San Salvador, El Salvador Report of what it's like to live there - 06/24/25
Personal Experiences from San Salvador, El Salvador
School Name:
Escuela Americana
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
8th-12th (2020-2025)
6th-10th (2020-2025)
3. What years did you live here?
2020-2025
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
We chose this school because it was supposed to be an American school and because it was the first school in San Salvador that went back to in-person classes after COVID.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
I remember the process being pretty clear, though it was a long process.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
It was COVID, so there was little to no integration. The kids did one year of virtual school.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
The lack of communication is astounding in our experience. For instance, our extremely tall son was told the day before an event that he would need to wear a suit. The school sends out a newsletter every week in English. Any other communication comes from the "mommy" Whatsapp chats for each grade. The communication is only in Spanish.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
You must purchase uniforms from the school store only. You must buy your own school supplies. You must provide a laptop for each child in middle and high schools, but they can be either Android or Apple.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
The college prep program, Blue Ivy, is the singular great thing about this school. Our son got a partial scholarship to an overseas university.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
We didn't do after school activities, but I believe some are free; however, dance and such, I believe, are fee-based.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
It is a large library. I'm not sure if kids can borrow books.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
Google classroom is used. I never saw a textbook come home. Laptops are provided by the parents and can be Android or Apple.
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a decent gym, a workout room, and a track/playing field. The PE teacher only speaks Spanish (at the American school where all classes are supposed to be in English).
6. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
No idea.
7. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
Our kids took AP classes.
8. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
We found the quality of education to be much lower compared to an average U.S. public school. Our kids were rarely pushed or had to study.
9. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
No.
10. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
The choir program got cut when the teacher left. The music teacher is absolutely beloved by the high schoolers. There is a small drama program.
11. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Most of the teachers are not native English speakers; some were more comfortable speaking Spanish. We found that the secondary school director did not speak English well.
12. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None that I know of.
13. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None that I know of. My child was diagnosed with a disability and was allowed extra time for standardized and AP tests.
14. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I believe there are ESL classes.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for LGBT+ kids at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Does there appear to be any exclusionary behavior?
We found there to be little acceptance for either LGBT+ children or kids from LGBT+ families. In our experience, many local families exclude anyone who is different from their social circles and we are aware of instances of bullying. We learned from our kids that the school was not open to let the kids form a Gay-Straight Alliance.
2. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Many kids have local friends.
3. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
Yes, we are aware of many instances.
4. What can you say about diversity among the faculty and staff at the school and their experience in supporting minority students?
I don't feel that the faculty is all that diverse, and I also do not feel that the school celebrates diversity.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
D -- would not choose it again.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
We did not find this to be comparable to an American school.
