American School of Rio de Janeiro

A School Born of Vision and Community

Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro (EARJ) was established in 1937 through the collaborative effort of American business executives, the American Chamber of Commerce, and local community members who sought to bring U.S.-standard education to families living in Rio de Janeiro. It stands as one of the first international schools in Latin America — a remarkable distinction that still shapes its identity today.

Humble Beginnings

The school's first 'campus' was, in the truest sense, a house. Operating from a residential property in the early years, EARJ quickly outgrew its original home and relocated to Leblon, a beachside neighbourhood, where it began to build a more formal school environment and expand its student body to include both American expatriate families and local Brazilian families seeking an international education.

The Move to Gávea

By the 1960s, EARJ had outgrown Leblon and moved to the prestigious Gávea neighbourhood, nestled at the edge of the Tijuca Forest — the world's largest urban rainforest. This scenic location would become the school's main campus. The Gávea campus was formally established in its current form in 1971 and has been continuously developed since. Its natural backdrop contributes to a distinctive school atmosphere, combining academic rigour with an appreciation for the natural environment.

IB Authorization and Global Recognition

A pivotal milestone came in March 1982 when EARJ became an IB World School — one of the earliest IB-authorised schools in Latin America. Today it holds authorisation for all three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). This gives EARJ a unique position as a true IB Continuum school from Preschool through Grade 12.

Expansion to Barra da Tijuca

As Rio de Janeiro's population and international community grew westward in the 2000s, EARJ responded by opening a second campus in Barra da Tijuca in 2006. A purpose-built, modern facility was completed on the Barra campus in 2014, featuring five-story buildings with state-of-the-art classrooms, high-tech libraries, science labs, a MakerSpace, gymnasium, athletic fields and courts. Today the Barra campus serves over 500 students.

Two Campuses, One Community

With approximately 1,300 students across the Gávea and Barra campuses, EARJ has maintained a single community ethos while serving different parts of the city. Both campuses cover Preschool through Grade 12 and share the same curriculum, values and leadership structure under a single Head of School. The school's 87-year history is a testament to its enduring relevance as the go-to international school for expatriate and internationally-minded families in Rio de Janeiro.

A Unique Academic Model

Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro (EARJ) offers one of the most distinctive academic programmes of any international school in South America: the opportunity for students to graduate with up to three simultaneous diplomas — the U.S.-accredited high school diploma, the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), and the Brazilian national diploma.

This triple-pathway model is not merely symbolic. It reflects EARJ's commitment to serving a diverse student population that may go on to study in North America, Europe, Brazil or elsewhere, and it ensures that graduates are recognised and eligible for university admission in multiple national systems.

IB as the Academic Spine

At the heart of EARJ's Upper School curriculum is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students in Grades 11–12 undertake six IB subjects spanning language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts, alongside the three core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Subjects offered include English Language & Literature, Portuguese Language & Literature, Portuguese B, Spanish B, French B, History, Global Politics, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation, and Visual Arts — a broad and rigorous selection aligned with global university requirements.

Outstanding IB Results

EARJ's IB outcomes consistently outperform global benchmarks. In the Class of 2024, 81 IB Diploma candidates sat exams, achieving:

• 88% pass rate (vs. 80% global average)
• Average score of 33 (vs. 30 global average)
• Highest score of 43

These results place EARJ among the strongest IB performers in Latin America, and reflect the school's investment in academic support, experienced faculty (54% holding advanced degrees) and a low student-teacher ratio of approximately 7.37:1.

Inquiry-Based Philosophy

Across all grade levels, EARJ's teaching approach is rooted in inquiry-based learning and the development of 21st-century skills. The school's mission — to inspire creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and confidence — flows through all academic programmes. The PYP, MYP and DP are implemented as a coherent continuum, meaning students develop internationally-minded habits of learning from their earliest years.

University Outcomes

Graduates from the Class of 2025 spread across the globe: approximately 38% enrolled in North American universities, 23% in UK/European institutions, 31% in Latin American universities, and 8% chose a gap year. While a detailed list of named university destinations is not publicly published, the breadth of placement reflects the school's triple-diploma advantage and its strong university counselling programme.

Two Campuses, Two Worlds

Students at EARJ enjoy the benefit of two very different physical environments. The Gávea Campus — the school's original and main campus — sits at the foot of the Tijuca Forest, one of the world's largest urban rainforests. This gives it a lush, shaded and almost retreat-like character that stands in contrast to the urban energy of most international schools. With over 800 students, it is the larger of the two campuses and hosts the full range of programmes from Preschool through Grade 12.

The Barra Campus, opened in 2006 and rebuilt in 2014, occupies a modern five-story building in Barra da Tijuca — Rio's rapidly developing western neighbourhood. With over 500 students, it serves the growing international community in this area and offers a contemporary, purpose-built environment with cutting-edge facilities.

Gávea: Nature Meets Learning

At Gávea, the forest backdrop is not merely aesthetic — it is part of the school's identity. The campus features interactive classrooms, libraries, specialized science and art spaces, athletic fields, indoor courts, playgrounds, and the unique MuseOn museum, an on-campus interactive arts and learning museum that brings cultural engagement directly into the school day. A recently renovated 350-seat auditorium hosts school productions, community events and guest speakers. A health infirmary is also on site.

