Academic Profile 2019-2020 Leysin American School LAS Quick Info Chemin de La Source 3 1854 Leysin, Switzerland Reception: + 41 24 493 4888 EST. 1961 [email protected] | www.las.ch LAS is majority-owned by the Foundation for the Advancement of International Education, a non-profit organization overseen by the Swiss University General Inquiries and Visits government. It is managed by the 3rd generation of the founding family. [email protected] LOCATION Head of School LAS is located in the Alpine village of Leysin in the French-speaking region of Dr. Marc-Frédéric Ott, Ed.D. Switzerland, about two hours from Geneva. Tel: +41 24 493 4802, [email protected] SCHOOL TYPE Dean of Academics We are a coeducational boarding university-preparatory school. Mrs. Sabina Lynch Tel: +41 24 493 4821, [email protected] ENROLLMENT Associate Dean of the 300 students, grades 7-12 + post graduate year, senior class of 62 students. Belle Époque Campus Mr. Chris Taylor ACCREDITATION Tel: + 41 24 493 4805, [email protected] NEASC, European Council of Independent Schools, ISO 9001 (first boarding school worldwide), IB Organization. Director of University Advising Mr. Robert Kostrzeski Tel: +41 24 493 4814, [email protected] ACADEMICS Four-year LAS diploma (US high school credential) and the International University Advisor Baccalaureate (IB) Programme give students eligibility to study at universities Ms. Dimple Patel worldwide. LAS offers summer school, a pre-high school for grades 7 and 8, Tel: +41 24 493 4815, [email protected] and an ELA program. University Advisor GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Dr. Malia LeMond The school year consists of two semesters, beginning in mid-August Tel: +41 24 493 4816, [email protected] and concluding in early June. All students follow a university preparatory program and are enrolled in a minimum of seven courses, with each course meeting for 50 or 90 minutes per day. One half credit is awarded for the successful completion of each semester course. There is a minimum of 24 total credits required Faculty to graduate. Information The parents of LAS students come from a variety of business, LAS Faculty Live on Campus government, and other professional backgrounds. Students represent more than 50 countries. 1:4 Faculty to student ratio 10 Average class size 12% 7% 12% 12% 4% 2% USA BRAZIL CHINA RUSSIA JAPAN IRAN 210 Classes/sections 95% Native English speakers 13% 2% 3% 10% 3% MEXICO SAUDI UKRAINE EU KAZAKHSTAN 76% Hold advanced degrees ARABIA Required Credits & Grading System 4 English Language GRADING The grading system is based on a 1 to 7 Standardized Testing 3 Modern Language scale with a passing mark of 3. 2018-2020 or 7 English Language Acquisition (ELA) credits Induction into the National Honor Society SAT EBRW Math is based upon the demonstration of Mean Scores 570 640 3 Science academic excellence, leadership, service, and character. 3 Mathematics Middle 50% 490-640 560-745 Social Studies CLASS RANK 3 LAS does not rank. There is no Subject Tests Averages 1 Theory of Knowledge appropriate ranking system that Math Level 2 696 would adequately account for highly Physics 703 Fine Arts transitory international students, 1 many of whom come here from Bio-M 653 schools in countries with different Chemistry 660 Electives 6 grading systems. Leysin American School encourages students to strive for excellence and to conduct themselves with academic honesty. Personal integrity and mutual trust are of utmost importance. We also realize young adults make mistakes. Thus, in the event a student has two or more instances of academic dishonesty, university advisors are required to report these infractions on student college or university applications. International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme IB RESULTS 2016-2019 The IBDP Programme is offered in grades 11 and 12. LAS students sometimes opt to achieve the LAS diploma (a US high school qualification) in addition to Students registered for exams 225 several IB courses. 184 Full Diploma Candidates Both credentials facilitate university admission to global universities while credit from completed IB HL (sometimes SL) courses may enable students to receive advanced standing at university. IB courses require a variety of internal 31.5 Average points by student passing assessments that complement externally graded examinations administered at the completion of the course. All grade 12 students participate. Only IBDP grade 44 Highest diploma points awarded 11 students participate. IB Courses Offered 2019/2020 GROUP 1 GROUP 3 GROUP 5 STUDIES IN LANGUAGE INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES MATHEMATICS AND LITERATURE ENGLISH - Economics HL/SL - Mathematics HL/SL - English A: Literature HL/SL - Geography SL/Geography HL/SL - Math Studies SL - English A: Language & - History HL/SL - Mathematics: Analysis + Approach