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Mrs. Helen VanDerVeer Gueiros, Superintendent
American School of Recife
Rua Sa e Souza, 408
Boa Viagem
Recife, PE, 51030-060, Brazil
Tel: 55-81-341-4716
Fax: 55-81-341-0142
E-mail: hgueiros@ear.com.br

The American School of Recife, founded in 1957, is a private, coeducational day school which offers an instructional program from prekindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The School does not have any religious affiliation. The school year comprises 2 semesters extending from early August to mid-December and from early February to mid-June.

Organization: The School is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors elected for a 2-year term by the Association, composed of the parents of children enrolled in the School. The School is not incorporated in the United States. It is officially registered in the State of Pernambuco as a Civil Society with tax-exempt status under Brazilian law.

Curriculum: The curriculum is mainly that of U.S. general academic, preparatory, public schools. Instruction is in English. All students in grades 1-12 are required to study Portuguese. English-as-a-Second-Language and Portuguese-as-a-Second-Language are offered to students who are not proficient in either language. Physical education is required for all students. Electives include subjects such as Model United Nations, French, Spanish, computer courses, art, drama, music, and woodcraft. The School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and recognized by the State of Pernambuco Department of Education. Most of the graduates go on to colleges and universities in the United States, Europe or Brazil.

Faculty: There are 33 full-time and 6 part-time faculty members in the 1998-99 school year, including 13 U.S. citizens, 22 Brazilians, and 4 of other nationalities.

Enrollment: Enrollment at the beginning of the 1998-99 school year was 325 (PK-grade 5: 178; grades 6-8: 89; and grades 9-12: 58). Of the total, 31 were U.S. citizens, 235 were host-country nationals, and 59 were children of other nationalities. Of the U.S. enrollment, 1 was a dependent of a U.S. government direct-hire or contract employee, 8 were dependents of U.S. business and foundation employees, and 22 of other private U.S. citizens.

Facilities: The School occupies an 8.5 acre site in a beautiful residential area of Recife. The elementary and high schools are in separate buildings. General facilities include 32 classrooms, a science laboratory, a music room, a multipurpose room, a computer laboratory, a library, a canteen, a lunch area, a covered court, a faculty resource center, a maintenance building, administrative office areas, a guidance counseling office, an infirmary, sports fields, and playgrounds.

Finances: In the 1998-99 school year, annual tuition rates are as follows: PK: $5,497; grades K-5: $6,816; and grades 6-12: $7,869. A one-time contribution of $2,000 to the capital improvement fund is paid upon entry. There is an initial registration fee of $120 and a $61 reregistration fee at the end of each school year for each student continuing in the School. A book and material fee of $48 is paid monthly. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.)

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This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. The Office of Overseas Schools (A/OPR/OS) may have more detailed information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further with A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information regarding curriculum, special programs and the like.