THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND ACADEMIC PROFILE
2014-2015
TASIS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and the European Council of International Schools College Board CEEB Code: 796612
Headmaster: Dr. Charles Skipper
High School Head: Dr. Robert A. Pierce
Director of University and College Counseling: Greg Birk - Phone: +41 91 986 5458 - greg.birk@tasis.ch IB Diploma Coordinator and UK University Counselor: Howard Stickley - Phone: +41 91 960 5108 - howard.stickley@tasis.ch University and College Counselor: Carroll Birk - Phone: +41 91 986 5457 - carroll.birk@tasis.ch
MISSION STATEMENT The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) is part of a family of international schools that welcomes young people from all nationalities to an educational community which fosters a passion for excellence along with mutual respect and understanding. Consistent with the vision of its founder, M. Crist Fleming, TASIS is committed to transmitting the heritage of Western civilization and world cultures: the creations, achievements, traditions, and ideals from the past that offer purpose in the present and hope for the future. Seeking to balance the pursuit of knowledge with the love of wisdom, and promoting the skills of lifelong learning, an appreciation for beauty, and the development of character, each school combines a challenging academic program with opportunities 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 embody and instill the values of personal responsibility, civility, compassion, justice, and truth. THE SCHOOL TASIS is the first of several TASIS Schools founded by M. Crist Fleming. Founded in 1956 as a private, co-educational boarding and day school, it is the oldest American boarding school in Europe. TASIS is accredited by the New England Association
of Schools & Colleges and the European Council of International Schools. FACULTY There are 56 faculty members in the High School, 80% of whom hold advanced degrees. Staff members represent over a dozen nationalities and many speak multiple languages. Our School actively encourages professional development, supports faculty graduate study, and requires peer observation and dialogue about teaching and learning. STUDENT BODY The High School (Grades 9-PG) includes 257 boarding students and 140 day students. The majority of students (61%) come from Europe, with 22% from the US and Canada, 9% from Latin America, 7% from Asia and 1% from the Middle East. 52 nationalities are represented. The Class of 2015 has 110 Seniors and 5 PGs. Our High School retention rate is 75%. EUROPE 61% US & CANADA 22% LATIN AMERICA 9% ASIA 7% MIDDLE EAST 1%
CURRICULUM TASIS offers an American college preparatory program with an International Baccalaureate option emphasizing a strong liberal arts education and requires components of community service and project-based academic travel experiences at all grade levels. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 19 credits and to enroll in a minimum of five full-credit courses each semester or the equivalent.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The minimum requirements for graduation are 19 credits, including: • four years of English. English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL) students must complete at least IB English B1 or EAL 5. Each student is required to pass an English or EAL course each year in order to advance to the next grade level. • three years of mathematics, including Mathematics 2 Extended, Mathematics 3, or the equivalent. • three years of history, including Modern History and US History or IB History. • three years of laboratory science, including one physical and one biological science course. • third-year proficiency in a modern language other than English. Native English speakers arriving in Grade 11 are required to demonstrate second-year proficiency in a modern language that is taught at TASIS from the introductory level, or to continue on to third-year proficiency if they have a background in Spanish, French, or Italian. Native English speakers arriving in Grade 12 and Post Graduate are expected to continue their study of a modern language, or complete one year of Spanish, French, or Italian. • one fine arts credit. • All students in Grades 6-10 are required to take Physical Education. • Senior Humanities, fulfilled by AP US History, Art History, AP Art History, IB Art History, or, for IB students, Theory of Knowledge. • fulfillment of the sports, activities, and Global Service Program requirements each sports season and semester at TASIS. • completion of all Academic Travel assignments and obligations. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of five full-credit courses per year or the equivalent. An alternative program of studies may be designed for students with special talents, interests, or needs. Such a program must follow established guidelines and requires the approval of the Academic Committee.
