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Inter-American School

Guatemala, Quetzaltenango

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 180
Type Co-educational
Opened 1961
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Taught languages Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Inter-American School (IAS) is a faith-based, English-language K–12 school in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, offering an American curriculum integrated with the Common Core standards for core subjects. California State Standards provide enrichment and specialized classes, while the ACSI Bible curriculum is integrated across subjects. The school maintains an English-only learning environment, with elective courses in other languages such as Spanish beginning in elementary and continuing through middle and high school. IAS was founded in 1961 by missionary families and has grown into a bilingual, college-preparatory program serving Guatemalan and international students. The campus features a large library, a computer-equipped learning environment, projectors and multimedia resources, and a stage beside a multi-use concrete court used for events. Ongoing improvements include a new six-classroom secondary building planned for 2026. Weekly chapel services, Spiritual Emphasis Week, and a strong student council and choir reflect the school's faith-centered community. Afternoon tutoring supports students needing extra help.

0 Avenida 1-43 Zona 6, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

The Essentials

Inter-American School has 180 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
Inter-American School is located in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala, at 0 Avenida 1-43 Zona 6. The campus is in Zone 6 of Quetzaltenango. For inquiries, call PBX +502-7963-8787 or Phone +502-7761-4080.

Stages
Prekindergarten through Twelfth Grade (PK-12).

Country affiliation
United States

Religious affiliation
Christian

School day structure
Prekindergarten: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. or 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Elementary: 8:00 a.m. start; 11:00–12:00 Lunch/Recess; 1:35–1:55 Afternoon Recess (K-3); 3:00 p.m. dismissal; Middle School: 8:00 a.m. start; 12:55–1:24 Lunch; 3:00 p.m. dismissal; High School: 8:00 a.m. start; 12:07–12:36 Lunch; 3:00 p.m. dismissal.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
A dormitory and annex named Faculty House were built in 1979; the Faculty House was converted into classrooms in 1999 to begin a Middle School program.

Governance and Ownership
Board of Trustees was formally organized in 1962. The school is led by a Director and a Dean of Students/Principal, with a Business Manager. IAS holds joint accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Middle States Association (MSA). It is a Christian educational ministry.
Fees
Application fees
- No publicly posted application or registration fee amount is available for Inter-American School (IAS) for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic year. There is no published, grade-specific application fee listed in the school's publicly accessible brochure or school pages.

Tuition fees by school year (per term / per year group)
- The school does not publish a grade-by-grade tuition schedule or per-term tuition amounts in its publicly available brochure or main public pages. No definitive per-term or per-year tuition figures for Pre-K through Grade 12 for 2026/27 (or 2025/26) are posted in the materials located on the school's public pages.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- There is no publicly posted billing schedule (for example: monthly, quarterly, per-term, or annual payment plan details) or formal payment-terms document available in the school's public brochure or main pages. No public statement of accepted payment methods or due-date timetable is available in those sources.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- IAS operates as a day school for Pre-K through Grade 12; no boarding program or boarding fees are described in the public materials reviewed. No boarding-related charges are published.

Other costs or fees (uniforms, supplies, transport, meals, extracurriculars, deposits)
- No published schedule of ancillary fees (uniform costs, supply fees, cafeteria/lunch fees, transportation fees, extracurricular or club fees, security/caution deposits, or textbook fees) is available in the school's public brochure or profile materials. Ancillary costs are not listed publicly.

Refund information
- No publicly posted refund policy for tuition, registration, deposits, or other fees is available in the school's publicly available brochure or school pages for 2026/27 or 2025/26. There is no published statement of refund conditions or timelines in the public materials reviewed.

Fee payment options (credit card, bank transfer, cash, check)
- The school's public brochure and profile materials do not list accepted payment methods or provide a published payment-instructions section for tuition or fees. No public listing of credit-card, bank-transfer, or other electronic-payment options was found in the reviewed public materials.

Brief summary of search and gaps found (what was searched and what was missing)
- The school's public brochure and profile pages, school contact page, and publicly available school profile documents were examined. These public materials contain school contact details, program descriptions and general school information, but they do not contain a public fee schedule, grade-by-grade tuition figures, billing schedule, payment terms, boarding fees, ancillary fee schedule, refund policy, or published payment instructions for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years. The school's public brochure and school profile are cited as the sources where these items were searched for but not found.
Academics

Inter-American School teaches American Curriculum, Christian Curriculum.

Curriculum
Common Core State Standards are the curriculum in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade, covering Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. California State Standards supplement enrichment and special classes. ACSI Bible curriculum is implemented across subjects. The school provides an English-only environment for learning and socialization, while offering elective courses in other languages.

Student Teacher Ratio
The school has small class sizes.

