School History

The American International School of Lusaka (AISL) was established in 1986 through an exchange of diplomatic notes between the American Embassy of Zambia and the Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At this time the school was known as the American Embassy School.

A group of predominantly American parents had approached the US Embassy to register their concern about the level of education available in Lusaka. Many Embassies and Church missions were telling families with school aged children not to bid or come to Lusaka for this reason.

The school began in September 1986 in a converted house in the Roma section of Lusaka with approximately 40 students. It was run by Mr Bernard Holler who served as both a teacher of the upper grades and the first school Director. His wife, Marjorie taught the 3rd and 4th grades. The school had no Reception or 8 th grade for the first year, and all other grades were combined. Before the year was finished, the student body had grown to 110 with a long waiting list.

By the second year of operation, the student body was up to 120 students which was close to capacity, given the facilities available. Each class had its own room and teacher, the reception and Grade 8 classes were added, and there was a new library. The school acquired the property next door as a residence for the new overseas hired teachers. The school received its first accreditation with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the United States.

By the end of the third year of operation (1989) it became apparent that the Roma campus would not suffice for the long term, and a committee was tasked with finding land for a site on which a school could be built that would be more adequate for meeting its needs. By the end of the year, 15 acres on the Leopards Hill Road was purchased. A new Director Mr John Ritter and his wife Susan arrived in July 1990. The enrollment settled around 140 which was the capacity of the buildings on the Roma site.

Construction of the new school started in early 1992. Finally in February 1994 the school moved to its present location on Leopard’s Hill Road. The school continued to grow over the next few years and the waiting list evaporated. In 1995 the School Board of Directors made the decision to expand the school from US Grade 8 to 10, and to implement the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program.

A new Director, Mr Walter Plotkin joined the school in August 1999. The school at that time had 220 students. Over the next 2 years, the school grew to 250. It was also decided to extend the school’s program to include the International Baccalaureate Diploma to start in August 2002. This would lead to an increase in the size of the school and the school needed to start building again to accommodate the extra classes.

In March 2002, 11 acres of land adjacent to the campus were purchased and over the following year 8 new classrooms, a sports field and parking facilities were built. Enrollment rose to 350, prompting a decision to build further classrooms which were completed in August 2004.

Dr Irene Epp joined the school from August 2004 – 2006. During her time at the school a loan of US$4.2 million was negotiated. A proportion of the money was used to build more classrooms, purchase houses for teachers and purchase 20 acres of land adjacent to the school for further development.

Dr Thomas Walters joined the school as an interim Director from August 2006 to June 2007 and for the beginning of the 2007/08 school year, Mr Chris Muller joined the school as the Director. The school now has 485 students on adjacent primary and secondary campuses. There are two classes for each grade and waiting lists in many grades.

The school is in the process of building a new purpose-built Early Learning Center for students from 2 – 5 years old. The existing Pre School classroom block is then to be renovated and re-designed into a Performing Arts Centre complete with stage and outdoor amphitheatre. The library has been expanded and also includes an additional computer laboratory, and work will be starting soon on a new sports hall and swimming pool in the secondary campus. All building work is expected to be completed by December 2008.

The old school campus in Roma.

Opening of the new campus 1994.

The new campus before grass!

Building secondary campus, July 2003.

Secondary campus, 2006

Early Learning Center construction, December 2007