Atlanta International School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 123 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION AT ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS TO DEVELOP COURAGEOUS LEADERS WHO SHAPE THEIR WORLD FOR THE BETTER. AT OUR CORE IS CREATING A JOY OF LEARNING AND PURPOSEFUL EFFORT, AND MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING, IN AN INCLUSIVE AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY. WE CREATE A SAFE, STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING THE WONDER AND CURIOSITY THAT MOTIVATES A STUDENT TO LEARN IN AND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, AND THROUGHOUT LIFE. WE BELIEVE THAT ACHIEVEMENT COMES FROM SUSTAINED, PURPOSEFUL EFFORT AND BY LEARNING TO THINK CRITICALLY, DEBATE CONFIDENTLY, QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS AND PUSH LIMITS. WE BELIEVE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SHAPE AND INFORM IDENTITY. WE DELIGHT IN DIFFERENCE, OPENING OURSELVES TO AUTHENTIC AND MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH CULTURES BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE SCHOOL. WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO GROW AND CHANGE INDIVIDUALLY AND TOGETHER, TO ENSURE EVERY LEARNER'S IDENTITY, LANGUAGE, AND VALUES ARE RESPECTED. TO LEAD AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, FUTURE-READY YOU
- Income
- $52.1 million
- Spending
- $54.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 560
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $762,355, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 123 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $47.0 million spent. ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1984 BY A GROUP OF PARENTS, INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHOSE AIM WAS TO PROVIDE THE ATLANTA AREA WITH THE KIND OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOUND IN MAJOR CITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SUPPORT FROM MAJOR CORPORATIONS AND PUBLIC FIGURES WAS OBTAINED BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL'S IMPORTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATLANTA AS THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL CITY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THE SCHOOL OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 1985 WITH 51 STUDENTS, PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIRST GRADE, IN THREE LANGUAGE TRACKS: ENGLISH PLUS FRENCH, GERMAN, OR SPANISH. AIS MOVED TO ITS CURRENT HOME, A 1920'S ERA BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IN THE BUCKHEAD AREA OF ATLANTA. DURING SCHOOL YEAR 2024-2025, ENROLLMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,341 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3K-12. OVER 90 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE REPRESENTED IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND PARENTS. AIS IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES AUTHORIZED TO OFFER INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS FOR PRIMARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS. PRIMARY STUDENTS FOLLOW A BILINGUAL CURRICULUM UNTIL THE END OF FIFTH GRADE. AIS OFFERS 104 DIFFERENT IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME COURSES (GRADES 11-12) AND 147 MIDDLE YEARS IB COURSES. OF THE 102 GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2025, 38% EARNED A BILINGUAL IB DIPLOMA, GRADUATES ENROLLED AT 63 DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE U.S. AND THE WORLD, AND THE AVERAGE IB DIPLOMA SCORE WAS 28. BY DELIVERING A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAM COMBINED WITH WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS IN LANGUAGE ACQUISITION WITHIN AN OPEN-MINDED, INTERCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT, AIS PREPARES STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBALLY CONNECTED WORLD. AIS IS ACCREDITED BY ADVANCE ED, THE COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS (CIS), AND THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE. IN NOVEMBER 2023, THE SCHOOL PURCHASED ANOTHER CAMPUS IN SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA, THE FORMER BRANDON HALL SCHOOL PROPERTY WITH THE INTENTION OF EXPANDING THE SCHOOL'S PHYSICAL AND EDUCATIONAL FOOTPRINT. THE NEW CAMPUS IS LOCATED IN SANDY SPRINGS ON THE BANKS OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, ABOUT 30 MINUTES NORTH OF OUR BUCKHEAD CAMPUS. THE BRANDON HALL CAMPUS CURRENTLY HAS A CAPACITY OF 210 STUDENTS. THE PROPERTY SPANS 25 WOODED ACRES AND INCLUDES SPORTING FACILITIES SUCH AS TENNIS COURTS, AN ATHLETIC FIELD AND GYMNASIUM. THERE ARE ALSO 10 HOUSING UNITS FOR EMPLOYEES AND A RIVERHOUSE FOR THE HEAD OF CAMPUS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.