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Jay Pritzker Academy

Cambodia, Siem Reap

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 419
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages Khmer, English
Typical class size 20
Strengths STEM, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Elementary, High School
Introduction

Jay Pritzker Academy (JPA) is a Pre-K–12 day school located in Puok District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. The campus sits on eleven hectares of gardens near Tachet Village, about 30 minutes west of Siem Reap, and is surrounded by rice paddies, sugar palms, and water not far from local farms. All JPA students are selected from local villages and receive full academic scholarships, enabling access to a rigorous international college‑preparatory curriculum. The school's high school program offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses from grades 9–12, with a continued emphasis on English‑language instruction and strong STEM offerings. The campus features two state‑of‑the‑art science laboratories and a full slate of K–12 extracurriculars. The school year runs from August to June, following the international school calendar. The program includes Preschool, Elementary, and High School, with English as the language of instruction and Khmer studies as a subject in the lower grades. The principal is Ryan Ahlers, who leads a staff delivering AP coursework and a broad range of subjects designed to prepare students for admission to top universities worldwide.

Tachet Village, Samroang Yea Commune, Puok District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

The Essentials

Jay Pritzker Academy has 419 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
Jay Pritzker Academy is located at Tachet Village, Samroang Yea Commune, Puok District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. The campus sits on eleven hectares of gardens about 30 minutes west of Siem Reap town, and is surrounded by rice paddies and sugar palms with abundant birdlife and nearby water buffalo. The Lower School sits among lawns with a playground; the Middle School is positioned between High School and Elementary near the library, canteen and attendance hall, while High School classrooms open onto a central quad; all classrooms are detached, spacious, and airy.

Stages
Preschool is offered as the start of JPA's curriculum. Elementary School covers Kindergarten to 6th grade, building core skills in English, math, science, and social studies. High School covers Grades 7 through 12 and offers Advanced Placement courses from Grade 9 to Grade 12.

Type
The school operates as a day program. Information about boarding facilities or explicit confirmation of co-educational status is not published on the school's official pages.

Additional learning support
No published information about Additional Learning Needs (SEN) support is available. The Our Students pages describe Cambodian village backgrounds and basic living conditions, with no mention of dedicated SEN or EAL programs.

Country affiliation
Cambodia; the school is located in Siem Reap Province and serves Cambodian rural families from Puok district.

Religious affiliation
Not specified; no religious affiliation is indicated in the school's materials.

School day structure
School days run from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school has a canteen on campus.

Governance and Ownership
The school was founded by Daniel and Karen Pritzker in 2005 to provide world-class education to rural Cambodian students. The campus opened in September 2008 as a co-educational day school near Tachet, Siem Reap. In 2011–2012, JPA began operating as a Pre-K–12 school.
Academics

Jay Pritzker Academy teaches Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
The Jay Pritzker Academy offers a continuous K–12 international curriculum across Preschool, Elementary (Kindergarten to 6th grade), and High School (7th to 12th), with all students receiving full academic scholarships.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
JPA integrates social and emotional learning (SEL) across its programs from preschool through high school. The Preschool program explicitly states that it develops cognitive, social-emotional, and English language skills, and emphasizes teaching children to share, cooperate, and navigate peer interactions. The extracurricular program offers a wide range of activities that foster teamwork, leadership, creativity, and well-rounded development. The Student Council provides student leadership roles, supporting peer relations and responsibility. Collectively, these elements reflect an embedded SEL approach that supports students' social and emotional growth across the student body.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, staff, or facilities. The publicly accessible pages do not specify SEN support, staffing, or dedicated services. There is no indication that JPA is a specialist SEN institution. No details about assessment methods, individualized education plans, or inclusive practices are provided.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The curriculum includes English language instruction as part of its core program across levels. In Preschool, English language skills are taught as part of early literacy and language development. In High School, the English program focuses on advanced reading, writing, and communication, including AP English Language and Composition. There is no publicly described separate EAL department or program; English language development appears integrated into the standard curriculum rather than a standalone EAL program.

Mental Wellbeing
No formal, standalone mental wellbeing program is publicly disclosed. However, social-emotional development is explicitly addressed in Preschool. The Extracurriculars program and the Student Council offer activities and leadership opportunities that support social connections and well-being. Together these elements indicate a holistic, SEL-informed approach to student well-being across the school.

Safeguarding
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding or child-protection policies.
Parent Experience

History
Jay Pritzker Academy was established in 2005 by Daniel and Karen Pritzker to launch a model school in a high-need area of Siem Reap, Cambodia. By November 2006, teachers had been hired, a kitchen was built at a children's center, facilities were upgraded, and classrooms were rented in five local schools. The school began operating as a Pre-K–12 institution in the 2011–2012 academic year, and a new high school wing with expansive science laboratories supported its STEM focus. In 2013–2014, the first graduates enrolled in US, Thai, and Cambodian universities, and the program began expanding its Advanced Placement offerings, including AP Calculus AB in 2014–2015. By 2018, AP courses covered a broad range of subjects and graduates were studying at universities worldwide, including MIT, NYU, and Yale-NUS in Singapore.

