North American School
North American School is a Porto Alegre-based private Brazilian language school and educational consulting firm offering English and French instruction, an American dual diploma program with Whitmore School, official ACT/IELTS/Pearson Vue test administration, and study-abroad consulting across 26 countries for K-12 students, professionals, and immigration candidates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersPorto Alegre, Brazil
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What North American School does
North American School is a privately held Brazilian language school and educational consulting firm founded in 2009 and headquartered in Porto Alegre. The company delivers English instruction across 11 modalities spanning kindergarten through adult professional levels (Market Leader for business English, New Language Leader for academic English, Lifestyle for general English, NorthStar-based ESL), French instruction across 10 modalities from beginner to Master level including TCF/TCFQ preparation and Québec-specific programs, and a 3-year American High School Dual Diploma Plus Program for students aged 13-18 delivered in partnership with Whitmore School (West Virginia). The school operates as an official test center for ACT (Center #874760 since 2015), IELTS (Center BR080 administered by IDP Australia since 2017), and Pearson Vue Test Center Select, and provides educational consulting covering study-abroad placements across 26 countries plus student exchange programs to nine or more countries. The company carries ICEF Quality Seal (Code CCG #1684) since 2022.
The underlying technology centers on Pearson-licensed educational content (Now I Know, Market Leader, New Language Leader, NorthStar, Big Fun) integrated with the Pearson English Portal — an interactive learning management system featuring video clips, audio resources, and automatic grading on teacher-assigned homework — supplemented by BBC video content. Live online classes extend physical campus delivery to remote students for IELTS and private tutoring formats.
The business model combines recurring monthly subscription revenue from group language courses, transaction fees from official test administration (ACT, IELTS, Pearson Vue), professional services fees from educational consulting, and transaction/commission revenue from student exchange arrangements. Customer segments include K-12 children and adolescents (primary), working professionals, university aspirants seeking North American placement, and Canadian immigration candidates (particularly Québec). GTM motion is sales-led and direct-to-consumer through the physical campus, supplemented by event-driven university recruitment visits, cultural events, and ICEF-certified agency partnerships. The company maintains approximately 6 total employees plus 5+ native English-speaking foreign teachers, with no external funding, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue.
North American School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North American School
- Legal name
- North American School
- Website
- https://northamericanschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- North American School is a Porto Alegre-based private Brazilian language school and educational consulting firm offering English and French instruction, an American dual diploma program with Whitmore School, official ACT/IELTS/Pearson Vue test administration, and study-abroad consulting across 26 countries for K-12 students, professionals, and immigration candidates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North American School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Language Education Services
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro industry
- English Language Schools (ESL/EFL)General Language Schools (Multi-Language)International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester)Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Secondary School Programs (Boarding, Exchange, Summer)Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts)Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Summer/Winter Schools & Short-Term Academic Programs
Keywords
Where North American School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Porto Alegre
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
North American School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Language Course Instruction: Group and private English and French language courses at multiple levels from kindergarten through adult education
- Test Administration Fees: Official ACT and IELTS test center generating revenue from exam administration fees
- Educational Consulting: Higher education consulting for students seeking undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs abroad
- Student Exchange Programs: Arrangement of student exchanges to Australia, Canada, USA, France, UK, and other countries
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Junior High School - Elementary to Pre-High School |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Classes (NAS4U) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | IELTS Test Fee |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | ACT Test Fee |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
North American School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North American School is a private language school in Porto Alegre, Brazil that delivers English and French instruction across multiple age groups and proficiency levels, American High School Dual Diploma program, standardized test preparation and official test administration (ACT, IELTS, Pearson Vue), and educational consulting for international study placement across 26 countries. The school also arranges student exchange programs in 9 countries and runs University Experience campus-visit programs for North American universities.
Product overview
North American School is a multi-product language and educational services company operating as a unified portfolio of complementary offerings rather than a single platform. Its core products are organized into two primary language streams — English (11 modalities spanning Kindergarten through ESL and professional courses) and French (10 modalities from beginner to Master level) — supported by an American High School Dual Diploma program. These are complemented by standardized test preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, ACT, SAT), educational consulting for studying abroad across 26 countries, and international student exchange programs across 9 countries. Strategic partnerships include Ignite Achievers/University of Michigan (STEM research), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Portugal pathway), and Whitmore School (US high school diploma). The school also operates as an official test center for ACT, IELTS (IDP/British Council), and Pearson Vue. All products are delivered in-person at its Porto Alegre campus, supplemented by online components and live tutoring.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NAS4U – Private Classes: Customized exclusive English language course with native or bilingual teachers, from elementary to advanced level including IELTS and TOEFL preparation.
