Cities / Sao Paulo / Graded - the American School of Sao Paulo
Graded - the American School of Sao Paulo
Founded in 1920, Graded is Sao Paulo's flagship American school serving 1,329 students from 48 nationalities on a large Morumbi campus. Fees for 2026-27 run R$153,816/year (Lower School) to R$190,872/year (Upper School, Grades 6-12), paid monthly.
In brief
The oldest and largest American school in Brazil, the default choice for the US diplomatic and corporate circuit, with a strong IB Diploma alongside the American high school programme.
Graded was founded in 1920 and now educates around 1,300 students from pre-primary through grade twelve on the José Galante campus. About 62 percent of teachers are foreign hires and average tenure runs around 8.5 years, which is unusually settled for an American international school. NEASC and CIS accredited.
Families speak well of the lower and middle school years, the buddy system, the counselling support, and the breadth of activities. Honest signal in the upper school is more mixed. Some IB families have flagged subjective grading and unevenness across departments, and the older buildings get noted for variable climate control. The fit is strongest for families who want an American framework with a real IB option and a large, settled expat community around them.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower School (PK3-Grade 5) | 3 | Annual | R$153,816 |
| Upper School (Grades 6-12) | 11 | Annual | R$190,872 |
| Re-enrollment deposit (40% of July tuition - Lower School) | One-time | R$5,127 | |
| Re-enrollment deposit (40% of July tuition - Upper School) | One-time | R$6,362 |
Reviews
- Reliably listed in Tier 1 international school rankings circulated among teachers, alongside Lincoln Buenos Aires, ASIJ and ISKL.
- Teacher-forum comment is consistent: applicants choose Graded despite Sao Paulo, not because of it; safety and security are the city-level reason it slips down some lists.
- Parent reviews on expat platforms split by age band: strong consensus on early years and lower secondary, more reserved on upper secondary, where parents transferring in from rigorous overseas schools say the academic stretch can disappoint.
- Onboarding gets specific positive mention, including buddy systems, on-campus counselling and a full-time nurse.
- City context dominates the practical experience: walking and public transport to school are not realistic, families live within a tight Morumbi/Jardins radius and use private transport.
- Internal management has surfaced as a concern in 2025: one Internationalschools subreddit thread alleged that under-performing administrators have been moved into director roles rather than exited, citing Brazilian labour law as the reason. This is single-source and unverified.
- Reputation as one of Brazil's highest-paying international schools draws strong applicant pools, which feeds the academic reputation parents see.
Head of school
Ocki Fernandes
Lee Fertig is the Superintendent of Graded School, dedicated to ensuring the institution remains one of the most innovative international schools while honoring its rich tradition and legacy. He has been instrumental in enhancing the educational experience for students through various initiatives.
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01
- Council of International Schools 02
- Association Montessori Internationale (accreditation) 03
Academic results
- American High School diploma 100% graduation rate
- IB Diploma 38% of graduates