Graded - The American School of Sao Paulo

In Brief

If your company is paying and you want a US university pipeline, Graded is the clear first choice in Sao Paulo. Families funding it themselves should weigh the top-tier fees carefully and ask whether the majority-Brazilian student body suits what they are looking for.

Graded sits at the premium end of Sao Paulo's international market - the school families choose when the company is paying and continuity with a US-style education matters. Founded in 1920, it carries a century of reputation and draws students from 48 nationalities across a sprawling Morumbi campus with a performing arts centre, innovation lab, and full sports facilities.

Inside the school, the mix is roughly 52% Brazilian and 22% North American, which suits families wanting their children embedded in Brazil while keeping one foot in the American system. The faculty has an average tenure of nearly nine years and 55% hold advanced degrees - both figures that compare well against the sector. The IB Diploma sits alongside the American High School Diploma in Grades 11-12, giving families university options on both sides of the Atlantic.

The fees are the honest catch. At R$153,816-R$190,872 per year, Graded is among the most expensive international schools in the city, and additional charges for IB exams, curricular trips and some materials add to the headline figure. Traffic to and from Morumbi is also worth factoring in - families based in Itaim Bibi or Pinheiros are looking at a meaningful commute each way.