The Association began in 1949 as the Private Schools Association of Dade County and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1958. AISF schools serve more than 25,000 students in various programs: traditional and Montessori; boarding and day; pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary; special learning needs; experimental; religious, non-sectarian, non-denominational; and college preparatory. 

Independent schools channel resources directly to students learning, counseling, and growth. The energy of independent schools goes into a common purpose: high academic standards unhampered by political considerations. The classroom is the basic unit. The basic relationship is between student and teacher.