American Embassy School

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American Embassy School
Location
Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri

New Delhi
,
Delhi
110021

India
Coordinates28°35′57.15″N 77°10′56.25″E / 28.5992083°N 77.1822917°E / 28.5992083; 77.1822917Coordinates: 28°35′57.15″N 77°10′56.25″E / 28.5992083°N 77.1822917°E / 28.5992083; 77.1822917
Information
TypeIndependent
Established1952
High school principalIftekhar Syed
Head of SchoolDr. Andrew S. Torris
Faculty146
122 full-time
24 part-time
GradesKG-12
Number of students1,160 (2018)
510 5PK-grade 5
310 middle
340 high
Average class size>12 students upper
18 students middle
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Black and gold   
MascotTiger
Annual tuition$18,020-$29,598
WebsiteSchool Website

The American Embassy School (AES), South Delhi, India, is an independent, co-educational day school which offers an educational program from prekindergarten through Grade 12. The school was founded in 1952.

Its English-language motto is "Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve," while its Latin motto is "Domi ac foris," meaning "At home and abroad."

Admission and demographics[]

AES ensures that seats are available for US citizens, provided the applicant meets the school's eligibility criteria. About 40% of the student body holds a US passport. Eligibility in all other cases is limited to children whose parents or legal guardians hold a foreign passport, are temporarily residing in India and based in New Delhi, and the student lives with the parent or legal guardian. An Indian citizen applicant must meet all three of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for admission:

  • the parents of the student are likely to stay in India for a period of 2 to 3 years,
  • the student should have come from an American/international system of education (outside of India with the exception of the American School of Bombay and the American International School of Chennai) and has to return to the American/international system of education,
  • the student is in a critical stage of education and studying in the AES is important for the student’s education. The American Embassy School defines ‘critical stage of education’ as Grades 9-12. 39 percent of the school's 1200 students in Pre-School to Grade 12 are Americans, the majority of students represent 53 nationalities.

Dr. Andrew S. Torris has been the Head of School since 2020. The high school principal is Iftekhar Syed. The middle school principal is Anthea Clifton and the elementary school principal is Charles Bellomy.[1]

For the 2020–2021 school year, there are 166 faculty members. Average tenure at AES is 4.4 years and average years of experience is 17 years.[2]

At the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, enrollment was 954. (Pre-K to Grade 5: 415; Grades 6-8: 213; and Grades 9-12: 326).[3]

Organization[]

The AES board of governors has nine voting members who serve two-year terms with an option to continue for a third year. They are elected by the school's Association, which includes all parents and faculty. The board also has two additional (non-voting) members appointed by the U.S. Ambassador. The School Director serves as an ex-officio board member as well.[4]

Curriculum[]

The curriculum is that of a general academic, college-preparatory school. The school's testing program includes the College Board tests (SAT, SAT II, PSAT). Instruction is in English. French, Spanish, and Mandarin are taught as foreign languages. English-as-an Additional Language services are offered for non-native English speakers. The school also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Advanced Placement courses. Most of the graduates go on to universities in the United States and other countries. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Facilities[]

The school includes two libraries, a 25-meter swimming pool (plus a diving pool and toddler pool), a physical education center with two gymnasiums, computer labs and "Makerspaces," several playgrounds, four clay tennis courts, grass and artificial soccer pitches, and a performing arts center (including a full-sized theater). The school campus is spread over almost 13 acres.

In 2015–16 the school began responding to air quality concerns in Delhi by adding advanced filtration systems to all indoor academic spaces. In 2016–17 several indoor play spaces were also created for elementary recess periods when the outdoor air quality is poor. The air quality index (AQI) in most indoor spaces now remains below 50 throughout the school day. In 2017–18 the school began addressing air quality with filtration systems in faculty housing as well. In 2018–19 the school will be installing outdoor air cleaners in an attempt to improve the air quality in its high school atrium.

School activities and sports[]

Extracurricular activities include sports, performing arts, dance, visual arts, academic games, and other interests such as chess and climbing. The school is a member of (Middle East South Asia Conference) for Grades 8–12 and ASIAC (American Schools in India Activities Conference) for Grades 6–8.

The American Embassy School used to be part of The South Asian Inter-Scholastic Association (SAISA). During this time they were known as the AES Falcons and the school colors were red and white.

The school's community goals are also realized through extra activities. The "Reach Out" program enables students to interact with people from the "jugghi" or slums near the school. In this, the school has helped construct and staff a library, and studying area to promote literacy. The students may also participate in Make a Difference, Rights for Children, Blind Relief Volunteers, Amnesty International, and other community services. 84% of high schoolers participate in voluntary community service programs.

Technology[]

Nearly every classroom has a ceiling-mounted projector. There are cameras, digital microscopes, digital cameras, data probes, video cameras, audio recording devices, GPS devices and scanners.

The school offers a 1:1 program for students in K-12. Grades K-8 use iPads, and students in Grades 6-8 may take them home. Students in Grades 9-12 use laptops. The school also has MakerSpaces in each division.

Library[]

AES has a large library with over 30,000 fiction, non fiction and reference books, 138 magazines and 2400 videos.

Notable alumni[]

  • Aisha Chaudhary, Indian author, motivational speaker.
  • Timothy Geithner, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, attended AES and has visited the school in his official capacity while in India [5]
  • Mythili Raman, American lawyer, graduated AES in 1987.
  • Alankrita Sahai, model and Miss Diva Earth 2014.
  • , inventor, industrial & graphic designer, photographer, independent candidate for mayor of Roanoke City, Virginia (2004 & 2008); attended the school in 1969 while he lived in India.[6]
  • Hannah Simone, actress, attended at age 16.
  • Uma Thurman, actress, attended the school in 1979 while she lived in India.[7]

Controversy[]

In January 2014 the school was placed under investigation by the Indian government for alleged tax and visa fraud by its faculty. A report in The New York Times described a handout provided by the school to new teachers which instructs how to lie on Indian visa application forms to circumvent the need for a work permit, and to avoid paying income tax.[8] The Indian investigation followed the Devyani Khobragade incident in the United States. Since that point, the school has been engaged in the "joyful pursuit of compliance" and is strictly following visa, work permit and tax regulations for all its teachers.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "School Leadership - American Embassy School of New Delhi".
  2. ^ "New Delhi, India: The American Embassy School, New Delhi: 2020-2021 Fact Sheet".
  3. ^ "New Delhi, India: The American Embassy School, New Delhi: 2020-2021 Fact Sheet".
  4. ^ "School Governance - American Embassy School of New Delhi".
  5. ^ Harris, Gardiner (9 October 2012). "Geithner Meets Chidambaram in Delhi". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. ^ George A. Sgouros Linkedin
  7. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13919437_ITM
  8. ^ a b Harris, Gardiner; Weiser, Benjamin (15 January 2014). "School in India Ensnared in U.S. Diplomatic Spat". The New York Times.

External links[]

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