Colegio Americano de Quito
Encyclopedia
The Colegio Americano de Quito (American School of Quito) is a secondary school
in Quito, Ecuador. It was founded by former president of Ecuador
Galo Plaza
in 1940.
The American School of Quito opened its doors on October 14, 1940 to 162 students, offering an education based on the teaching of the principles of democracy. The school’s founders, Plaza
and Boaz Long, the representative of the United States
government in Ecuador
at that time, initiated an educational relationship between those two countries by educating future leaders in the principles of equality, active participation, freedom of expression and mutual respect. The first directors were Robert E. and Mrs. Hazel J. Tucker, who had just arrived from the United States. The founders of our school lived in a time characterized by the fascist movements in Europe
, represented in Ecuador and other South American nations by the German and Italian schools operating there. The two founders wanted to counter this. They had a vision of educating the youth of Ecuador in democratic values knowing these students would become the future leaders. The founders' vision can be evidenced in the long list of outstanding graduates that have been leaders in politics, finances, industry, law, medicine, education, journalism among other areas. Throughout its history, the students and staff of the American School have been recognized both nationally and internationally for their accomplishments in many different arenas, educational, sports and cultural.
Today, the American School has 2,240 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Twelfth Grade. Among these students are the children and grandchildren of our founding families. Currently the school is co-educational, non-religious and is a non-profit foundation. It is accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education and Culture. Additionally, it is recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization and offers both I.B. Programmes: Middle Years and Diploma. American School graduates can obtain three diplomas: a high school diploma accredited in the United States, the Ecuadorian Bachillerato Unico and the I.B. Diploma.
The mission of the American School of Quito is: “To educate students in an environment of liberty so that they may become persons of integrity who are capable of critical reasoning, who have democratic values, who are bilingual, who are aware of their country’s problems, and who are able to face and change realities with a multicultural and universal perspective of the world.”
Alumni from the American School of Quito include: Francisco Carrion, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ecuador; Rodrigo Borja, former President of Ecuador; David Davidovic, Vice-President at Merck, Genentech and Roche, premier global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; Gian-Carlo Rota, eminent mathematician and MIT professor, Gina Davidovic, President of Bay3000 Corporate Education, a corporate education institution in Canada and Australia..
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Quito, Ecuador. It was founded by former president of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
Galo Plaza
Galo Plaza
Galo Plaza Lasso was an Ecuadorian politician and statesman who served as the Ecuadorian Ambassador to the U.S, President of Ecuador from 1948 to 1952, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1968 to 1975...
in 1940.
The American School of Quito opened its doors on October 14, 1940 to 162 students, offering an education based on the teaching of the principles of democracy. The school’s founders, Plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
and Boaz Long, the representative of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
at that time, initiated an educational relationship between those two countries by educating future leaders in the principles of equality, active participation, freedom of expression and mutual respect. The first directors were Robert E. and Mrs. Hazel J. Tucker, who had just arrived from the United States. The founders of our school lived in a time characterized by the fascist movements in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, represented in Ecuador and other South American nations by the German and Italian schools operating there. The two founders wanted to counter this. They had a vision of educating the youth of Ecuador in democratic values knowing these students would become the future leaders. The founders' vision can be evidenced in the long list of outstanding graduates that have been leaders in politics, finances, industry, law, medicine, education, journalism among other areas. Throughout its history, the students and staff of the American School have been recognized both nationally and internationally for their accomplishments in many different arenas, educational, sports and cultural.
Today, the American School has 2,240 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Twelfth Grade. Among these students are the children and grandchildren of our founding families. Currently the school is co-educational, non-religious and is a non-profit foundation. It is accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education and Culture. Additionally, it is recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization and offers both I.B. Programmes: Middle Years and Diploma. American School graduates can obtain three diplomas: a high school diploma accredited in the United States, the Ecuadorian Bachillerato Unico and the I.B. Diploma.
The mission of the American School of Quito is: “To educate students in an environment of liberty so that they may become persons of integrity who are capable of critical reasoning, who have democratic values, who are bilingual, who are aware of their country’s problems, and who are able to face and change realities with a multicultural and universal perspective of the world.”
Alumni from the American School of Quito include: Francisco Carrion, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ecuador; Rodrigo Borja, former President of Ecuador; David Davidovic, Vice-President at Merck, Genentech and Roche, premier global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; Gian-Carlo Rota, eminent mathematician and MIT professor, Gina Davidovic, President of Bay3000 Corporate Education, a corporate education institution in Canada and Australia..
Student Council
Every year students from high school vote for the Student Council. The student Council is a group of representatives for high school that engage on different number of activities and organize events in the school. Candidates from the Student Council come from 10th (Secretary), 11th (Vice-President) and 12th grade (President and Treasurer). Candidates must first comply with the requirements and then must present themselves to the entire high school with their proposals through speeches, the next day a debate follows with questions from the public, the next day afterwards are the elections and finally the next day is the possession of the Student Council.Noted alumni
- Gian-Carlo RotaGian-Carlo RotaGian-Carlo Rota was an Italian-born American mathematician and philosopher.-Life:Rota was born in Vigevano, Italy...
— mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and philosopher - Rodrigo Borja — politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former president of EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...