Bilingual Schools in Almaty: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: How do bilingual schools in Almaty work? Almaty has around five established English-medium international schools. Most teach in English and add Russian or Kazakh as subjects, while Miras teaches in Kazakh, Russian and English. Expect fees of roughly 4 to 13 million KZT a year, and plan on one to three years for full academic English.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Almaty is one of the few cities in Central Asia where a child can grow up genuinely at home in three languages. On the street you hear Russian and Kazakh side by side, the state pushes a trilingual policy in its own schools, and a small group of private schools teach mostly or entirely in English. For relocating families, choosing among the bilingual schools in Almaty is really a question of which language mix suits your child and how long you plan to stay.

This guide explains how Kazakhstan's trilingual approach works in practice, which curricula you will find, what five well-known schools actually do with languages, and what you can expect to pay in tenge.

Almaty and its languages: what families should know first

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city and business centre, with more than two million people. It sits at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, and locals give directions as "up" (south, towards the mountains) and "down" (north, towards the plains). Most international schools are in the greener southern districts.

Al-Farabi Avenue is the spine of expat school life. Haileybury Almaty, Kazakhstan International School and Miras International School all have addresses along it, in the Bostandyk and Medeu districts. Expat families tend to rent in the Golden Square around Abay and Dostyk avenues or in the compounds of Medeu and Remizovka. Almaty International School sits in Kalkaman-2 on the western edge. Winter traffic can turn a ten kilometre school run into 40 minutes.

Language is part of daily life from the moment you land. Kazakh is the state language, and Russian is used officially alongside it, so shop signs, school letters and government forms often appear in both. Russian still dominates in most Almaty homes, though Kazakh is growing among younger people.

Curricula and language models available

Kazakhstan's own schools follow a trilingual policy introduced in the last decade, with Kazakh, Russian and English all taught and some science subjects delivered in English in upper grades. International schools work differently. These are the main options you will meet in Almaty:

International Baccalaureate (IB): used by Miras and Kazakhstan International School. The Diploma Programme requires a second language, so students keep studying Russian, Kazakh, French or another language to age 18.
British curriculum (IGCSE and A Levels): offered by Haileybury Almaty.
American curriculum with Advanced Placement: Almaty International School, part of the QSI group, follows a US-style programme with the AP Capstone Diploma.
Kazakhstani national programme: leads to the state school-leaving certificate and the UNT university entrance exam. Some private schools, including Miras, combine it with an international track.
English-medium schools with a Turkish link: such as Galaxy International School.

Five bilingual and English-medium schools in Almaty

We have focused on how each school handles languages, often the deciding factor for families.

Miras International School

Miras is the most genuinely trilingual school on this list. Opened in 1999 on Al-Farabi Avenue, it teaches in Kazakh, Russian and English, and offers French as an additional language. It is an IB World School and accredited by the Council of International Schools, so students can follow the Middle Years Programme and then the IB Diploma in Grade 12. What sets it apart is the dual route: graduates can also receive the state Attestat and UNT certificate after Grade 11, which keeps Kazakhstani universities open. It suits mixed families and long-stay expats who want real literacy in the local languages.

Haileybury Almaty

Haileybury Almaty opened in 2008 in association with Haileybury in the United Kingdom and runs as a not-for-profit school on Al-Farabi Avenue. It follows the English system from the early years through IGCSE and A Levels, and teaching is in English. It is academically selective, with strong facilities. Most pupils are Kazakhstani, so Russian and Kazakh are heard in the corridors. Parents say children with little English often pick up conversational fluency within three to six months. It suits families aiming at UK universities.

Kazakhstan International School

Founded in 1999, Kazakhstan International School (KIS) is an IB World School on Al-Farabi Avenue that takes children from nursery to the end of high school. English is the language of instruction. Because the IB requires a second language, pupils continue with another language throughout, which gives families a structured bilingual path without the pressure of learning core subjects in Russian or Kazakh.

Almaty International School

Almaty International School (AIS) has served the city's international community for about 25 years and belongs to the QSI network of schools. It has been accredited by the Middle States Association since 1999 and offers the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma. Instruction is in English, with an American-style calendar and teaching approach. Parents describe it as a good place to learn English quickly. Its campus in Kalkaman-2 is a better fit for the western side of the city.

Galaxy International School

Galaxy International School is based in Micro District 4, in the Auezov district, and teaches in English with native-speaker teachers. Parents often mention its popularity with Turkish families, and the school places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities and whole-child development.

Fees at bilingual and international schools in Almaty

Tuition in Almaty is set in tenge (KZT), although some schools quote or index fees to US dollars, so exchange rate swings can change what you pay from one year to the next. As an indicative guide, English-medium international schools charge roughly 4 to 13 million KZT a year, with early years at the lower end and IB Diploma or A Level years at the top.

A useful fact for planning: Kazakhstan is moving the Kazakh language from Cyrillic to a Latin-based alphabet, with a phased transition that the government currently plans to complete by 2031. Children starting school now will see both scripts.

Beyond tuition, budget for these extras:

Application and enrolment fees: usually a one-off payment, sometimes non-refundable.
Deposit or capital levy: some schools ask for a refundable deposit or a development contribution in the first year.
School bus: routes cover the main expat districts, charged per term or year.
Meals: lunch plans are often billed separately.
Uniforms and sports kit: required at British-style schools such as Haileybury Almaty.
Exam fees: IB Diploma, IGCSE, A Level and AP exams carry external fees in the final years.

Practical tips for choosing a bilingual school in Almaty

Decide what "bilingual" means for your family. For some parents it means an English school where the child also learns Russian. For others it means real fluency in Kazakh or Russian, with subjects taught in those languages. Miras sits at one end, and the purely English-medium schools at the other. Ask how many hours a week go to each language.

Think about your exit plan. If you are likely to move on in two or three years, continuity matters more than local language depth. Long-stay families may value the state certificate route.

Visit in person and listen in the playground. The language children use at break tells you more than any brochure. Arrange visits between late spring and August where possible, since the school year starts on 1 September and popular year groups fill early.

Compare the best schools in Almaty

If you want to see how these schools sit against the rest of the city, take a look at our ranking of the best schools in Almaty.

More guides to schools in Almaty

Frequently asked questions

Do expat children need to learn Kazakh at an international school in Almaty?

Most English-medium international schools in Almaty teach Kazakh or Russian as an additional language rather than a medium of instruction, so expat children are not expected to be fluent on arrival. Schools that also prepare students for the national certificate teach Kazakh more seriously, so ask how many hours a week are timetabled at each stage.

Which Almaty schools teach in more than one language?

Miras International School is the clearest trilingual option on our list, with Kazakh, Russian and English all used for teaching and French as an extra language. Haileybury Almaty, Kazakhstan International School, Almaty International School and Galaxy International School teach mainly in English, with Russian or Kazakh offered as a subject alongside it.

How long does it take a child to follow lessons in English in Almaty?

Younger children usually follow classroom routines within a few months and hold everyday conversations within the first year. Academic English, the kind needed for science reports or history essays, takes longer, often two to three years. Parents at Haileybury Almaty report conversational progress in three to six months, but this varies with age and support at home.