American School of Rio de Janeiro

Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro
Location
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Information
Type Private
Motto Knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue
Established 1937
Faculty 97 full-time and 3 part-time faculty members
Grades PK-12
Enrollment 744
Campus size 12 acres (49,000 m2)
Campus type Urban
Athletics Soccer, Basketball, Softball
Athletics conference Big Four, Little Eight
Mascot Black Panther
Headmaster Dr. Robert Werner
Neighborhood Gávea
Website

The Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro (American School of Rio de Janeiro) is an English-medium international school located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the hills surrounding the city. It is private, independent, coeducational day school which offers an educational program from nursery through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school was founded in 1937.

In 2005-6, enrollment was 776 students and there were 103 full-time and three part-time faculty members.

Contents

Curriculum

The curriculum is that of a U.S. college-preparatory independent day school for students from pre-school through grade 12. Instruction is in English with Portuguese required as a foreign language. Other available foreign languages include French and Spanish. Health, physical education, and computer classes are also run. Music, art, band, drama, publications, athletics, and Model UN are among the extracurricular activities offered. A high capacity/high potential program exists for gifted students in grades 1-12. Honors courses and a learning skills center are also provided. There is no religious instruction. There is a chapter of the National Honor Society on campus.

The school offers the American, Brazilian and International Baccalaureate Diplomas. Over 95% of the school’s graduates enroll in a college or university, with 40 % of them going on to a higher learning institution in the U.S. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and the Secretary of Education for the State of Rio de Janeiro. The School is affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization. Every school semester a Big 8 competition takes place where the students compete in sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis and indoor soccer.

Facilities

Academic facilities are centered in eight towers that house the school’s three divisions. The towers together contain 78 classrooms, eight science laboratories, two libraries with a collection totaling more than 35,000 volumes, three gymnasiums, a cafeteria, an infirmary, two snack bars, a student store, and a 350-seat auditorium. Over 350 computers are in use at the school. Athletic facilities include a lower school playground, indoor and outdoor courts for basketball and volleyball, a running track, and playing fields for soccer and softball.

External links

Sources

Content has been adapted from a US Office of Overseas Schools report which can be found at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/1529.htm