American School of Asunción

The American School of Asunción (commonly known locally as ASA) is an international school in Asunción, Paraguay founded in 1954. It is a private non-profit day school, which offers an instructional program from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school is a bilingual, multi-cultural educational institution which incorporates U.S. and Paraguayan culture, history, language, pedagogy, and values in an educational program for United States, international, and Paraguayan students alike.

ASA offers a rigorous college-preparatory program using a standards-based curriculum. The program emphasizes cooperative learning, critical thinking, problem solving and whole language, as well as to bilingualism and cultural diversity. All students in grades 1-12 are required to study Spanish. Students can graduate with both a U.S. High School Diploma and Paraguayan Studies Diploma. Each grade level is limited to 48 students and is divided into 2 sections.

The school is accredited in the United States by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and recognized in Paraguay by the Ministry of Education and Culture. ASA is also a member of the Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA) and recognized by the U.S. Office of Overseas Schools (A.O.S.).

A representative of the US Ambassador sits on the Board of Governors. Today, the modern campus lies within a traditional Asuncion neighborhood and comprises a student body of approximately 700. The student body is predominantly Paraguayan, although many Americans attend several years. About half of ASA graduates attend colleges abroad, while the other half continue their studies in Asunción.

Students that graduated from ASA have attended prestigious U.S. universities including Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, and Georgetown as well as national universities like Universidad Nacional de Asunción and Universidad Católica.