Academia Cotopaxi

What Academia Cotopaxi does

Academia Cotopaxi is a private, non-profit international school headquartered in Quito, Ecuador, operating under the legal entity Asociación Cultural Academia Cotopaxi and governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees that includes a seat appointed by the U.S. Embassy. Founded in 1959, it was the first international school in Ecuador and one of the first IB World Schools globally (IB Diploma authorization since 1982; IB PYP since 2005), and it holds NEASC accreditation. The school serves more than 640 students from 12 months through Grade 12 across its Monteserrín (Quito) headquarters and a second Early Years campus in Cumbayá, with a faculty of 229 employees drawn from 12 nationalities.

The academic architecture follows an IB-aligned platform spanning Early Years (Reggio Emilia-inspired), Elementary (IB PYP), Middle School, and High School (offering US, Ecuadorian, and IB Diploma pathways). Supporting modules include a Language and Testing Center (adult English/Spanish, SAT/TOEFL prep, proctoring, translation), Extended Learning afterschool programming, competitive athletics, visual and performing arts, college counseling (100% university placement; Class of 2025 earned $25M in scholarships), Outdoor & Experiential Education (the signature "Discover Ecuador" progression), and Student Support Services (Advanced Learning, Learning Support, Counseling, English Language Support). STEM and digital/robotics learning are anchored in the 2023 STEM Excellence Center, with CASEL-based well-being programming added in 2024.

Revenue is generated through a tuition-and-fees subscription model billed monthly, with all-inclusive pricing that bundles most extended learning programming; pricing disclosed for the 2025/26 academic year places full-day Early Years tuition in the $496-$715/month range plus annual registration fees of $331-$715. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer within the Quito metropolitan area via the OpenApply enrollment platform, campus tours, and Experience Day visits. The school is launching a Need-Based Financial Aid Program for the 2026-27 academic year to broaden access, and operates no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds.

Name

Academia Cotopaxi

Legal name

Asociación Cultural Academia Cotopaxi

Website

https://cotopaxi.k12.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Academia Cotopaxi is a non-profit international school in Quito, Ecuador, offering IB-aligned education from age 12 months through Grade 12 to 640+ students from 30+ nationalities, with US, Ecuadorian, and IB Diploma pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• International school education
• IB curriculum programs
• College preparatory services
• Early childhood education
• Bilingual education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Annual tuition payments that are all-inclusive, covering academic experience and majority of extended learning programming including after-school activities. Additional fees include registration fees and optional financial aid evaluation fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Academia Cotopaxi is a private, non-profit American international school in Quito, Ecuador, providing a continuous educational journey from 12 months through Grade 12 across Early Years, Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions. The school offers three diploma pathways (U.S. High School Diploma, Ecuadorian High School Diploma, and IB Diploma Programme) along with supporting programs in language testing, athletics, arts, college counseling, outdoor experiential education, and student support services. Tuition is paid annually with monthly billing, and admissions are processed through the OpenApply platform.

Product overview

Academia Cotopaxi is a private international school offering a comprehensive educational program from 12 months through Grade 12. The school operates on a platform-plus-modules architecture with the core IB-aligned academic program spanning Early Years, Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions. Supporting modules include the Language and Testing Center (adult education and test prep), Extended Learning Program (afterschool activities), Athletics (competitive sports), Visual and Performing Arts, College Counseling, Outdoor & Experiential Education, and Student Support Services. The school holds NEASC accreditation and IB World School status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Language and Testing Center: A language and testing center powered by Academia Cotopaxi, designed to support students, professionals, and organizations in achieving their academic and communication goals through high-quality instruction and internationally aligned programs.
• IMAGINE Preschool
• Early Years Program

