The School was founded in 1967. The school year comprises two semesters extending from mid-September through late June. The ninth voting member is a representative from the American Consulate in Bilbao. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School. The curriculum is similar to that of U.S. general academic schools and stresses the development of strong academic skills.
Instruction is in English and all students take a yearly course in Spanish.
French, Euskera, and Latin are taught as a foreign languages. There is no religious instruction. The School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and by the European Council of International Schools. The School occupies school-owned quarters in Berango, a suburb of Bilbao. Facilities consist of 14 classrooms, an office, a library and an audio-visual area, an art studio, a computer laboratory, a science laboratory, and 4 playground areas.