THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND Academic Profile 2017-2018 Headmaster: Christopher Nikoloff I Academic Dean: Dr. Mark Abisi • Phone: +41 91 960 5115 • [email protected] Director of University and College Counseling: Greg Birk • Phone: +41 91 986 5458 • [email protected] IB Diploma Coordinator and UK University Counselor: Howard Stickley • Phone: +41 91 960 5108 • [email protected] University and College Counselor: Carroll Birk • Phone: +41 91 986 5457 • [email protected] Mission Statement private, co-educational boarding and day school, it is the oldest American boarding school in Europe. Now serving The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) is part of a students from Pre-Kindergarten to Postgraduate, TASIS family of international schools that welcomes young is accredited by the New England Association of Schools people from all nationalities to an educational community & Colleges and the European Council of International that fosters a passion for excellence along with mutual Schools. respect and understanding. Consistent with the vision of its founder, M. Crist Fleming, TASIS is committed to transmitting the heritage of Western civilization and Faculty world cultures: the creations, achievements, traditions, and ideals from the past that offer purpose in the present Of the 65 High School faculty members, 78 percent and hope for the future. Seeking to balance the pursuit hold advanced degrees and 54 percent come from the of knowledge with the love of wisdom, and promoting United States. TASIS actively encourages professional the skills of lifelong learning, an appreciation for beauty, development, supports faculty graduate study, and and the development of character, each school combines requires peer observation and dialogue about teaching a challenging academic program with opportunities and learning. for artistic endeavor, physical activity, and service to others. Believing in the worth of each individual and the importance of enduring relationships, TASIS seeks to Student Body embody and instill the values of personal responsibility, The High School is composed of 253 boarding students civility, compassion, justice, and truth. and 162 day students, with 58 nations represented. The majority of students (55%) come from Europe, with The School the remainder hailing from the US and Canada (17%), Asia (13%), Latin America (12%), or the Middle East and TASIS Switzerland is the first of several TASIS Schools Africa (3%). The Class of 2018 has 125 seniors and one founded by M. Crist Fleming. Founded in 1956 as a postgraduate. The High School retention rate is 87%. TASIS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and the European Council of International Schools • College Board CEEB Code: 796612 • International Baccalaureate School Code: 0834 Via Collina d’Oro 15, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland Tel: +41 91 960 5151 Fax: +41 91 994 2364 Website: www.tasis.ch Course Offerings English • Introduction to Literature • World Literature • World Literature Honors • American Literature • British Literature • AP English Language and Composition • AP English Literature and Composition • IB English A Literature 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • IB English A Language and Literature 1 and 2 (SL/HL) English as an Additional Language • English Grammar & Composition 1 • English Grammar & Composition 2 • English Grammar, Composition & Literature 1 • English Grammar, Composition & Literature 2 • IB English B 1 and 2 (HL) Mathematics • Mathematics 1 Core • Mathematics 2 Core • Mathematics 3 Core • Mathematics 4 Core Curriculum • Mathematics 1 Extended • Mathematics 1 Advanced Honors • Mathematics 2 Extended (includes second-year Algebra topics) TASIS offers an American college preparatory program with • Advanced Precalculus Honors International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs, • AP Statistics • AP Calculus AB • AP Calculus BC emphasizing a strong liberal arts education and requiring • IB Mathematics 1 and 2 (SL/HL) components of community service and project-based academic • IB Math Studies 1 and 2 (SL) travel experiences at all grade levels. Students are expected to History complete a minimum of 19 credits and to enroll in a minimum of • Ancient & Medieval History • Modern History five full-credit courses each semester. (An alternative program of • United States History • Art History studies may be designed for students with special talents, interests, • International Relations • United States Government or needs. Such a program must follow established guidelines and • EAL Ancient & Medieval History • EAL Modern History requires the approval of the Academic Committee.) • AP European History • AP United States History • AP Art History • AP Government and Politics • AP Economics • IB History 1 and 2 (SL/HL) Graduation Requirements • IB Business Management 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • IB Economics 1 and 2 (SL/HL) The minimum requirements for graduation are 19 • IB Theory of Knowledge 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • IB Art History (SL) credits, including the following: Science • Four years of