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Beacon School

Brazil, São Paulo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Portuguese
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 1 - 17 years
Pupil numbers 1400
Type Co-educational
Opened 2010
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Spanish, English, Portuguese, French
Strengths Languages, Academic Enrichment, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Beacon School is an IB Continuum School in Brazil offering PYP for Early Childhood and Elementary, the MYP in Middle School, and the DP for High School. The DP core includes Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay, with a Brazilian Diploma integration option. The school provides bilingual instruction in English and Portuguese, with Spanish introduced from age 10. Its January–December calendar means students begin the DP in Year 10 and complete it in Year 12, graduating in December. Serving more than 1,400 students from Early Childhood to High School, Beacon operates across three units: Campus (Grades 5–12) with a hub of arts, technology and music, 400-seat auditorium, amphitheatre, gym, outdoor courts, football field, laboratories, libraries and classrooms equipped with advanced technology; Villa (Grades 3–4) with a library and atelier; Berlioz (Grades 1–2) with an atelier, storytelling space and sleep room, plus outdoor play areas.

R. Mergenthaler, 1138 - Vila Leopoldina, São Paulo - SP, 05311-030, Brazil

The Essentials

Beacon School has 1,400 pupils, instruction in English, Portuguese.

Location
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.

Stages
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).

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

Country affiliation
Brazil

Bus service
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.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
No standardized High School uniform; you may choose what to wear to school. The only exception is Physical Education classes, where wearing the uniform is mandatory.

Food Options
Lunch is not served during the initial phase of return. Monthly menus are published on the website and the school app. Students may purchase school meal credits or bring their lunch from home. If bringing lunch, the school provides a refrigerator to store the meals and a microwave.

Governance and Ownership
Beacon School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational private school owned by Beacon School Ensino Integrado Ltda. It is not associated with other Beacon Schools and operates on three campuses with each age group in a specific location. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education - Brazil and by the International Baccalaureate, offering the IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP).
Fees
Application / registration fee
- Beacon requires payment of an application/registration fee as part of the admissions process.

Tuition fees (annual, per term and per installment) — published figures not available
- Beacon does not publish a public, itemised fee schedule by year group on its public materials. Where a public annual range is reported by third-party school-fee directories, the reported total school-year tuition range is BRL 85,000 to BRL 153,000 per year. Using that reported annual range as a basis, approximate instalments and term amounts (inference from the reported billing pattern described below) would be: BRL 85,000 per year = BRL 6,538 per monthly instalment if paid in 13 instalments, or BRL 42,500 per semester (two semesters per year); BRL 153,000 per year = BRL 11,769 per monthly instalment if paid in 13 instalments, or BRL 76,500 per semester. These are estimates derived from the reported annual range and reported instalment pattern, not an official published fee table.
- Other online sources that present indicative monthly ranges (informal estimates) list typical monthly fees by stage as: Early Childhood (Infantil) BRL 1,200–BRL 1,800, Elementary (Fundamental I) BRL 1,500–BRL 2,300, Lower Secondary (Fundamental II) BRL 2,000–BRL 2,800, Upper Secondary (Ensino Médio) BRL 2,500–BRL 3,500. These figures are unofficial market estimates and are not a published Beacon fee schedule.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Reported billing practice: tuition may be billed across 13 instalments for the academic year, with the first instalment commonly described as a reservation fee. Exact calendar dates for invoices, grace periods for late payment, and penalties are not publicly published. The school's admissions process requires payment of the application/registration fee at the time of submission.
- Beacon's published admissions information also states that no sibling discount is offered on tuition. Families should assume standard billing applies per enrolled student.

Boarding / accommodation fees
- Beacon operates as an urban day school across its campuses and does not publish any boarding or residential programme fees. No boarding provision or internato fees are listed for Beacon. Families should therefore expect the school to be a day-school model (no boarding charges).

Other compulsory and optional costs
- Families should expect additional costs beyond tuition for items that are commonly charged separately, including (where applicable): school uniform, individual student materials, individual textbooks (if required), personal stationery, school transport/van service, optional Extended Day or after-school programme fees, elective or extracurricular activity fees, examination fees (external exam registrations where applicable), and some class trips or international experiences for older students. The school offers optional programmes and Extended Day services; whether these are included in tuition or billed separately varies by programme and year group. Specific charges for these items are not published publicly.
- One third‑party summary notes that certain elements (for example some collective materials, lunches or excursions for younger children) may be included in the tuition for particular year groups while other items are charged separately; specifics vary by year group.

Refund, withdrawal and cancellation
- No publicly available, detailed refund or withdrawal policy for tuition, registration or deposits is published in the school's publicly available materials. Families should treat refund and cancellation terms (including forfeiture of a reservation fee or conditions for prorated refunds) as contract items to be confirmed directly with admissions at the time of enrolment. Contact details for admissions are maintained by the school.

Fee payment options and accepted methods
- Market summaries and third‑party sources indicate common payment options include: upfront (annual) payment with a possible discount, payment by instalment on a credit card (installments up to 12 times reported in market summaries), bank transfer, and direct debit/automatic debit arrangements. The school's public admission pages do not list an exhaustive, official list of accepted payment methods or merchant terms; families should confirm the exact options and any associated fees directly with admissions or finance.

