Leysin American School: English-language boarding with IB and American diploma options

Leysin American School (LAS) is a co-educational boarding school in Leysin, in the canton of Vaud. Founded in 1961 by Fred and Sigrid Ott, it remains family-run according to its admissions page. The school reports about 280 pupils from more than 50 countries.

The mountain setting matters because pupils live there, not just attend lessons. LAS offers full boarding and a five-day option. Ask how weekend departures, holiday accommodation and travel supervision work for your child’s age. The school’s estimate of about 90 minutes from Geneva is a planning guide, not a guaranteed airport transfer time.

Which qualification will your child work towards?

The academic structure covers Grades 7–8 in Middle School, Grades 9–10 in Preparatory Years, and Grades 11–12 in Diploma Years. These are American grade labels, not automatic equivalents of local school years.

In the final two years, pupils can pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or the LAS High School Diploma. The full IB combines six subjects with research, theory of knowledge and creativity, activity and service requirements. Taking individual IB courses alongside the LAS diploma does not produce the full IB Diploma.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available in Grades 10–12. They provide advanced study in individual subjects; they are not a separate school-leaving diploma. Ask the university adviser to check the proposed diploma, subjects and external exams against your child’s intended university requirements.

The school’s published IB admissions policy, reviewed in September 2025, allows pupils to join LAS during the school year. Starting the full IB normally requires entry at the beginning of Grade 11. A Grade 12 IB transfer may be possible if previous subjects and the timetable align. Admission to LAS therefore does not guarantee a workable late transfer into the IB.

Applying and agreeing support

The application process starts online. The published document list asks for:

• Reports or transcripts covering the last three years, plus a passport copy and passport-style photograph.
• Three teacher recommendations: English, mathematics and one other teacher.
• A handwritten pupil essay.
• An English placement test for non-native speakers; IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo English Test results are also accepted.

LAS says its committee decides within ten business days of receiving a complete application. Confirm current space in the required grade and the support assessment before paying to reserve a place.

English Language Acquisition has three levels, with adapted science and social-studies teaching for pupils developing their English. This is separate from provision for learning differences.

The learning-support page lists a Fundamental pathway at CHF 3,000 and a Moderate pathway at CHF 12,000. Both include an individual learning plan and classroom accommodations. Moderate support adds a small-group study-skills class three times a week. The page does not specify the fee year or billing period. Obtain a written support plan, current price and confirmation that LAS can meet the child’s needs; tutoring and individual support can cost extra.

The 2026–27 boarding budget

The school’s two-page 2026–27 financial schedule is explicitly dated. It separates these amounts:

Item	Amount and purpose
Annual tuition	CHF 128,000, including teaching and seven-day accommodation and meals
Application fee	CHF 500, once, when applying
Capital improvement contribution	CHF 10,000, once for new pupils, for campus facilities
Security deposit	CHF 10,000, separate from tuition; normally returned within three months after the pupil leaves LAS
Personal account	CHF 10,000 suggested each year for personal expenses, managed by the school

For a new pupil, tuition, application and capital contribution total CHF 138,500. This is our calculation, before the separate deposit and personal spending. The deposit is not an annual fee, and the suggested personal-account amount is not a fixed additional tuition charge. The deposit is not refunded if enrolment is cancelled.

Tuition also includes ordinary school activities and excursions, winter ski passes and group lessons, the health centre and school insurance. Swiss residence-permit charges and communal taxes are included. A school laptop and SIM card are provided; equipment must be returned.

Extra spending includes uniforms and supplies, the phone subscription, outside medical care, some transport, individual lessons and support, and university applications or external exams. The schedule separately charges a health-plan contribution of CHF 300 per semester, despite including the insurance itself.

The schedule recommends about CHF 2,500 a year for uniforms and school, art and technology supplies. It estimates CHF 1,000–5,000 for ski or snowboard equipment and LAS ski clothing, subject to parental permission. Optional overnight trips are estimated at about CHF 2,000 a year. A Swiss-airport transfer outside official travel days starts at CHF 350. Outsourced laundry is an extra service for Grades 7–8. The list is not exhaustive, so agree spending limits with your child.

The published table does not give a five-day boarding price. Request a separate quotation rather than deducting two-sevenths from the full boarding fee.

Payment and cancellation

Tuition and the capital contribution are due on 1 April, or within ten days of acceptance for later admissions. The personal account is funded by 1 August or before arrival.

The fee schedule requires the deposit within ten days of acceptance; the admissions page says ten business days. Have LAS confirm the deadline in the offer rather than assuming the longer period applies.

The fees page says cancellation before 1 April brings reimbursement except for the application fee and deposit. It does not provide a complete later-cancellation or mid-year withdrawal schedule. Read those contract terms before accepting, especially for a short posting or uncertain move.

Our view

LAS is worth considering when your child wants boarding, enjoys mountain activities and needs an English-language programme with more than one qualification route. The distinction between the full IB and the LAS diploma is useful flexibility, provided the chosen subjects satisfy future university requirements.

It is less suitable if living at home is the priority, or if you specifically need the Swiss maturité qualification. For a child needing substantial support, the decisive evidence is an agreed support plan and realistic total cost, not the general promise of an inclusive school.

Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.