Ms. Areta Williams, Director
American School of Yaounde (Cameroon)
c/o American Embassy Yaounde (ASOY)
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20521-2520
Tel:  237-04-21; 22-94-65
Fax: 237-23-60-11
E-mail: asoy@camnet.cm

The American School of Yaounde is an independent, coeducational day school founded in 1964 which offers an educational program from prekindergarten through grade 12 for English-speaking students of all nationalities. Grade 12 is being added during the 1999-2000 school year. Both grades 11 and 12 will be supplemented by correspondence study during their first two years. The school year comprises 4 terms extending from late August to late October, early November to late January, early February to mid-April, and mid-April to mid-June with 180 days of instruction.

Organization: The School is governed by an 8-member School Board elected for 2-year terms by the School Association. Half of the Board members are elected at each October meeting. The U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon appoints a representative to the Board. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School.

Curriculum: The curriculum is that of traditional U.S. public schools with the use of modern materials including micro-computers and up-to-date teaching techniques in all subject areas. All instruction is in English, with French being taught at all levels. English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) support is offered through grade 10 to students whose English is not fluent. The School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the European Council of International Schools. There is presently no learning specialist on staff and students with moderate to severe learning problems may not be admitted if it is determined the program is not appropriate for them.

Faculty: There are 23 full-time and 1 part-time faculty members in the 1999-2000 school year, including 12 U.S. citizens, 4 host-country nationals, and 8 third-country nationals. All staff members are fully certified and registered with their respective country's educational department, and most of the teachers are U.S. certified and trained.

Enrollment: Enrollment at the beginning of the 1999-2000 school year was 148 students. Of the total, 34% were U.S. citizens, 17% Cameroonian, and 49% were children of 20 other nationalities. Of the U.S. enrollment, 6 were dependents of U.S. government direct-hire or contract employees and 44 were dependents of other private U.S. citizens.

Facilities: The School has 13 classrooms, 2 computer rooms, a Second Language Center with 2 rooms, a library for student use with separate primary and secondary sections, a swimming pool, a volleyball/basketball court, 4 tennis courts, a restaurant, and a large covered assembly area. The playground is divided into an area for the smaller children with very modern BigToys playground equipment and an abbreviated soccer field. The School is located on U.S. Embassy property.

Finances: In the 1999-2000 school year, about 95 percent of the School's income derives from tuition. The annual tuition rates are as follows: PK: $2,,500; Kdg.: $6,780; grades 1-5: $8,580; grades 6-8: $9,090; and grades 9-12: $9,260. There is an ESL supplement fee of $1,000 per year per child. Transportation (optional) by school bus is $1,250 per year per child. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.)

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.