Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
Nationalities
| Number of students |
544 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
+35 |
| Most common nationality |
Ecuadorian |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
40/60 |
Languages
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
For students applying from preschool to Grade 5, English is not a prerequisite. Our ELL Department will give the support needed to the students. Also, Academia Cotopaxi offers Spanish classes for all levels, starting in Kindergarten, 1 hour daily. Please kindly fill in the following "Inquiry Form", so that our Admissions Team can better assist you and provide further information: https://academiacotopaxi.typeform.com/to/X2QXQoZS |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Spanish |
Classroom
| Max. number of students per class |
Pre-Kinder: 16 students
|
| Average number of students per class |
18 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Academia Cotopaxi’s resources are extensive with highly skilled teachers, a comprehensive arts program, and innovative programs like Design Tech, Robotics and our AC Space Club. Learn more about our inspiring innovation and future focused learning here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/technology-innovation |
| 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) |
Our teaching and learning philosophy is built on collaboration. Teachers and students collaborate through Seesaw and Google Drive in the Elementary School and through Google Classroom and Google Drive in the Middle School and High School. These platforms allow for distance and time to have less of an impact on students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills. Our teachers continued their high-caliber approaches to teaching through synchronous time through Zoom supporting students’ learning through asynchronous flipped-classroom approaches. They also use Loom to record asynchronous lessons, for them to be viewed any time and as many times as a student needs in order to better understand the concept or practice the skills. These teaching principles have been practiced at Academia Cotopaxi even before the pandemic as part of the Flipped Classroom teaching and learning practice. Our Students engage with the activities that the teachers have masterfully crafted and scaffolded based on Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge, and we support them by increasing virtual interactions with our counselors as well. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
No. |
Academics
| External examinations or assessments available |
ACT, SAT, TOEFL and IELTS exams
|
| Results in these examinations |
Above world and regional averages: Academia Cotopaxi American International School
|
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Grade level dependent from short reading assignments in early years to over an hour in high school. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100% |
Student support
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Yes, Cotopaxi offers Learning Support and accept children with a broad range of learning and developmental disabilities. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes |
Admissions
| Entry evaluation for students |
Admission and placement decisions are based on the Academia Cotopaxi ability to appropriately meet the needs of those applying and are subject to space and resource limitations. All prospective students must go through the admissions process, which includes interviews and/or assessments, and have met all the requirements to receive a final decision. Lastly, Academia Cotopaxi reserves the right to deny admissions to any child who does not meet the admissions requirements or when admission is not considered to be in the best interest of the applicant or the school. Please kindly fill in the following "Inquiry Form", so that our Admissions Team can better assist you and provide further information: https://academiacotopaxi.typeform.com/to/X2QXQoZS |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
Applicants for only Grade 3-12 require a MAP test if a MAP, PSAT or SAT is not provided. A MAP test is an assessment in English with three sections, reading, comprehension and math. Each section has twenty questions and, on average, takes about an hour and a half to compete. The test can be taken in person or remotely. The Admissions Office will schedule the testing. Students applying to Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12), whose mother tongue is NOT English, may be required to take an additional test in English. An interview for all applicants is required and scheduled by the Admissions Office. |
| Waiting list |
Please contact the Admission Department to confirm availability in the grade level that you are interested in applying for. https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/admissions |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We do not have a deadline. Our admissions are always open. Please kindly fill in the following "Inquiry Form", so that our Admissions Team can better assist you and provide further information: https://academiacotopaxi.typeform.com/to/X2QXQoZS |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, families that are arriving from abroad can apply at any time of the year. Each case will be reviewed by the Admissions Office. Also, based on Ministry of Education policies, transfers from a local school can only happen during the Semester 1. |
School day
| School start time |
8:00 a.m. |
| School finish time |
Kinder to Grade 12
Pre-Kinder:
|
| Supervised care before/after school |
No. |
| School bus service available |
Yes. Learn more about our Transportation service here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/transportation |
| School provided lunches |
Yes. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes. |
| Uniform required |
All students must abide by the school dress code. Visit our Uniform Information web page for more information: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/uniform-information |
Extracurricular activities
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
We have a broad range of extracurricular activities for students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and we offer Middle School and High School athletics. Learn more about our extracurricular activities here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/activities |
| Sports activities included |
Learn more about our sports activities here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/athletics |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes. Learn more about our local and international sport competitions here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/athletics |
Facilities
| Facilities at the school |
Learn more about our facilities here: https://cotopaxi.k12.ec/virtual-tour |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Semi-Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, gymnasiums, |
About the school
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Established in 1959, we are a non-profit, co-educational day school that welcomes children from Preschool to Grade 12. We are an English-based international learning community that promotes inclusion and diversity, embraces innovation and a culture of collaboration, and inspires empathetic and ethical leaders. Academia Cotopaxi is known for its unique access to an international and accepting community where inquiry is a part of each child’s journey. Our child-centered approach allows us to personalize their learning, nurture their critical thinking and coach them to take ownership of their learning. We are an IB school. We follow the Primary Years Program (PYP) in the younger grades and the Diploma Program (DP) in High School. We are aligned with AERO standards and are a member of the Common Ground Collaborative (CGC). Academia Cotopaxi is a community that believes in each child and is committed to providing a positive and rewarding experience. Our resources for learning are extensive with highly skilled teachers, a comprehensive arts program, innovative programs like Design Tech and Robotics, and our accreditations from leading learning organizations, New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education. ---
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| Teaching approach of the school |
The Universal Design for Learning philosophy is a contemporary teaching practice that structures lessons and activities so that anyone can approach the new material and learn. At Academia Cotopaxi, we customize the learning journey of each of our students, as needed. During disruptions to classroom teaching due to COVID-19 our teachers’ continued high-caliber approaches to teaching include synchronous time through Zoom and supporting students’ learning through asynchronous flipped-classroom approaches. These teaching principles have been practiced at Academia Cotopaxi even before the pandemic as part of the Flipped Classroom teaching and learning practice. Our Students engage with the activities that the teachers have masterfully crafted and scaffolded based on Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge |