Academia Cotopaxi American International School

Academia Cotopaxi became the first school in Ecuador to offer the IB Diploma Programme in 1982 and introduced the country's first IB Primary Years Programme in 2005. The Early Years Program is Reggio Emilia-inspired and aligned with the PYP, and Elementary School learning is guided by the PYP. In High School, every graduate receives a United States High School Diploma; students who complete the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education coursework also receive an Ecuadorian High School Diploma, and the IB Diploma is available to students who complete the two-year programme and external examinations. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

AC has developed spaces for innovation including maker labs, design studios, art and music studios, flexible learning environments, outdoor classrooms and collaborative project spaces, and opened a STEM Excellence Center in 2023. The main campus is in Monteserrín, Quito, and the Early Years Program is offered on two campuses, in Cumbayá and Monteserrín. The campus has a professionally trained security team and controlled access points.

AC offers a Learning Support Program for students from 12 months through Grade 12, supporting mild and moderate learning needs and a limited number of students who require significant support. An Advanced Learning Program is being developed for advanced learners, including students identified as Talented and Gifted. The Counseling Department, led by a psychologist, provides social-emotional learning lessons and individual counseling, and college counseling supports students' plans beyond AC.

The Extended Learning after-school program covers sports, arts and music, leadership and service, and academic enrichment, and most of it is included in tuition. Competitive sports are volleyball, basketball, soccer and swimming, with teams placing in QISSA and AMISA tournaments; recreational options include roller skating, tennis, jiu-jitsu and frisbee. The Visual and Performing Arts program offers dance, drama, music and visual arts. Summer camps include an Early Years camp, a robotics and game-design lab and a performing arts workshop.