The American School In Switzerland (TASIS) | |
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Location | |
Montagnola, Collina d'Oro, Lugano, Ticino Switzerland |
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Information | |
Type |
Boarding and Day International school |
Religious affiliation(s) | No Religious Affiliation |
Established | 1956 |
Founder | Mary Crist Fleming (September 10, 1910 -- January 27, 2009) |
Sister school | The American School in England |
Headmaster | Lyle Rigg |
Faculty | 110 |
Grades | Pre-k through Post-Graduate |
Enrollment | 700 -Elementary: 215 -Middle: 110 -High: 375 |
Average class size | 13 |
Student to teacher ratio | 6:1 |
Campus | Main campus in Montagnola |
Color(s) | Blue and Red |
Athletics | Basketball, Soccer, Swimming, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Badminton and 20+ recreational sports |
Mascot | Tigers |
Average SAT scores (for 2013) | 589 Verbal 585 Math 585 Writing |
Yearbook | "La Collina d'Oro" |
Affiliations |
European Council of International Schools (ECIS) New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) |
Nationalities Represented | 62 |
Languages Spoken | 42 |
Website | www.tasis.ch |
European Council of International Schools (ECIS)
The American School In Switzerland (TASIS) is a private coeducational boarding and day school for elementary, middle, and high school students. Located in Montagnola, a village south of Lugano in canton Ticino, TASIS enrolls approximately 700 pupils from around the world, including 270 middle and high school boarding students. TASIS is the oldest American college-preparatory boarding school in Europe.
TASIS was founded in 1956 by M. Crist Fleming. For the first few years, the School was located in Locarno, then in Lugano-Loreto, until the purchase of the 17th-century Villa de Nobili in Montagnola in 1960. The school and campus continued to grow throughout the years, adding a post graduate program in 1959 and summer programs in 1972. Since then, TASIS has expanded to include schools and summer programs in England, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, France, Spain, and Puerto Rico.
In 1983, the US Secretary of Education honored Fleming for her “significant efforts and tremendous contributions towards the furtherance of education at the international level.” He stated that the TASIS Schools had “introduced thousands of Americans to European culture and civilization” and many foreign students to “the best that America has to offer in its education, culture, and opportunities.”
The School is owned by the TASIS Foundation, a nonprofit organization. A Board of Directors is responsible for all aspects of the School’s operations. TASIS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and the Council of International Schools.
The School’s crest reflects the virtues and values of the School: the tower represents culture humanitas, the lamp wisdom sapientia, the book knowledge scientia, and the sun truth veritas.
The TASIS campus is located on the Collina d'Oro, or 'hill of gold', overlooking the city of Lugano and Lake Lugano to the North. The most notable campus building is Villa De Nobili, a 17th-century mansion that still contains the suits of armor placed there when the building was owned by the Marchese De Nobili, Italian Ambassador to Switzerland. It houses dormitories, classrooms, administrative offices, and the school's dining room. Other historic buildings include the 18th-century Hadsall House, which once served as a British consulate building; the 17th-century Casetta, and the 15th-century tower, Casa Fleming.