Beacon School

Beacon School is located in São Paulo, Brazil. The school operates across three campuses in the city: Beacon Campus, Beacon Villa, and Beacon Berlioz. It provides school transport via Carreiro Transportes, Cris Transporte Escolar, and Isabel Transporte Escolar.

Beacon serves Early Childhood Education, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, and is recognized as an IB Continuum School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

Inclusive practices and learning support are provided; a Coordinator of Inclusive Practices and Learning Support leads these efforts.

Brazil

School transport is provided by Carreiro Transportes (Carolina) – carolcarreiro57@gmail.com; +55 11 96727-4708; Cris Transporte Escolar – cris014martins@gmail.com; +55 11 99903-6155; Isabel Transporte Escolar – isabel_crisca@hotmail.com; +55 11 99929-3804.

Beacon is an IB Continuum World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Early Childhood and Elementary School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Middle School, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for High School. The DP includes six subject groups and the DP Core (Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay). The school integrates the IB curriculum with the Brazilian curriculum via a Brazilian Diploma option (IB Diploma Integration BRAZILIAN DIPLOMA). Beacon provides bilingual instruction in English and Portuguese, with Spanish introduced from age 10. The school follows a January–December calendar; students commence the IB Diploma in Year 10 and complete it in Year 12, graduating in December.

Beacon has about 1,443 students and 202 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of roughly 7:1.

IB Diploma pass rates: Class of 2023 school pass rate 95% and global pass rate 79%; Class of 2024 school pass rate 91.17% and global pass rate 80%. The school transcript score combines Activity-Based Assessments (ABAs) at 40% and four exam sessions at 60%, with transcripts reported on a 1–10 scale and the FINAL IB Diploma scores reported to universities on a 1–7 scale if necessary. Beacon does not rank students and does not calculate GPA. The school offers IB Diploma subjects across Groups 1–6 and the DP Core (TOK, EE, CAS); integration with BNCC supports a Brazilian Diploma alongside the IB, where applicable.

The inaugural graduating classes of 2023 and 2024 saw over 90% of students accepted into higher education institutions. For the Class of 2024, 54% chose to study abroad, with the main destinations including the USA, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, and Austria, while 46% stayed in Brazil. Applications are distributed with 56% targeting US universities, 28% to Brazilian institutions, and 16% to other countries (UK, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada, and more). Universities and career counseling programs include university fairs, Career Day, and guidance for both domestic and international higher education options.

The school has a Student Well-Being Center (SWBC) dedicated to promoting student well-being, with two main areas: academic support and social-emotional learning. SEL is delivered through SEL classes, close collaboration with teachers, and targeted initiatives planned by the Counseling Team, all aligned with the curriculum. Programs include Beacon Buddies (from G3 onward), Peer Mediation, Student Council, Student-Led Clubs, and Class Meetings and Restorative Circles to foster student agency and a restorative culture. Relationships are treated as part of the learning, supporting open-minded, responsible citizenship.

The school has a Coordinator of Inclusive Practices and Learning Support who leads inclusive education and learning support. The coordinator, Maria Laura Sanchez, holds a Master's degree in Special Education: Multidisability and Cognitive Problems and has IB PYP and Inclusion and Diversity training.

Beacon offers bilingual education in Portuguese and English, recognizing both as means of instruction and communication. Immersion in English occurs in daily life alongside Portuguese, expanding linguistic repertoire, and from age 10 students begin studying Spanish as a foreign language.

Mental wellbeing is supported through the SWBC, with services for academic support and social-emotional learning. The Counseling Team delivers SEL classes and targeted initiatives, and there is an emphasis on student agency and a restorative culture to promote healthy relationships and resilience.

Diversity, equity and inclusion practices foster a safe, welcoming community where students, teachers, staff and families feel safe and belong; the school pursues activities to mitigate discrimination and intolerance.

