Nurturing Hearts | Developing Minds | Educating for Eternity
School Profile for 2017-2018School Code: 910-675School and Community
Pan American Christian Academy, commonly known as PACA, is a nondenominational, college-preparatory, Christian, American school located in São Paulo, Brazil - a city with a metropolitan population of about 22 million (São Paulo is the largest business, industrial, and cultural center of South America). PACA students reflect the multinational community from which they come. Today the school serves the children of mission organizations, diplomatic, business and professional families with a dual curriculum program (American and Brazilian). PACA’s enrollment averages 340 students: 170 in grades Pre K-5, and 170 in grades 6-12. Our student body is approximately 30% North American, 30% Brazilian, 29% Korean, and 11% other nationalities. Our 8.9 acres of campus and facilities, place PACA in a class with the best international schools in South America. Our maintenance and service crew provide excellent care to our 22 classrooms, science laboratory, library, media center, computer center, learning lab, gymnasium, regulation-size athletic field, outside courts, cafeteria, playgrounds and a 25-meter swimming pool. English is the language of instruction. All students follow an American Curriculum and receive an American high school diploma. Students may concurrently take course work taught in Portuguese to earn a Brazilian diploma. The current faculty of 40 are all degreed and certified with 71% holding a Post-Graduate or Master’s Degree. The student-faculty ratio is approximately 10:1. School routine begins at 8:05 am and ends at 3:20 pm. The school calendar follows two semesters: August to December, and January to June. PACA provides a minimum of 200 school days in its calendar year. School Administrators: Robin Rugg - Superintendent Ana Lúcia Soldi - Director of Brazilian Studies Nelson Dewey - Secondary Principal (6-12) Jennifer Kierstead - Elementary Principal (K-5) Claudia Kuhnast - Guidance Counselor Kevin Flurry - Director of Development Telma Baldacci - Director of Operations Marcia Teixeira - Executive Secretary Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (AdvancEd/SACS) Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Ministério da Educação (MEC) Member of: Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA) Association of American Schools in Brazil (AASB) CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION Preschool and Kindergarten: Students enjoy an all day curriculum designed to develop reading, writing, oral language, math, music, and art skills. Our early childhood students have opportunities for social interaction to help promote personal responsibility and growth. Elementary and Middle School: Our emphasis is on basic skills in reading, language, mathematics, social studies, science, computers, and physical education. Students will have special activities in sports, music, and drama. We offer a learning lab to assist students with learning disabilities. High School: The academic program is college preparatory, designed to prepare students for entry into colleges and universities in the United States, Brazil, and around the world. Advanced Placement and Honors courses challenge students even further. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety interscholastic sports and co-curricular activities. Brazilian High School Diploma: 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, Geografia Mundial. Filosofia, e Sociologia. For the Class of 2015, 19 students out of 25 graduated with a Brazilian High School Diploma. Advanced Placement Programs: PACA offers Advanced Placement courses to qualified students to enhance and expand their educational experience. The courses offered regularly are: English Language, English Literature, US History, Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus. Honors Program: Core courses may become honors courses with permission from the instructor and approval of an in-depth additional assignment. Three Honors Courses is the maximum a student may take within a school year. Extra-Curricular Activities: 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) HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS American Diploma: Twenty-five credits are required to receive the American diploma. American and Brazilian diplomas (Dual): Required to complete twenty-eight credits. The rigor of meeting requirements for both diplomas limits the choice of electives from which a student can choose. Department American (Need a total of 25 credits) Dual (Need a total of 28 credits) English 4 4 General English 9, English 10-World Literature, English 11-American Literature; English 12-British Literature, AP English Language, AP English Literature Math 3 4 Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Math/Trigonometry, AP Calculus, Unified Math Science 2 4 Physical Science, Biology or AP Biology, AP Chemistry or Quimica, Physics Social Studies 2 4.5 Ancient World History I, Modern World History II, US History or AP US History, US Government, Brazilian Geography, Brazilian History, Philosophy, Sociology Portuguese* 4 4.5 Portuguese Language is