Verona Area International School

The Verona Area International School (VAIS), located in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is a unique public charter school within the Verona Area School District that focuses on Mandarin Chinese immersion. Serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade, the school provides a rigorous academic environment where students spend half of their day learning in Mandarin and the other half in English. This dual-language model is designed to foster high levels of biliteracy and cross-cultural competence, preparing students to be globally-minded citizens.

Beyond its language curriculum, VAIS emphasizes a well-rounded educational experience that integrates the district’s core academic standards with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme framework. The school is known for its close-knit, collaborative community, where parents, teachers, and staff work together to create an inclusive environment that values both cultural diversity and academic excellence. By blending the linguistic challenges of immersion with a globally-focused inquiry-based curriculum, VAIS aims to provide students with a distinct advantage in an increasingly interconnected world.