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DESCRIPTION :
The American School of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution offering a bilingual, bicultural education for students from pre-school through high school. Founded in 1986, the school is dedicated to an American style education, high academic standards, and the caring environment a small school can offer.

Grades:                                                Nursery through 12th
Preschool Section:                                  Nursery through K
Primary Section :                                    Pre-1st through 6th Grade
Middle/High School Section:                     7th through 12th Grade

Enrollment:                                             School Total                  343
                                                            Preschool Section            51       
                                                            Primary Section              157
                                                            Middle/High School          135

Student Population: 66% Mexican             24% U.S.             10% Others
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ACCREDITATION
The American School of Puerto Vallarta is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-CASI, now known as AdvanceEd), Mexico’s Ministry of Education (SEP) and The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

UNIQUE DUAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Our elementary school students receive bilingual instruction that meets both Mexican and U.S. standards. They also attend a special pre-first year to develop their dual language proficiency. Our high school students are enrolled in a full dual program, receiving both a U.S. diploma and a Mexican preparatory (high school) certificate. Thus, the majority of our graduates speak both English and Spanish fluently. These students are taking as a minimum the 24 Carnegie units required for a U.S. high school diploma taught in English, as well as the Mexican program requirements in Spanish Literature, Mexican History, Geography, Law and Civics, taught in Spanish.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Advanced Placement courses (approved by the College Board) to be offered in 2009– 2010include English Literature, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Comparative Government and Politics, Economics (Macro and Micro), Studio Art, and Psychology. Students are accepted into an AP course based on MAP scores, GPA and teacher recommendation. All students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the AP exam.

CLASS SCHEDULING AND GRADING SYSTEM
Almost all junior high and high school classes are year-long, divided into two semesters. Most classes are offered once each day for approximately 45 minutes, resulting in 7 classes per day. A few classes not required for graduation last only one semester and/or may meet less frequently than five days per week. Credits awarded vary with time spent in direct instruction, with daily instruction required for full credit (0.5 Carnegie units per semester). Students are graded on a scale ranging from 0 to 10.0, with 6.0 required to pass the semester. Grade point averages are weighted in the calculation of averages to reflect hours of instruction (and thus credit earned) in each class.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Although the school offers a formal special education program only in primary grades, every effort is made to provide support and make accommodations so that students with special needs can be successful in the upper grades as well. All students receiving credit for a class have met the full requirements for that class. Any special or remedial classes at the junior high and high school level are identified on the transcript as Resource.

COLLEGE PLACEMENT AND TESTING INFORMATION
Over ninety percent of graduating students continue directly on to universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Graduates in the past five years have been accepted to universities including, but not limited to, the following:

Average PAA: (College Board SAT in Spanish): Verbal 682 Math 730
Average TOEFL: graduates consistently score above university entrance requirements.
Average SAT Verbal : 2004-2009 yearly average ranges from 440 to 629
Average SAT Math: 2004-2009 yearly average ranges from 390 to 700
Average SAT Writing: 2009 scores range from 410 to 670

THE FACULTY
The faculty of the American School of Puerto Vallarta is a highly skilled and devoted group of teachers who come from various parts of the U.S., Mexico, Canada and elsewhere. Approximately 50 percent of the teachers hold a graduate degree.

THE SCHOOL PLANT
The school plant consists of five buildings housing 25 classrooms, including two libraries, two science and two computer laboratories, a multi-purpose room, administrative offices, storerooms and workrooms, and a cafeteria. The grounds extend to more than seven acres and include: grass-covered sports fields and track; two multi-purpose, covered, surfaced sports courts, an open air theater, and a preschool play area.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Education at the American School of Puerto Vallarta extends beyond the classroom to ensure that all students are presented with the opportunity to grow in a rich environment of experiences. Programs are diverse, including: student council, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, musical theater, chorus, clubs, exchange programs, service learning and environmental projects. After school, there is a math lab and an English program. Also after school, an extensive sports program is offered in tennis, soccer, basketball, volleyball and swimming. School teams compete within the ASOMEX (American Schools of Mexico) and local leagues.

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Gerald Selitzer, M.A., General Director (gsel@aspv.edu.mx)
Kathleen Selitzer, M.A., Elementary Principal (kselitzer@aspv.edu.mx)
José Antonio Salgado, M.A., Junior High and High School Principal (asalgado@aspv.edu.mx)
Elise Langley, M.S., Director of Admissions and College Guidance (llangley@aspv.edu.mx)