Community
JPA serves a close-knit community of rural Cambodian students supported by a growing expatriate and local faculty. A Student Council provides student leadership from early grades to grade 12, with roles such as President and Vice President. Field trips celebrate Cambodian art and culture, including visits to the Angkor Silk Farm and Artisans Angkor. The Running Club participates in the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon to raise funds for landmine victims and for local hospitals.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
A formal Parent-Teacher Association is not described on Jay Pritzker Academy's public pages. Parent involvement is coordinated through school leadership and communications channels rather than through a named PTA. General inquiries and an Education Office manage parent engagement, with the principal and college counseling staff serving as primary points of contact (General Inquiries: office@jpa.org.kh; Education Office: principal@jpa.org.kh; collegeandcareers@jpa.org.kh). All JPA students receive full academic scholarships, a program supported by donors and families in the community. The school offers field trips, clubs, and events that involve families and the wider community, such as cultural field trips and participation in community-friendly activities like the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. For formal PTA details or to express interest in parent-led initiatives, contact the school through the General Inquiries email.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Jay Pritzker Academy campus covers eleven hectares of gardens about 30 minutes west of Siem Reap near Tachet Village. Lower School is bordered by lawns with playground equipment; Middle School sits between High School and Elementary and is near the library, canteen and attendance hall; High School classrooms open to a central quad. All classrooms are detached, spacious and airy, with tranquil views across ponds and gardens. The campus includes an on-site library near the middle school and a canteen, and outdoor spaces feature lawns, ponds, gardens and shaded verandas that surround the learning blocks.

Academic Facilities
The school emphasizes science with inquiry-based learning and well-equipped laboratories. Advanced Placement courses are offered from Grade 9 to 12 across subjects including biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, economics, English, and history, with AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles highlighted. The English, Math, Science and Humanities curricula are designed to support deep learning, critical thinking and college readiness. A library serves the campus as a research resource near the middle school. The on-site facilities and classroom layout support rigorous academic work in a multi-building campus.

Extra Curricular Facilities
JPA provides a wide range of extracurriculars from elementary through high school. Elementary activities include soccer, speech and debate, science, dance and music; high school offers competitive speech and debate, robotics, soccer, volleyball and badminton, performing arts (choir, guitar, dance), visual arts, filmmaking, game design, horticulture and culinary arts. The program is supported by more than 20 clubs and organizations across the student body.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
JPA provides a broad range of extracurricular activities that support academic enrichment from preschool through high school. Elementary students can explore science, speech and debate, and other topics such as dance and music. In high school, students access competitive speech and debate, robotics, and a wide array of academic and technical clubs including game design. These activities foster teamwork, leadership, creativity, and well-rounded development.

Arts & Creative
JPA offers a robust arts program within the extracurriculars. In high school, performing arts include choir, guitar, and dance, while visual arts and filmmaking are also available. The program provides a range of music and arts opportunities that encourage creative expression across disciplines. These activities help students develop confidence and collaboration through performance and media creation.

Social & Hobbies
Students participate in diverse sports, including soccer, volleyball, and badminton. Elementary students also engage in dance and music activities, and high school expands to additional arts and clubs. The social and hobbies program emphasizes teamwork, communication, and personal interests beyond the classroom.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership exists in the form of a Student Council with roles such as President and Prefects, as shown on the school's student section. Participation in student government and leadership activities provides opportunities to practice governance, mentoring, and collaboration. The school environment supports leadership development through these student-run structures.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus spans eleven hectares of gardens near Siem Reap, with multiple age-appropriate campuses and ample outdoor space for activities. The extracurricular program includes sports such as soccer, volleyball, and badminton to promote physical health. Music, dance, and visual arts provide creative outlets that support mental well-being and balanced student life. These elements together foster physical activity, creativity, and social connection.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English as the language of instruction for most subjects and Khmer for Khmer Studies. Khmer Studies is taught in Khmer and covers Khmer language, culture, and literature; in the middle years, mathematics is taught in Khmer to align with the Cambodian curriculum. Programs run from Preschool through High School. No explicit language-support program for non-native English speakers is described.

Bilingual Teaching
The school uses English as the language of instruction for all subjects, with Khmer Studies taught in Khmer. Khmer Studies covers Khmer language, culture, and literature. There is no formal bilingual program beyond this Khmer Studies framework. The school serves students from Preschool through High School.
Admissions

Admissions
Step 1 — Eligibility and intake: Jay Pritzker Academy selects students every year at the age of four from the rural Puok District in Siem Reap Province. Most entrants come from rice‑farming families and have limited access to medical services and basic infrastructure. The school aims to provide a challenging, college‑preparatory curriculum taught by professional teachers in a supportive environment. This intake approach aligns with JPA's mission to offer world‑class education to rural Cambodians.

Step 2 — Applicant volume and places: There is a history of high demand relative to capacity, with about 60 available places for new students. In the early years, the school reported around 600 applications for these places, illustrating the competitive nature of admissions. This context underscores the selectivity inherent in the intake process. The school campus is located near Tachet Village, about 30 minutes west of Siem Reap, Cambodiа.

Step 4 — Enrollment and scholarships: Admitted students receive full academic scholarships, providing access to JPA's international curriculum. The scholarship coverage is described as full, supporting the education of children from rural Siem Reap. High school offerings include AP courses, and all high school students enroll in at least one AP class, reflecting the program's college‑preparatory emphasis.

Scholarships
JPA provides full academic scholarships to children from rural Siem Reap, ensuring access to a rigorous, international curriculum. All admitted students are awarded these full scholarships, and this commitment is highlighted in school materials and related communications. The existence of a robust scholarship program is reinforced by a dedicated hiring brochure that explicitly states JPA offers full academic scholarships to rural‑area children. AP coursework is available in high school, with all students enrolled in at least one AP class.

Waitlist
A formal waitlist or pool system is not described in public materials.
School Events
The school has not added events
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