Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There is one primary international school used by the Embassy - Brooks. Parents don't seem to mind it. AAS has been closed for a year now. There are a couple of other schools some individual families use. - Dec 2023
No experience personally, but the American school (from what I saw and heard) was wonderful. - Mar 2019
The Anglo-American School (AAS) has an outstanding reputation, and everyone I spoke with loved it. - Nov 2018
The Anglo-American school is exceptional, offering many extra-curricular activities for both the young and old. It is equipped with three pools, a fantastic music and drama department, two gyms, three theaters and three playing fields as well as a tennis court. The two cafeterias offer a wide range of choices. The teachers are very hands-on and engaging. IB curriculum in the elementary and high school. School uniforms for the elementary and middle school. - Oct 2017
Plenty but I have no experience with them. - Sep 2016
We had our child at AAS and had a good experience overall. The school has amazing facilities (indoor swimming pool, multiple gyms, state of the art theater, etc.). As with any school, some teachers are better than others but overall we were pleased. - May 2016
Most parents sent there children to the Anglo-American School (AAS) which has a fantastic cafeteria (sushi for lunch!) and an IB program for high school students. During our time in Moscow, some parents were concerned that their children weren't getting into top U.S. colleges, but in my opinion the IB program sounded more rigorous than your standard AP classes. Some parents sent their children to a French school as well. - Oct 2014
Everyone I know sends their kids to the Anglo-American School. In my opinion, a great school. We have been very pleased with it. - Feb 2014
I hear good things about AAS but have no personal experience with the school. - Nov 2013
We don't have kids but our friends all send their children to the Anglo-American School and seem happy enough. There was an issue last fall as parents felt that students weren't getting into prestigous colleges in the U.S. -- so they wanted the academics tightened up. It seems to be fine for the younger grades. - Jul 2013
I have two kids in the elementary school, and they really love it. It is both challenging and fun for them and the school lunches are excellent! - Jan 2013
There are a couple of schools available. The Anglo-American School is the one that most parents send their child to. Overall a good school, I'd say that it's not as good as some others my child has attended. Be aware that while high schoolers all take a trip, seniors take a different trip at the beginning of the year, so a child arriving at the beginning of their senior year may not have their passport back from the MFA with their multi-entry visa in time to go on this trip. Parents with children in this situation should find out from the school if the senior trip will still be in Sept. and plan accordingly. - Mar 2012
Anglo-American School of Moscow is within the gate/fence of one enclave. There's a British American school out at the other enclave, but I don't know much about it. The AAS is good, they use the PYP and International Baccalaureate programs. We've had good luck so far, but we only have experience with 3rd grade. But the teachers are very communicative and the curriculum seems good. There are good afterschool activities at no charge, our daughter has enjoyed that a lot. They have ice-skating in winter for PE, and swimming at other times during the year (indoor pool) and a great library. It's also wonderful that our daughter can walk or ride her bike to/from school all on her own. The facility is new, and very affluent, with everything you can think of. The cafeteria serves real meals -- things like grilled salmon, rather than chicken nuggets like you might see in the US. They have a lot of visiting artists, etc and other events. The only thing we could complain about is the Russian language program. Don't expect your child to actually learn to speak the language, if they come in without it. They put native speakers, legacy speakers, and kids with no experience at all together in one class. The kids get one half-hour class per week for K and 1st grade, two for 2nd, 3 for third, 4 for 4th, and then five for subsequent years. But they don't teach much grammar, etc until at least 4th grade. My daughter has fun, but it's a good thing she doesn't really need the language to get by. The school is going to start requiring uniforms for the next school year. They're supposed to be available at The Gap and Marks and Spencer, but they haven't gotten it all figured out yet. There is a PE uniform, too, but they've had that all along. Tee shirts for PE are available at the school, but the other uniform pieces won't be. - May 2011
AAS is an excellent school, with a demanding IB program. - Jan 2011
The American School is located in the Hines complex. Just because you have kids who attend it, doesn't mean you will be located in Hines. I've heard mixed reviews about it from parents. They say it's a very mediocre school. - May 2010
I don't have children, and my dog has no opinion. Don't rule out the better Russian schools though; a friend raised his daughter bilingual and she is currently at an excellent Russian school (she had to pass a test to get there). - Feb 2010
My kids go to AAS. They are in 6th and 8th grades and they tell me this is their best school ever (and their four USG expat/ international school experience). I have to agree. We came off of 6 months of language in Virginia and my kids went to Virginia public schools and got straight As because it was so easy over there, and my kids, lovely as they are, are not motivated students or gifted, natural scholars. Here they struggle a bit to keep up, but they do keep up and they are challenged. I teach 4th grade. I read the reports of a non-rigorous curriculum from others who have posted here, and I can't speak to previous years as this is my first year teaching here, but they have just instituted a much more rigorous math curriculum with many additional benchmarks that the kids have to meet and the teachers, obviously, have to teach. It's still an IB program, but we have two "masters:" the IB program and the benchmarks, and there is not time enough in a day to teach them more than what is being taught now. I assure you. Not unless you made the day longer, which actually wouldn't be a bad thing. Between PYP and benchmarks, there really isn't enough time to get it all done. Science seems to suffer for it a bit, in my opinion. But I do think the kids get a really good education, even with that. - Nov 2009
American Anglo School looks like a country club--probably the nicest facility I have ever seen. They have their own Bolshoi Theater...swimming pool, ice skating rink, huge fields for sports. Middle school is a little fast socially, but the academics are really first rate. There are really good lessons available: swimming, martial arts, and ballet?Also really good piano lessons available. The teachers come to your house, $35/hour and they went to the Moscow Conservatory, the same school Tchaikovsky went to. - Oct 2009
No school-aged kids, but have heard the school is great. - Aug 2009
I don't have much experience with them, I can only tell you what I've heard. Most people took their children to the Ango-American School. I heard the highschool is excellent, but haven't heard great things about the elementary school. Parents of elementary school children would be able to tell you better information. - Aug 2009
I only know about the Anglo-American School where most of the expats go. The elementary schools seems to have more complaints about the lack of rigor and out-of-control children. I have never heard such nastiness on a playground. The middle school and high school seem much better. The facilities are great and staff are professional. - Jul 2009
We currently have our children at AAS but will be moving our elementary school aged child because we are EXTREMELY dissatisfied with the administration (Tony Simone, principal). Our child has had to put up with foul language in the classroom, a yelling teacher, a lack of communication between the teachers and the home and an unsupportive administration that does not respect embassy parents. The curriculum is far behind VA public schools in Fairfax County. The middle school experience has been much better. The principal is responsive and respectful, the teachers communicate with parents and the curriculum is closer to what you would find back home. There is a British School at Rosinka along with two others that have been established just recently and have gained respect: English International School and International School of Moscow. The other alternative is the Christian Missionary School called Hinkson. - Aug 2008
