1.  What are the school hours?

School starts at 8:05 am and ends at 3:20 pm.

2.  What is the school calendar?

PACA follows the American model of school year by starting in August and ending in June. There are six weeks of vacation December-January and June-July.

3.  What is the dual curriculum program?

Brazilian students, and those from other countries where the first language is not English, must enroll in the Dual Curriculum, where a student graduates with two high school diplomas – American and Brazilian.  Under the name Escola Cristã Pan Americana, students who enroll in the Brazilian curriculum receive an additional secondary school diploma.  Brazilian courses include Química, Artes, Matématica Unificada, Redação, Geografia do Brasil, História do Brasil, and Geografia Mundial. 

4.  What is the Advanced Placement Program?

PACA offers the Advanced Placement program instead of the IB. There are many benefits for students who take AP courses. They can study subjects they are interested in and challenge themselves with students who are similarly motivated. AP often helps steer students who are unsure about their future plans toward college or advanced studies, and most colleges view any AP experience as a plus. This gives students a head start and increases their future options. AP prepares students for the future by giving them tools that will serve them well throughout their college career.

The AP courses offered regularly at PACA are: English, US History, Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus.  These courses are great preparation for the Brazilian “vestibular.”

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. It gives high school students exposure to college level material through involvement in an AP course, and then gives them an opportunity to show what they have learned by taking an AP Exam. Colleges and universities are then able to grant credit, placement, or both to these students.

5.  What are the extra-curricular activities offered at PACA?

National Honor Society / Knowledge Bowl Tournament / Drama Performance/ Choir Concert / Musicals / Community Service Activities / Student Government / Varsity & JV Sports Programs:  Softball (M, W), Volleyball (W), Cheerleading (W), Basketball (M, W), Soccer (M, W), Indoor Soccer (M).

6.  What sports does the school offer?

Our sports programs are offered for both boys and girls in high-school and middle-school. PACA participates in the São Paulo High School League and competes against the other American/International schools in the area. PACA Athletes will be challenged in futsal (boys), volleyball (girls), softball (both), basketball (both), and soccer (both). The school also competes in 2 international tournaments a year against other American/International schools from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay at the Nosso Recanto camp (www.nr.com.br).

7.  Is there a cafeteria?

The school does have a cafeteria but it is run by an independent company called American Cafeteria. American Cafeteria does provide lunches at a reasonable cost. They offer a flexible monthly payment plan to all parents. Services and payments are negotiated directly with them. Eating from the cafeteria is an optional service, therefore not included in your monthly tuition bill. Students are allowed to bring sack lunches.

8.  Is there transportation?

Transportation services are provided by an outside company called "Verbo da Vida." They have eight school routes around the city. Services and payments are negotiated directly with them. Their goal is to provide safety, comfort, and responsible transportation to our students. For contact information, please download their brochure.

9.  Does PACA offer Honor Courses?

Specified courses could be considered honors if the student does appropriate extra course work. The honors course program is designed to stimulate the capable, motivated student who is able to go beyond what is done in the regular classroom, and/or the student who has an unusually strong interest in a particular subject area. For more information, please download the school profile.