Karachi, Pakistan Report of what it's like to live there - 07/10/10
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?
Teacher.I finished up here in 2009
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Pre-K through grade 12
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2005-2009
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
School compound in Karachi
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?
On the website and very clear
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
New students and families have two orientations at the beginning of the year with Saturday meetings (2) during the first semester.School staff and teachers along with PTO and director seem to work hard to make families and students welcome.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A to F with comments:
A
2. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
I taught all grade levels
3. 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:
Not too many ex- pats in the city, about 25% of school population are not nationals.This is a non essential personnel posting so there are no Consulatewith children in Karachi.Consulate is represented on the board and relationship with all consulates is strong. A
4. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Regularly held conferences twice a year.Two general meetings of entire community and open board meetings
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
There is no program for LD.There is honors and AP in high school.A for AP.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
This is a strength of the school most likely because it is the center of family life in the city as dangerous for moving around as Karachi is .Activities begin in the early grades and continue through high school, with a community service program as part of the graduation requirement.There is not an activity a parent could want that isn't available
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
High school is very challenging with Advance Placement courses (14) and strict graduation requirements All students who graduate go to college.A
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Cannot really say
9. Administration-parent communication:
Cannot say.
10. Teacher-student communication:
About the same as in any challenging school
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?
No
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
There are services provided through peer tutoring and special schedules for teacher help
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
Cannot say
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
Cannot say
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:
More US government classes would be good.
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes, sport trips, MUN, and school visits for drama, choir, band,math and leadership require parents to support 75% of the trip for their child
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
None
19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
Nothing special
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?
Counseling is non existentas far as I saw.The director seemed to do most of the work here and the office where it was supposed to happen was asleep.Because of that much slipped through the cracks.Couselong office is the school's weakest link with teachers covering for the work of that office.Parents by pass that office and go directly to the teaches or the director
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Two libraries.One for elementary school and one for middle and high school.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Yes. Use of electronic delivery systems stands out.One computer for ever three students with three labs and 4 person IT dept.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Begins in kindergarten and meets four days a week from then on.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Varies with grades but around 8-1. B
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?
Yes.A strength in my opinion
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)?
Orchestra and band begin in grade 5, chorus starts in grade 3. Drama productions are at all levels or divisions with two high productions per year.Electives are ample from middle school on up with a drama sequence in grades 9-12
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
All are Americans with training in the USA. All are fluent.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Cannot say
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?
Very many
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Generally depends upon thestudent.
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.
No
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
It is the center of life for many families in Karachi.In my opinion it offers a positive look at Americans in the best of
2. Greatest challenge?
Probably keeping open in a very unstable place.Security issues are high priory and should be.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes, I had a first experience overseas in Karachi. The school, families and administration treated me
