The School | Pan American School of Bahia (Pasb) - Escola Internacional, Salvador BA

Quality

The only international school in Bahia. IB WORLD SCHOOL SINCE 2012

More than a school – a life project.

We asked our community: “Why did you choose PASB for your children?”

Most saw in the school a life project, the possibility of giving their children a whole-child education – knowledge, competencies, and attitude (conceptual learning, competence learning, character learning).

Some had doubts before making their choice because for over 60 years we have been a school that is different from other local schools. However, when they got to know PASB, they fell in love. We live our authenticity in many ways – one of these is a strong collaborative mindset about people and society. This has been very important to us since our origin because PASB was founded by foreign families who valued making a contribution to society as the core of their children’s education.

This is the true mindset of belonging to a world without boundaries.

International School

PASB is a member of several international school associations around the world. Our students benefit from the exchange of best practices in global education, such as:

✪ Holistic Child Education

Education focused on the development of the individual as a whole. Students are encouraged and guided to become experts and the protagonists of their own learning journeys.

✪ Digital Fluency

A Google reference school; the student acquires knowledge for the instrumental and conscious use of technology; familiarity with the Maker Culture and the possibility of developing projects in MakerSpaces.

✪ Future Fluency

Development of essential skills to deal with the exponential speed of changes, including critical thinking, creativity, complex problem solving, cognitive flexibility, decision making, empathetic leadership, and more.

✪ 3 C’s Based Education

Conceptual Learning, Competency Learning, Character Learning – education based on understanding concepts, building skills and competencies, and strengthening core values to develop character.

✪ International Mindedness

An inclusive mindset, which works towards full development of autonomy and purpose.

We are not a commercial school. We are a parent association.

PASB is more than a school, it is a community of knowledge led by a parent association.

We seek to open a world of unlimited possibilities for our children, through a truly international education.

We understand that we are raising people who are capable of being the authors of their own stories, which starts here, from ages 2 to 18.

Early Childhood Center – Pre K-2, Pre K-3, Pre K-4, and Kindergarten
Elementary School – Years 1 through 5
Middle School – Years 6 through 8
High School – Years 9 through 12

Three Diplomas

Being a global citizen not only means possessing language and cultural skills. You also need the opportunity to decide where you want to build your stories.

At PASB, our students have access to three diplomas: the Brazilian Ensino Médio Diploma, the American Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a rigorous university preparatory program at an advanced level, which prepares students to succeed at the university level and in life. The program is designed for highly motivated students and is offered during the last two years of High School. At the same time, it also allows students to meet the requirements of the national educational system and the regulations established by the Brazilian Ministry of Education – MEC. This diploma is accepted for admission to several Brazilian universities and other universities worldwide.

🎖️International Baccalaureate (IB DP)

🎖️American High School Diploma

🎖️Brazilian Ensino Médio Diploma (MEC)

About the IB Program

PASB is one of the IB world schools, authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for Years 11 and 12, and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) from Pre K-3 to Year 5. This authorization is granted to schools which offer rigorous, challenging, and differentiated IB educational programs.

Message from the Superintendent

Dear PASB Community,

Greetings! Welcome to the website of the Pan American School of Bahia. Founded in 1960, PASB works to inspire, challenge and ensure the success of each of our students. As the first and only international school in Salvador, PASB has a strong tradition of academic excellence and educational contribution to both the city and international communities.

At PASB, students have unique opportunities to develop their own academic and creative skills, along with a variety of experiences that help them understand the world in a wider manner. Our goal is to develop world leaders and active members of the community. Our graduates are prepared to face the world’s challenges, solve complex problems, embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately to start making a difference in Brazil and the world.

Focusing on a personalized learning process in a healthy and positive school environment in which students engage in academic, sports, arts, and social service activities, PASB works to empower our students to reach their fullest potential and make a positive impact on the world.

Mr. Mike Martell
Superintendent

Language - more than bilingual, we experience English in a multicultural environment
English is our school’s official language. Therefore, our classes in all grades and subjects are taught in English. The only exceptions are: Brazilian History and Geography (Secondary School), Spanish (Secondary School), and Portuguese (ECC/ES/Secondary).

The students are also encouraged to speak English outside the classroom, experiencing the language while interacting in an environment which connects different nationalities.
School Routine - Immersion in an active knowledge community
The school calendar consists of 200 days, including a number of academic, cultural, and sporting events held on Saturdays fulfilling both Brazilian and U.S. requirements.

Based on a North-American school calendar, the academic year begins in early August. The first semester lasts until mid-December and the second semester goes from late January until mid-June.
For the Early Childhood students, classes start punctually at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., with the option of extracurricular activities and sports from 2:40 to 3:20 p.m., from Monday to Thursday.

For Elementary School students, classes start punctually at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m., from Monday to Friday. The afterschool program is offered from Monday to Thursday, from 2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For the older students in Middle and High School, the classes start punctually at 7:45 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m., from Monday to Friday. The sports program is offered until 6 p.m.
Service Learning
Understanding themselves as transformative agents of reality.

Our school has a strong mindset of collaboration between people and society. In its origin, PASB was founded by foreign families who valued giving and contributing as the basis of their children’s education. Therefore, learning through community service (Service Learning) is a part of our childrens’ education from an early age. It is in our core, it is not merely a front – it is the true mindset of belonging to a world without borders.

Learn more

Our History

1960

School was founded, Campo Grande campus.
1967

School families gathered for a General Assembly to establish the “Pan American School Association” and founded the school.
1971/1972

Goes & Gantois, Alec Watson, Tex Hargon, Boll Born, Maury Lane, and Hermete Frignani, donated more than twelve thousand square meters of land for the construction of a new school building.
1972

Funds were raised for the construction of the new campus.
1973

Patamares Campus was under construction.
1973

Last class graduates on the Campo Grande campus.
1974

The school was officially transferred to the new campus in Patamares.
1977

New High School building constructed.
1978

The first student to have spent an entire academic career at PASB graduated.
1980-1983

Under the direction of Mr. David Marston, new chemistry and physics laboratories were built along with an art room.
1982

The indoor Sports Court was built.
1985/1986

The school celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary).
1997

Inauguration of the school’s pool.
2010/2011

PASB celebrated its 50th anniversary.
2012

PASB is authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, becoming an IB World School.
2014

The Early Childhood campus (PASBinha) is inaugurated.
2017

PASB starts the process of authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
2019

PASB gets full authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP).
2021

New Campus Project - created by Perkins&Will, who have vast experience in the idealization of inspiring and innovative educational environments, with projects in the U.S., Canada, and China.