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About Us

An aerial view of a large, multi-story building with a complex architectural design, surrounded by smaller residential and commercial structures in the background.

Our Mission

Our learning community inspires all students to shape their lives as principled, skillful, and appreciative contributors to the world.

Our Values

Our learning community inspires all students to shape their lives as principled, skillful, and appreciative contributors to the world.

Our History

Academia Cotopaxi began in 1959 to serve the American community in Quito with an education aligned to U.S. standards. As the school’s mission took root, it grew quickly—by 1968–69 a new three-story building welcomed up to 350 students. A new era arrived in 1977 when Donald A. Fournier revitalized the school, leading to strong enrollment growth and renewed stability through 1991.

Academic excellence became a hallmark of AC: in 1981 it earned an outstanding SACS accreditation review, and in 1982 it became the first school in Ecuador to offer the IB Diploma Programme. With U.S. government support, the school moved to its current Monteserrín campus in 1990, and by the mid-1990s enrollment peaked near 900 students. The 2000s expanded AC’s reach even further with the opening of IMAGINE preschool in 2004, the country’s first IB PYP in 2005, and major campus upgrades in 2006.

Today, AC continues to evolve: a diverse international community flourished by 2013, hybrid learning innovations launched in 2021, a STEM Excellence Center opened in 2023, and the CASEL framework was introduced in 2024 to support student well-being alongside academic growth. From its founding to the present, Academia Cotopaxi has remained committed to preparing students to learn deeply, lead confidently, and thrive globally.

Governance Model

Academia Cotopaxi is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees. The Director, reporting to the Board, collaborates with the administrative team to fulfill our mission, strategic plan, and core values.

  • 1 Member appointed by the U.S. Embassy of Quito.
  • 6 Members elected by the American School Association of Academia Cotopaxi:
  • 4 serve three-year terms.
  • 2 serve two-year terms for smooth transitions.
  • 2 Faculty Members elected by the Association, serving one-year terms.

The Board, in partnership with the school administration, values transparent and constructive input from our community. For questions or concerns about Strategic or Governance-related topics, please contact us at board@cotopaxi.k12.ec

Our Academic Approach

At Academia Cotopaxi, every child is at the heart of our learning journey—from their very first steps at just 12 months of age to the proud moment they graduate from high school - our future-driven, academic program empowers students to be inspired, to feel empowered, and to move forward in their lives as thriving global citizens.

Our Demographics at a Glance