Quick summary of key school information
School details
Number of students |
879 |
Number of nationalities represented in the school |
38 |
Most common nationality |
69% Moroccan, 6% American and 25% International |
Ratio of local students to international students |
69% local : 31% international |
Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
Language support for students not fluent in English |
Yes, Individual Learning Plans are available as well as English track or French track programs. |
Additional language classes offered by the school |
French, Arabic |
Max. number of students per class |
28 in Upper School |
Average number of students per class |
18 |
Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes, the Lower School has a teaching assistant in each Early Elementary classroom. |
Use of technology in the classroom |
At GWA, blended learning allows students to access the best learning environment in real life and online. Teachers and students have access to multiple digital platforms to build skills like collaboration, creating authentic work, critical thinking and digital citizenship. Lower School students use Seesaw as a learning portfolio and parent communication system and Upper School students use Google Classroom to manage their coursework. Additionally, each student in 4th-12th grade is provided an individual iPad or laptop, and younger students have access to iPads in their classroom for age appropriate digital activities. |
Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Even prior to COVID-19, the Upper School's learning management platform has been GoogleClassroom and Zoom; the Lower School uses SeeSaw and Zoom along with other platforms. The library utilizes Destiny for virtual check-out. |
Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
GWA is not a religious school. |
External examinations or assessments available |
IB Diploma Testing; AP Testing; SAT & ACT
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Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
The Lower School has a no-homework policy unless students have an individual learning plan. |
Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100% |
Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
No |
The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
GWA is the only school in Morocco that offered the IB Diploma, AP classes, and an American diploma recognized by the Moroccan government. GWA offers a unique Language Acquisition Program beginning in Early Childhood grades that values English, French, and Arabic as the foundation for our multilingual environment. We boast
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Student access to education psychologist |
No |
Entry evaluation for students |
Yes, click to learn more about GWA's online admissions process and testing: https://www.gwa.ac.ma/admissions/online-admissions-process |
Brief description of entry evaluation required |
Language testing is required as well as report cards from previously attended institutions |
Waiting list |
GWA has a year-round enrollment system. |
Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
Year-round enrollment |
Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
School start time |
08:00 |
School finish time |
Dismissal times vary, but all students who are not participating in After-School Activities should be off-campus by 15:45 |
Supervised care before/after school |
Students participating in After-School Activities and clubs are supervised |
School bus service available |
Yes |
School provided lunches |
Yes |
Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes, a vegetarian option is always available |
Uniform required |
Yes |
Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Basketball, soccer, volleyball, track, badminton, swimming, first Lego league robotics, green council, Model United Nations, speech and debate, drama/musical, technology |
Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
GWA student athletes compete in the Maroc-American Schools Athletic Conference. |
Sports facilities at the school |
Outdoor athletics and physical education classes take place on a full-length grass soccer field and track or on a smaller turf field. The Lower School students have regular classes in a specialty-designed gymnasium. Two different playground spaces are also available. |
Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
George Washington Academy is the only school in Morocco to offer the IB Diploma, AP classes, as well as an American high school diploma recognized by the Moroccan Government. We are a Nursery - 12 IB World School characterized by our unique Language Acquisition Program. Based in research and developed at GWA, our program gives young students a multilingual foundation in English, French, and Arabic. Oral instruction in Nursery (2 year olds) and in Discovery (3 year olds) is in spoken English with support in French and Arabic. In PreK, Kindergarten, and Grade 1, students are taught literacy in French as the home language of a majority of GWA students. They learn to read and write in French, understand literacy concepts, phonetics, and build vocabulary. English language acquisition continues during this time, with all other core subjects - Math, Science, Social Studies, and the arts - taught in English. Beginning in Grade 2, students start to read and write in English at an accelerated pace, transferring the literacy skills they learned in French to English. Recognizing our diversity of students, GWA also offers an alternative English Literacy track that provides the basic literacy skills students need in English to succeed at an American school. Oral instruction in Arabic begins in Grade 1, and written Arabic instruction begins in Grade 3. Tracking data over several years confirm the success of this program in providing students with a sound linguistic foundation to develop multilingual language skills through their years at GWA. |
Teaching approach of the school |
GWA educates the whole person by equipping minds and building character: empowering students to serve Morocco and the global community with wisdom and compassion. Knowing content alone is not enough. GWA employs 21st Century American pedagogy to grow students as critical-thinkers and problem-solvers equipped with digital literacy, global awareness, and interpersonal “soft skills” that prepare them to address real-world issues with confidence, creativity, and the ability to collaborate effectively leading and working with others. |