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Pan American School of Porto Alegre

Brazil, Porto Alegre

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Portuguese
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 434
Type Co-educational
Opened 1966
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum
Taught languages Portuguese, Spanish, English
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Pan American School of Porto Alegre is a private, not-for-profit, coed, secular American-International day school serving preschool through Grade 12. Founded in 1967, PAS educates about 460 students across two campuses. It is an IB World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), alongside American, Brazilian, and Advanced Placement options, including AP Capstone. The Brazilian Program provides Portuguese, Literature, and Brazilian Social Studies. The school is Cognia-accredited, MEC-authorized, and Distinguished by AMISA, NAIS, AASB, CIS, and PTC. PAS follows a North American calendar with classes running from late July/early August to June. The main campus houses 24 classrooms, science labs, music/theatre studios, a library, and outdoor spaces; the Preschool Campus includes six classrooms, a sports court, and a cafeteria. The school emphasizes service learning, language acquisition, cross-cultural experiences, and a strong after-school program with PUCRS collaboration, International Day, and POAMUN simulations.

Av. João Obino, 110 - Petrópolis, Porto Alegre - RS, 90470-150, Brazil

The Essentials

Pan American School of Porto Alegre has 434 pupils, instruction in English, Portuguese.

Location
Av João Obino, 110 – Petrópolis, Porto Alegre, RS 90470-150, Brazil. The campus is in the Petrópolis neighbourhood of Porto Alegre.

Stages
Preschool (age 3) through Grade 12.

Type
American-International day school.

Additional learning support
Learning Support; Language Support; Counseling; Health Unit.

School day structure
North American calendar; classes begin in late July/early August and finish in June; two semesters.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch and snacks are made on-campus by the third-party catering company Refeicenter. The menu, planned by a nutritionist, is available on the school website. Lunch is served buffet-style, with students indicating what they would like to eat and Refeicenter employees preparing the plates.

Governance and Ownership
Independent and non-profit; governed by a Board of Directors. The School Board is comprised of seven parent volunteers and the school superintendent is a non-voting member.
Fees
Application fees

- No publicly available, itemised application or enrollment fee amounts were found for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years. Families should expect the school to confirm any non‑refundable application/enrollment fee amount directly through the admissions office.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)

- The school does not publish a public fee schedule breaking down tuition by year group or by term for 2026/27 (or for 2025/26) on its publicly accessible materials. No verifiable per‑term or per‑year figures could be located. Families must obtain the precise tuition amounts for each grade level directly from admissions or the school finance office.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The school follows a North American academic calendar (late July/early August start, school year finishing in June) and maintains primary enrollment periods in May and November; however, a published billing schedule (for example: monthly by calendar month, by semester, or by trimester), deadlines, late‑payment penalties, or discount policies were not found in publicly available materials. The exact billing frequency, invoice dates, and penalties/discounts are confirmed by the school at registration.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- Pan American School of Porto Alegre operates as a day school with campus locations listed for main campus and preschool campus. Boarding services and boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs and typical additional fees

- Uniforms, agendas, school supplies, extracurricular activity fees, and field trip costs are handled as additional expenses; specific prices for uniforms and other optional/mandatory items were not published. Lunch is provided on campus by a contracted food service (Refeicenter), and meal costs or meal plan billing arrangements are managed separately from tuition. Fees for special programmes (for example: extracurricular clubs, summer programmes, external exam fees) were not published.

Refund information

- No publicly posted refund policy or the detailed refund terms (for withdrawal, early departure, deposit refunds) for 2026/27 or 2025/26 were located in publicly available materials. Refund rules and timelines are administered by the school and provided at registration or in the family financial agreement.

Fee payment options

- No definitive, published list of accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, local "boleto", credit/debit card, direct debit) was found. The school uses parent/guardian portals and direct admissions contact for administrative matters; accepted payment methods and how to transmit payment are confirmed by the school's finance office during enrollment and invoicing.

