Pan American – the International School of Porto Alegre – is an international, American, not-for-profit, preschool age 3 -12th grade coeducational, secular, bilingual, multicultural school founded in 1966. Pan American is fully accredited by Cognia in the United States along with the MEC (ministry of education) in Brazil. In 2022, the PAS students had a 90% pass rate while the worldwide pass rate was 67%. Over seventy percent of our seniors attend university out of Brazil, typically in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Organization: The Pan American School is governed by a board of directors composed of seven members, four who are elected by the general assembly for a three-year term. Three additional members are invited to serve one-year terms by the elected members of the board. The board of directors hires, evaluates, and supports the Superintendent, who is their only employee. The academic leadership team consists of the primary school principal, primary school assistant principal, secondary school principal, secondary school assistant principal, director of Brazilian program, director of learning & teaching, and the superintendent. This team is in charge of the academic programs of the school and ensures that teachers have the support they need to educate the whole child. The Advancement Coordinator assists with admission of new students along with the four section counselors who also help ensure social emotional development of students. The director of business and finance ensures smooth operation of the school.
Curriculum: Throughout our programs, The Pan American School of Porto Alegre embraces a student-centered, inquiry-based approach to learning. We focus on the development of the whole child, ensuring that social and emotional learning as well as academic excellence occurs from P3-G12. Starting in preschool, Pan American follows the PYP Bilingual Education Guide approaching language in education from an additive perspective developing actions to support this goal. With that, we ensure that our students become fully bilingual in both Portuguese and English languages. Students participate in the arts, physical wellness, core academic subjects, and languages that allow students to freely and holistically express themselves, recognizing and enhancing their talents. An IBO World School, Pan American is authorized to implement the PYP in preschool and elementary school (P3 – G5) and the MYP in middle and high school (G6-G10). As well, the school utilizes the AERO curriculum. The courses at the high school level provide depth and breadth across all disciplines and include a wide range of Advanced Placement options including the lauded AP Capstone (11th grade AP Seminar and 12th grade AP Research). The Pan American School offers a wide range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities including a Classroom Without Walls program along with athletic competitions with other international schools in Brazil. Our After School Program continues to expand and offers students P3-G12 with opportunities to explore different activities and sports through a well-balanced program. Students can earn three diplomas: the USA High School Diploma, the Brazilian Diploma, and the AP Capstone Diploma. The school’s aim is to instill in students the qualities embodied in the IB Learner Profile to help them to become effective communicators, open-minded and principled inquirers, knowledgeable thinkers, caring citizens, risk-takers, and balanced, reflective, and internationally minded citizens of the world.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, Pan American School has 162 total staff including 105 teachers, 17 of whom are U.S. citizens, 84 host-country nationals, and 4 third-country nationals from Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, USA, and Venezuela. All teaching faculty maintain a teaching certificate/credential e.g., Diploma of Teaching/registered Teacher’s certificate from their countries of origin.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year enrollment was 432 students. Of the total, 29 are U.S. citizens, 357 are host-country nationals and 46 are third country nationals.
Facilities: The Pan American School main campus (grades G1 – G12) is housed in the high-rise, residential neighborhood of Petropolis/Bela Vista. The main campus occupies a 8,634m² constructed area with 35 classrooms, nine student support rooms, five outside play areas which include three rooftop spaces along with two music rooms, two science labs, two art rooms, and a fully equipped gymnasium and cafeteria for students and staff. The Pan American School has a library with more than 40,000 titles utilizing Follet Destiny software. High speed wireless Internet is available throughout the school. In August 2015, a preschool campus located a few minutes from our main campus in the Chácara das Pedras neighborhood was opened. This facility has 1,280 m² of constructed area with three classrooms, an art room, a music room, a gymnasium, and a small multipurpose room along with a cafeteria and a playground. In 2022 we are adding three temporary classrooms to expand enrollment in the preschool.
Finances: In the 2022-2023 school year, 90% of the school’s income derives from tuition. Annual fees are as follows: Tuition – Preschool through Grade 8: US$36,444; Tuition Grade 9 through 12: US$38,868; and Association Contribution (Entrance Fee): US$19,981. (All fees quoted in US dollars but must be paid in Brazilian currency. The current Brazilian Central Bank PTAX exchange rate applied at the invoicing date.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- Brazil, Porto Alegre) 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.