American School of Tegucigalpa

The American School of Tegucigalpa is a college preparatory international school located in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on a hill overlooking the city. It is a private, independent, coeducational day school, which offers an educational program for students of all nationalities, from pre-school through grade 12. The school was originally located in the center of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. The school was founded in 1946. The school year extends from approximately August 15 to June 15. Retaining colonial charm while offering the convenience of modern city, Tegucigalpa maintains a cost of living that is one of the best in Latin America. Because the city is at 3,000 feet above sea level, the climate is ideal – never too hot, never too cold.

Organization: The Sociedad Educacional Interamericana de Tegucigalpa, which elects a 9-member Board of Directors, governs the school. Membership in the Sociedad is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of the children enrolled in the school. The school is incorporated and has tax-exempt status in Honduras, but neither applies in the United States. The American School sets the highest standards of academic excellence. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program is the curriculum for grades 6-10, and the IB Diploma Program is the curriculum in grades 11 and 12.

The American School is considered one of the top choices among the economic and political elite in Tegucigalpa. Also it’s considered the most common choice among international and diplomatic missions accredited in Tegucigalpa.

Its alumni include:

*Carlos Roberto Flores (Former President of Honduras)
*Ricardo Maduro (Formed President of Honduras. Attended for a few years but didn’t graduate)

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, except for some courses taught in grades 7-12 for Honduran students. The vast majority of the school’s graduates enroll in a college or university, with the majority of them enrolling in a higher learning institution in the United States. The School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Honduran Ministry of Education, and the International Baccalaureate Organization for the Diploma Program. Most non-Honduran students receive a standard High School Diploma upon completion of a 4 - year program. Students are expected to become bilingual; therefore all receive instruction in Spanish and English at all levels. There is no religious instruction. High school students take 4 years each of science, math, social studies, English and Spanish as well as electives in other areas. A full program of interscholastic sports is offered, although the facilities and length of the seasons do not compare to the typical American programs.

Facilities

The school has 61 classrooms, including science and computer laboratories in the elementary, middle, and secondary buildings, rooms for music, and a separate preschool building. The elementary complex was extensively renovated and refurbished during the summer of 1997. The middle school was extensively renovated and refurnished during the summer of 2002. The preschool building was renovated during the summer of 2004. In addition, there is a brand new media center, counselor offices and a gymnasium. Also available are covered basketball courts and a soccer field. The American School of Tegucigalpa serves its pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school populations through two libraries, one at the elementary School and one at the middle/high School. A collection is being started for the pre-school. Students, their parents, faculty, and staff are welcomed users and may check materials out for pre-defined loan periods. Among our visitors are alumni, Honduran government officials and persons from the community. The materials are in different formats in both English and Spanish. Academic facilities are centered on top of a hill above Tegucigalpa. Separate buildings house the preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school students. The administration offices, main library, auditorium, and gynasium are in separate buildings. Athletic facilities include a lower school playground, indoor and outdoor courts for basketball and volleyball, and playing fields for soccer and softball.

Faculty

In the 2006-2007 school year, there are 83 full-time faculty members.

Enrollment

At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, enrollment was 1,136 (N-Kdg.: 220; grades 1-6: 473; and grades 7-12: 443).

External links

* [http://www.amschool.org/ American School of Tegucigalpa, Honduras]
* [http://www.stirlinglaw.com/teguc.htm American School Alumni Web Site]
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/hntoc.html Honduras Country Study]

Sources

:"Content adapted from the official school web site and from the unofficial alumni web site linked above, as well as the United States Department of State's web site.