Elementary School

Founded in 1956 by international education pioneer M. Crist Fleming, TASIS The American School in Switzerland is the oldest American college-preparatory boarding school in Europe and is world-renowned for its ability to develop global citizens through education, travel, and service.

The TASIS Elementary School, which now serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten (starting at age 3) through 5, opened its doors as the first English-language elementary school in Ticino in the fall of 2005 and has remained the region’s premier independent school ever since. Since its inception, the Elementary School has grown from 43 students to a vibrant international community of 180 children representing 30 nationalities and speaking more than 20 languages as a mother tongue. 

Nestled on the Collina d’Oro (“Hill of Gold”) in Montagnola, a small village overlooking Lugano, TASIS’s beautiful campus is surrounded by the Swiss mountains above and Lake Lugano below. The Elementary School comprises five classroom buildings, two science laboratories, two dining halls, and two playgrounds, and students enjoy access to all that the main TASIS campus has to offer, including two gymnasiums and a large theater. 

Students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and first grade spend most of their time at the Early Childhood Center known as Al Focolare, which has its own kitchen facilities, playground space, art room, and library.