taught in 4 levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Special Portuguese, Advanced Portuguese & Composition Bible* 4 4 Life of Christ (9), Old Testament Survey (10), Church History / Theology (11), and Worldview (12) P.E. 2 2 Physical Education or Sports Credit Fine Arts 1 3D Art, Performing Arts, Art, Advanced Art, Yearbook Electives 4 3D Art, Speech, Knowledge Bowl, College Prep Writing, Forensics, Yearbook, World Geography, Music, College Applications, Drama Other: Teacher Aide, Study Hall (no credit) * 1.0 credit for each year of study at PACA GRADING SYSTEM AND CLASS RANK The GPA is computed from final grades in all courses. GPA is calculated by converting grades to total points and dividing by total credits. Grades earned at other schools are not included in the PACA GPA. AP classes receive 1.0 extra grade point and Honors classes receive an extra 0.3. PACA does not rank students, except for valedictorian and salutatorian. One unit of credit is granted for satisfactory completion of courses that meet five days a week for 45 minute periods for 200 days. One half unit of credit is granted for successful completion of semester courses that meet for the same amount of time per day and per week for 90 days. PACA has an eight period day. Numeric Grade Letter Grade GPA 98 - 100 = A+ = 4.3 93 - 97 = A = 4.0 90 - 92 = A- = 3.7 87 - 89 = B+ = 3.3 83 - 86 = B = 3.0 80 - 82 = B- = 2.7 77 - 79 = C+ = 2.3 73 - 76 = C = 2.0 70 - 72 = C- = 1.7 69 - 71 = D+ = 1.3 66 - 68 = D = 1.0 65 = D- = 0.7 SCHOOL STATISTICS Class of 2017 - 23 students from 6 nations - 20 Native or native proficiency - 17 students out of 23 also graduated with a Brazilian High School Diploma SAT Scores ERW Math Native English 602 537 Non-Native English 643 683 GPA Distribution 4.00+ 22% 3.5 - 3.99 43% 3.0 - 3.49 17% 2.5 - 2.99 17% 2.0 - 2.49 9% Below 1.99 Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations 2017 (score of 3 or above/total) There were a total of 81 AP exams taken in May 2017. Pass Rate: 84% Calculus AB 6/7 English Literature 11/14 Biology 12/13 English Lang. /Comp. 11/15 Chemistry 6/9 US History 9/10 Spanish Language 12/12 Italian 1/1 WHERE OUR GRADUATES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED The following is a list of some of the colleges and universities to which PACA students have received acceptances from 2013-2017. United States: American University Augustana College Azusa Pacific University Biola University Boston University Cairn University Carleton University Cedarville University Columbia College Cornell University Drexel University Eastern University Emory University Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Fashion Institute of Technology Florida International University Georgetown University Gordon College Hamilton College Houghton College Hult International Business School John Cabot University Liberty University Loyola University Chicago Master’s College Michigan State University Moody Bible Institute New York University Northeastern University Notre Dame Ohio State University Penn State University Pratt Institute Purdue University Rice University Rutgers University Savannah College of Art and Design SUNY Syracuse University Taylor University Texas A&M Trinity University (TX) University of California Berkeley University of California Irvine University of California Los Angeles University of California San Diego University of Chicago University of Illinois (Urbana - Champaign) University of Pittsburgh University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Michigan University of Miami University of Tampa Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington University (St. Louis) Webster University Wheaton College (IL) Xavier University Brazilian Universities:ESPM FAAP Fundação Getúlio Vargas INSPER São Camilo SENAC UNICAMP UNIFESP Univ. Presbiteriana Mackenzie Universidade de São Paulo International Universities: EuropeAmerican University of Paris American University of Rome John Cabot University, Rome École Hôtelière de Lausanne Middlesex University, London Canada McGill University Trinity Western University University of Alberta University of British Columbia Korea Handong Global University Korea University Seoul National University Sungkyunkwan University* Yonsei University |
For a PDF version of the school profile for this year, please click here or on the image below.
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Since 1960, PACA has served the local and international community of São Paulo as a Christian, American and Brazilian curriculum school. Our education integrates Biblical truth in all areas of instruction to guide the hearts and minds of our students and our academic program allows students to receive two diplomas, American and Brazilian, upon graduation which opens doors for them to study in the best universities in the USA, Brazil or throughout the world.
Pan American Christian Academy
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Rua Cassio de Campos Nogueira, 393 - São Paulo, SP - Brazil 04829-310
Brazil Tel: +55-11-5929-9500 | USA Tel: +1-480-471-5779 | Email: info@paca.com.br
Brazil Tel: +55-11-5929-9500 | USA Tel: +1-480-471-5779 | Email: info@paca.com.br