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 A1: Literature 1 •IB English A: Literature 2 • IB English A: Language and Literature 1 • IB English A: Language and Literature 2 English as an Additional Language • EAL 2: Low Intermediate •EAL 3: Intermediate • EAL 4: Upper Intermediate •EAL 5: Advanced • IB English B1 •IB English B2 Mathematics • Mathematics 1 Core •Mathematics 2 Core • Mathematics 3 Core •Mathematics 4 Core • Mathematics 1 Extended • Mathematics 2 Extended (includes second year Algebra topics) • Advanced Precalculus • AP Statistics •AP Calculus AB •AP Calculus BC • IB Mathematics 1, SL/HL •IB Mathematics 2 SL • IB Mathematics 2 HL •IB Math Studies 1SL • IB Math Studies 2 SL History • Ancient & Medieval History •Modern History • United States History •Art History • EAL Ancient & Medieval History • EAL Modern History • AP European History •AP United States History • AP Government and Politics •AP Art History • AP Economics GRADING SYSTEM AND CLASS RANK The school year is divided into two semesters, ending in December and June. The year-end grade is cumulative, covering the full work in a year’s course and reflects a 45%/55% weighting for the first and second semesters respectively. The Academic Honor Roll is calculated each midterm and end-of-semester grading period. Students
• IB 20th Century World History 1 • IB 20th Century World History 2 • IB Economics 1•IB Economics 2 • IB Theory of Knowledge 1 & 2 Science • Physics •Biology •Chemistry •Ecology •EAL Physics •EAL Biology • AP Biology •IB Biology 1 •IB Biology 2 •AP Physics 1 •IB Physics 1 SL • IB Physics 2 SL •IB Chemistry 1 •IB Chemistry 2 • IB Environmental Systems and Societies 1 SL • IB Environmental Systems and Societies 2 SL Modern Languages • Level 1: French, Italian, Spanish; IB Ab Initio Year 1 • Level 2: French, Italian, Spanish; IB Ab Initio Year 2 • Level 3: French, Italian, Spanish; IB Language B SL Year 1 • Level 4: French, Italian, Spanish; IB Language B SL Year 2; HL Year 1 • Level 5: French, Italian, Spanish; IB Language B HL Year 2 • IB Lingua Italiana Pre-IB •IB Italian A Literature •IB German A Literature • IB Russian A Literature • IB Native Language A (SSST: school-supported, self-taught), Year 1 and 2, SL 9° Grado - Sezione Italiana / 9th Grade Italian Section* • Lingua Italiana 9 •Storia Italiana 9 •Storia dell’Arte 9 *Required for local residents according to cantonal law. Fine Arts • Drawing & Painting •Advanced Drawing & Painting •Ceramics & Sculpture • Photography 1 •Photography 2 •Architecture 1•Architecture 2 • Instrumental Ensemble • Choir •Music Theater Arts •Music Literacy • Drama 1 •Drama 2 •IB Theatre Arts 1 & 2 • IB Visual Arts (A1: Architecture; A1: Photography; A1: Drawing & Painting) • IB Visual Arts (A2: Architecture; A2: Photography; A2: Drawing & Painting) • AP Studio Art: 2D Art & Design: Drawing & Painting; Photography
with a 3.8 or higher receive Highest Honors; 3.5 or higher receive High Honors; 3.2 or higher receive Honors.
TASIS does not rank students or report cumulative GPA because the vast majority of TASIS Seniors have been at TASIS for fewer than four semesters at the time of University application.
RECENT STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES 2014 SAT Scores Verbal Mean
Math
Median
Writing
Mean
Median
Mean
Median
Class of 2014 native English speakers
581
600
578
580
587
595
Class of 2014 non-native English speakers
476
470
547
520
480
480
38% of the Class of 2014 were enrolled in English as an Additional Language courses.
2014 AP Exam Results
In 2014, 56 students took a total of 100 exams: 50% of scores were 4 or above; 23% earned top scores of 5. All students who take AP courses are encouraged to take the examination in this subject.