Literature HL/SL - Psychology SL HL/SL - Russian A: Literature SL - Environmental Systems & Societies SL - Mathematics: Applications and - Self-Taught A: Literature SL - Global Politics HL Interpretation HL/SL GROUP 2 GROUP 4 GROUP 6 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES ARTS AND ELECTIVES (SECOND LANGUAGE) - Biology HL/SL - Visual Arts HL - English B HL/SL - Chemistry HL/SL - Music SL - French B HL/SL - Astronomy SL - French ab initio SL - Physics HL/SL - Spanish B SL - Environmental Systems & Societies SL - Spanish ab initio SL Curriculum Features 01 02 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (ELA) THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK) All non-native speakers are tested upon admission to be This is a required course for all seniors that examines placed in the appropriate level of ELA 1, 2, 3 or mainstream Western philosophy. It includes trips to European centers courses. Currently about 60% of the students are non- such as Florence, Venice, or Rome. ELA seniors are required native English speakers and about 30% are enrolled in the to take the ELA TOK class. ELA program. 03 04 CULTURAL TRIPS LASER (LAS EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH) These 4-5 day required school trips take place twice each LASER provides student-organized Hot-Spots with the year within Switzerland and Europe. In small groups, opportunity to explore robotics, drone technology, 3-D students study and explore the history and culture of a city printing, app design, and astronomy at the LAS observatory. or region. Studying time is provided during the evenings, and a student report is required following the excursion. 05 CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES All students must participate in at least two after-school sports or activities per week. In the winter, most students participate in full afternoon ski or snowboarding activities. The winter academic schedule is adjusted during non-ski days to allow appropriate class contact hours. - StuCo (Student Council) - Horseback Riding - Theater - Habitat for Humanity - Model United Nations - National Honor Society - Village Tutoring - Rock School (Musical - Digital Video Production - Event Planning - Astronomy Club Performance) - Yearbook - Gardening - International Award - Honor Council - Residence Life - Alliance Club - Media Club - Yoga - Leadership Choir - Environmental Club - Climbing Wall - Art Portfolio - Multiple Sports Teams University Matriculation 2015-2019 UNITED CANADA KINGDOM 6% 20% CONTINENTAL USA EUROPE 52% 17% OTHER REGIONS 5% University Matriculation 2015-2019 UNITED STATES New College of the University of Rochester St Mary’s University, Les Roche International Adelphi University Humanities University of San Diego Twickenham, London School of Hotel American Academy of New York Film Academy (1) University of San Francisco The London School of Management Dramatic Arts New York University (15) University of Southern Economics and Political Paris College of Art American Graduate Newcastle University California (3) Science Polimoda International School of Business Northeastern University (21) University of Virginia The University of Institute of Design and American University (5) Occidental College University of Washington (4) Edinburgh (4) Marketing Architectural Association Otis College of Art and University of Wisconsin, The University of Suffolk University - School of Architecture Design (2) Madison Manchester (4) Madrid Campus Aston University Pace University, New York Washington University in The University of The American University Babson College (2) City (2) St. Louis Sheffield of Paris (6) Bates College Pacific Lutheran Wellesley College (4) The University of Warwick (3) The Hague University of Bellevue College University Wentworth Insititute of University College Applied Sciences (3) Berklee College of Music Pitzer College Technology London (4) Toulouse Business School Blinn College - Rensselaer Polytechnic Wesleyan University University of Brighton Barcelona All Campuses (2) Institute Whittier College University of Cambridge Trinity College Boston University (5) Ringling College of Art Xavier University University of East Anglia Trinity University Brandeis University and Design Yale-NUS College University of Kent (3) Universidad Carlos III de Brown University Rollins College University of Leeds Madrid Bryant University Salve Regina University CANADA University of Leicester (2) Universidad de Navarra Bryn Mawr College San Diego Mesa College (2) Concordia University - University of Oxford Universidad Pontificia California State Santa Monica College (2) Montreal (2) University of St Andrews (2) Comillas de Madrid Polytechnic University - School of the Art Institute McGill University University of Sussex Universita Bocconi (3) Pomona in Chicago (2) Niagara College University of the Arts Universität St. Gallen