Aquinas American School - High School Campus vs Colegio Brains
Aquinas American School - High School Campus and Colegio Brains are both in Madrid, about 23 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and Aquinas American School - High School Campus also offers American and Bespoke. Published annual fees are €8,250 - 15,200 at Aquinas American School - High School Campus and €6,579 - 12,966 at Colegio Brains, which puts Aquinas American School - High School Campus roughly 20% higher. Aquinas American School - High School Campus takes pupils from 11 to 18, and Colegio Brains from 0 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 800 and 1,000 pupils. Typical class sizes are 15 at Aquinas American School - High School Campus and 9 at Colegio Brains.
Madrid, Spain. The PreK–8 campus is at C/ Transversal Cuatro, nº 4, Urb. Monte Alina, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón. The High School campus is at C/ Poniente, 20, Urb. Monte Alina, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón. The Residencia de AAS is at Paseo de los Ciruelos, 14, Montepríncipe, 28668 Alcorcón, Madrid.
Location
Private international school in La Moraleja, Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain. The campus is at C/ Salvia, 48, 28109 Madrid. It forms part of Brains International School, offering IB programmes on the La Moraleja campus.
Stages
Stages
Preschool; Lower School (1st–5th); Middle School (6th–8th); High School (9th–12th).
Stages
Early Education (PYP); Primary Education (PEP/PYP); Middle Years Programme (PAI/MYP); Baccalaureate (National / IB DP).
School type
School type
Catholic school offering an American curriculum; boarding program available.
School type
Private international school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The Student Support Services (SSS) department offers a wide range of services to assist teachers, students, and families with learning and/or emotional needs. SSS provides prevention, intervention, transition, and follow-up actions on both PreK–8 and High School campuses with a team of qualified professionals who collaborate with teachers, external agencies, and families.
Additional learning support
Speech therapy (Logopedia) provided by the Speech Therapy Department. CEDE Brains offers early stimulation and educational development support and family guidance.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Spain
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Catholic
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
School transport routes are offered; information on routes and arrangements is published by Brains La Moraleja.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and enrollment fees - Family Admission (one-time, new families): EUR 2,000. - Annual Registration (per student, mandatory, non‑refundable): EUR 500. - Deposit (per student; refundable when the student leaves once all financial obligations are met): EUR 500. - Returning students: Annual Registration EUR 500; Deposit only required for High School returning students: EUR 500.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and common payment-breakdown examples for the current academic year) - Kindergarten (ages 3–5): Annual tuition EUR 8,200. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 820 per month. Three-installment example (40% / 30% / 30%): EUR 3,280 / EUR 2,460 / EUR 2,460. - Lower School (Grades 1–5): Annual tuition EUR 10,100. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,010 per month. Three-installment example: EUR 4,040 / EUR 3,030 / EUR 3,030. - Middle School (Grades 6–8): Annual tuition EUR 11,300. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,130 per month. Three-installment example: EUR 4,520 / EUR 3,390 / EUR 3,390. - High School (Grades 9 & 10): Annual tuition EUR 13,100. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,310 per month. Three-installment example: EUR 5,240 / EUR 3,930 / EUR 3,930. - American High School Diploma (Grades 11 & 12, not IBDP): Annual tuition EUR 13,500. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,350 per month; if Grade 12 is paid over 8 months the monthly amount is EUR 1,687.50. Three-installment example: EUR 5,400 / EUR 4,050 / EUR 4,050. - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Grades 11 & 12): Annual tuition EUR 15,000. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,500 per month; if Grade 12 paid over 8 months the monthly amount is EUR 1,875. Three-installment example: EUR 6,000 / EUR 4,500 / EUR 4,500.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment methods available: full upfront payment (eligible for a tuition discount), direct debit monthly plan, or a multi‑payment schedule (installments). The school requires a chosen payment method at enrollment. - Full upfront payment: a tuition discount is applied to full annual tuition when received by the school's stated deadline; this discount does not apply to lunch or transportation fees. - Monthly/direct debit: tuition may be divided into monthly payments (commonly arranged as ten monthly payments for K1–G11 and eight monthly payments for G12). Lunch and transport are typically billed in separate installments. - Three-installment option (where offered): typical breakdown used by the school is 40% / 30% / 30% of the annual tuition due across three dates during the year; the same percentage split applied to the annual tuition yields the example installment amounts shown above. - Late or returned payment penalties: administrative penalty for bounced payments and for late receipts is charged (example penalty amounts appear in the school's payment terms). The school may interrupt or cancel enrollment for persistent non‑payment.