2014 IB Exam Results
In 2014, 62 students took 293 IB exams: 84.3% of scores were 4 or above; 63.8% 5 or above; 41.5% 6 or better. Number of Diploma Candidates: 29 Percentage of Candidates earning Diplomas: 96.6% (worldwide in 2013: 79%) TASIS Mean Diploma Score: 33 World Mean Diploma Score: (2013) 29.9 Percentage of Candidates earning Bilingual Diplomas: 70.4% (worldwide in 2013: 28.2%) Highest TASIS IB Score: 43
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM STRENGTHS Global Service Program
The Global Service Program was envisioned by Jan Opsahl ’68, the School’s first international student, who feels 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 small organic farms to country-specific institutions, and learn how they can use their individual strengths to help the mission of their groups. The Program awakens students to humanitarian needs, inspires them to build enduring, mutually-beneficial relationships, and leads them to a life of active citizenship and committed service. Students develop as leaders who take initiative, solve problems, and work as a team to improve the communities they serve. This special program is supported by the generous donation of CHF 3,000,000 from Mr. Opsahl and his family to the TASIS Foundation as a sustaining endowment: the Opsahl Global Service Endowment.
Academic & Independent Travel
Travel is an integral part of a TASIS education. Whether Academic or independent travel, students have an exceptional opportunity to take advantage of their location in the middle of Europe. Academic Travel is part of the Middle and High School curriculum, required for all students, and a graduation requirement. Some travel assignments are related to courses of study, some to particular student interests and some are assigned by grade level. Destinations have included Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Strasbourg, Munich, Athens, and Istanbul and more distant locations in the UK, Portugal, Spain, Kenya, and Romania. Juniors, Seniors and Post Graduates
in good academic standing may travel independently on weekends (at their own expense) to take advantage of the cultural diversity of Europe.
Ski Week
Ski Week is an important component of the TASIS experience. It provides a week of enjoying the snow, learning to ski/ snowboard, and being together as a community away from the daily rhythms of the class day. This week heightens student and faculty awareness of the beauty and traditions of Alpine Switzerland. Academic programming for Ski Week includes extra Help Sessions, IB support, and College Counseling sessions.
UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES FOR THE CLASSES OF 2011-2014 (Bold-face type indicates schools where graduates of the Classes of 2011 through 2014 matriculated) NORTH AMERICA Alfred University American University Babson College Bard College Baruch College of the CUNY Bates College Baylor University Beloit College Bennington College Bentley University Berkeley College, NYC Berklee College of Music Boston College Boston University Bryant University California College of the Arts California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge Canisius College Carnegie Mellon University Carroll College Chapman University Clark University College of William and Mary Colorado College Concordia University Connecticut College Cornell College Curry College Dalhousie University Davidson College DePaul University DePauw University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Drury University Earlham College Eckerd College Elmira College Elon University Emerson College Emmanuel College Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts Florida Atlantic University Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Southern College Florida State University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College George Mason University The George Washington University Guilford College Hampshire College Hawaii Pacific University Hendrix College High Point University Hofstra University Indiana University, Bloomington Iona College James Madison University Johnson & Wales University, Providence Kendall College of Art and Design Knox College La Salle University Lake Forest College Lasell College Lawrence University Lehigh University Lenoir-Rhyne University Lewis and Clark College Long Island University, Brooklyn Long Island University, Post Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University, Chicago Loyola University, New Orleans Lynn University Manhattan College Manhattanville College Marquette University Marshall University Marymount California University Marymount Manhattan College Marywood University Massachusetts College of Art and Design Menlo College Merrimack College Miami International University of Art and Design Michigan State University
Middlebury College Montana State University, Bozeman Mount Holyoke College New College of Florida New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury New York University Newbury College Northeastern University Northwestern University Northwood University, Florida Nova Southeastern University Occidental College Ontario College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design Pace University, New York City Pace University, Pleasantville Parsons The New School for Design Pennsylvania State University, University Park Pepperdine University Pitzer College Polytechnic Institute of NYU Pratt Institute Pratt MWP Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Radford University Randolph College Reed College Regis University Reinhardt College Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Ringling College of Art and Design Roanoke College Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Roosevelt University Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Ryerson University Salve Regina University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of Visual Arts Scripps College Simmons College