Karachi, Pakistan Report of what it's like to live there - 03/05/15
Personal Experiences from Karachi, Pakistan
School Name:
Karachi American 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?
11, 7
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2011 to February 2015.
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Banker.
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Options were limited to a few schools. This school was supposedly the best. Very hard to gain admission.
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?
A - transparent but with high standards and it's difficult to get in.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A. Strong orientation program.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
Very positive with lots to do for our kids. They love the school and do not want to leave.
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:
A. Never had or heard of any unfair treatment of families or students.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A. Newsletters, PTO, weekly news from administration and teachers, many evenings set aside for parents.
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A. Honors and AP programs. Nothing for learning difficulties
5. 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?
Yes, lunches, iPads.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
A. Beginning in elementary. More than any school we have been in. Great offerings.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A. Very rigorous. College prep.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A. Depends on teacher but high school has daily work.
9. Administration-parent communication:
A. Frequent and open.
10. Teacher-student communication:
A. Depends on teacher.
11. 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?
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No. But teachers help after school.
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes.
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
Journalism, maybe more foreign language. Offers only French, Spanish, Urdu.
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
None
19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes, sports, MUN and drama.
20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Could do more.
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
Limited expats. Only about 30% are expat 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?
Don't know but there is a college office. All kids go on to college.
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. Excellent holdings, two libraries and electronic access.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A. It is an iPad school. Wifi throughout and 3 computer labs plus media center.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A. Daily at all grade levels
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A. Around 8 to 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?
A. AP only
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
A. Wide and varied. Orchestra, choral, in classes and in after school program. Drama is throughout with art festivals in the spring, many plays. Art all the way to AP.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes, all are American.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
No
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
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.
Not that I am aware. No.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
The director and his staff followed by the faculty.
2. Greatest challenge?
Finding a school as good as this one on our move to Canada.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes, a surprise for all of us,