Boarding fees (where applicable) - Full boarding (residential high‑school programme): annual boarding programme fee EUR 44,000. This fee is quoted as an annual all‑inclusive programme and explicitly includes school tuition, accommodation, three meals per day and snacks, international health insurance, uniforms (two sets), textbooks and materials, 24‑hour supervision, college counselling (for Grades 11–12), transport related to residence, and weekend activities/field trips. Boarding students are accommodated in double rooms with en suite bathrooms.
Other costs and optional services - Lunch (day students): installment schedule shown in the school fees document; example installments for day students (K1–G11) total EUR 1,800 annually (example split shown as EUR 720 / EUR 540 / EUR 540 across the three billing installments) and for G12 an example split totals EUR 1,440 (EUR 720 / EUR 720) depending on the billing period selected. - Bus/transport service (monthly and per‑day options): sample monthly rates (single child) and family rates include Round Trip EUR 180 (1 child), EUR 300 (2 children), EUR 360 (3+); One Way EUR 140 / EUR 220 / EUR 280 for 1 / 2 / 3+ children; a supervised 3 pm High School bus option is shown at EUR 70 monthly (and lower per‑day rates for single‑day use). - Textbooks/online licenses: for some grades a single annual textbooks/online-license fee is charged separately (the school lists specific textbook/online license arrangements; textbooks and uniforms are generally not included in tuition for certain grades). - ESL / SSL support: additional monthly charge where required, example rate EUR 300 per month. - IB certificates / exam fees: example charge for IB certificates for American Diploma students is EUR 600 per subject (one‑time payment in Grade 12); fees for official recognitions, UNED registration, AP exams and other third‑party exam fees are charged at cost. - Uniforms: not included in tuition; uniforms are available for purchase through the school's uniform supplier. - After‑school activities and residential trips: charged separately on a semester or per‑activity basis; participation may be withheld for students with outstanding payments.
Refund and withdrawal rules - Deposit refund: the student deposit is refundable when the student leaves the school provided all financial obligations have been settled. - Mid‑year withdrawal: if a student leaves during a month, the school charges for the full calendar month in which the student departs. A minimum notice requirement of one calendar month is required to confirm an unenrollment date. Continued non‑payment may lead to interruption or cancellation of a student's enrollment.
Fee payment options and practical payment rules - Accepted payment methods: direct debit (required for installment plans), and bank transfer (used for full upfront payments). Card payments incur a surcharge where specified; cash payments are not accepted. Parents are responsible for any bank charges on transfers. A European/SEPA bank account is normally required for direct debit arrangements. - Credit card and bank charges: example surcharges and bank charge policies appear in the school's payment terms; parents are liable for bank charges and international transfers must be received net of fees.
(End of fees overview.)
Fee details
Overview (campus-specific fees for the current academic year)
Brains International School — La Moraleja - Reservation (place-holding) fee: EUR 450. This amount is deducted from the September invoice. - Annual enrolment (matrícula): Infant & Primary EUR 491; Secondary & Baccalaureate EUR 499. Charged on the September invoice. - Annual tuition (shown as annual amounts by stage): - Pre‑school (0, 1, 2 years): EUR 6,579.00. Alternative schedules listed: up to 3 days/week EUR 4,766.00; half‑day (9h–12h/week) EUR 6,415.00. 3–5 years: EUR 6,883.00. - Primary 1st–2nd: EUR 8,640.00. - Primary 3rd–6th: EUR 9,229.00. - Secondary (ESO): EUR 10,529.00. - Baccalaureate (1st and 2nd): EUR 10,541.00 each. - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Year 1 and Year 2: EUR 12,966.00 each. These tuition figures are published as annual charges. - Compulsory and optional services (examples and prices): - Compulsory dining (Primary): annual EUR 2,230.00; Compulsory dining (Secondary): annual EUR 2,240.00. - Optional dining (Infant): monthly EUR 218.00; Baccalaureate monthly EUR 224.00; single‑day lunch EUR 15.00. - Extra hours / wraparound care: monthly options from EUR 49.00 (single extra hour) up to EUR 133.00 (full extra hour with breakfast and snack). - Instrumental music (curricular for ESO 1st–4th): monthly EUR 86.00. - The published tuition fees include most textbooks and digital books (with specific exceptions), corporate teaching materials, curricular excursions, mid‑morning snack for youngest children, and school insurance; swimming is included except in listed final years. - Sibling discounts: third sibling 25%; fourth sibling 50%; fifth sibling 100% (applies to educational services). - Cancellation / refund rule: amounts paid to the Centre (reservation and other sums) are treated as non‑refundable if the student's enrolment is cancelled. The reservation is specifically deducted from the September invoice and will be retained in case of withdrawal.
