Compare International Schools in Scottsdale, United states

9522 E. San Salvador Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85258. The school is a private nonprofit corporation located in Scottsdale, Arizona. It serves students from 18 months through grade 8 and offers immersion in French and Spanish as part of its dual international curriculum.

Early School (PK1-K), Lower School (1-5), Middle School (6-8).

Private nonprofit independent school.

Affiliated with France through the AEFE network.

We have Houses: Coyotes, Bobcats, Gila Monsters, Roadrunners; students are assigned to a house for teams, sports days, and positive reinforcement.

ISA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of up to twelve members with fiduciary responsibility for governance, policy-making, and strategic planning; the Board selects the Head of School, approves compensation, and oversees finances.

The International School of Arizona offers a dual international curriculum with French and Spanish language immersion beginning at 18 months and continuing through 8th grade.

Small class sizes. Enrollment is nearly 380 students.

Character Strong program supports student wellbeing and character development; Kevin Wilkinson is the director of student support and wellbeing. The program emphasizes values of respect, integrity, and community. The Portrait Of A Graduate defines SEL-related outcomes with traits such as Compassionate Communicator and Citizen Of The World. The school's guiding principles include developing Active Citizens of the World and fostering Multilingualism, contributing to SEL through global citizenship and language learning.

The International School of Arizona offers French and Spanish language immersion programs that begin at 18 months and continue through 8th grade. Early School starts bilingual fluency from 18 months to 5 years old. Lower School develops knowledge and skills in two languages from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Middle School provides a robust, bilingual academic environment for Grades 6-8. Accreditations include AEFE of France and Instituto Cervantes of Spain.

Character Strong program supports student wellbeing and character development; Kevin Wilkinson is the school's director of student support and wellbeing. The program teaches values such as respect, integrity and community. The school emphasizes developing compassionate leaders through character education.

Apply anytime during the year; the admissions process is designed to be as easy as possible. For the 2026-2027 school year we are accepting applications for all grades, and applications for 1st grade or higher require a good command of French or Spanish. Contact the Admissions office by submitting an information request form to learn more, schedule a campus visit, or set up a meeting to experience ISA firsthand.

Submit an Online Application. When completing the application, upload or email the following documents: copy of birth certificate; copies of parents' ID (passport or drivers license); educational records for K-8th grade; diagnostic/educational testing results, if applicable; records release form (to be submitted to your child's current school if transferring). Prepare these materials in advance to avoid delays, and ensure they reflect your child's current situation. The documents help the Admissions Review Committee evaluate the application and make a decision.

Shadow Day. If your child is entering PK4 or above, arrange a Day In The Life / Shadow Day to experience a day at ISA. Shadow Day provides an opportunity to see language immersion in action and to meet teachers and students. Visiting students gain a sense of how language learning is integrated into everyday classroom activities.

Application Review. The Admissions Review Committee will review the application and grant or deny acceptance. If accepted, parents receive the information necessary to complete the online enrollment process. The enrollment steps continue after notification of acceptance.

A 10% tuition deposit is due upon signing the enrollment agreement.

The International School of Arizona supports families in affording its multilingual education. The Scholarship Program is supported by the Arizona Private School Tax Credit and the French Bourse (for French citizens). All students are eligible for at least one form of scholarship and many qualify for several. Types of Scholarships include Private School Tax Credit Scholarships for All Students; Private School Tax Credit Income-Based Scholarships; French Bourse Need-Based Scholarships. For further information contact Francis Hewitt, Director of Admissions & Marketing (fhewitt@isaz.org, 480-874-2326 ext. 881).

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. The school operates on two campuses: Lower Campus and Upper Campus, both located in the Scottsdale area. Address reference: 9180 E. Via De Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

PK–12; Lower School, Middle School, and High School.

Private day school.

The English language support course assists English Language Learners (ELL) to develop proficiency.

Reliable Shuttle Transportation offers daily shuttle service to and from Rancho Solano campuses.

Boarding opportunities at Rancho Solano. International students are enrolled under SEVP with an F-1 visa and tuition is paid to Rancho Solano, with additional fees charged by partner placement agencies for host family and student support. A dedicated adult staff member resides in each residence and staff are available 24/7.

The school has a defined uniform policy. Daily wear includes navy, white, or orange polo shirts with navy, white, or khaki bottoms; dresses and jumpers are available for Pre-K and Lower School. Spirit Wear Fridays allow Rancho Solano shirts or logoed apparel; professional dress days apply for Middle and Upper School; outerwear must be Rancho Solano logo wear and shoes must be closed-toe.

Lunch options are provided via Dishes2U, offering a range of restaurant options with customization for individual students. Parents can create accounts and order, with access via a login page and FAQ.

The school is part of International Schools Partnership (ISP) as of 2024. It previously joined Meritas International Family of Schools in 2007 and York Education Group in 2017.

