Kaohsiung American School was established in 1989 as an elementary school serving the needs of local and expatriate families with children from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. The first school was located in a series of apartments in the Chang Gung Hospital compound. Starting in 1992, KAS served as a school of record for University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Correspondent High School courses, with the first graduate in 1997.

In 1997, KAS began to offer independent high school courses. In January, 1999, KAS moved into shared lease facilities in a Kaohsiung City elementary school on San Duo Road. Then, in January, 2003, Kaohsiung American School became sole occupiers of another elementary school facility, leased for 9 years from the Kaohsiung City government. The Board of Directors allocated over $1 million USD to renovate the 40 year-old buildings and campus.
In May, 2010 KAS was granted a 20 year lease of the Tzuo-Ying District Campus with a 20 year automatic rollover.
In 2015, KAS expanded into a new campus. Students, staff, and faculty had a new permanent home. This stone, steel, and glass institution overlooks the famed Lotus Pond, and is well connected by road and rail for students arriving from all over southern Taiwan.
Today, KAS welcomes 800 students through its doors each morning. Our classrooms are led by teachers from all over the world. We are grateful for our past and hopeful for our future.
If you’d like to explore the whole story of KAS, please visit our recently constructed KAS History Hallway, located on 3F next to the Lecture Hall. See exhibits from over 30 years of Kaohsiung American School.