Brains International School — Conde Orgaz (Madrid) - Reservation (place-holding) fee: EUR 450 (deducted from the September invoice). Annual enrolment fee for Infant: EUR 450 (charged in September). - Annual tuition (2025/2026) by stage: - Young Learners / Pre‑Nursery half‑day (9h–12h/week): EUR 6,332.00. - Young Learners / Pre‑Nursery full: EUR 6,736.00. - Nursery / Reception / Preparatory: EUR 7,036.00. - (Further services such as dining, extra hours and breakfast/snack are shown separately—see the services section below.) - Services and other charges: optional monthly lunch EUR 210.00; lunch per day EUR 15.00; breakfast/snack monthly EUR 42.00; extra hours monthly from EUR 50.00 up to EUR 135.00 (full extra hour with breakfast and snack). Published tuition includes curricular excursions and school insurance. - Sibling discounts: third sibling 25%; fourth sibling 50%; fifth sibling 100%. Cancellation / refund rule: amounts paid are considered non‑refundable on withdrawal.
Brains International School — Las Palmas / Telde (Canary Islands) - Reservation (place-holding) fee: EUR 450 (deducted from the September invoice). Annual enrolment: Infants EUR 435; Primary EUR 461; Secondary & Baccalaureate EUR 477. Charged in September. - Annual tuition (2025/2026) by stage (examples): - Infants (0, 1, 2 years) full: EUR 4,941.00; half‑day (9h–12h/week) EUR 4,011.00; reduced 3‑day option EUR 3,541.00. - Upper infants (3–4 years): EUR 5,290.00; 5 years: EUR 5,364.00. - Primary 1st–4th: EUR 6,073.00; Primary 5th–6th: EUR 6,661.00. - Secondary: EUR 7,241.00. - Baccalaureate 1st and 2nd: EUR 6,917.00 each. These amounts are shown as annual fees. - Services and other charges: compulsory Primary lunch annual EUR 1,800.00; optional infant monthly lunch EUR 169.00; secondary/baccalaureate monthly lunch EUR 180.00; daily lunch EUR 14.00; breakfast/snack monthly EUR 71.00; early/late care monthly options from EUR 24.00 to EUR 45.00. Tuition inclusions and textbook exceptions are specified in the published fee schedule. Sibling discounts apply as noted above.
Application fees and enrolment summary (all campuses where published) - Place reservation fee (common across published campus schedules): EUR 450. It is deducted from the September invoice. On withdrawal, sums paid are treated as non‑refundable. - Annual enrolment (matrícula) varies by campus and stage (examples: La Moraleja Infant/Primary EUR 491; Las Palmas Infant EUR 435; Conde Orgaz Infant EUR 450). Enrolment amounts are billed on the September invoice.
Billing schedule and payment terms (as published) - The published fee documents present tuition as annual amounts and show that the place reservation is deducted from the September invoice; annual enrolment fees are charged in the September invoice. Specific installment plans (terms or number of instalments) and the school's accepted payment methods are not itemised in the published fee schedules. Cancellation of enrolment renders amounts paid non‑refundable in the published schedules.
Boarding / residential provision - No boarding or residential fees are listed in the published fee schedules for the campuses reviewed. All published charges relate to day schooling, meals, extracurricular or wraparound services.
Other fees and typical additional costs - Dining / lunch (examples by campus): daily lunch ranges EUR 14.00–15.00; monthly infant lunches and baccalaureate lunch options are shown per campus (examples given above). - Wraparound care (early morning / extra hour / extended day): monthly fees appear in published schedules (examples EUR 24.00 up to EUR 135.00 depending on campus and option). - Music / curricular extras: instrumental music listed (example La Moraleja EUR 86.00/month for ESO curricular). - Uniform and school clothing: a Brains online store is available and example items are priced (e.g., a primary sweatshirt shown at EUR 28.00 in the school store). Uniform costs are charged separately via the school store. - Textbooks and materials: most tuition fees include textbooks and digital books except for specified year groups (examples noted in each campus schedule where exceptions apply). Some Baccalaureate materials may be requested from families.
Refunds and cancellations - Published fee schedules state that the reservation and amounts paid to the Centre are considered non‑refundable in the event of cancellation of the student's matriculation. This condition is shown in the campuses' published fee documents.