Southern California Institute of Architecture Southern Methodist University Spelman College St. Edward’s University St. Francis University St. John’s College St. John’s University, Queens St. John’s University, Staten Island St. Leo University St. Louis University St. Mary’s University of San Antonio Stony Brook University Suffolk University Sweet Briar College Syracuse University Temple University Trinity College Tufts University University of Arizona University of British Columbia University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Colorado, Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dayton University of Denver University of Florida University of Hawaii, Hilo University of Hawaii, Manoa University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Maine, Farmington University of Mary Washington University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Massachusetts, Boston
University of Massachusetts, Lowell University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of New Mexico University of North Carolina, Wilmington University of Oregon University of Redlands University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of South Florida, Tampa University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Texas, San Antonio University of the Pacific University of Toronto University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Virginia’s College at Wise University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Wyoming Utah State University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wabash College Wagner College Washington and Lee University Wentworth Institute of Technology Western Washington University Westminster College Wheaton College, Massachusetts Whitman College Whittier College Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana York University UNITED KINGDOM Anglia Ruskin University Chelmsford Birkbeck, University of London Bournemouth University Brunel University Cass Business School, City University, London City University, London Coventry University Durham University Edinburgh Napier University European Business School London European School of Economics Goldsmiths, University of London Hereford College of Arts Hult International Business School Imperial College London King’s College London Kingston University Lancaster University Leeds College of Art & Design London Metropolitan University London School of Economics London South Bank University Loughborough University Middlesex University New College of the Humanities Newcastle University Northbrook College Sussex Oxford Brookes University Queen Margaret University Queen Mary University of London Regent’s Business School London Regent’s University London Richmond The American International College in London Royal Holloway, University of London School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London Southampton Solent University St. Mary’s University College The Arts University College at Bournemouth The Sheffield College The Glasgow School of Art University College London University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury University for the Creative Arts at Farnham University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Brighton University of Bristol University of Buckingham
University of Central Lancashire University of Derby University of East Anglia University of East London University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Greenwich University of Hertfordshire University of Hull University of Kent University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Nottingham University of Oxford University of Reading University of Roehampton University of Southampton University of St. Andrews University of Surrey University of Sussex University of the Arts London University of the West of England, Bristol University of Warwick University of West London University of Westminster University ^ of York SWITZERLAND Business Hotel and Management School Business School Lausanne César Ritz Colleges Ecole hotelière de Lausanne European University Geneva European University Montreux Franklin University Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations Glion Institute of Higher Education Haute ecole pédagogique Fribourg International University in Geneva Les Roches International School of Hotel Management Montreux School of Business Swiss Hotel Management School Universität Basel Université de Fribourg Université de Lausanne Università della Svizzera Italiana Universität Zürich Webster University Geneva REST OF THE WORLD The American University of Paris, France The American University of Rome, Italy The Bernstein School of Musical Theater, Italy Erasmus University College, The Netherlands ESADE Business School, Spain European School of Economics, Italy The Hague University, The Netherlands IE University, Spain Instituto Europeo di Design, Italy Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad, Mexico International University of Monaco International University of Southern Europe, Spain Instituto Marangoni, Italy John Cabot University, Italy LUISS: Independent International University of Social Studies in Rome, Italy Massey University, New Zealand MODUL University, Austria Munich Business School, Germany Paris College of Art, France Politechnico di Milano, Italy Saint Louis University, Spain Sciences Po, France Suffolk University, Spain Touro College, Germany Universidad de las Américas, A.C.,$ Mexico Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico Università Bocconi, Italy Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Universiteit Maastricht, The Netherlands Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND
Montagnola, Switzerland, 6926 – Tel +41 91 960 5151 – Fax +41 91 994 2364 – www.tasis.ch College Counseling Office: Tel +41 91 986 5457 – Fax +41 91 986 5462 – email college@tasis.ch College Board CEEB Code: 796612 - International Baccalaureate School Code: 0834