarten – Grade 5) and Parent Input Form and Admission Questionnaire for middle/high school students (Grades 6 - 12).
  
  
• School Records.  A complete official copy of the student’s school records in an envelope sealed by the school, even if these have been submitted previously.   These should include the previous three years and be as up-to-date as possible.  High school students will only be considered for enrollment when official transcripts are submitted to the Admission Office.  High school students will not be admitted without these school records.  Where the records are not in English, an official English translation must also be submitted. 
  
  
• Documentation of any special needs/services the applicant has received or is receiving but not limited to psycho-educational evaluations and IEP’s.
  
  
• Standardized Testing.  Results of standardized testing and any external academic examinations.
  
  
• Applicant’s Passport.  A photocopy of the details page of the applicant’s passport.
  
  
• Immunization records.  NO STUDENT will be allowed to attend school until a copy of the official immunization records have been submitted to the admission office and they comply with the school’s requirements as specified on the enrollment form.

When completed, email, fax or make an appointment to submit the enrollment form along with the required documents to:

Elinor Parkes
Admission & Development Coordinator
Telephone:  +27 11 464 1505 Extension 218
Cell phone:  +27 11 083 600 9457
Fax No.:  +27 11 464 1327 (Central)
Email: eparkes@aisj-jhb.com