Fee payment options - The public fee schedules specify billing events (for example, deduction of the reservation from the September invoice and enrolment charged in September) but do not list the accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit) in the published price documents. For parents arranging payment, the fee documents indicate amounts and billing timing rather than specific payment channels.
Useful facts for entering these figures into a database - Tuition and service charges are presented as annual amounts by stage/campus in the published school price schedules; dining and wraparound services are frequently shown as monthly or per‑day charges. Reservation and enrolment are separate line items and are billed against the September invoice. Published schedules include sibling discounts and list which learning materials are included or excluded from tuition.
(End of fees overview.)
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
American School in Madrid is a Catholic school offering an American curriculum that prepares students to enter college in Spain or any other country. Preschool runs K1–K2, with K3 described as pivotal in adjusting to school routines; Lower School covers 1st–5th grade; Middle School covers 6th–8th grade; High School covers 9th–12th grade. The High School provides two diploma options: International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) and the American High School Diploma (AHSD), with SAT and UNED coursework supporting college preparation and 100 hours of volunteering over four years. The curriculum emphasizes languages, liberal arts and sciences, and the development of analytical, creative and communication skills, with a College Counselor helping with transcripts and admissions deadlines. Aquinas American School is part of Mathema Education, which also manages The British School of Navarra and Atlas American School of Málaga.
Curriculum details
Brains Arturo Soria is an international school in Madrid where all subjects are taught in English, with the exception of Spanish language and mathematics. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) forms the primary curriculum, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is pursued for the secondary level, and the Diploma Programme (DP) is offered for Bachillerato. The school is a candidate IB World School for the MYP and seeks authorization to offer the IB Diploma Programme. Apple Distinguished School is a designation held by the institution. French and German are taught as additional languages, with oral instruction first and written work added from 4th grade onward.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
Eight years in a row above the global IB average; the Class of 2025 achieved 31.52 IB points. The High School program offers the IB Diploma and the American High School Diploma (AHSD), with SATs and UNED as college-preparation options and 100 hours of volunteering during grades 9–12. AAS is an SAT testing center and provides college counseling to support university admissions.
Exam results
IB Diploma Programme results 2024/25: Brains Arturo Soria achieved a Diploma average of 33.27 out of 45, with a top score of 44; 18.8% of students scored 40–45 and 27.7% scored 38–45. Brains La Moraleja achieved a Diploma average of 32 out of 45. These results are presented as above the world average.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
University Access Program in Madrid: prepare students to access university in Spain and abroad. Students may choose between two diplomas: International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), pursued in the last two years of High School and recognized in 50 countries, and the American High School Diploma (AHSD) with Spanish Language and Culture; the AHSD diploma can be validated in Spain and does not require any further examination. AAS is an SAT testing center and offers college counseling to guide university admissions, helping keep options open to study in Spain, the United Kingdom or the United States. Aquinas American School belongs to Mathema Education, which also operates The British School of Navarra and Atlas American School of Málaga.
Higher education progression
The school has an International Universities Counselor who provides personalized plans for university admission, organizes parent information meetings, and coordinates admissions for study abroad. Applications have been submitted to universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, China, Italy, and Denmark.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. School tour: Request a visit to Aquinas American School by filling out the online form. After submission, a member of the admissions team will arrange the tour or meeting. The tour supports understanding of the program and community. Submitting the online form begins the admissions process.
2. Interview / Placement test: After reviewing the student's academic history, the school schedules an interview (in person or online) and a placement test to assess academic capabilities. The interview helps determine fit with the school's philosophy and program. The placement test assesses the student's academic level. The interview/test may be conducted in person or online.
3. Formal admissions request: Complete the Online Application. The required documents include the Application Form, Academic Records (last two years and the current year), and Recommendation Letters; English Proficiency must be demonstrated for grades 7-12 via the Duolingo English Test with grade-specific minimums. The test can be taken at home. The school reserves the right to admit, conditionally admit, place on a waiting list, or deny admission.
4. Confirmation of enrollment: Candidates will be notified of the final decision via a formal admissions letter. Once admitted, families will receive a service provision agreement to be completed by the date indicated, along with the required bank deposit to finalize enrollment. Notification timelines: For K1-K3, the notification period is 15 days; a first list of admissions for G1 to G12 is published on March 1; a second list is published on April 1. Acceptance must be confirmed in writing, and tuition payment instructions are provided.
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
The school may place applicants on a waiting list.
