Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
| Number of students |
903 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
10 |
| 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 |
English as a Second Language |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 (Very Good on the Bulgarian grading system). Applicants are ranked based on their results on the Admissions Exam. |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
The ACS Admissions Exam consists of a short essay and a short 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. 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. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes. |
| School bus service available |
No. |
| Uniform required |
No |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
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. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
| 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 playing fields). |
| 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. |