[3] ISA's basic premises stem from a concept paper written by Dr. Thomas J. Sergiovanni,[4] a professor of public education at Trinity University.

Its founding was prompted by the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which, economically connecting the United States with Mexico and Canada, and raised the issue of international relations.

ISA also has long-term relationships with schools in other countries and regularly does exchanges with students in South Korea, China, Germany, and Japan.

ISA is a member of many educational and international organizations including the Coalition of Essential Schools[7] and the Asia Society.

[8] It is, in addition, a member of the Texas High School Project's T-STEM network, and has been awarded "Exemplar" status by it.