Discovery School
Web: www.discoveryschool.edu.hn
2007-2008
The Discovery School is a private, coeducational, international school that offers an educational program from prekindergarten through grade 12. The school was founded in 1995. The school year begins in approximately mid-August and runs through mid-June. The vacation calendar allows for some holidays customarily celebrated in the U.S. and some Honduran holidays.
Organization: The School is managed by the Discovery School Educational Association, through an elected 7-member Board of Directors. All parents of currently enrolled students are members of the Association and participate in school governance through a biannual General Assembly meeting of the Association. The School is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational organization registered with the Honduran Ministry of Education.
Curriculum: The content of the American-style curriculum follows the standard course curriculum from the United States. The high school program is aimed at preparing students for universities throughout the world. All classes are taught in English, with the exception of Spanish and Spanish social studies, as required by the Honduras Department of Education. Spanish is taught at all grades levels and is practiced during field trips and community projects. Class sizes are small and may not exceed 18 students. Classrooms are organized with tables in a cooperative learning setting that emphasizes student-centered learning processes. Open carpeted areas are used for circle or discussion groups. Instructional methods are used that teach basic skills and encourage students to solve problems by thinking creatively. Teaching styles emphasize hands-on activities that cut across a variety of disciplines. The School is accredited by the Honduras Ministry of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Faculty: In the 2007-2008 school year, there are 32 full-time faculty members. All teachers have university degrees and teaching qualifications/ experience. Many classroom teachers are bilingual (English/Spanish).
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, enrollment was 255.
Facilities: In 2006 the School was relocated to a spacious 7-acre site on the ring road surrounding the city. The new campus consists of learning communities divided by grades and/or language. The open areas of the campus consist of approximately 1 acre of land used for athletic fields and outdoor activities, playgrounds for the younger children, a green space in the center of the campus and generous parking. The School also has an administration building, which includes specially-equipped rooms for music, art, computers, and a library with over 8,000 volumes. There is also a staff room, a conference room, and a teachers’ resource room.
Finances: In the 2007-2008 school year, 98% of the School’s income derives from tuition and fees. Annual tuition rates are as follows: PK: $1,960; Kdg. –5: $4,030; grades 6-8: $5,050; grades 10-12: $5,560. A one-time entrance fee of $2,500 is charged. Bus fees are not included in the tuition. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars).
