HISTORY & TRADITIONS

In November 1948, after intensive study by Guatemalan authorities, a presidential decree was issued which authorized the School to operate as an experimental/laboratory school. This status granted it some freedom in developing its curriculum and employing foreign teachers to provide instruction in English. It also meant that the school would develop programs that contribute to the improvement of education in Guatemala. It has had this status since that time, with the last ministerial agreement authorized in 2016 for a twenty year period.

In 1972, the University del Valle de Guatemala was chartered and the School Association became the Foundation of the Universidad del Valle. In this new charter, the School became legally the laboratory school of the University. Both institutions function separately but the relationship between the two is mutually supportive with the end goal of positively impacting education in Guatemala.

During the 1960’s , the School strengthened its ties to the US by joining and being accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and by beginning a relationship with the Office of Overseas Schools of the US Department of State. In 2005, the school joined New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and recently, in 2022 were granted our third accreditation extension. The School is also a member of the Association of American Schools in Central America (AASCA), an organization sponsoring educational, sports, and art events for the students and professional development activities for the teachers of member schools. The American School of Guatemala is an active member of AMISA as well as the umbrella Tri-Regional Association of American Schools in Mexico, Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean.