We’re proud to represent some of the very best international schools from around the world. In our School and Group Spotlight series, we’ll take an in-depth look at these schools, detailing their history, ethos, location and of course, benefits, to help you choose the school that best suits you.
Snapshot: American School of Guatemala
Year founded: 1945 Curriculum: International, United States of America, Advanced Placement Instructional language: English Alternate instructional language: Spanish Start grade: PreK End grade: 12
About: American School of Guatemala
Founded in 1945, the American School of Guatemala (Colegio Americano de Guatemala, or CAG) is an independent, non-profit, and non-denominational institution with a rich legacy of providing transformative, bilingual education in Guatemala City. CAG offers a rigorous U.S.-style college preparatory program from Pre-K through Grade 12, combining the best educational methodologies of the United States with a commitment to the local context. The school’s dual diploma pathway allows students to graduate with both a U.S. High School Diploma and the Guatemalan “Bachillerato,” giving them access to top universities both locally and globally.
CAG is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and recognised by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education as a laboratory school. It serves a diverse and inclusive community of over 1,800 students and is a proud member of the Fundación Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. With an educational model that emphasises innovation, collaboration, and community impact, CAG empowers students to be co-creators of their learning journey and agents of positive change in a rapidly evolving world.
Ethos: American School of Guatemala
CAG’s mission is to empower students to achieve their full potential and inspire them to lead meaningful lives as responsible members of a global society. This mission is lived out daily through the school’s aspirational learning philosophy – a dynamic and student-driven approach that fosters voice, values, and purpose.
CAG believes that learning should take place in a physically and emotionally safe environment where every student is known, respected, and supported. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are at the heart of the school’s values-driven culture, which emphasises empathy, ethical leadership, and continuous growth. Diversity is not only welcomed but celebrated, with a strong emphasis on cultural awareness, bilingualism, and inclusive practices.
Teachers at CAG are regarded as lifelong learners and collaborative professionals who are supported through instructional coaching, professional development, and opportunities to engage with local and international education networks. The school cultivates a culture of excellence, curiosity, and creativity – making it a place where educators thrive alongside their students.
Facilities: American School of Guatemala
CAG’s expansive, purpose-built campus in Vista Hermosa III offers a vibrant and student-centred learning environment across Lower, Middle, and High School divisions. Classrooms are designed to be flexible and tech-integrated, supporting inquiry, collaboration, and project-based learning. The Founders’ Library is the intellectual heart of the school, featuring over 36,000 volumes, digital resources, and curated collections in Guatemalan and Korean literature.
Specialist facilities include fully equipped science labs, maker spaces, music and art studios, and performance venues that foster creativity and exploration. Athletic offerings are extensive, with sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, volleyball, and track & field played on professional-grade fields and courts. The Hornets Aquatic Center and Wilson Gymnasium serve as hubs for physical education and competitive sport.
After-school programs, including performing arts, Model UN, robotics, service learning, and leadership camps, enrich the educational experience and allow students to pursue their passions beyond the classroom. Summer camps and internship programs further support personal growth and real-world readiness.
Location: American School of Guatemala
CAG is located in the leafy, residential neighbourhood of Vista Hermosa III in Guatemala City, providing a secure and family-friendly environment for faculty and students. The school is part of a vibrant urban community with easy access to cultural institutions, nature reserves, international dining, and modern amenities.
Guatemala itself offers a stunning array of landscapes and traditions – from ancient Mayan ruins and volcanoes to colourful markets and colonial towns – making it an inspiring place to live and teach. For educators, life in Guatemala City provides the unique opportunity to engage meaningfully with local culture while enjoying a high standard of living and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
At CAG, teaching is more than a job – it’s a calling to be part of a school that is actively shaping the future of education in Guatemala and beyond.
Benefits: American School of Guatemala
Taxes: The school is able to bring expatriate teachers to the school via a charitable organization in the US, the Bucks County Organization for Intercultural Advancement (referred to as BCO) for up to eight consecutive years or until an expatriate gains Guatemalan residency. By virtue of being on a fellowship, you are exempt from paying into the Guatemalan tax system. For US citizens, the school grosses up the stipend to pay the employee’s and employer’s parts of US FICA; non-US expatriate teachers receive a 10% increase on their stipend to support individual’s tax contributions to their respective countries.
Accommodation: Semi-furnished housing, selected by the school (including major appliances and furniture, basic kitchen items) of value of rent up to $850 per month for single teachers and up to $1,300 per month for teaching couples. Proximity to school depending on availability.
Diverse building amenities depending on availability. One or two-bedroom apartments are assigned for singles, and families and teaching couples are assigned two-bedroom apartments or townhomes depending on availability.
Flights/Transport: Summer travel between school years (applicable only for those who return for the next school year). Up to $1,000 per year for the cost for BCO Fellow and eligible dependents or its equivalent cost to another destination. Transportation for teachers to/from school using the school buses is available on a daily basis on the school’s established bus routes and schedules. It is not a door-to-door service, and it is not exclusive for teachers. The routes may be adjusted depending on the season.
Utilities: Utilities & Internet subsidy of up to $140 / month per household.
Moving Allowance: Relocation Allowance for air travel to/from Guatemala, excess baggage, settling in items for the apartment. Amount: $5,000 total over complete period of participating in BCO program: $3,000 paid during the first full month upon arrival to Guatemala and $2,000 paid on the last month of successful completion of the final Participation Agreement.
Dependent Opportunities: For teachers with children: tuition for 1 dependent child per teacher (dependent will be accepted depending on the review of the student’s school records and learning profile), excluding costs for uniforms, food service, materials, optional excursions, etc. to be paid directly by the parent.
Medical: Health and Life insurance with international coverage from US provider for single teachers or teaching couples; for teachers and their non-teaching dependents, health and life insurance with international coverage through local provider.
Disability: Disability coverage through US provider for all teachers.
Other: Partial subsidy for on-site Spanish language classes offered after school hours at a value of approximately $400 – $600 yearly, depending on the number of classes taken per month; teachers contribute approx. $15/month for classes.
Bonus: $4,000 at the beginning of years 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the school
The majority of our new international faculty now come to us through Schrole. In fact, our school exclusively uses Schrole as our global recruitment tool, having tried and stopped using other sites. This is how much faith we have in Schrole as a valuable resource with good customer service.
Donald Holder
Foreign Principal
Tsinghua International School, Daoxiang Lake
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