GRADED AT A GLANCE
Dedicated to excellence, committed to learning, empowered to create a better world
Mission
Graded School’s mission is to provide an excellent individual education to prepare students to maximize their
potentials and be responsible citizens in a pluralistic society. The school provides a high-quality, well-rounded,
English-language, American-style education to children of the international and Brazilian communities.
Through its policies and programs, Graded endorses the value of diversity and the virtues of social and
environmental responsibility and cultural awareness.
Vision
Graded School is an international community of learners dedicated to excellence, committed to learning,
and empowered to create a better world. We engage and challenge students to become caring and educated
citizens of the world through varied learning activities that emphasize critical thinking, inquiry-based
knowledge, cultural appreciation, and multiple perspectives. Graded strives to be one of the world’s leading
international schools, offering a premier education to internationally-minded families (expatriate and local) in
São Paulo and serving as a resource for others in the global educational community.
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Dedicated to excellence
Graded School challenges students with a rigorous standards-based curriculum that encourages student ownership,
appropriate risk-taking, and interdisciplinary learning. Students are educated in two or more languages and they have
the opportunity to participate in up to three different diploma programs (American, Brazilian, and International
Baccalaureate). Teaching staff utilize a variety of instructional strategies and assessment techniques to foster high
levels of student engagement and to promote a joy of learning. Parents are valuable partners in the educational process
and are encouraged to support the teaching and learning activities at the school. Ongoing efforts to improve the
campus reflect the school’s desire to maximize learning through purpose-built facilities. The school articulates clear
and transparent operational policies and procedures in order to support excellence in learning through effective
governance, management, and fiscal oversight.
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Committed to learning
Graded School strives to be a community of active learners who continually engage in personal, academic, and
professional growth. Within the context of a collaborative and supportive educational environment, students learn the
habits and benefits of lifelong learning. Graded reinforces student enthusiasm in learning and encourages the entire
community to embrace continual self-improvement. Staff and parents model intellectual curiosity through ongoing
professional development and school-sponsored classes, demonstrating how adults in the community embrace lifelong
learning. Teachers and staff embrace the principles of a professional learning community (PLC) in order to maximize
the learning experience of all in the community.
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Empowered to create a better world
Graded School prepares its students to be active and compassionate global citizens. The inclusion of community
service activities in the educational program and the emphasis on values enable students to develop the leadership
skills and confidence necessary to thrive in a diverse society. Formal educational activities and informal school events
encourage students, staff, and families to celebrate their own cultures, respect those of others in the community, and
develop intercultural competence for a rapidly developing Brazil and an increasingly diverse world. The school
eagerly participates with other educational organizations (local, national, and international) in order to grow itself as
an organization. Additionally, the school strives to increase access to its educational program through an ambitious
scholarship and financial aid program.