Elementary Admissions

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO INITIATE THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS:

  1. ACS REGISTRATION FORM
  2. ACS HEALTH FORM
  3. PROOF OF VACCINATION
  4. PHOTOCOPY OF APPLICANT’S ID OR PASSPORT (BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS MANDATORY FOR BOLIVIANS)
  5. PHOTOCOPY OF APPLICANT’S GUARDIAN’S ID OR PASSPORT;
  6. FOUR CONFIDENTIAL SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MOST RECENTLY ATTENDED SCHOOL (CORE SUBJECTS)
  7. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM PREVIOUS SCHOOL (THREE YEARS)
  8. PHOTOCOPY OF HEALTH INSURANCE

ADDITIONALLY, IN ORDER TO BE ENROLLED IN THE BOLIVIAN SYSTEM, THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET:

New and Returning Students to Bolivia: All official school records (grades = transcripts or report cards) must be translated and stamped by the Bolivian Consulate in the country of their origin. Once within Bolivia, the family must complete a process of “convalidacion” (equivalency) and write a letter requesting that the Ministry of Education open a “RUDE”.

Transfer Students: Students that are transferring from another school within Bolivia must submit a copy of their RUDE. If the student is transferring from a school that does not have a recognized August to May school calendar, they will be required to repeat a portion or the entire grade level

Admission to the American Cooperative School is based upon the following criteria:

A. Program Integrity:

All children must be able to function effectively within the ACS educational program. All students must be able to complete the program of study that leads to the American High School Diploma.

B. Class Size

The ACS School Board of Trustees has developed policy that limits the number of students per class.

*The ACS School Board of Trustees reserves the right to surpass the maximum number of students per class provided that the educational quality will not be reduced.

C. Age:

Age requirements for KG3, KG4, KG5, and first grade must be met by September 1st of the current school year:

· KG3: 3 years

· KG4: 4 years

· KG5: 5 years

· First Grade: 6 years

D. Academic Standards:

Preschool:

ACS has an open admission policy for students in KG3 and KG4 although all students are required to go through a screening process to determine if they are developmentally ready for school.

Elementary and Secondary:

English Proficiency: A child entering the American Cooperative School in grades Kinder through twelve must exhibit fluency in English. All students are required to take a WIDA to determine the appropriate grade level for placement purposes.

Please note that students WHO transfer and have had success at an American Accredited school for a minimum of one year may not be required to take he WIDA test.

Students that do not meet the required level of English proficiency for the grade that they are assigned may be accepted if their grades at their previous school are excellent and indicate academic promise and potential. In these cases, the school will develop an admission contract that outlines suggested strategies and modifications to assist the student during a defined period of time.

The American Cooperative School has an English Language Learner (ELL) program for students in KG 5 - Grade 8. Depending upon the level of a student, they may be required to attend special ELL pullout classes until ACS deems that they are ready to be immersed within the regular program of study.

Math: The ACS mathematics program is rigorous and provides students the opportunity to take an advanced or regular track of mathematics starting in grade 6. In order to determine a student’s track or ability to have success in our mathematics program, the student may be asked to complete a math placement test.

Academic Grades: All students must demonstrate that they successfully passed the previous school year with a minimum passing grade of C (70%) in all subject areas in order to be accepted into the school.

Special Needs:

If a prospective parent has a child with a learning disability, attention deficit disorder or any other disability, the family must communicate directly with the appropriate principal at the American Cooperative School as early as possible before any application steps have been taken. The American Cooperative School has the ability to design, develop, and implement programs for students who have moderate to severe disabilities; however, we must be notified in advance in order to develop an appropriate plan.

All testing, evaluations and school reports must be accurate and forwarded to the school to be reviewed by the Student Support Team (SST) to determine if the school can meet the educational needs of the prospective student before he or she can be accepted. It is very important that families with government agencies, non-governmental organizations and international organizations always communicate directly with the school.

Admission in all cases is contingent upon a determination by the ACS Admissions Committee that:

1) the student will be able to meet ACS academic standards.

2) the student has a record free from behavioral or disciplinary problems.

3) the school, with its given resources, will be able to meet any special needs of the student’s mild learning disabilities and development of English language skills.

ACS may also develop and implement specific English Intensive Programs to serve local students transitioning from Calendar A schools to Calendar B in which case special admission standards are developed for these programs.