The American School Puerto Vallarta (ASPV) is accredited and certified by the following agencies: U.S. Department of Office of Overseas Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-CASI), AdvancED, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexican Ministry of Education (SEP), and Association of American Schools in Mexico (ASOMEX). Furthermore it is recognized as the best school in Puerto Vallarta for Americans and Canadian’s students.

ASPV has a 27 year track record of successful education. The faculty is made up of certified teachers in their English speaking countries who specialize in their respective areas. Over 50% of the faculty hold graduate degrees in their content areas.

Community service is an integral part of the academic and values program at ASPV.

ASPV graduates are accepted to some of the best universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Students have also had the opportunity to study abroad in China and Australia amongst other countries throughout the world.

The campus has ample space featuring large green areas making it an aesthetically pleasing environment. The school hosts a number of activities throughout the year where the community is invited to participate. Events include sports activities, art exhibitions, theatre productions, musical performances, science fairs, among others.

ASPV students recently traveled to Guadalajara to participate in the MathCounts competition where they placed second as a team.

ASPV has an active National Honor Society (NHS) program for high-achieving, motivated students in grades 10 to 12. Since 2005 they have led the regionally acclaimed community service project "Leer y Crecér" (Read and Grow) which supports local public schools in developing libraries and provide community reading opportunities. A more recent NHS project is "Vive un Vallarta Verde" (Live a Green Vallarta). The initiative encourages the school community to protect the environment by cleaning local beaches and recycling waste. NHS is a student leadership program for school in the U.S. and schools abroad that follow a U.S. based curriculum. NHS celebrates student achievement, academic success, commitment to community service, leadership and character.

The recently published digital magazine ASPV News produced by the 2013 senior class at ASPV received top honors recently from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York in 2012.

The students of the senior class of 2013 were accepted to prestigious colleges and universities throughout Canada, U.S., Mexico and England.

All ASPV teachers maintain a digital grade book using Power School. Power School is an international standard used in most U.S. and international schools around the world. The system gives students, parents and teachers realtime online access to grades and attendance 24 hours a day. The system also provides a channel of communication between parents, teachers and administrators. ASPV teachers also maintain course work on a remotely hosted learning management system called Moodle.

The school provides a variety of books and magazines as well as computers in the libraries. The total collection includes over 13,000 titles of books and audio visual materials. ASPV uses online library catalogs Destiny and Ebscohost database of which both can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. There is also Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the campus providing internet access to all students and staff.

ASPV VISION

The American School of Puerto Vallarta strives to be an exemplary international learning community that nurtures each student’s full potential. The members of the community of the American School of Puerto Vallarta believe the following to be the essential components of their vision:

•  We are a unified, caring community that focuses on learning and school improvement.
•  Students are better prepared for the future when they have a multicultural perspective and are able to communicate effectively in more than one language.
•  All students can be successful learners and all members of the community are teachers and learners.
•  Students learn best when education focuses on the whole individual: academic, aesthetic, creative, social and emotional.
•  Learning expectations should be challenging but attainable for each individual.
•  Mastery of basic skills of reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking and technology foster lifelong learning and mastery of other subject matter.
•  Learning is optimal when the participants are engaged in the process and perceive the focus to be of relevance.
•  Teacher efficacy is essential to student learning.
•  Success in school requires active parent participation.
•  To be successful, students must be responsible and accountable for their learning.Skill and desire for lifelong learning is an essential component of quality education.
•  A safe, orderly, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing environment promotes student learning.
•  Opportunities for community service enhance leadership skills, learning, a global perspective and social responsibility.

During the World Economic Forum held in Puerto Vallarta in the spring of 2012, HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited ASPV to discuss global dignity.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway arriving at the American School of Puerto Vallarta. He was greeted by General Director, Mr. Gerald Selitzer and students.	HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway interacting with ASPV students during his visit during the World Economic Forum held in Puerto Vallarta in spring of 2012.