Rancho Solano is a PK-12 international learning community with small class sizes and an inquiry-based curriculum. The Upper School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with Higher Level and Standard Level IB courses, IB certificates, or non-IB electives. Beginning in fall 2025, 9th and 10th graders may choose College Prep or Honors courses for core subjects, alongside existing options for 11th and 12th grades. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, and World Languages; World Languages include French, Mandarin, Spanish, with IB options. Fine Arts, Electives, and Technology & Media Arts are integrated into the Upper School, with a focus on global education and character development across all grades.

Low student-teacher ratios support a personalized learning experience.

Graduates attend a wide range of colleges and universities, including Arizona State University (Barrett, The Honors College), Brown University, Boston College, Bard College Berlin, California Institute of Technology, and Boston University, among others.

The school focuses on social and emotional development as part of daily learning. Each campus has a full-time Registered Nurse and a School Counselor. Lower School Counselor Jill Babcock, MA, delivers developmentally appropriate social-emotional lessons, covering topics such as feeling good about self, making good choices, managing strong feelings, conflict resolution, peer pressure, and communication. Middle School Counselor Elizabeth Strimbu and High School Counselor Laura Lorenz support students' academic, social, and emotional growth through individual, group, or classroom sessions and crisis management. Confidentiality guides counselor–student interactions, with defined exceptions when a student may be at risk.

Mental wellbeing is a core consideration at Rancho Solano. Each campus has a full-time Registered Nurse and a School Counselor who address physical and emotional health needs. The school believes that physical safety and emotional wellbeing are essential for productive learning. The counseling program provides academic and personal support, including crisis management when needed. The elementary counseling program delivers developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning and supports students through daily lessons and small-group or individual sessions.

Rancho Solano maintains a secure campus environment. All campuses have on-site full-time security guards. The Raptor Visitor Management system screens visitors, PAS cards ensure safe dismissal at the Lower School, and crisis procedures are located in each building with quarterly lockdown drills conducted with law enforcement. The school has on-site Registered Nurses on each campus, and most faculty are trained in CPR, with CPR training offered to all staff. The Salt River Police and Fire Departments are accessible due to SRPMIC affiliation. The Business Office enforces data security and privacy, and all staff and vendors are required to pass background checks and fingerprinting.

Steps Toward Admission vary by grade level. Pre-K2–Pre-K4: 1. Submit a Request For Information to schedule a visit or telephone conversation with the admissions office. 2. Visit the Lower School Campus. 3. Submit an Online Application with required documents including a birth certificate, immunization records, Arizona Department of Health paperwork, and current standardized test scores where applicable. After these steps, the admissions team evaluates the candidate based on the application, the candidate's school record, teacher recommendations, interviews and academic testing. Kindergarten–5th: 1. Submit a Request For Information to schedule a visit or telephone conversation with the admissions office. 2. Visit the campus. 3. Submit an Online Application with birth certificate, current and past year grade reports or transcripts, and current standardized test scores where applicable. 4. Admissions Testing for Kindergarten–5th. 5. Shadow Day for Grades 1–5. After these steps, candidates are evaluated based on the application, school record, teacher recommendations, interviews and academic testing. Middle School 6–8: 1. Request For Information; 2) Visit the Middle School Campus; 3) Submit Online Application with birth certificate, current and past two years grade reports or transcripts, current standardized test scores, writing sample, and immunization records. 4. Submit required academic forms such as the Parent Authorization for Release of Records Form and the Head of School or School Counselor Recommendation Form and Math and English Teacher Recommendation Forms, which can be emailed to Kaitlyn Myzwinski. 5. Admissions Testing: ISEE is accepted for Middle and Upper School and the admissions team can help schedule. 6. Shadow Day is strongly encouraged. 7. After these steps, the admissions team evaluates candidates based on the application, school record, teacher recommendations, interviews and academic testing. High School 9–12: 1. Request For Information; 2) Visit the High School Campus; 3) Submit Online Application with birth certificate, current and past two years grade reports or transcripts, current standardized test scores, writing sample, and immunization records. 4. Submit required academic forms such as Math and English and Head of School/Principal Recommendation Forms. 5. Admissions Testing: ISEE; PSAT may be used for transfer students in 10th–12th grade in lieu of ISEE. 6. Shadow Day. 7. After these steps, the admissions team evaluates candidates based on the application, school record, teacher recommendations, interviews and academic testing.

The school offers need-based Financial Aid through FAST. Families apply online; FAST applications are accepted November 1 through the end of January, and a FAST report is sent to the Scholarship Committee to determine the recommended amount. The FAST application has a non-refundable fee of 53 dollars, and awards are contingent on available funds. The FAST process takes about 30–45 minutes to complete. The school also participates in the Arizona Private School Tax Credit Program through Arizona Tuition Connection, a Student Tuition Organization, which can cover all or a portion of tuition and is available to all families. Donors fund the program through tax credit donations and may designate a student to receive their donations. Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) are taxpayer-supported vouchers for private school attendance, administered through the Arizona Department of Education; funds are distributed quarterly (July, October, January, April) and ESA and STO funds cannot be used in the same quarter. Applications for ESA can be made any time during the year and must be renewed annually. Questions can be directed to Scott Salk, Chief Operating Officer, ssalk@ranchosolano.com, 480.646.8282.

The school has a waitlist for enrollment openings.