1. Beacon offers three IB programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Early Childhood and Elementary School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Middle School, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for High School students. Admission requests are accepted only for Year 10 due to subject choices in the Diploma Programme. The admissions process aims to identify families who share Beacon's values and whose profiles align with academic requirements. The student body includes both Brazilian and international students.

2. The admission process begins with Open Day, Beacon's presentation meeting. Attendance is essential for families to learn about Beacon's mission, values, team, and the academic program of the relevant grade level, as well as to take a tour of the campus.

3. Applications are submitted with all required information and the application fee within established deadlines. For 2026 and 2027, the school publishes important dates and deadlines for different grade levels and semesters, with varying submission windows and result release dates. Families may contact the Admissions Office by phone or email for deadlines and guidance.

4. English language proficiency is assessed in an in-person interview, and previous academic performance is analyzed as part of the admission process. For Diploma Programme candidates, in-person assessments in Portuguese, Mathematics, and English are conducted, followed by a student interview and a teacher or administrator recommendation.

5. Enrollment follows the announcement of admission results; successful candidates are directed to complete the online enrollment process. The school provides an enrollment path after decisions are communicated and may require additional steps for scholarship consideration.

6. Beacon's admission process includes the Jatobá Program, which provides opportunities for talented students from public schools. The program is funded through donations from Beacon families and school subsidies, with the aim of increasing diversity within the Beacon community.

7. The language of instruction and English language support are described in the admissions materials. Instruction uses both English and Portuguese, with immersion and language support varying by age group; English language proficiency and potential ESP (English Support Program) referrals are considered as part of admissions decisions.

8. Beacon follows the Brazilian academic calendar, with the school year starting in February and ending in mid-December. The age range by grade is published to guide eligibility and placement, and transferred students are placed based on academic history.

9. Visit the school by prior appointment; a Student Buddy Program helps new students adapt and feel included, and campus tours of Beacon's Berlioz, Villa, and Campus units are available throughout the year.

10. Additional details about calendar, age, and language considerations are provided in the admissions resources, including FAQs about schooling dates, minimum age, and visit procedures.

1. Eligibility: The Beacon High School Scholarship Program is open to academically high-potential candidates entering Year 10 (the first year of High School).

2. Application requirements: To be eligible for a Full or Partial Scholarship, the candidate must complete both the Beacon Admission Application and the Scholarship Program Application Form.

3. Admission performance: The candidate must demonstrate excellent performance in the admission process, which includes exams in Portuguese, Mathematics, English, and General Knowledge, and an interview with the school administration.

4. Additional documents: Beacon School may request additional documents deemed necessary for a thorough evaluation of the candidate.

5. Special needs: If the candidate requires special accommodations for the evaluation, the guardians must inform Beacon of the necessary adaptations via email.

6. Scholarship determination: The decision regarding the scholarship amount will depend on the candidate's merit and the family's financial condition, based on the documents and interviews requested by the school.

7. Confidentiality: There will be no disclosure of “grades,” “scores,” or “ranking.”

8. Enrollment process: Upon the announcement of results, successful candidates will be instructed to complete the online enrollment process at Beacon.

9. Validity: The scholarship selection process described is valid for enrollment in the specified academic year.

10. Scholarship renewal: The scholarship must be renewed annually based on criteria established in the contract with the school.

11. Communication: All communications between Beacon School and the guardians will be conducted via email, phone, and instant messaging applications and will remain confidential.

12. Media consent: Participants in the Scholarship Selection Process may be photographed and filmed for program purposes, with consent to the use of their image by Beacon School.

13. False information: If any information provided during the Scholarship Selection Process is false, the school reserves the right to cancel the awarded scholarship.

14. Policy changes: Beacon maintains the autonomy to implement its scholarship admissions policy and reserves the right to make any necessary changes.

Acceptance of terms: By enrolling the candidate in the scholarship selection process for the 2024 academic year, the guardian affirms that they understand and accept the terms outlined in this document.

15. The Beacon Institute and related programs support a broader commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of the scholarship framework.