Higher Education Progression
The school prepares students to excel in universities both in North America and Latin America, including higher education in the United States or Canada.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides a School Counselor and runs an anti-bullying program called Steps to Respect starting in Prekindergarten; there is a no-tolerance policy for bullying, incidents are reported to the Counselor, and coaching sessions are held for both the student who bullies and the student who is bullied with appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school addresses all learning needs to the best of its ability.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school is an English Language Immersion school, offering instruction from Prekindergarten through Twelfth Grade; class sizes limit English Language Learners to a maximum of 12 per class.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through counseling with a School Counselor and through bullying-prevention measures that include coaching sessions for affected students.

Safeguarding
Policies promote child safety, including a Child Safety Code of Conduct; staff complete training on child safety; background checks are required for staff; and there are mandatory reporting procedures for abuse.
Parent Experience

History
Inter-American School was founded in fall 1961 by three missionary families—the Cadwalladers, Winters, and Wolfs—who aimed to offer English-language courses in a Christian atmosphere. It began as the Bilingual School, an annex to Colegio Evangélico La Patria, with fifteen students meeting in a second-story apartment. The Board of Trustees organized in fall 1962 and renamed the school Inter-American School to emphasize its Inter-American curriculum and bilingual, English-language college-preparatory education. In 1971 IAS purchased nine acres of land for its current campus, with subsequent construction updating buildings, a dormitory, a science lab, and a library; by 1999 the middle school program began. Over time the school broadened beyond missionary families to serve Guatemalan and international students while maintaining its faith-based mission.

Community
Inter-American School builds community through weekly chapel services that bring the whole student body together and promote Christian values. Spiritual Emphasis Week includes a three-day retreat for middle and high school students to grow in faith and fellowship. The Student Council provides student leadership and coordinates activities across grades 6–12. The Parent Teacher Council connects families and staff, hosting events such as monthly Hot Lunch Days, a Thanksgiving celebration, Family Day, and themed dinners with funds supporting books, field trips, and construction projects, strengthening the IAS community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parent Teacher Council (PTC) connects parents and staff to advance IAS's mission. They host several annual activities, including monthly Hot Lunch Days, a Thanksgiving celebration, Family Day, and occasional themed dinners. They also organize welcome and goodbye dinners for teachers. Money raised by the PTC is used to buy books and supplies for the school, help with field trips, and support construction projects. Each year, a dedicated group of IAS parents works to maintain strong community between parents and teachers.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Campus improvements include resurfacing the concrete court, adding a stage and restrooms next to the court for school events and activities, and creating a nurse's office to better care for students and staff. In June 2026, the school hopes to break ground on a new six-classroom building for secondary students. These improvements are intended to provide safer, more functional learning spaces for students.

Sports Facilities
There is a concrete court that is being resurfaced. A stage beside the court is used for school events and activities.

Academic Facilities
Teachers have access to a wide range of technological resources, including a mimeo, a class set of laptops, a media center of computers, a class set of iPads, projectors in the classroom, TVs, and a large library of educational videos.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Specials and elective classes include Art, Computer, Drama, Library, and P.E.; Elementary students also take Spanish beginning in third grade, with Middle and High School students taking these courses as requirements or electives. Chapel services occur weekly to support spiritual growth, and Spiritual Emphasis Week includes a three-day retreat for grades 6–12; Elementary students participate in all-school chapels, group games, Bible lessons, crafts, and singing.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers after-school tutoring. In the past, teachers have coached soccer teams, organized cooking clubs, and directed youth groups. Community service projects are also part of after-school life.

Arts & Creative
Arts and creative activities include school choirs. Choirs provide performance opportunities for students. The range of arts offerings varies from year to year based on teachers' talents and interests.

Social & Hobbies
Social and hobby opportunities have included cooking clubs and youth groups. These activities are organized by teachers and vary by year based on staff talents and interests. Participation supports social interaction and community building within IAS.

Community & Service
Community service projects are among IAS's extracurricular activities. They provide opportunities to serve the local community.

Leadership & Professional
Student Council represents student interests to Administration and the Board. Elections are held each fall to choose new council members, including President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus one representative from each class (grades 6–12). The Council oversees all student activities throughout the year, including the Spiritual Emphasis Retreat for Middle and High School each spring.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Athletics are viewed as a pathway to health, strength, and talents. The school teaches proper techniques for sports and emphasizes good sportsmanship in competition. If there is sufficient interest, teachers volunteer to coach and hold practices, and games and tournaments are arranged with other area schools.
Languages

Language Provision
Students develop competency in English and Spanish. The school emphasizes an English-language environment for core learning, with Spanish taught as a language and electives available in other languages.

Bilingual Teaching
Prekindergarten is bilingual in English and Spanish. In Kindergarten, instruction is conducted completely in English. Elementary students learn in an English-only environment for core subjects, while Spanish is taught as a dedicated subject; electives offer courses in other languages.

Immersion Programs
IAS is an English Language Immersion school. Core instruction is in English from Kindergarten onward. Prekindergarten is bilingual in English and Spanish. Spanish is taught as a language and electives in other languages are offered.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school holds joint accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Middle States Association (MSA).
School Events
The school has not added events
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