Our Mission

Kaohsiung American School challenges students to achieve academic excellence and prepares them to be balanced individuals, independent learners, and global citizens.

Balanced Individuals

Academics

The academic journey at KAS begins in our PK classrooms and travels throughout the school with the power of world-recognized methods and standards, American and International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, and teachers who inspire a love of learning. Our students leave KAS prepared for challenging university study in the U.S. and across the world.

Arts

From musical performances and drama, to sculpting, drawing, painting and more, we invite KAS students to unleash their creativity with caring, spirited instructors in an environment designed to encourage self-expression, nourish the soul, and foster appreciation for artistic diversity in the world around us.

Athletics

KAS encourages students to balance their minds and bodies through fun, healthy, and competitive athletic programs at some of the finest facilities in the region. Our youngest Dragons explore being active through physical education and club sports, while older students have access to competitive league sports and the opportunity to test their mettle against opponents in Taiwan and regionally.

Independent Learners

Passionate

Integrative, equity-focused, and student-centered learning inspires our students to discover what drives them, to challenge themselves, and to invest in their own interests and passions.

Curious

KAS differentiates itself by offering innovative, purposeful programming that encourages students to be themselves and make connections beyond the curriculum in a safe and liberating environment. We welcome questions and dialogue because from that curiosity comes discovery, collaboration, and thinking that extends beyond the classroom.

Critical Thinkers

We believe that a rich multidimensional and international education prepares our students for an increasingly complex, multicultural, and rapidly changing world. Our students venture into innovative real-world and project-based learning, and collaborative sense-making that nurtures critical thinking and other 21st century skills that are essential to their future success.

Global Citizens

Aware

As an IB World School, KAS has made a strong commitment to expanding student awareness of global issues and cultural contexts. Our Middle Years Program (MYP) and Diploma Program (DP) help drive this awareness through inquiry-based instruction, empathy and compassion, critical thinking, cross-subject collaboration, and globally relevant outcomes.

Ethical

Today’s KAS students are future leaders. They will work with people from all over the world to help solve the problems that face humanity. We help prepare our students for such efforts and for a lifetime of progress and leadership by cultivating an understanding of ethics and ethical decision making.

Cooperative

Students, teachers, and parents together create a strong and supportive community that extends beyond the classroom at KAS. Our young global citizens cooperate with partners in Taiwan and around the world through initiatives like the Future Leaders Program, community service programs, an active Model UN, and the professional networks that our internationally-recruited staff and faculty afford us.

Learning Outcomes

Critical Thinker & Problem Solver

Being a savvy critical thinker and problem solver can take years to develop, but that’s the type of skill that’s necessary for our next generation of leaders. Knowing how to ask the right questions and clearly define the problem can mean the difference between success and failure. Our teachers are integrating this thinking in age-appropriate ways every day because they understand that problem solving is not a straight path, but rather a loop where we constantly test and revise along the way. KAS students proudly respect the voices and contributions of all team members.

Effective Communicators

Technology has enabled us to dream, build, and explore beyond traditional boundaries. With that powerful resource comes the responsibility to use technology to communicate and collaborate responsibly. While our classroom instruction is in English, expressing ideas with global contributors requires the ability to share in multiple languages and the students who graduate from the IB Diploma programme model this desired outcome. Students in all grades share a mindset that listening and speaking are equally valuable and that the words we speak and share have an impact.

Active Learners

One of the most important skills a child can learn is to love learning. We understand that to be a life-long learner, you have to foster the attitude, skills, and mindsets to succeed. Each year at KAS builds upon the foundation of the prior one, helping our young Dragons become independently motivated and goal-minded while staying curious and creative.

Ethical Global Citizens

Working with others, both locally and internationally, means that as a community we are honor-bound to act ethically and morally. This is best taught by the examples set by staff, students, and faculty. It means showing empathy and compassion, and being sensitive to the perspectives of others, as well as being aware of their own perspectives.