HIGH SCHOOL
A significant moment for students is their entry into High School, a phase during which important decisions about the future are made, and the need for leadership becomes even more essential. College entry is approaching, and proper preparation is crucial.
In its plan for this stage, the Brazilian International School is dedicated to continuing the promotion of global education for its students. The institution focuses both on appropriate career guidance and the development of their multiple skills, including social-emotional abilities.
Bilingual education remains a priority in High School, even influencing the organization of content and the certification guaranteed at the end of the 12th grade. By investing in multidisciplinary learning, the Brazilian International School adopts a humanistic education based on socio-interactionism, which is evident in its plan for this stage.
Pedagogical Proposal for High School
As one of our primary goals is to provide our students with the opportunity to reach their true potential and, therefore, impact the world in the most positive way, the Brazilian International School presents its pedagogical proposal for High School.
In addition to the Brazilian curriculum, this cycle offers extended hours consisting of subjects taught in English, giving High School students the right to two different diplomas: the standard Brazilian High School diploma and an American diploma. For this reason, this phase is also called “High School.”
With the Brazilian graduation certificate, students can compete for spots in any Brazilian university, while the American diploma opens the door for the potential continuation of education abroad. This project reflects the contemporary need for our students’ education.
In the pursuit of excellence in this endeavor, after careful deliberation, the BIS Board of Directors decided to become an official member of Cognia, formerly known as Advanc-ED. Cognia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits schools in the United States and internationally, based on its high-quality standards. Founded in 2006, Cognia is an international educational program and one of the largest communities of education professionals worldwide.
Cognia certification encourages high-level educational institutions to continuously improve. Through this accreditation, students must complete eight semesters of study starting from the 9th grade.
In High School, it is essential to implement a program that enables university entry. However, one must not lose sight of the students’ formation as citizens. The Brazilian International School maintains its focus on this stage, as well as in previous ones, on encouraging critical thinking and an active stance in the chosen professional field.
Moreover, it is equally important that intellectual values are exercised and experienced by all members of the school community: logical curiosity, perseverance, respect, integrity, kindness, dreaming big, being bold, tenacious, and building connections to expand and nurture all kinds of relationships.
Preparation for University Entrance Exams
One of the greatest challenges of High School is undoubtedly preparing for university entry. This is a demanding stage in which students need to review everything they have learned throughout their school life, as well as the skills and competencies belonging to each new year.
With this moment in mind, the Brazilian International School maintains a partnership with the Farias Brito System, a leader in high-performance results in university entrance exams in Brazil. This collaboration allows students to access exclusive preparatory materials focused on review and intensive work.
Additionally, the teaching staff, with vast experience in ENEM and other university entrance exams, promotes the overall development of each High School student. The goal is not only to achieve excellent results and approvals but also to continue the school’s educational proposal, which focuses on the evolution of a broad set of competencies.
A distinguishing feature of the Brazilian International School concerns the 9th grade and how its program is structured. Some of the subjects from the 10th grade, such as Philosophy, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, are already introduced, thus creating a high-performance curriculum. Since the 9th grade is the 1st year of American High School, the calculation of GPA and credits starts from this year.
The role of the pedagogical team is extremely important during this period, as it contributes to students’ growth and maturity through information and encouragement of self-awareness. Students receive clarification about professional fields, have their questions answered, and thus feel more prepared to decide on their future careers.
A highlight of the preparation process is the mock exams: SAT, ENEM, UNICAMP, and FUVEST. Throughout the cycle, students take more than twenty such tests, where they exercise their knowledge, time management skills, and familiarize themselves with the test formats.
Through tutoring sessions, educational guidance, organized content, and continuous support, the institution guarantees a solid preparatory program based on informed and assertive decision-making.
