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Appendix C ACS Promotional Flyer ============================================== A PREMIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN RESURGENCE A fountain of intellectual freedom A leader in college preparatory education A bridge for cross-cultural understanding A resource for the development of enlightened leadership Founded in 1905, the American Community School in Beirut (ACS) has served young men and women of many nationalities in the Middle East and North Africa. Originally established to respond to the educational needs of the sons and daughters of American educators, diplomats, and businessmen, ACS today serves an international student body, providing a structured curriculum designed to ensure success at the university level. Exemplifying this success is a 1991 survey of alumni which showed that a remarkable 88% of ACS graduates had attained a Bachelor's degree, as compared to the average of 18% for all secondary schools in the United Statesİ. Further, 34% had obtained a Master's degree, while 16% had two post-graduate degrees, including M.B.A, D.V.M., Ph.D., J.D., and M.D. Graduates of ACS include American ambassadors, a university president, and numerous physicians, lawyers and chief executive officers in American and international businesses. No period in its 91-year history tested ACS's mettle as did the nightmare of 15 years of national civil strife in Lebanon. With the end of hostilities, the international diversity of the faculty has been expanded, new academic programs have been inaugurated, and the curriculum enlarged. Buildings have been repaired and upgraded to accommodate computer and other high-technology equipment, and new construction projects have been launched. 100% percent of the graduating classes in 1994, 1995, and 1996 were accepted to college or university. Faculty ACS has a faculty of 140, and a support staff of 48. Its Faculty/Student ratio has averaged 1:8 for the last five years, as compared to 1:15 for private high schools in the U.Sı. The Head of School received the Distinguished Principal's Award from the United States Secretary of Education in 1988. Curriculum The curriculum, taught in English, is American College Preparatory with an emphasis on mathematics, science, language skills (English, Arabic and French), social studies and history, including U.S. history. ACS also offers course work leading to the International Baccalaureate. Accreditation ACS is chartered by the State Regents of New York. It was accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Schools in 1994 after a comprehensive two-year review of its curriculum, faculty, administration, and services. It is the only college preparatory school in the Middle East so accredited. Student Body The co-educational student body has rebounded in size from a low of 45 during the worst period of the civil war to 1,003 during the 1995-1996 school year. The leadership of the high school classes and the Student Council are elected by students as a hands-on lesson in democracy at work. Admission Admission is based solely on academic potential, and is highly selective. Admission is offered without regard to race, creed, national origin, gender, or religious belief. Campus and Libraries The grounds of ACS adjoin the campus of the American University of Beirut, within 100 meters (330 feet) of Beirut's Corniche along the Mediterranean Sea. The preschool, elementary, and high school are housed in two of four buildings, each with its own library. The other two buildings on the 16,000 square meter campus provide a gymnasium, administrative offices, and faculty housing. Budget and Funding The 1996-1997 operating budget of ACS is approximately $4,500,000. Sources of income include tuition (90%), grants from USAID's American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (9%?), and gifts from alumni (1%). A new but growing category includes gifts and grants from international corporations as the business community in Beirut is renewed due to the expanding economy in order to address the educational needs of the children of corporate managers. The alumni annually funds the Malcolm Kerr Scholarship for needy students in honor of Malcolm Kerr '49, later President of the American University of Beirut The Walter Prosser Endowment awards a prize annually to the student who excels in academic achievement and service. The Blair Harcourt '75 Endowment provides a gift and scholarship annually to the graduating student who excels in both athletics and academics. Alumni also contribute to the Turmelle Physical Facilities Restoration Fund (honoring two of the ACS faculty/administrators who taught from 1955 to 1985) to offset damage caused during the civil war. Board of Trustees Mr. Samuel D. Constan '53, Glencoe, Illinois Chairman [President, Crystal Sales & Marketing, Inc.] Dr. Landry T. Slade, Cliffside Park, New Jersey Vice Chairman [Assistant to the President, American. University of Beirut] Mr. Walter Prosser, New York, New York Secretary [International Institutional Services, Inc.] Mr. Einar L. Larson, Northport, New York Treasurer [Comptroller, American University of Beirut] Ms. Eileen V. Knight, Kennet Square, Pennsylvania [Educator, Kennet Square School System] Ms. Barbara A. Porter '71, New York, New York [Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett] Dr. Richard E. Rodman, Asheville, North Carolina [Associate Dean, Warren Wilson College] Ms. Margaret Orr Thomas, Louisville, Kentucky [Liaison, Middle East Presbyterian Church (USA)] Mr. William P. Van Arsdale,New York, New York [Vice President - Finance, American University of Beirut] Mr. Eric Widmer, Deerfield, Massachusetts [Headmaster, Deerfield Academy] Administration Ms. Catherine Carlin Bashshur Head of School Ms. Manahel Kobeisi Principal of the High School Mr. Richard Bowden Principal of the Middle School Ms. Ebba El-Hage Principal of the Elementary School Ms. Maysa Boubess Director of the Pre-School Ms. Laila Faris Alamuddin '62 Dean of Student Affairs Ms. Ibtissam Saadawi Director of Public Relations Alumni Association Executive Committee Mr. Jonathan Stacey '61, President, Beaverton, Oregon Ms. Rebecca Sibley '70, Vice President, Boulder, Colorado Mr. F. William Tracy '53, Secretary, Houston, Texas Mr. Leonard Smith '67, Treasurer, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Board of Governors Mr. Walter W. Beebe '56, Louisville, Colorado Ms. Melanie Brechtel '72, New Orleans, Louisiana Major Joseph A. Bruder '74, Kailua, Hawaii Ms. Deborah Sheppard Burris '68, Alexandria, Virginia Ms. Bette Beebe Crane '57, Spokane, Washington Ms. Donna Egan-Donahoo (Faculty), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Ms. Katherine Moore Grant '70, Gladstone, Missouri Dr. Jon E. Mandaville '55, Portland, Oregon Ms. Linda Handschin Sheppard '68, Bellevue, Washington Mr. Ralph H. Turley III '59, Murfreesboro, Tennessee Dr. Cynthia Soghikian Wolfe '72, Mill Valley, California For Information, Contact: In New York Mr. Walter Prosser American Community School in Beirut 850 Third Avenue, 18th Floor New York, New York 10022 Phone (212) 319-2453 / Fax (212) 752-6971 In Beirut Ms. Catherine Bashshur, Head of School American Community School at Beirut P.O. Box 8129 Beirut, Lebanon Phone 011-961-1-632283 Fax 011-961-1-366050 Internet: http://www.hiof.no/acs/ The History of the American Community School at Beirut |
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