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Overview

The American School is accredited by Cognia Organization. All subjects are aligned with international standards. The standards specify the knowledge and skills that high school graduates must possess to be successful in college, the workforce, and life after completing grades K–12. These standards provide a guide for teachers to ensure students are moving forward in the direction to meet benchmarks set for each subject.

American Program

A holistic approach characterizes the philosophy of PIS. Our approach encompasses the whole development of students, including not only their academic and intellectual growth, but also placing significant emphasis on fostering creativity, innovation, and critical thinking skills.
Teachers are trained to create a supportive and stimulating learning environment, where students feel safe to take risks and freely express themselves. The stress-free environment goes hand in hand with encouraging and recognizing the students’ unique strengths by:

• focusing lessons on realistic and relevant issues in the students’ lives by encouraging self-confidence
• focusing on the student’s emotional and mental well-being
• introducing time for reflection
• embracing arts, drama, and music

The American School is accredited by Cognia organization. Cognia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits schools throughout the United States and internationally. Cognia creates the world’s largest education community, serving over 36,000 institutions globally with 25 million students and 1 million educators in about 80 countries. Cognia is an undeniable force for enhancing schools, engaging students, and driving better outcomes. Prime International Schools – American School has been listed as an accredited school on Cognia website since 2018. https://home.cognia.org/#/registry

All subjects are aligned with international standards. The standards specify the knowledge and skills that high school graduates must possess to be successful in college, the workforce, and life after completing grades K–12. These standards provide a guide for teachers to ensure students are moving in the direction to meet benchmarks set for each subject. The core subjects at each level are English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition, students are exposed to visual and performing arts, foreign languages (French, German Spanish), physical education, and technology.

The school implements a well-defined assessment policy that includes continuous, final, internal, and external assessments. Results are communicated periodically, and parents and students have continuous access to grades on the school LMS.

Student Wellbeing

The wellbeing of our students is our number one priority. Any concerns or signs of abuse or neglect is immediately reported to one of our Child Protection Officers. Students in need of psychological and moral support have access to it via the school psychologist and class advocate.

Our mission is to foster daily order and mutual respect among all stakeholders, including parents, students, employees, and the public. The PIS code of conduct establishes guidelines that ensure students adhere to the school behavior expectations, while also promoting and enabling their involvement in school activities. The Dean of Discipline is responsible for ensuring consistent and equitable implementation.

American School Structure and Curriculum

Elementary School (G1 – G5)

In elementary school, we consider this stage as a crucial foundation for fostering lifelong learners. Through our transdisciplinary learning approach, students seamlessly integrate knowledge across various subjects, cultivating a comprehensive conceptual understanding united by a captivating overarching theme. This experience culminates in the creation of products or actions aimed at making a positive difference beyond the school walls. We provide an exploration of a range of core and performance-based subjects through concept-based instruction, inquiry-based learning, and an emphasis on problem-solving experiences that cultivate thinking, social, research, self-management, and communication skills. Our commitment to technological integration is evident through school-owned tablets, enhancing the learning experience for our elementary students and further promoting the inquiry process. PIS students are privileged with the opportunity to choose one of three foreign languages – French, German & Spanish – to study starting in grade 1.

Our approach of continuous assessment ensures that each student receives personalized attention and support, contributing to a vibrant and enriching educational experience. Join us on this exciting journey of discovery, growth, and excellence in our elementary school. In grades 1-4, students are assessed through formative and summative assessments that are skill-based. In grade 4, students are introduced to a more formal examination setting to ease the transition to the percent-based grading system starting in grade 5. Upon completing the elementary stage, students emerge well-prepared for the transition to middle school, equipped with not only essential learning skills but also a solid foundation of academic knowledge.

At the heart of our curriculum is a commitment to social-emotional development, complemented by a diverse range of motivational techniques. Beyond being just a program, social-emotional learning is an integral element shaping the overall development of our students. Children acquire the skills necessary to regulate their emotions, cultivate healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions. Moreover, in our specialized Character Education Program, students cover relevant and vital topics that hold significant importance in their daily lives, such as problem-solving skills, self-expression, decision-making, and social awareness. The program aligns with our vision to empower students and activate their innate skills to create a peaceful and accepting community. In elementary school, our motto is ‘happy children, happy teachers, happy school community!’”

Middle School (G6 – G8)

Middle School welcomes all families who are seeking a school that provides an educational environment of advanced academic achievement, character development, and leadership training–the cornerstones for your child’s future happiness, success, and well-being. We believe that children are the most successful when a partnership exists between home and school. We empower our students to be self-learners, responsible for their actions, and fight for their rights.
In middle school, we develop digital learners, who are ready for any future profession. We are also a proactive, diverse community that has zero tolerance for bullying. Along with strong academics, we look at our students holistically, developing their personal skills and celebrating their talents through projects, competitions, and co-curricular activities.
We identify a student’s areas of weakness using our school assessment results and standardized assessments, and we address those areas through a variety of support plans. Constantly, our goal is to help the family determine what is most conducive to the student’s academic success.

High School (G9 – G12)

Students become more responsible and independent as they prepare for their college life, capable of understanding abstract concepts. The teacher is simply a facilitator or guide; the students analyze, debate, and collaborate with each other.

From ninth to twelfth grade, our students complete certain credit hours to earn a high school diploma. The school provides a wide selection of required courses and electives. More so, students who are academically prepared for more rigorous coursework or are interested in studying abroad are granted the chance to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and take the corresponding examinations, which can provide them with a competitive edge when seeking admission to colleges and universities.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by the College Board (USA) that offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. AP gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while they are still in high school. American and worldwide colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations. Recently the program became very popular in Egypt. Universities in New Capital require 2-4 AP courses for direct placement without taking EST, ACT, or SAT. American University in Cairo approves credit acceptance. Also, the program is very popular among students who are planning to study abroad.
In our school, we offer instruction for several courses. For example, AP English Language and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Computer Science and AP Art and Design.

Currently, PIS is an official AP testing center approved by the College Board. We offer exam administration to our students and to all students in Egypt.

External Examination

The EST, ACT, and SAT are among the standardized exams that students take beginning in grade 11. By this, the school offers test preparation for these examinations during and after regular school hours starting from grade 10.

High school Counseling

A comprehensive college counseling program provides guidance and support to students during the entire university application process, which commences in tenth grade and extends to twelfth grade.