Curriculum
The American School of Tegucigalpa offers students the opportunity to earn a total of three diplomas upon completion of their high school careers: the American School of Tegucigalpa High School diploma, the Honduran Bachillerato, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. All students are understood to be working towards earning the High School diploma. Nearly all students annually earn the Honduran Bachillerato as well. Select students may qualify to earn the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in eleventh and twelfth grades. In the case of new and/or transient international students, individual programs of study are developed in order to best meet the individual needs of each student. Additionally, the school-wide (N-12) curriculum of the American School is aligned with and fulfills U.S. national standards in core academic areas.
Emphasis on preparing students for college and beyond and on 21st century skills are focal points in the high school curriculum design, allowing students to conduct research, explore, analyze and create as part of the learning process. Teachers design units of study based on program enduring understandings and essential questions. Student performance is evidenced by classroom and standardized assessments which are aligned with the learning goals.
Technology is evident in the teaching and learning process. Electronic boards and projectors are used in all classrooms and a 1:1 laptop program has been implemented to support research and instruction. Our Learning Management System, Schoology, allows students to submit work electronically and track their academic progress on a daily basis. Students benefit from a wireless campus which allows them to work on course assignments using various tools (laptops, tablets, and smart phones).
Students’ academic and social behavior needs are supported by a Counseling and Special Services Office. A Guidance Counselor provides students with individual support throughout the entire application process to colleges both locally and abroad. An Internship Program is also available to students during their senior year to get them acquainted with job positions of their interest.
A myriad of extra-curricular activities are available to students in order to foster leadership skills, social awareness and interpersonal skills. Clubs and organizations include: Student Council, Knowledge Bowl, Model United Nations, Junior State of America, Hacia Democracy and Operation Smile to name a few. The high school curriculum at AST supports the students’ overall well-being in a safe and disciplined learning environment while preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
Welcome Message
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the American School of Tegucigalpa’s High School, I am pleased to introduce you to our campus, a welcoming and safe place where secondary students are challenged to explore, question, discover, and apply their findings en route to higher education.
AST High School serves a student population of approximately 300 students and has a long history of excellence in academics allowing students to fulfill requirements for up to three different diplomas, the American High School, the Honduran Baccalaureate, and the International Baccalaureate. True to our school mission, one hundred percent of our students are college bound. Many of them gaining admittance to prestigious universities in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Honduras, and other South American and European countries.
Our High School is proud of its extensive extracurricular program which includes a wide range of clubs, competitive sports, an award winning band, and academic teams. Students belong to a series of social service clubs such as Operation Smile, Habitat for Humanity, Bencaleth (a home for children and young adults affected by cerebral palsy), Casitas Kennedy Orphanage and Extiende tu Mano (a club that helps and visits a nursing home). In addition, students can choose to belong to any of the three debate-styled clubs: Model United Nations, Junior State of America, or HACIA Democracy; the Math Olympic teams which provide a home to students who show love and skill for the discipline, and for the ones that enjoy knowledge in general there are the Varsity and Junior Varsity Knowledge Bowl teams. The arts are encouraged after hours as well as within the curriculum, with a strong music and visual arts program and a drama club teeming with young thespians. Other student-run clubs dealing with subjects such as the preservation of the environment and experimental Science have large followings. The sports program which is run by the Athletics department is similarly popular. Our athletes in varsity and junior varsity teams represent AST successfully at the National and International level achieving the top positions among other schools in the region.
We appreciate the thorough support and trust our community has placed on us, and we vow to continue providing an innovating and inspirational college-preparatory education for students who deserve the best. We hope you find this site useful and enjoyable, if you have any comments or recommendations you may contact me at bswanson@amschool.org.
Sincerely,
Blake Swanson
High School Principal
bswanson@amschool.org
Roque Padilla
High School Assistant Principal
rpadilla@amschool.org
