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Welcome to The American School of Tangier(AST). For sixty years, our school has been an anchor of learning and culture in northern Morocco. With college acceptances that span North America, the European Union, and United Kingdom, AST is the choice of parents in the region who want a global education for their children.
From age 3 through 18, AST provides a quality American-style education that provides strong values and meaningful educational expectations. As you navigate this website, know that we are always available to answer questions you may have. Thank you for your interest in AST and we hope to see you on campus in the near future.
The American School of Tangier (founded in 1950) is an independent not-for-profit private school located at 149, Rue Christophe Colomb, Tangier, Morocco. The school offers courses from prekindergarten to the 12th grade. www.ast.ma
The American School of Tangier, also known as A.S.T., was founded in 1950 by Omar Pound, son of famed poet Ezra Pound to serve the international community of Tangier as well as local students. As the demographics of the city have shifted in the post-International era, the school has become a college preparatory school for Moroccans interested in American-style education. In 2000, a 50th year reunion/celebration was held, highlighted by a dinner party at the Forbes Palace. Many alumni attended this special week of festivities.
Following Mr. Pound's tenure as headmaster, the job was filled by Mr. John Magagna and then for many years by Joseph A. McPhillips III, who founded The American School of Marrakech in 1995. In 2007, Mr. McPhillips died suddenly and was briefly succeeded by longtime teacher, administrator and AST alumnus, Neven Dragolovic. In 2009, Dr. Brian Horvath took on the position of Head of School.
In 1964, a group of students approached Mr. McPhillips about celebrating Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary. The result was, An Evening With Shakespeare; the first production of the Dramatic Society of the American School of Tangier.[1] From then until his death in 2007, McPhillips would personally direct more than 20 of these performances, which began a Tangier tradition almost legendary in Morocco. Often renowned artists have joined in the effort, such as Yves Saint Laurent who contributed costume designs or Paul Bowles, who contributed original scores to many plays and a theatrical adaptation for his short-story, The Garden. Often the plays of the Dramatic Society have taken place in non-traditional venues around Tangier. For example, a production of Tennessee Williams's Ten Blocks on the Camino Real was staged in the Petit Socco of Tangier's medina, where Williams first envisioned the play, and the production of Twelfth Night, in 2009, was held in the 19th-century Palais Menebhi.
The school has been visited by such famous people as Oliver Stone, Jimmy Buffett, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Claude Van Damme, Paul Bowles, and Tennessee Williams.
AST comprises approximately 350 students of diverse nationalities -- from the USA, Spain, France, Denmark, Holland, Germany, India, Britain, Italy and Latin America; the majority of the student body, however, is Moroccan.
Courses are taught primarily in English. The students also take some French classes and/or Arabic classes to expand their language skills. In order to graduate, the students must take at least 3 years of Math, 4 years of English, 3 years of science, and 3 years of history.
The AST diploma is equivalent to a U.S. private high school diploma.
In 1995, a new branch was opened in Marrakech. Its name is The American School of Marrakech, which was founded by Joseph A. McPhillips III. In 2007, A.S.M. had its first graduating class.
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