Antofagasta International School

Our Story Antofagasta International School (AIS) is a bilingual private school in Antofagasta, Chile, with over 21 years of educational experience. Led by Rector Carlos I. Figueroa Ahumada, the school embraces the motto "Lifelong learning for all" and grounds its mission in values-based education, deep contemplative attention, and principled citizenship rather than hyperactivity and superficial success. The institution blends Chilean national standards with international academic frameworks, maintaining active partnerships with MIT's Fab Foundation, Cambridge English, and the Leader in Me program. AIS serves students from pre-school through secondary levels, supported by both local and international faculty. Programs & Trainings 🎓 Bilingual Education Program — Full English-Spanish bilingual curriculum governed by an explicit Bilingual Policy and delivered by local and foreign teachers across all grade levels. 🎓 Dual Diploma Program — International certification pathway that allows students to earn a global diploma alongside the Chilean national curriculum. 🎓 New AIS 3.0 — Institutional evolution and strategic educational model update reflecting the school's modernized pedagogical framework. 🎓 Programa de Altas Capacidades (Gifted & Talented Program) — Three-year differentiated pilot launched in 2026, offering curriculum compacting, enrichment projects, flexible interest-based grouping, and individual/group mentoring for students with advanced intellectual, artistic, social, emotional, or physical development; includes digital portfolios and diagnostic assessment tracking. 🎓 PAES Preparation & Repository — Dedicated academic program and resource repository training students for Chile's university admission test (Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior). 🎓 SIMCE Preparation — Instruction aligned with Chile's national standardized measurement system for educational quality evaluation. 🎓 Fab Lab Atacama / Technology & Entrepreneurship Education — Hands-on prototyping and digital fabrication laboratory founded in 2014 and integrated into MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms global network; one of the few Fab Labs worldwide housed within a school, focusing on technological education and entrepreneurship. 🎓 Leader in Me — Character and leadership development framework based on the 7 Habits, woven into the daily culture and behavioral expectations of the school. 🎓 Cambridge English — English language certification and assessment program delivered in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English. 🎓 TEDx Platform — Student-centered innovation forum where young people present ideas as proactive change-makers and future shapers of society. 🎓 Positive Parenting Workshops (Programa Lazos) — Family-school partnership sessions focused on positive parenting skills and community bonding. 🎓 Competitive Sports Programs — Athletic development including Hockey 5, with students achieving national-level recognition such as Second Place Nacional Hockey 5. 🎓 Arts & Physical Education — Integrated curriculum spanning performing arts, visual arts, and physical education through a dedicated department. 🎓 Psycho-pedagogical Support — Specialized department providing psychological guidance, learning differentiation, and socio-emotional welfare services. 🎓 Generation Year Books & Memory Programs — Annual documentation and archival of student life, academic milestones, and graduating classes. Specialties 🎯 Bilingual and international curriculum design 🎯 STEM, digital fabrication, and technological entrepreneurship 🎯 Gifted education and double exceptionality support 🎯 University admissions test preparation (PAES/SIMCE) 🎯 Character formation, leadership, and socio-emotional development 🎯 Family-school integration and positive parenting 🎯 Competitive sports and arts education 🎯 Student innovation and public speaking (TEDx) Methods & Approach AIS employs a values-centered pedagogy that cultivates deep attention and contemplative reflection over reactive hyperactivity. The school uses differentiated instruction strategies including compacting, flexible grouping, and project-based enrichment, particularly within its Gifted & Talented pilot. Learning is amplified through hands-on technology in the MIT-affiliated Fab Lab, while character education is reinforced via the Leader in Me framework and the psycho-pedagogical department. The institution treats students as agents of global change, fostering innovation mindsets through TEDx and entrepreneurial prototyping. Who It's For Children and young students from pre-school through secondary education seeking a bilingual, values-centered academic environment. Families pursuing international dual diploma pathways and Cambridge English certification. Learners preparing for Chilean national university entrance (PAES) and standardized testing (SIMCE). Students with high abilities, creativity, or advanced development across intellectual, artistic, social, emotional, or physical domains, including those with double exceptionality. Young people interested in STEM, digital fabrication, entrepreneurship, competitive athletics, and the arts. Parents seeking positive parenting support and strong school-family collaboration. Facilities & Practical Info Campus located in Antofagasta, Chile, with programs delivered primarily in Spanish and English under a formal Bilingual Policy. The school utilizes the Educamos digital platform for academic management and community communication. The campus features Fab Lab Atacama, a fully equipped digital fabrication lab connected to MIT's global network. The institution maintains extensive digital archives, including yearbooks from 2007 to 2025 and foreign teacher records dating back to 2004. Admissions are currently open for the 2027 academic year. Location Address: Avenida Jaime Guzmán Errázuriz #04300, Antofagasta, Chile Hours: See website for schedule The "+" ✅ One of the few school-based MIT Fab Labs in the world, providing authentic digital fabrication and entrepreneurship education. ✅ Comprehensive Gifted & Talented program pilot featuring differentiation, mentoring, flexible grouping, and digital portfolio tracking. ✅ Dual Diploma and Cambridge English partnerships offering internationally recognized academic credentials. ✅ Over 21 years of institutional experience with demonstrated excellence in national academic and sports competitions. ✅ Holistic support ecosystem including a psycho-pedagogical department and dedicated family-school liaison programs.