Monrovia, Liberia Report of what it's like to live there - 08/15/23
Personal Experiences from Monrovia, Liberia
School Name:
American International School Monrovia
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?
Elementary
3. What years did you live here?
2021, 2022, 2023
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Embassy
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
HILA is a great option, it serves mostly Liberian kids. I would say that is the best school in Liberia. Unfortunately, I think many non-Black foreigners do not feel comfortable to send their kids there and instead of opt for AISM. If HILA could get a few more non-Black kids, there would be a mass exodus from AISM.
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?
Admission is non-existent. If you can afford the tuition, they'll take you.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Close to zero-- it's up to the teacher to orient the family, if at all.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Communication is through Jupiter and the director sends out emails to various listservs which you may or may not be on.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
All kids except kindergarten are required to have chromebooks-- which seems unnecessary for elementary.
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?
They have a newish counselor, not sure what they will do. Since the high school is very poor and does not meet US government standards, there are no American students in the high school-- families with HS and MS students either don't come or educate their child away from post.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
Very few after-school activities which, I think, are poorly run.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Small library with a limited selection. Only some students are allowed to bring books home. I believe kindergarten kids are not allowed to check out books.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
As far as I can tell, technology is over-utilized as babysitting.
5. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
No.
6. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
No pool, no tennis, no soccer field, there is a gym.
7. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
I would say 1:5, the classes are too small.
8. 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?
Some AP courses, not sure how well students do on AP exams.
9. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
I don't believe any parent has every mentioned that their student is challenged at school. I do think that students like their teachers.
10. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Not sure, seems to be limited.
11. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
The term "fine art" could not be applied to any course here.
12. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
No. Most teachers are not native English speakers. In fact, I am often surprised they were hired by an English-only school.
13. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None.
14. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
They are hiring someone, but not sure if this will be utilized well.
15. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None.
16. 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?
There are no real sports offered as after school activities. There are just not enough kids to be competitive.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for LGBT+ kids at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Does there appear to be any exclusionary behavior?
Unsure. The new director is educated at Liberty University and there is a real concern among parents about her beliefs and how that will change the school for LGBT+ children.
Overall Impressions:
1. Please describe some of your child's/children's highlights and challenges during their time at this school.
The teachers have been very nice even if I don't find them to be overly qualified.
2. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
C-- I would not choose it again.
3. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
Be prepared to find ways to make sure your child is engaged and learning at school.
