Mission
We challenge and inspire students to be critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and responsible global citizens through a comprehensive, English-based education.
Vision
A model of excellence in educating students.
School and Community
Founded in 1955, ACS is a private, non-profit, non-denominational, international school that offers an American curriculum for students in Kindergarten three through grade 12, with English as the language of instruction. Most of our students are bilingual, and many are trilingual.
Student enrollment at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year was 567 (Kindergarten 3-grade 5 = 351; grades 6-8 = 113; grades 9-12 = 103). Of the total student population, 53 were U.S. citizens, 84 were third country nationals, and 430 were host country nationals. Class size ranges from 8-22 students and the student to teacher ratio is 7:1.
Located in the heart of the Andes, the cosmopolitan city of La Paz is composed of a rich variety of indigenous and non-indigenous citizens, with a population of 764,617 (census 2012). Exposure to varied cultures, values and perspectives on and off campus prepares our students to embrace diversity and act as responsible world citizens.
Faculty and Staff
There are 55 full-time and 9 part-time faculty members, along with 18 instructional assistants. The Senior Leadership consists of a superintendent, a secondary principal and an elementary principal. Our Learning Services Department consists of two certified school counselors, three English Language Learners Specialists, and three Learning Support teachers. Our teaching faculty is comprised of 19 North Americans, 40 Bolivians, and 6 third country nationals. ACS also has a full time college and career counselor to assist students as they prepare for higher education.
School Calendar
The academic year runs from August to June for a total of 180 school days. Courses that meet four days per week (60-minute sessions) earn 0.5 credits per semester, while courses that meet two days per week earn 0.25 credits per semester.
Preparing Students for the 21st Century
Graduates develop a unique world view by learning in an educational setting where diverse and predominantly indigenous
populations live harmoniously in the fast paced urban setting of La Paz. Additionally, living in Bolivia exposes our students to some
of the world’s largest challenges. ACS provides opportunities for students to engage meaningfully in our extended community
by combining a rigourous academic curriculum with enrichment activities (see below) that challenge them to make decisions
grounded in solid moral fiber and with a strong sense of justice.
Community Service
To grow as responsible, ethical, and compassionate citizens, ACS students are involved in a variety of student-led Community Service Projects (CSP), such as volunteering at local orphanages, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and supporting international Non- Governmental Organizations. Some of the organizations we partner with are Operation Smile, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center. High school students must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service each year (80 hours upon graduation).
Classroom Without Walls (CWW)
We strongly believe in the value of experiential education in developing the whole-child. Our CWW program provides opportunities
for our students to engage in cultural exchange and service learning projects both locally and internationally.
Extracurricular Activities
Varsity and middle school sports include boys’ and girls’ soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field and cheerleading. Swimming,
karate, chess, and tennis are also offered. Non-athletic activities include Student Council, National Honor Society, Technology
Student Association, Mathletes, Band, Global Issues Network (GIN), and Classroom Without Walls.
Class Rank
ACS does not rank students because we believe that class rank is an unreliable performance indicator.
All students enrolled in High School must complete
graduation requirements to earn both a U.S. High School
Diploma and the Bolivian Bachillerato.
Class of 2018 (27 students)
Average GPA: 3.22
Grade point averages are based on the letter grade earned in each
course and the credit value. Only courses completed at ACS are
included in the student’s GPA.
SATr Results (Average)
Advanced Placement
In the 2017-2018 school year, over 50% of high school students were enrolled in an AP course. The percentage of total ACS AP students with scores of 3 or above was 88%. For the past two years, this figure has exceeded both Bolivian and global averages. The AP Exam pass rate for ACS students over the past three years has been approximately 74%.
