Yaounde - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There is the American School of Yaounde. An International school where expats from many embassies and NGOs send their children. - Feb 2023
There is American International School and another Christian school (which is much farther from the area where US embassy is located). Speaking for the American school, we are generally happy with the school. They have a nice community of teachers and families. They follow the PYP program, which we like. Each grade has about 10-20 students. There are many after school activities offered, which is nice as there are almost no other open/public parks or places to take children outside of school. We have been happy academically with the teachers and programs for all of our kids. That said, I would not recommend Yaounde for families with older kids. Middle and high school families are not as happy as the kids are so limited. My middle schooler can't really go out on her own here - besides having friends over or going to a friend's home - which is hard for kids who want/need more independence. With only 11 classmates in 8th grade, kids can struggle to find friends as they are stuck with the same kids all day/week. I can't stress enough how little there is to do here - outside of school and each other's homes. It is the kind of place where you really have to make your own fun. - Jan 2020
We used ASOY which is fine, though weak in maths and science. Some parents complained about the lack of afterschool activities, but the new athletic director is working on changing that. Already she has made some positive changes. If your child is french speaking, there is FUSTEL. - Jun 2018
The American School of Yaounde has made a large investment in its facilities in recent years, and its classrooms and library are quite nice now. There is also a basketball court, playground, pool, tennis court, and small, artificial turf sport field available; there isn't enough space for a full-size field. The elementary school generally gets good reviews, with classes ranging from 10 to 18 students. The high school classes are smaller but gradually growing, and the IB program is available.
There is also a French school, Fustel, that is a good option if your kids speak French and are admitted. Rain Forest International School is a middle and high school that also has an American curriculum, but it tends to have only missionary kids and locals, as it is very far from the U.S. embassy and housing. - Apr 2017
There is the American School. It seems nice. It's across town from the Embassy and all the embassy housing, so going through downtown traffic to get your kids isn't ideal. Our kids went to Flamboyant, a French-speaking primary school. It was awesome and we loved it. They only allow 16 kids per class (preschool to 5th grade), so if you want to explore this option, sign up as soon as you get your assignment to Cameroon. The waiting list is LONG. Even if you don't want to go to this school, get on the waiting list because you may change your mind once you get there and see how cute it is. We really liked the director, teachers, curriculum, extra activities, and community of expats and locals. Here is the blog: Ecole Internationale "Le Flamboyant" The CLO should be able to help you get registered. - Jan 2014
The American school is expensive and located near the Hilton Hotel which places it far from people in most housing areas, considering traffic can be a nightmare. The recommended school has a long waiting list and so you have to find a place that 1) has English (if that is your language) or will facilitate communication for your child 2) ask lots of questions because information is not easily given (discipline, hygiene, curriculum, communication, calendar, syllabus, credentialing/certification, health reports of staff, student/teacher ratio)... - May 2012
American School of Yaounde (ASOY) - the school is very small and the campus badly laid out with somewhat shabby buildings. BUT this year the school spent money raising salaries and has some excellent high school teachers. They offer many more AP classes than you'd expect. Classes are small and that's great. My high schooler has one class with only three students and another with four. The school board hired an architect who created a surprisingly good plan to re-arrange the buildings, and build new ones. If this 3-5 year plan goes forward, the school facilities will be very nice. First to be built would be a semi-open air amphitheater, to us instead of the basketball court now used for plays and assemblies. On the negative side, there are few clubs or after-school activities because there aren't that many students. - Sep 2011
I have 3 children in the American School of Yaounde (ASOY), covering elementary, middle, and high school ages. My oldest son will graduate this year in a senior class of about 20 students. He has a mild learning disability and I have been very pleased with the counseling and accomodations that have been made for him. The high school offers a good range of AP courses, though it is not an IB school. All of the grades throughout the school have small class sizes (usually under 15 students per grade) and the teachers give a good amount of one-on-one time to the kids. Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, ASOY will have a new director, so expect some changes from the current status quo. Other families enroll their children in a French elementary school with an excellent reputation. - Mar 2010
Many complain about the American School as being very mismanaged. It seems to be better for high school or elementary school, but the middle school is a problem. Every parent with french language opts to put their child in the French school which has a better reputation. - Jan 2010
My son attends kindergarten at ASOY, the American School of Yaounde. His teacher is super and the class size is small at only six students. The facilities are adequate but seem somewhat old. However the swimming pool area just got a renovation. The complex also has a tennis court, a basketball court, and a soccer field. The school provides a convenient shuttle. I am very happy with the education my son is receiving. - Nov 2008
We have three children in the American School of Yaounde and have been very happy with their experiences. Although the facilities are showing their age, the staff is excellent and dedicated to the kids. The student body is very diverse and fairly small (170 kids K-12) and has an extremely welcoming and tolerant feeling - and all of kids - who have extremely different personalities, have been welcomed, and feel happy and accepted. I should note that they are in the Elementary program, and the High School grades have struggled with a tendency to have a clique of French-speaking kids who have attended the school for many years. - Sep 2008
ASOY is the American school in Yaounde. This is a small school with about 160 students, mostly international and English as a second language students. The American kids are the minority. ASOY experienced a student murder on campus 4 years ago, followed with a school bus accident that took the lives of several students and teachers. The school is slowly recovering and adjusting to a new school director that was appointed after the murder. Retention of top teachers seems like a challenge for ASOY, as does maintaining a challenging American curriculum for all grades (K-12). The school is currently undergoing re-accreditation, and it will be interesting to see if they are successful. The school campus is very run down. The school frequently does not have water, making it difficult for students to even flush the toilets or wash their hands. All this being said, the staff at ASOY is committed to the students and they do the best that they can. There is also a couple of french speaking schools that are very good in Yaounde. Some embassy families send their children to either Fustel or Flamboyant. - Jun 2008
The American School of Yaounde (ASOY) offers K-12 with small classes. The graduating class is usually 10-15 students, and the younger classes increase in size from there. The school offers neat weekend activities that are open to many expats. - Jun 2008