Summary of search and limitation

- A search of the school's publicly available pages and admissions information did not reveal a published, itemised fee schedule showing application fees, tuition broken down by year/term, billing calendar, payment terms, uniform pricing, refund policy text, or accepted payment method lists for the 2026/27 academic year (nor for 2025/26). Because those specific numbers and terms were not published in the materials reviewed, exact monetary figures cannot be provided here. For precise amounts and the full formal fee policy, contact the school's admissions or finance office directly using the school contact details published for prospective families.
Academics

Pan American School of Porto Alegre teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The Brazilian Program includes Portuguese, Literature, and Brazilian Social Studies. The diplomas/programs include American, Brazilian, AP Capstone, IB PYP, IB MYP, and Advanced Placement. The school is accredited by Cognia and authorized by MEC; it is a Distinguished member of AMISA, NAIS, AASB, CIS, and PTC. Pan American is a IB World School, the only one in Rio Grande do Sul offering IB (PYP and MYP). The school follows a North American calendar; for 2025-2026, classes run from late July/early August to June.

Student Teacher Ratio
5:1

Exam Results
AP Capstone Diploma recipients: 16 Pan American School of Porto Alegre graduates earned the AP Capstone Diploma.

Higher Education Progression
70% of PAS graduates attend universities outside Brazil (USA, Canada, and Europe), while 30% attend universities in Brazil. Brazilian universities where PAS students have enrolled since 2016 include UFRGS, ESPM, FAAP, UniRitter, UNISINOS, PUC-Rio, PUCRS, FGV, and others.

Gifted and Talented
High abilities and Giftedness are supported with differentiated instruction, Learning Support, Accommodation Plans and IEPs, Support Classes, Special Education, and access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Counseling is a key focus at Pan American School of Porto Alegre. One of our greatest differentials is our strong focus on developing social and emotional skills in students. Here, we help students to grow academically, socially and emotionally, ready to face the world and its challenges. Reflection is an important and necessary part of the learning process, enabling students to analyze and develop their communication, research, critical thinking, self-management, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. The classroom is a space where teachers refine their professional practices through reflection, peer observations, collaborative planning, and ongoing development to provide an authentic learning experience for students. Pan American School is an international community actively engaged in school life.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Education is practically entirely in English at Pan American School of Porto Alegre. Students have opportunities to learn a third language through Extracurricular activities, including sports and arts. The school represents more than 15 nationalities, creating an international language-rich environment.

Mental Wellbeing
Counseling emphasizes developing social and emotional skills. Pan American School helps students grow academically, socially and emotionally, ready to face the world and its challenges. Reflection is an important component of learning, helping students develop communication, research, critical thinking, self-management, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. The school is an international community actively engaged in school life.
Parent Experience

History
Pan American School of Porto Alegre is a private, not-for-profit, coeducational, secular school serving preschool through Grade 12. It was officially founded in 1967. The school is an IB World School. In 1985, PAS welcomed its first group of Brazilian students. The student body is approximately 460 students.

Community
The Pan American School community celebrates cultural diversity through events such as International Day. The school also hosts Walkathon, a philanthropic event that unites students, parents/guardians, and staff for empathy and collective action. School events include performances and exhibitions of student work and community assemblies that highlight regional culture and history.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Pan American School of Porto Alegre operates on two campuses. The main campus occupies 6,000 m² and includes 24 classrooms and three student‑support rooms. It features music and theater studios, science laboratories, a library, and outdoor learning areas. The Preschool Campus has six classrooms, a sports court, and a cafeteria. Both campuses are designed to support learning inside and outside the classroom.

Sports Facilities
Preschool Campus includes a sports court.

Academic Facilities
Main Campus features music and theater studios, science laboratories, a library, and dedicated learning spaces. The two campuses support both in‑class and outdoor learning environments. The Preschool Campus provides six classrooms along with a cafeteria.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular options include sports, arts, and the acquisition of a third language.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Extracurricular experiences extend learning beyond the classroom and help develop physical, cognitive, and social skills. The learning model emphasizes reflection, enabling students to strengthen communication, research, critical thinking, self-management, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities. The After School Program uses most school spaces, including the gym, outdoor courts, cafeteria, classrooms, and the science lab, and is led by a team of experienced teachers, early childhood educators, and teaching assistants. The program collaborates with PUCRS to support team practices.

