The American Curriculum is divided into three stages: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. In Elementary School, students aged 4 to 11 enter Kindergarten to Grade 5. Students aged 11 to 14 progresses to Middle School, which covers Grade 6 to Grade 8. They then move on to High School until age 18 to complete Grade 9 to Grade 12.
The American Curriculum is a standards-based curriculum that is governed by six accreditation authorities including the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS), and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). All subject content must abide by the Common Core State Standards or the AERO Common Core Plus Standards. American international schools have the flexibility to design their curriculum based on standards that are relevant to their host country.
Students must complete a certain number of credits from Grade 9 to Grade 12 to be granted the American High School Diploma. In addition, students can sit for standardised tests such as the SAT, PSAT, and ACT to measure their knowledge in particular subject areas.
Here are the schools in Myanmar that offer the American Curriculum:
1. American International School Yangon
Yangon American International School offers the IB PYP alongside the American Common Core State Standards curriculum for their 3 to 12 years old students. Progressing to ages 12 to 18, secondary school students will sit for an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, which grants them an American High School Diploma. In addition to the AP exam, the school offers a college advisory program to help students in Grades 8 to 12 with topics such as note-taking, goal-setting, time management, study strategies and test-taking. The students will also receive advice and support on college and university selection and application worldwide.
2. International School of Myanmar (ISM)
Founded in 1998 ISM offers their elementary to high school students the whole American schooling experience – following a United States curriculum model. High school students will sit for an AP exam which grants them a high school diploma by WASC and university credits at universities across the globe. Additionally, ISM offers the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program to students who are non-native English speakers to prepare students for the school’s regular academic program.
To help their high school students, ISM uses the Maia Learning platform online advice management system, which collects, organises, and analyses detailed information about students' post-secondary plans in order to assist students and families in making educated decisions.
3. Yangon International School
Yangon International School has two campuses – Yangon and Mandalay. Both campuses are a college preparatory group that offers a North American and International curriculum for elementary and high school students. High school students on both campuses will receive an American high school diploma and can take either the AP or International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) examination.
4. The International School Yangon
The International School Yangon is a non-profit preschool through 12th Grade institution that was established in Yangon in 1955. The school provides an American Curriculum through Grade 10 and the International Baccalaureate curriculum through Grades 11 and 12. Apart from academics, the school also offers an array of after-school activities to ensure that students have a balanced learning experience. Additionally, The International School Yangon integrates service learning and compassion into their curriculum to empower its students to be a force for positive change in the world.
5. Wells International School – Yangon Campus
A sister school of the Wells International School in Thailand is located in Yangon. The school follows the American curriculum and is currently open for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Different curriculum types are used in early childhood education to support students effectively. Each teacher is free to teach as they see fit. The American Common Core, Literacy By Design, and Jolly Phonics are all used as references in the study materials. The school will be upgrading their classes year by year.
6. Yangon Academy International School
Yangon Academy International School is a private international school in Yangon's Bahan Township that teaches students from pre-nursery to Grade Twelve. The School, which opened its doors in 2004, follows American curriculum standards and uses English as its main medium of instruction. The AP program is offered to their upper-secondary students to empower their graduates to enrol and be successful with their studies in any major universities around the world.
7. Thalun International School
Thalun International School follows an American-style curriculum guided by AERO standards to support quality teaching and learning for their students in preschool to secondary school. As classes are conducted in English apart from their Myanmar language program, the school provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support for non-native speaking students. At each grade level, students are exposed to the beauty and historical significance of Myanmar through field trips and cultural studies.
8. The Khayay International School
The Khayay International School in Yangon caters to preschool, primary and junior high students. The Iwasaki Method, an integrated pedagogy that the school created for 21st-century kids, serves as the foundation of its preschool curriculum. On the other hand, their primary and junior high school curricula are based on a combination of the American, French, and Japanese curricula with the Myanmar National Curriculum.
9. Ayeyarwaddy International School (AIS)
AIS in Madalay is an accredited international school that offers the American curriculum to students from nursery to Grade 12. AIS is also a regional educational pioneer, hosting on-site TOEFL and SAT exams and providing AP courses to their secondary students. Apart from academics, the school also offers an array of after-school activities to ensure that students have a balanced learning experience.
Additionally, as part of their ECAs, AIS students represent Myanmar in student exchange tours in Kagoshima, Japan. The students are exposed to the Japanese culture and environment.
Continue reading:
• Preschool & Kindergarten Education System in Myanmar
• Primary School Education in Myanmar
• School Education System in Myanmar
• Secondary/High School Education System in Myanmar
