Since 1988
Our Story
The school opened on April 4, 1988 as The Accelerated Learning Center, founded by Bonita Hedrick Justice at the request of U.S. families living in Guatemala. Its commitments were simple, and they have not changed: well-prepared teachers leading small classes of motivated students, with music every day.
The founding idea
Small on purpose.
Mrs. Justice never aspired to a large school. Her goal was quality in a safe, motivating environment — which also meant small.
38 years later the idea is unchanged: one class per grade, an average of twelve students in a room and never more than sixteen, taught by teachers who know each of them — and an orchestra in which every student plays.
Milestones
38 years, briefly.
1988
Opens on April 4 as The Accelerated Learning Center, founded by Bonita Hedrick Justice at the request of U.S. families living in Guatemala.
Year two
At the request of parents working for USAID and the U.S. Department of State, the Department's Office of Overseas Schools visits the school and approves it for dependents of that agency.
1994
Takes the name Equity American School, keeping the original commitments: well-prepared teachers, small classes of motivated students, and music every day.
Today
Pre-K through Grade 12, accredited in the United States, with students of 17+ nationalities — and 100% of graduates accepted to university.
Community
Half Guatemalan, half the world.
Equity serves a diverse community of many nationalities, faiths and backgrounds. Roughly half its students are Guatemalan; the rest come from families across the international community — diplomatic, business and NGO families among them. All core classes are taught in English, and the school has long experience welcoming students who arrive with little of it.
Mission & vision
Why the school exists.
Mission
Equity American School is a unique multicultural Pre-K through Grade 12 college-preparatory school serving the local and international community in Guatemala City. It provides a safe, caring learning environment with small classes and an engaging U.S. curriculum that prepares students for continued academic success at other international schools and U.S. universities — while fostering community service, student leadership and high moral standards.
Vision
To provide a fulfilling educational experience that prepares students to become honorable, proactive citizens and leaders of the 21st century.
Core values
Four commitments every student is held to.
Integrity
Equity students face each situation with steadfast values that do not change with the actions of others; they commit to continuous self-improvement and strive to understand the people and world around them.
Respect
Students expect respect from teachers, staff and each other, and return it — in language, in dealing peacefully with conflict, and in doing their own work, knowing that struggle is where skill and character are built.
Academic rigor
Students accept the challenge of striving for excellence, work hard in adversity, develop self-discipline inside and outside the classroom, and take responsibility for their mistakes.
Service
Students are taught kindness across differences, look for ways to serve each other and their community, and plan and complete service projects through the year — preparing to lead at school and beyond.
What families say
In their words.
Thank you for creating this magnificent school, an oasis of values where you empower the talents of our children to become excellent human beings: determined and compassionate. The entire Equity staff have impacted many families and inspired us to be better people.
At Equity, I received an excellent education that prepared me for college and helped me excel in all those scary calculus classes. I learned to appreciate different cultures, to accept different points of view, to lead by example. What I am most grateful for is the family I found there.
Equity provides a healthy and positive environment for its staff, faculty and students. I love how you always teach generosity through your service projects and other charitable activities.
Accreditation
Accredited in the United States.
Equity American School is accredited in the United States and its accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of State for dependents of U.S. government employees, military personnel, USAID and other U.S. agencies.
CogniaFormerly AdvancED
NIPSANational Independent Private Schools Association
Leadership
The people who run the school.
Equity is led by a Director and Assistant Director; the Elementary and Upper Schools and the Language Department each have their own head.
Bonita Justice
Director · Founder
Founded the school in 1988 as The Accelerated Learning Center and has led it since.
Vanessa Pratt
Assistant Director
Jerusha Villatoro, M.S.
Principal, Elementary School
Julia León
Principal, Upper School
Teaches grammar, writing and TOEFL preparation. B.A., Hood College; M.A. Social Science, Azusa Pacific University.
Claudia Adant
Director of Foreign Language
Governance
How the school is run.
The school is a Guatemalan corporation governed by a board of five officers, with operational policy set by the School Directors and carried out by the Administration. It is affiliated with and supported by the Equity American Schools Foundation in Texas, which helps recruit qualified staff and supply materials and equipment.
Come experience Equity.
The best way to understand a small school is to walk through it. We would be glad to show you around — before or after you apply.