Escuela Bella Vista

Escuela Bella Vista, more commonly known as EBV, is a high school located in Maracaibo, Venezuela. The school currently enrolles 350 students, covers from Preschool to grade 12 and offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program to its students, as well as the possibility of attending Florida Virtual School. Even though the school used to enroll more than 600 students, after the strikes held toward Hugo Chávez government in December 2002, many American students fled from the city, and the school lost many of its international students. Currently, most students are from Venezuela, even though there are students from 20 other countries, mainly on elementary classes. The losses of students were perfectly visible on the graduating class of 2004, which only graduated 6 students, from a class which initially started with only 7 seniors. The school was formed in 1948 and its facilities currently include 46 classrooms, an Auditorium, two gyms, science laboratories, an Optimal Learning Center, library, two computer labs, a computer network system, cafeteria, vocal music and band rooms, art room, clinic, tennis courts, and playing fields. EBV is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

High School Students and Faculty

The student population is made up of 20 different nationalities with 90 percent being Venezuelan. The average class size in academic courses is 15 students. There are 43 teachers in the school, 25 of whom hold a master’s degree or higher.

Academic Program

Students in the high school follow a U.S. based curriculum, which culminates in the International Baccalaureate Program in grades 11 and 12. In order to graduate, students must earn a total of 28 credits. The school has a block schedule during which students attend four 90-minute periods per day. Classes are scheduled on a two-day cycle in order to provide 138 hours of instruction in each academic subject over the course of a year.

Department Requirements Course Offerings English: 4 credits English 9, English 10, IB English A1, IB English A2.

Languages: 4 credits Spanish as a Second Language: SSL 9, SSL 10, Spanish as a First Language: Spanish 9, Spanish 10, IB Spanish A1 and IB Spanish A2, French I and II, IB French B. Social Studies: 4 credits World History 9 and 10, IB History, IB Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

Sciences: 4 credits Physical Science, Pre-IB Biology/Chemistry, IB Biology, and IB Chemistry.

Mathematics: 4 credits Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Business Math, IB Math Studies, IB Math Methods.

P. E.: 2 credits P.E. 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Computer: 1 credit Computer 9.

Electives: 5 credits Art, Band, Yearbook, Fitness, and Drama all 9 – 12.

VHS:. We offer distance-learning classes through Florida Virtual High School (VHS) and The University of Nebraska. This service is utilized when needed, to fulfill an individual’s course requirements.

Student Rank We have chosen not to rank our students, due to the language, culture, scholastic background and the transitory nature of our student population.