Kaohsiung American School

Kaohsiung American School 高雄美國學校
Location
No. 889 Cueihua Road, Zuoying District Kaohsiung Taiwan 81354
Information
Type	Private International School
Established	1989
Enrollment	789 students
Color(s)	Red, Blue and White
Mascot	Dragons
Tuition	Varies by grade level
Website	www.kas.tw

The Kaohsiung American School (KAS; Chinese: 高雄美國學校; pinyin: Gāoxióng Měiguó Xuéxiào) is a private, Pre-K through grade 12 college preparatory school located in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The school was established in 1989 and it is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The current Head of School is James Laney, Jr. The school has been accredited to teach the IB Diploma Programme since August 2010 and the Middle Years Program (MYP) since September 2015.

Mission and Guidance

Kaohsiung American School's mission is to challenge students to achieve academic excellence and prepare them to be Balanced Individuals (academics, arts, athletics), Independent Learners (passionate, curious, critical thinkers), and Global Citizens (aware, ethical, cooperative).

Guiding the school's efforts for the 2024–25 school year are three strategic intents: deeper learning, wellbeing & community, and continuity. This framework is designed to shape the school's curriculum work, professional learning, budget decisions, and resource allocation.

Facilities

The new school building completed in 2015

KAS current campus, which opened in Spring 2015, sits at the southern end of Lotus Pond, in Zuoying District. The location at 889 Cueihua Road is convenient to High Speed Rail, Taiwan Rail trains, and vehicle traffic.

In the spring of 2015, a new campus was completed. Phase 2 of the construction encompassed the athletics installations and was completed in January 2017.

Facilities include a 400-seat auditorium, lecture hall, and a 3-story central hub which houses a library, exhibition hall, and a media center. The Dr. Thomas Farrell Athletics Complex, which opened in 2017, houses a swimming pool, American hardwood indoor basketball court, and a rooftop tennis court.

LEED Certified Campus

KAS is recognized by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) a LEED certified campus. The school's Academics and Arts complex earned a Silver rating, and Athletics complex carries a Gold rating. Some of the notable features which helped the school earn this rating include: significant daylighting design, low-emissivity glazing, water conservation, green roof design, locally-sources and sustainable building materials, and a cork-lined artificial turf sports field.

Academics

Elementary Division

The Kaohsiung American School's elementary division, from Pre-K (4 years old) to grade five, allows students to receive classes from specialists each week in Art, Music, and Physical Education. Students in grades 1–5 also have weekly classes in Information Technology. In addition, students receive Chinese language for up to 220 minutes per week beginning in grade PK. ELA (English language acquisition) is provided for students in grades 1–10 who require additional support in English language and is taught by a qualified specialist. Library classes are scheduled either weekly or on a flexible schedule with the Librarian. In the 2018–19 school year, KAS added an Inclusion Coordinator whose office assists students with the tools they need to excel at grade level, and this department has expanded to include a student support team with learning advocates across the entire school.

Middle school

The Kaohsiung American School's middle school division includes grade six to grade eight, and marks the start of the Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate. The MYP provides an educational framework of formative and summative assessments around clearly defined criteria that measure a student's progress across a variety of classwork and academic pursuits. Additional English Language Learner (ELL) support is available for students at the middle school level. Students have the opportunity to experience a balanced curriculum that includes physical education, world language instruction, humanities, arts, science, and mathematics. The middle school also encourages a variety of student-led and teacher-led clubs and extra-curricular activities.

KAS pool

High school

The Kaohsiung American School's high school division runs from grade nine to grade twelve. Additional English Language Acquisition (ELA) support is available for students at the high school level. Upon reaching eleventh grade, students are given a choice to participate in the IB Diploma Programme (DP). Students who participate have the opportunity to sit for the IB exams in their respective subjects and earn an IB diploma. Students can also choose from a selection of other grade-level courses. All students in the high school have access to an onsite college advisory office to assist in the guidance and application to universities and colleges in the United States and worldwide.

IB (International Baccalaureate)

KAS was authorized to offer several IB courses and the IB Diploma Programme beginning in August 2010. The decision to offer the IB Diploma reflects the school's commitment to offer the most rigorous course of instruction and the best chance for success in their university preparation. Students may choose to pursue the Diploma or individual certificates, or they may choose to enroll in courses for regular credit only. The school was authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Program beginning in November 2015.

College Counseling

Kaohsiung American School (KAS) offers comprehensive college counseling services to support students in their post-secondary planning. The school employs three dedicated college counselors who begin working with students in Grade 10 to guide them through the process of selecting and applying to universities around the world. The most common destinations for KAS graduates are institutions in the United States, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom and other European countries, and Australia. The counseling team provides individualized support through workshops, one-on-one advising, and application preparation to ensure students are well-informed and confident in their choices.

Community Engagement

KAS emphasizes the importance of community involvement through its Future Leaders and Service Learning programs.

The Future Leaders Program connects students in Grades 10 through 12 with internship opportunities at local companies and organizations in and around Kaohsiung. These internships allow students to explore career interests and develop professional skills through hands-on experiences, with each placement offering up to 40 hours of engagement.

The Service Learning Program is coordinated by the school's Community Engagement Office, which partners with organizations across Taiwan and internationally. This program enables students to participate in meaningful projects that address community needs while developing empathy, civic responsibility, and leadership skills. Through service learning, KAS students gain practical experience in creating positive change, both locally and globally.

Athletics

Physical Education (PE) is an integral part of the KAS curriculum, with classes offered to all students through Grade 9. The PE program's focus is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead active, healthy lifestyles. It emphasizes the importance of lifelong personal responsibility for physical well-being, encouraging students to discover enjoyable forms of activity and to understand the intrinsic rewards of maintaining an active life.

KAS participates in two international school athletic leagues: the Taiwan International Schools Sports Association (TISSA) and the Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA). The high school sports calendar includes three seasons, while the middle school has four seasons. Club sports are also available for students in Grades K–5. Competitive sports at KAS include swimming, volleyball, soccer, badminton, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and cross country, with opportunities for both male and female athletes.

Arts

KAS provides a robust arts program with classes in both visual and performing arts across all grade levels. Students are encouraged to express their creativity and develop artistic skills through a variety of media and performance opportunities.

The school hosts two Middle School arts galas annually to celebrate student work, while students in the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Visual Arts course present their own exhibitions each spring. In March 2025, KAS staged its first all-school musical production, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr., featuring student performers from elementary, middle, and high school. Music education is a long-standing tradition at KAS, with dance, choir, and orchestra performances conducted by music instructors at all school levels throughout the academic year, often held in the school's auditorium.

See also

• Education in Taiwan
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• American Institute in Taiwan

External links

• American School Facebook Page
• Kaohsiung American School official website
• KAS on Google Maps