Taipei American School

Eligibility and admission priority

The child must hold foreign nationality and live in Greater Taipei with a parent or guardian. TAS requires a valid foreign passport and a second nationality document before attendance.

The school’s approved supporting documents include Taiwan entry/exit records or residence documents, and specified US nationality documents. A parent’s foreign passport alone is not enough to make a child eligible.

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Source: TAS admissions requirements

American curriculum, AP and IB

TAS describes a standards-based American curriculum with both Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. AP and the full IB Diploma are different study options; ask the counsellor to explain the programme proposed for your child.

AP courses begin in Grade 10 and IB courses in Grade 11. TAS requires 22 graduation credits. Before accepting a high-school place, ask the counsellor to map your child’s previous credits and proposed subjects against those requirements.

Upper School students receive personal and academic counselling. College counselling classes begin in the autumn of Grade 11, alongside individual planning.

The school-profile page identifies 205 students in the Class of 2025. Its statement that 85% of graduates entered US universities refers to autumn 2024, a different cohort, and the page does not pair results with destinations for one class.

Application timing and assessments

Applications open on 1 August of the preceding school year. TAS accepts applications throughout the year where places remain. Most first-semester decisions are issued from March to May; second-semester decisions usually arrive from mid-November to late December.

For 2027–28 entry, the application window opened on 1 August 2026. Apply to the correct year and confirm availability before making housing commitments.

Prepare school reports, teacher recommendations and passports. Applicants to Grades 5–12 need accepted standardised test results from the previous two years.

English and learning support

The admissions language thresholds rise by age: emerging English for Pre-K–Grade 2, developing English for Grades 3–5, and fluent-like English for Grades 6–12. The school assesses language during admission.

In Grades KA–8, English development takes place within regular classes: pupils learn alongside their peers throughout the day. TAS calls this sheltered immersion and charges no separate English-development fee. The admissions language thresholds still apply.

Speech and language therapy is available after a formal referral and comprehensive evaluation. It takes place during the school day without an additional fee; services and frequency are set for each child after evaluation.

TAS provides support for mild learning differences. Its Upper School does not provide English as an Additional Language support.

The admissions policy says moderate or severe learning difficulties exceed its provision. Admission does not guarantee continued enrolment if a student’s needs later exceed the school’s resources. This is a limit of the school’s provision, not a judgment about a child’s potential.

2026–27 tuition and joining costs

The annual tuition figure already includes the NT$50,000 non-refundable enrolment deposit. It is not an extra NT$50,000 to add to the annual total. New students also pay the capital and application charges.

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Source: TAS tuition and fees, 2026–27

A first-year example and additional costs

For a new Grade 9 student, tuition, application, capital and building charges total NT$1,421,605 in 2026–27. This is our calculation: 1,055,105 + 10,000 + 350,000 + 6,500. It excludes meals, transport, supplies, devices and optional activities.

Round-trip buses cost NT$70,940–74,480 annually, depending on the route zone. School transport is offered for Grades 1–12. Lunch is separate; the school suggests budgeting NT$30,000 annually in Lower School or NT$40,000 in Middle and Upper School.

Middle School students must purchase the specified school laptop; the published 2026–27 price is NT$43,500. High School students may use a device meeting school specifications. TYPA after-school programmes are independently operated and carry their own charges. There is no sibling discount.

Payment dates and withdrawal

For 2026–27, first-semester fees are due on 15 June and second-semester fees on 2 November. New families receive their deposit deadline with the offer. The school states a 2% monthly late-payment penalty.

Late-entry tuition, building and transport are charged by academic quarter. Any attendance within a quarter incurs the whole quarter’s charge; other fees remain payable in full.

Before attendance, the first-semester refund threshold is 15 July and the second-semester threshold is 1 December. Later notice reduces the refundable amount, and no refund is available to non-attending students once the semester starts. The deposit remains non-refundable.

After attendance begins, withdrawal within the first four calendar weeks may qualify for a 50% refund of tuition, building and transport, less the deposit. After that, no refund is granted. Obtain the school’s calculation for your exact dates and capital-fee position before withdrawing.

Recent independent reporting

On 2 July 2026, the Taipei Times reported that a TAS teacher had been indicted over alleged attempted drug smuggling. An indictment is not a conviction. We have not verified a subsequent judgment, and the report does not describe any involvement of pupils.

EBC News reported on 30 June that the school said it was on summer break and was still establishing the details. We have not verified a later substantive public update.

The school day and settling in

Bus coverage includes Tianmu and Beitou, with limited service to Yangmingshan and Tamsui and some routes in Neihu. Other Taipei routes have published road boundaries. Send the transport office your proposed address before choosing a home.

The 5:30 p.m. late bus is for Middle and Upper School pupils taking part in scheduled after-school activities. It does not provide the same arrangement for younger siblings. Each bus has a bilingual monitor; confirm the stop and return service for each child.

Questions to ask the school