Frequently Asked Questions

Our school year runs from the beginning of August to the middle of June. While we accept a small number of children in January for the second semester, it is always preferable for students to join us in August.

The application deadline for the second semester of the 2024-25 school year, beginning January 2025, is October 31, 2024.

Applications for the 2025-26 year, beginning August 2025, will be available from October 4, 2024 to February 4, 2025.

The first step of the admissions process is the completion of an online inquiry form available here. After you submit it, you will receive an email requesting you to create a username and password in order to access the Online Application. You will then be asked to complete a series of questions and upload the required documents. 

If you are unable to apply online, please call the Admissions Office +55 11 3747-4800 ext. 500 for further instructions.

The Application Fee may be paid online via PayPal in Brazilian Reais or US Dollars.

K3 applicants for August 2023 must turn three years old by September 30, 2023.

1. The school offers a number of Open House days during the year. You can sign up here.

2. If you are visiting São Paulo from abroad, please click here to request an appointment.

Please note that appointments during school holidays are limited.

Every year, we receive many more applications than there are available spots for new students. Each school division has its own admissions committee.

Members of the middle school and high school admissions committees will look at the applicant's grades and take into account other aspects of academic success and potential. Application requirements, such as teacher recommendations, the student's personal essay, and any standardized test scores (at Graded, we use the MAP test), are also considered in final admission decisions. These components, when combined, aid the admissions committee in determining a student's academic strengths and areas where the student may require additional support. 

The lower school admissions committee will thoroughly examine teacher recommendations and transcripts for students applying to pre-primary through grade 5, seeking information on students' learning habits and behavior and their ability to get along with other students.

The primary language of instruction at Graded is English. Graded offers an American standards-based curriculum (AERO).  All students who graduate from Graded will receive an American High School Diploma. Students also have the option to graduate with a Brazilian diploma (recognized by MEC) and an International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP). 

No, we do not. However, Graded offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma in 11th and 12th grades. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a two-year educational program that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by many universities worldwide. While it is highly regarded by US universities, it is not required for admissions.

Our teachers come from a wide range of schools in the US and around the world. Approximately 65% are foreign hires (approximately 45% hold US passports), and the average tenure is nine years. 35% of our teachers are Brazilian nationals.

The Graded Activities Program allows students to participate in a wealth of activities that complement but are not part of the regular school curriculum. Through the activities program, students can pursue an area of personal interest in a collaborative setting, develop intercultural competency, and become engaged, ethical citizens. We believe that:

• Activities are an integral part of Graded’s overall curricular program.
• Every student should have the opportunity to become involved to some extent.
• Sponsors and students should, at all levels, develop and exhibit accepted attitudes of cooperation, citizenship, good sportsmanship, and dedication.

You can find out more about the Graded Activities Program here.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays:

K3
8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Lower School (K4 - grade 5), Middle School, and High School
8:15 am - Classrooms open
8:30 am - Classes begin
3:30 pm - Dismissal
 

Wednesdays:

All students dismissed at 3:00 pm (K3 dismissed at 12:00 pm)

Graded follows the American school calendar (August-June). 

Our two extended holiday periods run mid December - end January and mid June - end July.

Students from more than 42 countries attend Graded. While approximately 50% of our students are international (non-Brazilian), more than one third of our students hold citizenship from more than one country.

At Graded School, we have approximately 1,300 students, with 580 in lower school, 300 in middle school, and 420 in high school.

The average time an international student attends Graded is between three and five years. Some students attend for just one year, while others are at Graded for 15 years (affectionately referred to as "Graded lifers").

Approximately 15 - 20% of our students leave at the end of each school year. At the start of each school year, in August, we welcome approximately 200 new students.

Because we welcome hundreds of new students each year, the administration, faculty, parents, and students at Graded devote a significant amount of time planning and thinking of ways to help students and their families integrate into our community.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) hosts events that allow new families to meet and interact with current Graded families. These sessions also introduce new Graded families to life in São Paulo and explain how parents may become involved with the school and their children's education. Our guidance counselors and teachers plan transition activities and events for incoming students and create opportunities for new and returning students to talk about their initial experiences at the school -- from their anxieties and expectations to things that surprised them.

Each division offers grade-based orientations at the start of the academic year to help incoming students become familiar with their instructors and the school buildings. Arguably, our student body is probably our best "transition team," as they instinctively reach out to new students and make them feel welcome. Our goal is for new students to feel like seasoned veterans by the end of their first semester at Graded School.

Our families live all over São Paulo. We offer transportation to and from neighborhoods with the greatest number of Graded students, including:

Panamby
Alta de Boa Vista / Chácara Flora
Morumbi
Moema / Vila Nova Conceição
Itaim
Jardins
Paraíso
Higienópolis
Paraíso

Graded’s bus service is provided by a consortium of drivers, Consórcio de Transportadores Escolares, but regulated in-house. 

The Consórcio provides bus transportation for families living in many neighborhoods in São Paulo. The bus system is door-to-door during regular school hours (8:30 am - 3:30 pm). There are buses to accommodate lower and middle school after-school activities and most of our high school after-school activities (4:45 pm and 6:10 pm).

* Be advised that our bus service does not cover all areas in São Paulo.

For more information, please go to the Transportation page or contact Transportation Manager Silvio Pedroso at silvio.pedroso@graded.br.