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Building a School: The ACS legacy stretches back to 1905, when a small group of American parents from the Syrian Protestant College (American University of Beirut) founded a school where their children could receive good preparation for entrance into American universities. The small Faculty School thrived and by 1920 had expanded from its original home on Rue Bliss to a red-roofed house on Rue Makdisi, where it was to stay for the next thirty years. In 1921, the American Presbyterian Mission joined the AUB in sponsorship of the school. A new constitution was formed, plans for a small boarding department were begun, and the school received its new name: The American Community School. ACS began to develop its reputation as the best American school in the region. In the late 1940's when ARAMCO (the Arabian-American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia) needed a good boarding school for the children of its American employees, it looked to ACS, and became the third sponsor of the School. ARAMCO purchased the land on which the School currently resides, and provided the funds to build the first buildings. In 1950, ACS moved to a piece of land on the Corniche adjacent to its parent, the AUB, where it has remained until now. By the beginning of the 1970's, enrollment had reached over 1,000 students, with a full boarding department. Over the course of its history, ACS was affected by wars that swept the region. The two world wars caused evacuations of expatriots and reduced enrollments. The Lebanese Civil War, beginning in 1975, brought the most dramatic changes, however. The School suffered considerable physical damage over the course of the war, and enrollments plummeted as the international community left Beirut. The boarding department was closed. In 1984 the Board met to decide on the future feasibility and direction of the School. It became clear at this point that ACS could answer to the needs of its greater community. The expatriots had gone. The Lebanese student population began to increase and ACS registered with the Lebanese Ministry of Education. During this period in the late 1980's, the circumstances of war continued to intrude on the day-to-day functioning of the School. But, ACS remained open for those students who could manage to attend classes, and was able to graduate a senior class every year. With the advent of the 1990-91 school year, ACS cautiously began to turn another corner. Peace was beginning to be felt in Beirut and student enrollment increased. Normal pre-war activities were resumed at school. In 1992, the massive project of rebuilding and repair began, and it has continued into the present. A milestone was reached in 1994 when ACS became the first school in Lebanon to be fully accredited by a regional accrediting association in the United States (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools). In 1994, ACS was able to hire foreign faculty again, and American teachers began to return after the U.S. State Department lifted its travel ban in 1997. By September of 1995, the steadily increasing enrollment had again surpassed 1,000 students, and ACS, in its 90th year, was moving ahead with confidence. And Now... At the turn of the century, ACS is a flourishing institution. Our population is very different from the early population of the old Faculty School or the ACS of the 1950's, but the School today continues to prepare young people for the challenges of their world. Our students represent a diverse and vibrant community, coming from Lebanese, American, and international families. Our American heritage is felt in the classrooms where each person is recognized, and students are encouraged to be open-minded, to think critically, and to become independent learners. Our leadership is experienced and forward-looking, taking us into the new century with vision and dedication. Our tradition of excellence in teaching is carried forward by talented teachers who enjoy their work. Our ability to offer the best in education is reflected in our innovative curriculum and in the variety of activities which add depth to our program. At ACS education is thriving. |