Warsaw, Poland Report of what it's like to live there - 04/08/25
Personal Experiences from Warsaw, Poland
School Name:
American School of Warsaw
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
6th through 7th
3. What years did you live here?
2023-2025
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
US Embassy family
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes. This was the Department of State supported school. The reviews for the school were positive and it's an IB program, which I wanted my kids to continue.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Yes, everything was very clear on the website. Almost everything was done online. I did have to email a couple of times for clarification, but everything was very easy.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
My kids started a few weeks after the start of school because of our move timeline. I felt the school could have done more as far as integrating an arriving student after the beginning of the year such as assigning a "buddy".
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
The communication has been good with both the administration and teachers. I receive assignment progress updates in ManageBac. Teachers email directly if there is an issue and are receptive to receiving emails from parents.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
There are fees for some after-school programs, but my kids didn't participate in them, so I'm not sure what they are. There are optional trips during the year such as an arts club trip or theater trip to London. Those fees are extra.
Academics & Resources:
1. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes. My kids have never had a problem finding a book they want to bring home and ignore.
2. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
Students are provided with a Macbook. There is an optional "insurance" fee in the event of damage to the device. Most assignments are completed in Google classroom. I wish there wasn't as much reliance on technology for assignments and homework, but it is what it is.
3. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a gym, track, and swimming pool. The Middle Years program has a swimming block. In 6th it was water polo; in 7th it was synchronized swimming. There are alternatives available if your child can't swim or isn't comfortable.
4. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
This is an IB school. My kids are Middle Years, so I'm not sure if the full diploma is required for all students.
5. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Choir, band, rock band, theater, design, and visual arts. In 6th they have to take either choir or band, theater and art or design.
6. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes.
7. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Resources for G&T students is extremely limited and this was a huge sticking point for our family. There are accommodations for students gifted in math or (foreign) language acquisition because those subjects are *linear*.
There is no accommodation for students who are advanced in English language/literature or Social Studies. My family had a plan for my highly advanced 7th grade and the school was unwilling to support. Their reasoning is English language/literature isn't *linear* and the subject matter sometimes isn't appropriate. They also stated they wouldn't know how to "track" the alternate class we were organizing. We were very, very disappointed.
8. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
There are a lot of extracurricular activities - clubs, sports, model UN, debate, etc. The sports clubs visit other schools in Eastern Europe to compete against and other schools come to Warsaw as well.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for LGBT+ kids at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Does there appear to be any exclusionary behavior?
It's been positive and there is an ally club. There doesn't appear to be any systemic exclusionary behavior, mostly immature kids using slurs to insult someone.
2. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
My kids both have a lot of local and international friends.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
Overall: B. Supporting G&T students: D+
