Graded - The American School of São Paulo

"Graded – The American School of São Paulo is one of Latin America's most established international schools, with a history stretching back more than a century."

Founded on October 17, 1920, the school opened its doors in a modest schoolhouse on Avenida São João in the heart of São Paulo, serving the city's growing community of American expatriates and internationally minded families. Over the decades, Graded grew alongside São Paulo itself, and in 1961 the school relocated to its current campus on Avenida Giovanni Gronchi in the upscale Morumbi neighborhood, where it continues to serve families today. The school's full official name, Associação Escola Graduada de São Paulo, reflects its deep roots in the Brazilian context, even as its identity and programming remain fundamentally international in character. Known simply as Graded by the families and educators who call it home, the school has built a reputation as a serious academic institution that combines an American educational tradition with the globally recognized International Baccalaureate curriculum. For relocating professionals and expatriate families seeking a rigorous, internationally accredited education for their children in São Paulo, Graded represents one of the city's most prominent and trusted options. The school's current campus in Morumbi places it in one of São Paulo's well-known residential districts, with the campus situated on terrain facing the Paraisópolis neighborhood. The location offers families a sense of community within one of the world's largest and most dynamic cities, and the campus itself has evolved over more than six decades to support the needs of a contemporary international school community. As an IB-framework school, Graded offers students a curriculum designed to develop independent thinkers who are prepared for higher education and engaged global citizenship. The International Baccalaureate is widely recognized by universities around the world, making Graded a particularly attractive choice for families who anticipate continued international mobility and want their children's academic credentials to travel with them. The school's American educational heritage informs its culture and community feel, while the IB structure ensures that students are held to internationally benchmarked academic standards. English serves as the primary language of instruction, which is a significant draw for English-speaking expatriate families arriving from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries. At the same time, the school's location in Brazil naturally situates students within a Portuguese-language environment, offering meaningful opportunities for cultural and linguistic engagement with the broader São Paulo community. What makes Graded distinctive is the rare combination of longevity, academic credibility, and genuine international community that few schools in the region can match. With over a hundred years of continuous operation, the school carries an institutional depth that newer international schools are still working to build. For families relocating to São Paulo, Graded offers not just a school, but a community with deep roots and a proven track record of preparing students for life beyond Brazil's borders.