Johannesburg - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
AISJ is the primary school to use for consulate and embassy kids. In my opinion, it's a hot mess and in need of strategic vision. The one hour commute for kids from Johannesburg and over an hour commute for kids from Pretoria doesn't help. In my opinion, the lack of a sense of community, bullying, and unmotivated teachers is an AISJ-built problem that could be solved when the new school director arrives in 2024. - Aug 2023
The American International School of Johannesburg is really the only option for expat families. AISJ has campuses in both Johannesburg and Pretoria, but only Johannesburg has a high school. The biggest complaint about this school seems to be the commute— coming from either Johannesburg or Pretoria, kids can expect to spend about 45 minutes to an hour on the bus each way. - Aug 2022
The American school is very good, but very large (I think around 1600 students?) and also not near either Joburg or Pretoria, but rather sits in between. There are 2 Lycees: the main campus in Bryanston in Joburg is superb and goes to terminale; the campus in Pretoria is likewise fantastic but only goes to 6eme. - Jun 2022
There are American and French schools used by consulate staff - no personal experience with either. - Apr 2017
Go with a local school, if possible. - Sep 2016
mission employees generally send their kids to the American school, though there are plenty of other good private schools in the area and some colleagues utilize these to avoid the lengthy communte to the American school. - Aug 2011
I hear they are good. - Jul 2010
AISJ has a good reputation. It follows the American and IB Diploma curriculums. It serves ov er 60 nationalities, so it is truely international. It is located closer to the northern suburbs of Joburg (Fourways, Lonehill Sandton) than to Pretoria. There is a small AISJ campus in Pretoria up to grade 6. The local SA schools are also very good, they just follow the southern hemisphere school year. - Oct 2009