Barra: Modern Innovation Hub

The Barra Campus was designed with 21st-century learning firmly in mind. Its facilities include high-tech libraries, dedicated science labs, a MakerSpace equipped with 3D printers and innovation tools, a gymnasium, an athletic field and outdoor courts. The building is purpose-designed for collaborative and project-based learning, reflecting EARJ's inquiry-based philosophy in its physical layout.

Shared Community

Despite their differences, both campuses operate as one school community under shared leadership, shared values and a shared curriculum. The same senior leadership structure, including the Head of School Dr. Steve Desroches, oversees both sites, while each campus has dedicated Lower and Upper School Principals. School events, athletics competitions (under the Panthers banner) and cultural programmes bring the full community together throughout the year.

Getting Around Rio

Families commute to both campuses via contracted school bus services — Santa Rosa for Gávea and Psiu for Barra — as well as private transport. Public transport options also exist for both areas of the city. EARJ is a day school with no boarding, meaning all students return home each evening.

The Panthers: EARJ's Athletic Identity

EARJ's student athletes compete under the Panthers banner, participating in interschool sports competitions across Rio de Janeiro and beyond. The school fields competitive teams in basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, field soccer, running, gymnastics, cheerleading and softball. Athletics are central to EARJ's community identity, with matches and tournaments serving as important social events that bring students, families and staff together.

After-School Activities: Something for Everyone

Beyond the school day, EARJ offers an extensive programme of after-school activities designed to develop the whole child. These span multiple categories:

Sports & Physical Activity: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, field soccer, running, gymnastics, cheerleading, softball, jiu-jitsu and rock climbing. The breadth of offerings ensures students of all athletic interests and abilities can find their niche.

Arts & Performance: Drama, band, guitar, jazz ensemble, ballet and Capoeira — the Brazilian martial art form with deep cultural roots. This last offering is a distinctive EARJ touch, blending local Brazilian cultural heritage with an international school setting.

STEM & Creativity: Computer programming, Lego robotics, cooking, arts & crafts and entrepreneurship. These clubs complement EARJ's curricular STEM emphasis and prepare students for innovation-driven futures.

Academic Enrichment: Literacy and reading programmes round out the academic side of after-school life, supporting strong foundations in language skills across grade levels.

Cultural Diversity as Curriculum

With approximately 39% of faculty being non-Brazilian (alongside 54% holding advanced degrees), EARJ's community is genuinely international. Students routinely interact with peers from dozens of nationalities, and the school's Portuguese, Spanish, French and other IB language offerings reflect and celebrate this cultural diversity. Capoeira sits alongside Jazz ensemble; Brazilian literature alongside Norwegian literature — a curriculum that honours both local roots and global reach.

Counselling and Wellbeing

EARJ's Upper School guidance team provides integrated academic, social-emotional and university counselling support. The school maintains health infirmaries at both campuses and is committed to inclusion and anti-bullying principles. This pastoral infrastructure ensures that student wellbeing is treated as foundational, not supplementary, to the academic experience.

A Mission Rooted in the Five Cs

Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro grounds its entire educational approach in a clear and memorable mission: "To provide an education which inspires creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and the confidence to lead and excel in an ever-changing global community."

These five attributes — often called the 'Five Cs' internally — are not simply aspirational values posted on a wall. They are embedded in the school's pedagogy, assessment philosophy, extracurricular design and community culture from the earliest years of learning through to the IB Diploma.

Vision: Global Recognition Through Character

Complementing its mission, EARJ's vision is "To be globally recognized as a leading international school in academics, extracurriculars and character development." This three-part vision is notable for its equal weighting of academic excellence, co-curricular achievement and character — a signal that EARJ sees itself not merely as a university preparation factory but as a holistic development institution.

IB and the Five Cs

The alignment between EARJ's philosophy and the International Baccalaureate's learner profile is intentional and deep. IB attributes such as being inquirers, thinkers, communicators and principled map directly onto the Five Cs. The IB Continuum — PYP, MYP and DP — provides the curricular structure through which these values are systematically developed, from young children's curiosity-led inquiry to Diploma students' extended essays and Theory of Knowledge explorations.

Purpose-Driven Education

Beyond the mission and vision, EARJ articulates a broader educational purpose: to inspire each child to pursue their passions and strive for excellence in order to achieve a fulfilling life. This purpose-statement shifts the framing from institutional achievement to individual flourishing — a humanistic orientation that shapes how teachers approach student relationships, how counsellors support student wellbeing, and how the school community navigates success and setbacks.

A Philosophy Tested by Results

The school's philosophy is validated by its outcomes. Its Class of 2024 IB cohort achieved an 88% pass rate and an average score of 33 — both well above global averages. Graduates proceed to universities across four continents. The school's athletic and arts programmes produce students who are genuinely creative and confident. These outcomes suggest that EARJ's Five Cs framework is more than rhetoric: it is a working model for holistic international education.