Products and services

• Early Years Program Full-day program for children ages 12 months through Pre-K (age 4), offered on two campuses (Quito Monteserrín and Cumbayá). Rooted in Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy and aligned with IB PYP, featuring full English immersion, inquiry-based learning, and play-based experiences for young children of expatriate and international families.
• Elementary School Grades K-5 program guided by IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), featuring transdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning that connects literacy, math, science, social studies, arts, and social-emotional learning in meaningful real-world contexts for international students.
• Middle School Grades 6-8 program with IB-aligned curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, student voice, and mentorship. Includes Discover Ecuador outdoor education trip and experiential learning through Model United Nations and academic competitions.
• High School Grades 9-12 program offering three diploma pathways: U.S. High School Diploma, Ecuadorian High School Diploma, and IB Diploma Programme. Features CAS program, Extended Essay, and Discover Ecuador experiential education for university-bound students.
• Language and Testing Center Adult language education center offering General English, Business English, Conversational Spanish, and Private Tutoring. Also provides SAT/TOEFL test preparation and proctoring services, and translation services for students, professionals, and organizations.
• Extended Learning Program After-school extracurricular program with sports (roller skating, tennis, jiu jitsu, frisbee), arts and music, leadership and service, and academic enrichment activities. Included in annual tuition for enrolled students.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program offering volleyball, basketball, soccer, and swimming at JV and Varsity levels. Fall season features volleyball; winter includes soccer and basketball; spring covers basketball and soccer. Students can participate starting from elementary through high school.
• Visual and Performing Arts Comprehensive arts program including Drama (Middle School and High School electives with Main Stage productions), Dance, Music, and Visual Arts. Features annual AC Film Festival and integrated arts instruction across Elementary and Secondary divisions.
• College Counseling Program Four-year college counseling framework (Grades 9-12) using Unifrog platform. Includes individualized 1:1 counseling, 100+ annual university visits, workshops, and comprehensive application support. 100% university acceptance rate.
• Outdoor & Experiential Education Experiential learning program from 12 months through Grade 12 featuring the signature 'Discover Ecuador' progressive journey—day trips for Early Years, overnight experiences for Elementary, multi-day expeditions for Middle School, and leadership-focused trips for High School.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive support including Advanced Learning Program (ALP) for gifted/talented students, Learning Support Program for mild/moderate needs, Counseling Department with social-emotional learning approach, and English Language Support for EAL students from Grades 1-12.
• Summer Camps Summer enrichment program offering academic and recreational activities for students during summer break.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students attend four-year universities after graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Festival SponsorsminorOthersCommunity sponsors who support the annual International Festival celebration. The festival showcases cultures, food, music, and stories from around the world with families, students, and staff collaborating on cultural experiences through country booths, performances, and interactive activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• American School of Guatemala: Non-profit international school in Guatemala City offering American and IB curriculum to international families. Comparable in business model, IB programming, and Latin American international family segment.
• Carol Morgan School: Private international school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic offering American curriculum with IB programs. Comparable nonprofit international school serving expatriate families in a Latin American/Caribbean market.
• Country Day School (Guayaquil): International school in Guayaquil, Ecuador offering American-style curriculum to international and Ecuadorian families. Comparable in target market and curriculum model.
• Lincoln School (Costa Rica): Non-profit international school in San José, Costa Rica offering IB curriculum to expatriate and local families. Comparable nonprofit K-12 international school model with similar fee structure and university placement outcomes.
• Colegio Bolivar: Non-profit international school in Cali, Colombia offering IB curriculum in English to international and upper-income Colombian families. Comparable in mission, IB programming, and Latin American international family segment.
• Colegio Menor: International bilingual school in Samborondón/Guayaquil, Ecuador, serving similar international families with IB-aligned curriculum. Comparable in mission and curriculum though in a different Ecuadorian city.
• International School Panama: Premier IB World School in Panama City serving international families with comprehensive K-12 programming. Comparable in business model, IB curriculum, and international family target segment across Latin America.

Direct peers

• British School of Quito: International school in Quito/Cumbayá offering British-style curriculum to expatriate and Ecuadorian families. Competes directly with AC for international family enrollment in the same metropolitan area.
• Colegio Americano de Quito: American-style international school in Quito serving a similar expatriate and upper-middle-class Ecuadorian market. Closest direct competitor in terms of curriculum model and target family.
• Alliance Academy International: International K-12 school in Quito, Ecuador serving expatriate and local families with English-language and IB-aligned curriculum. Directly competes with Academia Cotopaxi for the same international family segment in Quito.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Cotopaxi.k12
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/academia-cotopaxi-american-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/cotopaxi.k12

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Academia Cotopaxi