ANS Mission
The mission of the American Nicaraguan School is to provide an innovative and dynamic education so that our students realize their full leadership potential, achieve academic excellence, and make meaningful and ethical contributions to a global society.
ANS Vision
We define learning as the agency to honor your curiosity and engage in the rigor of authentic and complex problems, working together to find solutions in an inclusive and collaborative community. We believe that when we have agency and rigor, our learning transcends time and space, taking us out into a future we create together.
American Nicaraguan School (ANS), is a private, non-profit, coeducational multicultural institution, founded in 1944. ANS is composed of students from more than 30 different nationalities. Providing a rigorous academic program through an American curriculum with classes taught in English. The School is governed by a seven member Board of Directors, with six members elected by the American Nicaraguan School’s parents, and one member appointed by the U.S. Embassy. The school community includes members of the diplomatic corps, foreign and local businesses, and international assistance groups working in Nicaragua.
Located on a 26-acre campus in Managua, Nicaragua, ANS has undergone major facilities renovations over the last several years in primary and secondary, with the new high school building inaugurated in 2011. Facilities also include two soccer fields, a track, a regulation size swimming pool, and a multipurpose covered athletic area. Technology and media resources include a 28,531-volume lending library, the largest of its kind in Nicaragua, and high-speed wireless Internet access across campus. ANS is accredited by Cognia (Formerly – AdvancED) the world leader in certification and accreditation of educational institutions that seek excellence, and by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education (MINED).
ANS offers dynamic and innovative learning opportunities through a U.S. standards-based curriculum, designed to foster depth of understanding anchored in the school’s six core values. ANS operates as a Primary School division (Pathways early learning for three- & four-year-olds to Grade 5) and a Secondary School division (Grades 6-12). ANS also offers inclusion services through personalized learning plans for students with exceptional needs. While English is the language of instruction through all grade levels at ANS, students take Spanish class starting in Kindergarten. In secondary they are given the option of French or Chinese as an additional language. Secondary students can opt to complete the Nicaraguan national diploma program in addition to the U.S. diploma. Rigorous and engaging coursework includes a senior year Capstone Project and an offering of 19 Advanced Placement courses. Courses are designed and delivered in alignment to standards across school divisions. The American Education Reaches Out (AERO) framework includes English language arts and mathematics standards aligned to Common Core State Standards; social studies through the four dimensions of the C3 Framework (college, career, and civic life); scientific practices through the NGSS standards; National Core Arts standards for visual and performing arts courses. Standards-based assessment practices reflect a school-wide commitment to the growth mindset, encouraging transfer of learning as meaningful contributions to society.
Enrollment
Diversity
Asian
European
Latin American (exc. Nic.)
Nicaraguan
USA and Canada
Dual Citizens (US & Nic.)
Over 90% of our student body voluntarily participates in community service groups.
Advanced Placement Program
AP Exam Results 2023
No. Students taking exams: 108
Total number of exams: 229
2023 AP Scholar Awards
47 students
University Acceptances
Over 99% of each graduating class pursues post secondary education, primarily at four year institutions. As the list is extensive, they can not all be mentioned.
United States of America
Allegheny College
American University
Arizona State University
Augustana College
Babson College
Beloit College
Boston College
Boston University
Bradley University
Case Western University
Catholic University of America
Colgate University
Duquesne University
Drexel University
Georgetown University
Hampshire University
Indiana University Bloomington
Fordham University
Loyola New Orleans
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Louisiana State University
Marquette University
Mercyhurst University
Michigan State University
Nova Southeastern University
Northeastern University
NYU Abu Dhabi
Pennsylvania State University
Providence College
Purdue University
Rivier University
Rhode Island School Of Design
Rutgers University
St, Edwards University
Saint Mary’s University Texas
SMU – Southern Methodist University
Stevenson University
St. Joseph’s University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
TCU – Texas Christian University
Texas A&M
Temple University
Tulane University
University of Dayton
University of Delaware
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Miami
University of Michigan Ross
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Texas at Austin
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
Vanderbilt University
Rest of the World
IED Madrid
Northeastern University London
Queen Mary University of London
Seoul National University
Universidad de Navarra
University of Essex
University of Greenwich
University of Lincoln
University of Portsmouth
University of York
Canada
Dalhousie University
Mount Allison University
Saint Mary’s University
Trent University
Nicaragua Acceptances
Keiser Univeristy
Academic Calendar
The 2023 – 2024 school calendar consists of two semesters with 180 total days of classroom instruction. The first semester begins in the middle of August and finishes in the middle of December; the second semester begins in the middle of January and concludes in the beginning of June.
AP Course Offering
- AP US Government & Politics
- AP Comparative Government & Politics
- AP English Language & Composition
- AP English Literature & Composition
- AP French Language & Culture
- AP Chinese Language & Culture
- AP Human Geography
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- AP Spanish Language & Culture
- AP World History Modern
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Drawing
- AP 3D Art & Design
- AP 2D Art & Design
- AP Statistics
- AP Psychology
- AP Biology
- AP Physics
Unweighted Grading
System and Ranking*
Grade | Letter | GPA |
93-100 | A | 4.00 |
90-92 | A- | 3.75 |
87-89 | B+ | 3.25 |
83-86 | B | 3.00 |
80-82 | B- | 2.75 |
77-79 | C+ | 2.73 |
73-76 | C | 2.00 |
70-72 | C- | 1.75 |
67-69 | D+ | 1.25 |
63-66 | D | 1.00 |
60-62 | D- | 0.75 |
40-50 | F | 0.00 |
AP Courses = GPA Factor + 1.0 with minimum grade 73 and 3, 4 or 5 in AP Exam.
*ANS does not rank its students.
US Diploma Requirements (9th – 12th Grade)
- Spanish: 4 years
*A foreign language may count as a prerequisite for admission to any High School grade level.
- Mathematics: 4 years
- English: 4 years
- Social Studies: 4 years (including Economics and History)
- Elective Courses: 4 years
- Science: 4 years (Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
- Physical Education: 2 years
- Visual & Performing Arts: 1 Semester
Nicaraguan Bachillerato Diploma (7th – 12th Grade)
In order to obtain the Nicaraguan Bachillerato Diploma, students must earn the following credits “in addition” to the U.S. Diploma requirements.
- Geography of Nicaragua: 4 semesters
- History of Nicaragua: 3 semesters
- Community Values / Wellness Program: 5 years
- Sociology: 1 semester
- Philosophy: 1 semester
- Physical Education: 5 years
- Visual & Performing Arts: 3 years
Certified Testing Center
ANS is a certified testing center for the ACT, AP, PSAT, and SAT Exams. ANS administers MAP Tests from Elementary through 9th Grade.