New Delhi, India Report of what it's like to live there - 01/29/11
Personal Experiences from New Delhi, India
School Name:
American Embassy School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Middle school and elementary school
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2009-2011
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
government
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
B; my middle school child had to take a placement test, but for an unknown reason.It didn't make any difference as to the class placement, and no one explained why it was necessary.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
B+This is a strength of AES.The school hosts welcome coffees and does a lot to help new students adjust.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
The school itself is a beautiful campus.The teachers are very nice and welcoming.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
B - Most students are treated equitably; however, parents of nonresident Indians tend to run much about the school because they remain here from year to year.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
D;Teachers send electronic newsletters; however, they do not communicate.When one has a concern, they do not listen.Many parents have been very upset about the no homework policy of the elementary school, but the teachers and principal refuse to listen to the concerns.
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
D- There is no gifted program.My children were in the gifted and honors programs at both state-side and international schools.We were disappointed there was no such program here.
5. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
C:After school activities for the elementary are pricey and difficult to get in.It costs $60 every quarter for my child to be involved in after school sports.
6. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
F:With particular emphasis on the elementary school, the standards are not high.My 5th grade student does 2nd grade classwork.We have been forced to hire a tutor.
7. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
F:There is no homework in the elementary school, but my middle school student has 3-4 hours every night.The disconnect between the two causes great amounts of stress for 6th grade students.
8. Administration-parent communication:
D; Very similar to teacher communication.I also addressed a concern with the middle school principal, but she never answered my email.
9. Teacher-student communication:
10. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
Yes, math in the elementary school.The math curriculum is way too easy and fails to teach basic multiplication and division.
11. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No.
12. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
N/A
13. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
N/A
14. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes
15. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
Math
16. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes, although other international schools build these costs into the tuition, AES charges the parents.We just paid $225 for a 5th grade class trip.
17. What activities do you feel are missing?
martial arts
18. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes
19. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes
20. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
Instructional assistants are routinely rude to the children.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
D; One of the middle school counselors is terrific, but the counselor for the 8th grade is not.This counselor told me that she had never spoken to my child personally, but then proceeded to criticize my child and list her concerns.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
A;the library is well stocked, and open on Saturdays.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
D:There is computer instruction for the elementary once per week.Nothing for the middle school or high school.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
B:The PE program is varied.Teachers are supportive and evaluate children on many variables.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A:Good, approximately 20:1.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
D:There are IB courses in the high school.There is nothing in the middle or elementary schools.
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
No, there is no homework for the elementary grades.
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
C-There is an average number of these programs; however, most of the roles tend to go to children of faculty members.The past 3 years that we have been here, all of the major rolls in the elementary, middle and high school plays have went to children of teachers.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
No, it is not available.
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes, but other international school which we've attended have had much more but cost much less.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
Yes there is some bullying.My elementary child was bullied all last year.Despite conferences with the teacher, counselor and principal, the situation was never resolved.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
Its reputation.
2. Greatest challenge?
The disconnect between the elementary and middle school curriculums.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
No, this school has not met my children's needs.