Academic Course Offerings (2018-2019)
English
Applied English
English 9
English 10
English 11
English 12
AP English Language
AP English Literature
SAT English Prep Class
Languages
French 1
French 2
Spanish 9
Spanish 10
Spanish 11
Spanish 12
Foundations Spanish
AP Spanish Literature
Independent Spanish
Spanish as a Second
Language 1
Spanish as a Second
Language 2
Spanish as a Second
Language 3
Spanish as a Second
Language 4
Social Sciences
Global Issues Network
World History
AP World History
AP Human Geography
Bolivian History and Geography
US History
AP US History
Introduction to World Histor
World History II
Economics
Psychology
Philosophy
Fine Arts
HS Art 1
Studio Art
AP Studio Art
HS Art – Wet Media
HS Art – Design
HS Drama
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
Sciences
Biology
Honors Biology
AP Biology
Introduction to Chemistr
Chemistry
Honors Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Physics
Honors Physics
Math
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Foundations of Geometr
Pre-Calculus
SAT Math Prep
Finance Math
AP Economics
AP Calculus AB
Statistics
Technology
Introduction to Computer
Science
Web Design
Computer Science
Print Design
Programming
Advanced Programming
Graphic Design
Health and Wellness
Health
Physical Education
Individual Sports-Health
Other
Freshman Seminar
Senior Seminar
Entrepreneurship
College and Career Planning
College Entrance (2013-2018)
One hundred percent of our graduates are admitted to post-secondary programs, with an average of 75 percent of graduates attending U.S. colleges and universities. The other 25 percent enroll in Bolivian or international post-secondary institutions.
College Acceptances
United States
Academy of Art University
Adelphi University
Amherst College
American University
Augustana College
Babson College
Bentley University
Boston University
Brown University
Bryant University
Bradley University
Bryn Mawr College
Binghamton University
Butler University
Brigham Young University
Carnegie Mellon University
Colorado School of Mines
Concordia University Montreal
Cornell College
Cornell University
College of Saint Benedict
College of the Siskiyous
Columbia University
College of William & Mary
Claremont McKenna College
College of Charleston
Columbia College at Chicago
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
Elon University
Emory University
Eugene Lang Liberal Arts College
Ferris State University
Flagler College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
Fordham University
Florida State University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Hofstra University
Hult International Business School
Indiana University
Iowa State University
United States
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson and Wales University
John Cabot University
Kansas State University
Jerusalem University
Kendall College
Laser College
Long Island University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University of Maryland
Lynn University
Lehigh University
Manhattanville College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Menlo College
Miami University Oxford
Michigan Technological University
Minnesota State University
Mount St. Mary’s University
New Hampshire University
New York University
New College of Florida
Notre Dame University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Oklahoma State University
Old Dominion University
Pace University
Parsons The New School for Design
Princeton University
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Providence College
Penn State University
Purdue University
Quinnipiac University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rollins College
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
San Jose State University
St. Johns University
St. Marys University
St. Edwards University
San Francisco State University
Santa Reparata International School of Art
Smith College
Savannah College of Art and Design
United States
South Dakota State University
Stetson University
Suffolk University
Syracuse University
Seoul University
Temple University
Texas A&M University
Trinity University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Arkansas
University of Arizona
University of Berkeley
University of British Columbia
International
Universidad Católica (Argentina)
Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina)
Universidad Austral (Argentina)
Universidad del Salvador (Argentina)
Universidad Privada Boliviana (Bolivia)
Universidad Católica Boliviana (Bolivia)
Universidad de São Paulo (Brazil)
Universidad Adolfo Ibañez (Chile)
Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile)
Universidad del Valle (Colombia)
Universidad Los Andes (Colombia)
Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Colombia)
Universidad Francisco De Paula Santander (Colombia)
Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
McGill University (Canada)
University of British Columbia (Canada)
American University of Paris (France)
Maastricht University (Holland)
Jerusalem University (Israel)
Universita Della Santa Croce, Roma (Italy)
Santa Reparata Int’l School of Art (Italy)
The American University of Rome (Italy)
Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico)
Universidad del Pacífico (Peru)
Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (Peru)
University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
Universidad de Navarra (Spain)
Swiss Hotel Management School (Switzerland)
New York University- (Shanghai, Abu Dhabi)