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IB and American
Ages 13 to 18

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CitySofia
CurriculumsIB and American
Language of instructionEnglish
Age RangeAges 13 to 18
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Quick summary of key school information

Language of instruction English
Native English teachers
Extra languages (other than English)
Class sizes Average 19 students / class
Maximum 19 students / class
Extracurricular activities
School bus
School's webpage:
Yearly fees: from: 40,512 лв
to: 40,512 лв
Address: Floyd Black Lane, Mladost 2 1799 Sofia, Bulgaria
Is this school a perfect match for you?

Tell us your preferences and we’ll calculate your compatibility.

  • Based on 10 different criteria including price and location
  • Fees personalised to your childrens’ ages

All the details about this school in their own words

We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 40 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Number of students

954

Number of nationalities represented in the school

15

Most common nationality

Bulgarian

Ratio of local students to international students

97% local : 3% international

Native English speaking teachers

Yes, for the most part

Language support for students not fluent in English

Yes, English as a Second Language courses and Extra English classes after school

Additional language classes offered by the school

Bulgarian, French, German, Spanish

Max. number of students per class

19

Average number of students per class

19

Does the school employ teaching assistants?

No

Use of technology in the classroom

The American College of Sofia is a certified Innovative School (as per the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science) and utilizes Google Classroom, a personal Chromebook for every student and a variety of other educational online-based resources. The Student Computer Innovation and Fabrication Institute (SCIFI) located on Campus is a corner stone of the technological opportunities at the College.

Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)

Yes

Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?

No.

External examinations or assessments available

IB Diploma, State Maturity Exams, AP Exams (Advanced Placement), PSAT, SAT

Results in these examinations

Typically very high

Do teachers assign homework to their students?

Yes

Approximate hours of homework given

2-4 Hours Daily

Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation

~100%

Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs

No

The school supports gifted, able and talented students

By offering them a vast range of curricular and extra-curricular activities

Student access to education psychologist

Yes

Entry evaluation for students

The American College of Sofia admits applicants in the 7th grade in the year they are applying and earn a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.00 out of 6.00 (Very Good on the Bulgarian grading system). Applicants are ranked based on their results on the annual Admissions Exam.

Brief description of entry evaluation required

The ACS Admissions Exam consists of a short essay and an answer/multiple choice test section. The test section is responsible for 4/5 of the total exam grade, while the essay stands for 1/5 of it. The exam is conducted entirely in Bulgarian and is geared to the expected academic development of seventh-graders, therefore there is no need of special preparation. ACS does not organize preparatory courses, nor have we ever authorized any organization or individual to engage in such activity.

Waiting list

The college admits 180 applicants who have completed the 7th grade and have been ranked based on their results on the Admissions Exam. In 2022 there were over 700 applicants. After publishing the results, the first 110 boys and 110 girls are invited to enroll. The remaining applicants form the Reserves’ List. They can be invited if there are vacancies after the deadline for enrollment has expired. When enrolling applicants from the Reserves’ List, only their score at the exam is considered, not their gender.

Deadline for registration (new academic year)

Usually Admission Exam Registration takes place in February with the exam in March or April.

Students can join after academic year begins

Yes.

School start time

08:15

School finish time

15:35

Supervised care before/after school

Students may stay after school unsupervised to work on projects, do homework or simply wait for their parents.

School bus service available

No.

School provided lunches

Yes, homemade and healthy breakfasts and lunches are available to all ACS students, faculty and staff. Dinner is also available to those boarding.

Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)

Yes, vegetarian choices are available daily.

Uniform required

No

Extracurricular activities or clubs offered

ACS offers over 150 activities included in the price of tuition: Volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis, table tennis, cinema group, business club, medical group, Latin American dance, hiking, ecology, psychology, debate, photography, cooking, guitar, arts, chess, programming, science, Balkan dance, choir, student newspaper and many more.

Sports activities included

Three hours per week of Physical Education is included in the curriculum of every grade.

Sports teams or sport competitions available for students

Yes, many

Facilities at the school

Besides the library, science labs, Makers' Space and sports facilities, ACS also has a strong performing arts community with amazing Musical performances each semester.

Sports facilities at the school

Full size multi-purpose gymnasium, indoor and outdoor sports facilities (including a rock climbing wall, dance studio, fitness center, outdoor basketball courts, tennis court and soccer field).

Qualities and characteristics best defining the school

The American College of Sofia integrates the values and best practices of American pedagogy with the rich educational traditions of Bulgaria and Europe. ACS seeks to develop critical thinking, lifelong intellectual curiosity, leadership, and collaboration among multi-talented students of various social, cultural, economic, and geographic backgrounds.

Teaching approach of the school

All ACS courses are advanced college/university preparatory, as the pace and depth is necessary in order for them to achieve two diplomas, and 100% go on to college/university. (In addition, classes within a Profile are considered honors level.) All students earn the American High School Diploma. In addition, Bulgarians earn the national Bulgarian Diploma, and international students earn the IB Diploma. ACS has five academic grades: 8th or “prep” grade (emphasizing intensive English training) and 9th-12th grades. All courses are taught in English except Bulgarian language and literature, foreign languages, Bulgarian geography and Bulgarian history. Bulgarian students choose a “profile”, an area of concentration, within the Bulgarian Diploma Program (11th and 12th grades), in which students go into more depth. All ACS students follow an English profile and choose one other profile from the following: Humanities, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences (biology and chemistry), Mathematics & Physics, Entrepreneurship, Software & Hardware. All ACS students take extra mathematics every year beyond the requirements of the Bulgarian curriculum.

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