Summary of availability and limits of the information above
- An official, itemised 2026/27 fee schedule by year group, with per‑term and per‑installment amounts published by Beacon, was not available in the school's publicly posted materials. The figures above therefore combine the following: (a) the absence of a public, itemised schedule on Beacon's public materials, (b) a publicly reported annual tuition range and billing pattern from third‑party school directories, and (c) informal market estimates for monthly fees by stage. Where the text above gives per‑installment or per‑term figures, those are calculated inferences from the reported annual ranges and billing pattern rather than direct, line‑by‑line school publications.
Academics

Beacon School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 17.

Curriculum
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.

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

Exam Results
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.

Higher Education Progression
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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
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.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
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
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.

Safeguarding
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.
Parent Experience

History
Beacon School was founded in 2010 by Luciana Leite and Maria Eduarda Sawaya. It is organized as Beacon School Ensino Integrado Ltda. The school is recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an IB Continuum School. Beacon serves Early Childhood Education through High School and educates more than 1,400 students. The curriculum integrates Portuguese and English as languages of instruction and offers the three IB programs: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme.

Community
Beacon combines Brazilian identity with an international education and offers the three IB programs: PYP, MYP, and DP. International education is promoted through experiences abroad and events that seek to develop intercultural sensitivity throughout our school community. The curriculum promotes learning in Portuguese and English as languages of instruction, with Spanish introduced from age 10 to pursue three-language proficiency. Field studies and trips immerse students in Brazilian history, culture, and local issues.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Beacon Community in Action (BCA) is a group of volunteer parents and guardians who work in partnership with Beacon School to promote initiatives in the areas of Internal Actions, Communication, Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Finance, Events, and Diversity. Its mission is to expand opportunities for the school and local communities, contributing to the development of ethical and transformative citizens.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Beacon has three units: Campus, Villa, and Berlioz. Campus is designed for students in Grades 5 through 12 and features a hub of arts, technology and music, libraries, a 400-seat auditorium, an amphitheater, a gymnasium, outdoor courts, a football field, laboratories, playgrounds, plazas, dining areas and social spaces. There is a High School building on Campus and classrooms equipped with advanced technology. Villa is designed for Grades 3 to 4 and promotes exploration and discovery, with spacious classrooms, a dining hall, a library, an atelier and a sleep area; two large playgrounds, two courts and two sand pits are part of this unit. Berlioz is for Grades 1 and 2, with spaces adapted for children aged 1 to 3 years and includes spacious classrooms, an atelier, a storytelling space and a sleep room; outdoor areas include a sandbox, a courtyard, trees and natural soil.

Sports Facilities
Campus features a gymnasium, outdoor courts and a football field. Villa provides two courts. Berlioz focuses on early childhood spaces with a sandbox and outdoor play areas.

Academic Facilities
Campus houses a hub of arts, technology and music, libraries, and a 400-seat auditorium, as well as an amphitheater, a gymnasium, laboratories, and social spaces; classrooms on Campus are equipped with advanced technology. Villa provides spacious classrooms, a library and an atelier, plus a dining hall and a sleep area. Berlioz provides classrooms, an atelier, a storytelling space and a sleep room, with outdoor areas including a sandbox, a courtyard, trees and natural soil.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Beacon School was founded in 2010 and is recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an IB Continuum School. It serves more than 1,400 students from Early Childhood Education to High School. Beacon offers a bilingual international education that is open to the world while valuing its Brazilian roots. It emphasizes curiosity and critical thinking within an inquiry-based, academically rigorous program that aims to develop responsible citizens.

Cultural & Language
Beacon is recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an IB Continuum School. Beacon offers a bilingual international education open to the world while valuing its Brazilian roots. Diversity is recognized as an opportunity to promote personal development and collaboration with society. The IB framework supports international-mindedness within Beacon's educational approach.

Community & Service
Diversity is recognized as an opportunity to promote personal development and collaboration with society. The school aims to transform a more ethical and peaceful society in the 21st century. Beacon emphasizes principled education as part of its IB program.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Holistic development is a core pillar of the IB program at Beacon. Social-Emotional Learning is highlighted as essential to preparing students for life. The school aims to cultivate ethical and peaceful citizenship as part of its approach to well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
Beacon uses English and Portuguese as languages of instruction and communication. Spanish is introduced as a foreign language from age 10 with the goal of High School graduates fluent in three languages. The school offers the English Support Program (ESP) for students who need English language support. In High School, the Diploma Programme is integrated with the Brazilian curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme is integrated with the national curriculum.

Bilingual Teaching
Beacon uses English and Portuguese as languages of instruction and student identity development across all levels from Early Childhood to High School. G1 to G4 are immersed in English for four school hours per day, with 40 minutes daily in Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture. G5 to G6 begin full-time schooling with Portuguese Language classes lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes daily. From Y1 to Y5, half of knowledge areas are taught in English and half in Portuguese; from Y6 to Y9 most areas are taught in English with Portuguese Language, Portuguese Literature, Brazilian History, and the Elective taught in Portuguese; from Y10 to Y12 English is predominant, with Brazilian Social Studies taught in Portuguese.

Immersion Programs
G1 to G4 are immersed in English for four school hours per day. Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture are taught for 40 minutes daily. G5 to G6 begin full-time schooling with Portuguese Language classes lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes daily. From Y1 to Y12, the distribution shifts by grade: Y1–Y5 half of knowledge areas are taught in English and half in Portuguese; Y6–Y9 most areas are taught in English with Portuguese taught in specific subjects; Y10–Y12 English predominant.
Reputation

Accreditations
IB Continuum School recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Admissions

Admissions
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.

Scholarships
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.
School Events
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