International School of Tucson
International School of Tucson is a preschool serving Tucson, AZ.
About International School of Tucson
International School of Tucson is a nonprofit, non-selective, coeducational school serving children in Tucson through an international, language-immersion approach. Located on East Seneca Street, the school offers programs for infants and toddlers, preschool, and junior and middle school students. Its stated mission is to nurture multilingual, globally aware students who are prepared to navigate a changing world with empathy and curiosity. The school describes its educational focus as "Opening the World to Your Child."
Language learning is central to the school's curriculum. In preschool, students participate in full immersion in Spanish, Chinese, French, and German. The Junior School uses a dual immersion model in those same four languages. International School of Tucson explains that immersion is intended to make language a daily practice rather than a subject studied in isolation. Students engage in language-rich environments designed to support cognitive agility, cultural understanding, and communication across cultures. A parent testimonial on the school's website describes a student becoming biliterate in Spanish, with the ability to speak, read, and write the language.
The school's program is built around more than language acquisition. International School of Tucson emphasizes learning-to-learn skills, citizenship, and preparation for life in an intercultural world. Its core values include language immersion, global citizenship, community, and holistic development. The school identifies respect, empathy, collaboration, compassion, tolerance, and understanding as important parts of that work. Its stated approach supports students' academic, ethical, emotional, social, physical, and health needs, while also encouraging critical thinking, personal reflection, problem-solving, resilience, and leadership.
Students are given opportunities to apply classroom learning in practical settings. A curriculum spotlight on the school's website describes a field trip for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to Guadalajara Grill, where restaurant staff spoke with students in Spanish. The students ordered food, asked about ingredients, discussed the check, and practiced meaningful conversations in an everyday environment. The school also offers clubs and extracurricular activities for its preschool and junior and middle school programs. Community participation is reflected in events and resources including International Day, an annual dinner, parent materials, a lunch menu, and a school calendar. The school has also shared a strategic plan shaped through listening, reflection, collaboration, focus groups, meetings, and feedback from its community.
International School of Tucson is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its website provides information about enrollment options, scholarships, holiday programs, uniforms, supplies, governance, and faculty. A scholarship notice directs qualifying families to the Arizona Leadership Foundation for additional information, with an application window identified on the school site. Families interested in learning more can schedule a tour through the school. Visitors can expect to find a school centered on multilingual education, cultural learning, and an inclusive community in Tucson, with programs that begin in early childhood and continue through junior and middle school.