Graded – The American School of São Paulo was founded in 1920 and is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational school serving an international community of learners. As the oldest and largest American school in Brazil, Graded educates +/-1,300 students from pre-primary through grade 12. Graded’s diverse student body represents 42 nationalities. The school’s rigorous curriculum effectively prepares students to enter the world’s most competitive colleges and universities.
Organization: The school is divided into four divisions: pre-primary (ages 3-5), elementary (grades 1-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12). Graded is governed by a self-perpetuating board of governors.
Curriculum: Graded follows an American curriculum. Instruction is in English. Lower School consists of a Montessori pre-primary program and an elementary school. All Graded high school graduates receive an American High School diploma. As an IB World School, Graded offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Graded high school students may pursue a full IB (IBDP) diploma or take IB certificate courses. In addition, students have the opportunity to earn a Brazilian High School diploma. Graded is accredited by Cognia and the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The school is also a member of the American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the American Montessori Society. Graded is a registered examination center for the IB, all College Board exams (SAT, SSAT, PSAT), and ACT. In addition, the school’s Optimal Learning Service (OLS) caters to students with special needs, while the English Language Learners (ELL) Program serves non-native English speakers.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, Graded has 175 total staff including 145 teachers, 56 of whom are U.S. citizens, 56 host-country nationals, and 33 third-country nationals. The breakdown of the qualifications of Teacher degrees for All faculty, except teaching assistants: doctorate: 7.6%, master’s: 59.3%, and bachelor’s: 33.1%.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 1,329 (lower school: 572 students; middle school: 315 students; and high school: 439 students). The student population includes 256 U.S. citizens, 688 host-country nationals, and 385 third-country nationals.
Facilities: Located in Morumbi, a high-density residential area of São Paulo, Graded’s campus includes more than 80 air-conditioned classrooms, recently renovated science laboratories, auditorium, student center, several gyms, swimming pool, tennis courts, running track, beach volleyball court, soccer fields, multiple covered play areas, innovation hub, innovation studio, science learning lab and impressive arts center. There is also a cafeteria in which dedicated kitchen staff members prepare fresh lunches daily. The Department of Information and Communication Technology’s (ICT) device-agnostic network operates seamlessly with devices of every kind, ensuring all students, faculty, and staff can fully access and use Graded’s digital resources. All classrooms are furnished with audio and visual presentation systems, as well as wireless network access. Other resources available include graphical and digital design software, 3D printers, video, and audio recording systems, and publishing technologies. The Graded campus also includes an infirmary, in which four full-time nurses are employed, and a parking garage for +500 cars.
Finances: In 2022-2023, approximately 97% of the school’s operational income is derived from tuition. Annual tuition rates are: Tuition will account for approximately 97% of the school’s operational income in 2022-2023. Monthly tuition is as follows: BRL 9,959.00 for pre-primary to grade 5; BRL 12,228.00 for grades 6-12 (paid for between July 2022 and June 2023). There is also a USD 300 registration fee and an entrance fee of USD 17,272 (equivalent to BRL 95,000) for the first child and USD 12,955 (equivalent to BRL 71,250) for each sibling. Annual tuition and fees are fixed and paid in local currency. (All fees are quoted in US dollars at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 5.50 BRL.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- Brazil, Sao Paulo) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and provided by the school.