English. All seniors must pass either a 12th-grade • Biological Sciences • Physics • Biology • Chemistry • Ecology English course offered by the English Department or IB English • EAL Biology • AP Biology • AP Physics B 2 HL (IB Diploma candidates only). • IB Biology 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • Three years of Mathematics, completing through Mathematics 3 • IB Physics 1 and 2 (SL/HL) at a minimum • IB Chemistry 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • Three years of History, including Modern World History and either • IB Environmental Systems and Societies 1 and 2 (SL) US History or an IB Group 3 course, and successful completion of Modern Languages the Civic Literacy Exam • Level 1: French, German, Italian, Spanish • Three years of Laboratory Science, including one physical and • Level 2: French, German, Italian, Spanish; IB ab initio 1 one biological science course • Level 3: French, German, Italian, Spanish; IB ab initio 2; IB B SL 1 • Third-year proficiency in a modern language other than English • Level 4: French, German, Italian, Spanish; IB Language B HL 1, SL 2 that is offered at TASIS. Native English speakers arriving in grade • Level 5: French, Italian, Spanish; IB B HL 2 11 are required to demonstrate second-year proficiency in a • IB Italian A Language & Literature 1 (SL/HL) modern language that is taught at TASIS from the introductory • IB Italian A Literature 2 (SL/HL) level or continue on to third-year proficiency if they have a • IB Russian A Language & Literature 1 and 2 (SL/HL) background in French, German, Italian, or Spanish. Native • IB Native Language A Literature 1 and 2 (SL: SSST) English speakers arriving in grade 12 or for a postgraduate year are expected to continue their study of a modern language or 9° Grado - Sezione Italiana / 9th Grade Italian Section* complete one year of French, German, Italian, or Spanish. • Lingua Italiana 9 • Storia Italiana 9 • Storia dell’Arte 9 • One Fine Arts credit in visual arts, music, or theater *Required for local residents according to cantonal law. • All students in grades 9-10 are required to take Physical Fine Arts Education. • Drawing & Painting • Advanced Drawing & Painting • One Senior Humanities credit, fulfilled by AP US History, • Photography 1 and 2 • Architecture 1 and 2 • Ceramics & Sculpture Art History, AP Art History, IB Art History, or, for IB Diploma • Instrumental Ensemble • Choir • Music Theater Arts • Music Literacy candidates, Theory of Knowledge • Drama 1 and 2 • Participation in the Global Service Program each semester for • AP Studio Art: Drawing grades 9-11 • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design • Completion of all Academic Travel assignments and obligations • IB Visual Arts 1 and 2 (SL/HL) • Fulfillment of the Sports and Activities requirement each semester TASIS POLICY ON REPORTING GPA AND CLASS RANK The school year is divided into two semesters, ending in January and June. The year-end grade is cumulative, covering the full work in a year’s course and reflecting a 50%/50% weighting for the first and second semesters, respectively. The Academic Honor Roll is calculated each midterm and end-of-semester grading period. Students with a GPA of 3.8 or higher in a given semester receive Highest Honors while those with a 3.5 or higher receive High Honors and those with a 3.2 or higher receive Honors. TASIS does not rank students or report cumulative GPA because the majority of TASIS seniors have been at TASIS for fewer than four semesters at the time of university application. Recent Test Scores IB EXAMS TASIS 2017 TASIS 2016 Worldwide Average Number of diploma candidates 58 57 28.7 (2016) Percentage earning diplomas 98.3% 98.2% 79.3% (2016) Mean diploma score 31.7 31.4 30.0 (2017) Highest IB score 42 41 – Percentage earning Bilingual Diplomas 53% 63% 22.9% (2017) In 2017, 82 students took 369 IB subject exams (scored 1-7): 91% of scores were 4 or above, 69% were 5 or above, and 37% were 6 or above. AP EXAMS In 2017, TASIS students took 107 AP exams: 43% of scores were 4 or above, and 24% were a 5. Students recorded more 5s (26) than 4s (20), and 11 students were named AP Scholars. STANDARDIZED TESTS SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing Math Middle 50% Middle 50% Class of 2017 (49 took the SAT) 530–625 530–640 ACT English Math Reading Science Middle 50% Middle 50% Middle 50% Middle 50% Class of 2017 (15 took the ACT) 19–28 20–32 17–31 18–29 Additional Program Strengths requirement for all students. Some travel assignments are related to courses of study, some are related to particular Opsahl Global Service Program student interests, and others are assigned by grade level. The Opsahl Global Service Program was envisioned by Jan Opsahl ’68, the School’s first international student, who believes that the experience of serving those in need should be required for every TASIS student. Global Service groups partner with an array of organizations, from international nonprofits to country-specific institutions to local charities, and students attend weekly service meetings throughout the year to prepare for service trips throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia.