In the late 1990s there were plans to open this school, with an initial proposed starting date of September 1999. Austin International School, originally called the "Lycée Français d'Austin" (French School of Austin), was founded in April 2001, by the
Consul General of France to Houston, the Honorary Consul of France in Austin, some Austin-based business leaders, and a group of French, American, and Francophone parents to meet the demands of a growing international and globally-minded population in Austin. It opened with a summer camp before its first school term in 2001. It opened as a school teaching in French, English, and Spanish. Jeanne Jeannin was the first head of the school. In summer 2011, AIS moved to it's North Austin location, and with increased enrollment, opened its Middle School in 2017. In 2019, AIS achieved accreditation through the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, and was awarded a Platinum Seal of Transparency by
GuideStar. In 2025, AIS became in IB World School (MYP), and underwent phase 1 of campus planning, including increasing classes and a newly renovated library and auditorium. In 2026, AIS launched its new preschool campus adjacent to the original building. ==Curriculum==