Academia Cotopaxi

Academia Cotopaxi (Academia Cotopaxi American International School) has three sections: elementary school, middle school, and high school with grades from PK through 12th grade, which are all located on the same campus. The school sits on 4 hectares of property and is strategically located to serve the full metropolitan area of Quito including the surrounding Cumbaya and Tumbaco valleys. Academia Cotopaxi is engaged in re-defining a contemporary approach to education. One of the important understandings of educators today is the value of a whole child approach to education. While academic achievement is always a priority, schools must be places that attend to the multiple needs of our students. Academia Cotopaxi has joined ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative in an effort to change the focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to a focus on the long-term development and success of our students.  

The school offers a large number of extra-curricular and after school activities starting in Kindergarten and believes that participation in these activities is an important part of a child's education. For high school athletics, the school is a member of the international leagues, Caribbean Area International School Sports Association (CAISSA) and Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA), as well the local league, Quito International Schools Sports Association (QISSA), competing against other member schools in sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball and swimming.

Academia Cotopaxi values the arts as an essential part of every child's education. Classes of music, drama and art are offered by accomplished artists and teachers. The school's music program begins with general music at the elementary level. The instrumental program at Academia Cotopaxi begins in the elementary years and continues through to high school. Every student has the opportunity to learn an instrument. The instrumental programs offered at the school include strings, piano and band. Numerous ensembles and performing opportunities are provided for students throughout the year.

Academia Cotopaxi is an inclusive school, driven by their mission to serve an international community that values diversity. As such, the school accepts children with a broad range of learning and developmental disabilities. The school believes that high quality education is a basic human right for all children, and that including children who learn differently or at different rates enhances the education of all children.

In 1958, Quito was a small capital city with great potential for growth. The established US Mission started to develop and this influx of personnel created a new population of North Americans and their dependents. They realized that they wanted an education that was more comparable to schools in the United States and that provided a greater international setting for their children who would eventually move on to other schools throughout the world. In addition, they wanted to provide Ecuadorian citizens who were deprived of intellect with an opportunity to obtain comparable success to that of American citizens.

Mothers of this group began planning for their new school. One person, in particular, Mrs. Alice Conger, the wife of an Embassy employee, became the driving force behind the establishment of the institution that was given the name of Cotopaxi Academy and she became the first director. Classes were held in the homes of parents, our population was only 20 students from 8th through 12th grade and teachers were the mothers themselves.

Classes were first located in a building called the Ecuadorian-American Center, which no longer exists, located on Avenida 6 de Diciembre. Cotopaxi's educational experience was well underway: the first curriculum was derived from the Calvert Correspondence System combined with courses from the University of Nebraska.

More students enrolled and the first Board of Directors was elected. Between the years of 1959 through 1960, the school established their first campus in a large house on the corner of Avenida de Los Estadios and República de El Salvador. Bedrooms were converted into classrooms, and ultimately new buildings where added. Donald Fournier eventually took over as the school's long-standing and visionary Director and he imagined a modern school campus for Academia Cotopaxi. In the year 1991, Dr. Fournier's dream came true and the school moved to Monteserrín in northern Quito. The program continued to grow and so did the local student population. From then on, the school has had the privilege to work with may administrators and teachers from around the world who have all contributed to who the school is today.

Academia Cotopaxi became the first school to offer the IB diploma in Ecuador, joined several organizations, gained accreditation from regional US agencies, adopted the IB Primary Years Program, and grew their education model to include the ONE Institute language center and the IMAGINE preschool programs. The school is now revered as a premier international school in South America, which has been widely recognized for their progressive educational practices.

• Academia Cotopaxi Website