Arts & Creative
Arts activities are included among the After School Program options. The program aims to develop students' artistic abilities alongside physical and cognitive growth. Arts opportunities provide creative outlets as part of experiences beyond the classroom.

Cultural & Language
Acquiring a third language is among the After School Program options. Language support is available to assist learners. The school hosts cross-cultural learning experiences such as International Day and models United Nations simulations (POAMUN).

Social & Hobbies
Student experiences extend beyond the classroom through sports, arts, and language learning. Athletics fosters healthy choices, social interactions, and leadership. The Husky program includes elementary and secondary teams that compete locally and internationally, with training partnerships at PUCRS and GNU, and participation in events like the International Schools Sports League (ISSL) and the Friendship Festival. The school also hosts student-led events such as TEDxYouth@PAS, expanding social and entrepreneurial involvement.

Community & Service
The school's Service Learning program aims to develop open-minded citizens who engage with others from diverse backgrounds and contribute to the community. It begins in Elementary School and expands in Middle and High School to create community-service opportunities. Service learning is a graduation requirement for High School, with a minimum of 10 hours per year and a total of 40 hours before graduation, and students complete two service activities per academic year. Student projects include initiatives such as Rice and Beans, Soup Kitchen, Solidarity Milk, Recycling Cycle, Period Project, and NATOCLEAN.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership is a core value at Pan American School. The athletics program and after-school experiences foster leadership skills and opportunities to lead teams. Student-led initiatives and events, such as TEDxYouth@PAS and POAMUN simulations, further develop leadership, public speaking, and civic engagement.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Athletics promote healthy choices, better social interactions, and leadership development. The athletics program emphasizes physical, cognitive, and social growth and offers training across multiple sports, including partnerships with GNU and PUCRS for facilities. The After School Program provides a safe environment and uses diverse spaces across the campus to support activities after the school day ends. Counseling also supports students' social and emotional well-being as part of PAS's holistic approach.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Portuguese are core languages taught, with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Portuguese as an Additional Language (PAL) available to support language learners. English and Portuguese biliteracy skills are developed through Language Arts and Language Support. The Brazilian Program includes Portuguese language, Brazilian literature, and Brazilian social studies, aligned with national standards and reconciling the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). International students have the opportunity to learn Portuguese as an additional language.

Bilingual Teaching
English and Portuguese biliteracy is developed through the Language Arts program and dedicated language support. The Language Arts program aims to develop the ability to understand and appreciate at least two languages, enabling confident communication and learning. A dual language literacy program guides students to become lifelong learners, developing habits of mind and communication skills. English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Portuguese as an Additional Language (PAL) support learners starting in Primary School.

Immersion Programs
English and Portuguese immersion is provided through the dual language literacy program, with biliteracy developed across the curriculum. These language supports include English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Portuguese as an Additional Language (PAL) for learners from Primary School onward. PAL units focus on the city, the state, and the country, helping students learn Portuguese while engaging with Brazilian culture. The Brazilian Program integrates language learning with cultural immersion through the curriculum.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Cognia (AdvancEd/SACS) in the United States; Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC).
Admissions

Admissions
1. You are here: Fill out the contact form. This starts the admissions process. It gathers basic information about the family and the student. It signals the family's intention to pursue enrollment.

2. Meet PAS POA: Schedule a conversation. A conversation is arranged to discuss enrollment options. This step lets the family ask questions and learn more about Pan American School of Porto Alegre. It sets the stage for subsequent steps in the process.

3. Everything we need to know: Complete the admission package. The admission package must be completed with all required documents and information. Providing the package ensures the school has what is needed to evaluate the application. This step moves the process toward assessment.

4. We value who you are: Schedule admission test and family interview. The student takes an entrance test and a family interview is scheduled. These assessments help the school understand the applicant's needs and fit with the program. They form part of the final evaluation before a decision.

5. Almost there! Wait for the final response. The family waits for the final admissions decision. The final response communicates whether enrollment is approved. The process concludes with notification of the decision.
School Events
The school has not added events
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