MISSION The American School of Tampico mission is to empower students to become mindful citizens, critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and responsible leaders engaged in a globalized world through an academically rigorous yet differentiated program based on strong values.
DESCRIPTION Founded in 1917, The American School of Tampico, in Tamaulipas, Mexico, is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution offering bilingual and bicultural education for students from pre-school through high school. Practicing an American educational paradigm, in 2007, the high school began offering a high school curriculum where students earn both a U.S. high school Diploma and a Mexican SEP Certificate.
ACCREDITATION The American School of Tampico is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/CASI, now known as AdvancEd), and Mexico’s Ministry of Education (SEP).
UNIQUE DUAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM Elementary school students receive bilingual instruction that meets both Mexican and U.S.A standards. Upon completion of high school, students receive both a U.S. diploma and a Mexican preparatory certificate. Thus, all ATS graduates are proficient in both English and Spanish. All HS students take 27 Carnegie units, exceeding the requirement for a U.S. High School diploma as well as the Mexican program requirements in Spanish Literature, Mexican History, Geography, Law, and Civics.
CURRICULUM Due to ATS high standards, the High School students are very focused. The curriculum program is organized on a rotating block schedule. High school students have 55 minutes of classes. There are three basic requirements each student must fulfill in order to graduate from high school. First, each student must complete a minimum of 27 credits broken into various subjects’ areas. Second, each student must complete 120 hours of community service in high school. Third, each student must successfully pass an official test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL).
SERVICE LEARNING The American School of Tampico requires all students to complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service per year. By graduation, all students have completed 120 hours or more.
SCHEDULES AND GRADING Classes are divided into two semesters. Credits awarded vary with time spent in direct instruction. To earn 0.5 credit, classes meet for 55 minutes, four times per week for one semester.
UNIVERSITY BOUND The American School of Tampico students is well prepared to embrace their future. One hundred percent of graduates are accepted into 4-year universities.
THE FACULTY The American School of Tampico has a mix of foreign and locally hired teachers. There are teachers from France, Jamaica, Canada, the United States, UK, and Mexico. Approximately 63% of the teachers already have a Master’s degree. ATS boasts a dedicated and hardworking staff that strives to meet the academic needs of the students for their success in a global economy.
THE CAMPUS ATS is located in Tamaulipas, Mexico, serves the educational lust of 980 students. The big campus has its students in separate buildings, Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle and High School. The campus has Wi-Fi and boasts two libraries, three state-of-the-art science labs, and three computer labs. The building of the grand sports and arts center will be completed by May 2020. The school grounds extend to more than 14 hectares and include four grass-covered soccer fields, one track field a multi-purpose covered surfaced sports court; an open-air theater; a preschool play area and a butterfly garden.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Education extends beyond the classroom to ensure that students are presented with the opportunity to grow in a rich environment of experiences. ATSs diverse program includes Student Council, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, Up-stander Alliance, chorus, clubs, dance, service learning, environmental, robotics, and personal projects. Extensive after-school sports include soccer, basketball, volleyball and track & field. School teams compete within ASOMEX (American Schools of Mexico) and local leagues.