- NAS4U
- Consultoria Educacional
- NAS Pour Toi – Cours Privés
- University Experience
Products and services
- English Language Program (Inglês) Comprehensive English program with 11 modalities: Kindergarten, Elementary School, Junior High School, Continuing Education, Lifestyle, Market Leader, New Language Leader, IELTS Preparation, TOEFL Preparation, NAS4U Private Classes, and ESL Program. Covers ages 4 through adult using Pearson and Cambridge curricula with native and bilingual instructors.
- French Language Program (Français) French program with 10 modalities: Language Levels, Débutant, Élémentaire, Pré-Intermédiaire, Intermédiaire, Avancée, Master, TCF Preparation, La Conquête du Québec, and NAS Pour Toi Private Classes. Covers A1 through C1 proficiency levels with focus on Canadian immigration preparation.
- Dual Diploma Plus Program (American High School Diploma) 3-year American high school diploma program in partnership with Whitmore School, allowing Brazilian students aged 13-18 to earn both Brazilian and American diplomas simultaneously. Taught by native English-speaking teachers with 14 weekly 45-minute periods. Graduates exempt from IELTS/TOEFL at most universities and diploma is valid for US visa acquisition.
- ACT Official Test Center Official ACT test administration (International Test Center #874760) for American College Testing exams used in US and Canadian university admissions, available in computer-based format.
- IELTS Official Test Centre Official IELTS test administration (Centre BR080) certified by IDP Australia for English proficiency certification, offering both Academic and General Training modules.
- Pearson Vue Test Center Select Authorized Pearson Vue Test Center Select venue for computer-based professional and academic certification examinations including PTE in Porto Alegre.
- IELTS Preparation Course IELTS exam preparation using official Cambridge materials, delivered in private or duo format, in-person or live online, with instructors experienced in proficiency exam preparation.
- TOEFL Preparation Course TOEFL iBT TEST preparation course for intermediate and advanced students covering all four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) and all question types found on the TOEFL iBT.
- ACT Test Preparation Preparation for the ACT standardized test (scores 1-36) covering English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and optional Writing, with question formats and strategies tailored to ACT exam requirements.
- SAT Test Preparation
Quantifiable outcome
- Students admitted to top universities including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, McGill, University of Toronto, and University of British Columbia
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use North American School
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
North American School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
North American School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Whitmore SchoolcorePartnership with Whitmore School (Morgantown, West Virginia, USA) for American High School Diploma program. Students complete Brazilian and American high school simultaneously. Whitmore is nationally accredited by AdvanceEd and regionally by NCA-CASI.
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB)minorPartnership allowing NAS students with GPA above 3.0 and ACT or ENEM scores direct admission to IPB in Portugal, one of Europe's top higher education institutions with very low tuition costs.
- Ignite Achievers / University of MichigancoreOfficial partnership to offer Ignite@Michigan summer program for high school students. NAS authorized to recruit and support students from Brazil and South America for STEM research experience at U-M Ann Arbor campus.
- IDP Australia (IELTS)coreOfficial IELTS test center partnership with IDP Australia for test administration in Rio Grande do Sul. NAS serves as official test center BR080.
- LCI Education (Canada)corePartnership with LCI Education network for college pathways in Canada. Partners include schools in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.
- OHC - Oxford House CollegecoreLanguage school partner with locations in USA (Boston, New York, Miami), Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary), and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast).
- Accord ISS Language Schools (UK)minorSummer language schools in UK including Eastbourne (Moira House), Kent (Bethany Centre), Lancashire (Rossall School), Durham (Barnard Castle), and Manchester.
- Centre International D'AntibesminorFrench language school partner in Antibes on the French Riviera, offering programs for adults and young learners.
- Accord Ecole de Langues (France)minorParis-based language school partner for French exchange programs with summer and regular programs.
- Fusion English (Australia)minorMelbourne-based English language school offering General English, EAP, IELTS Preparation, and Business English courses.
- Indiana Purdue UniversityminorUniversity visit partnership with international student recruitment coordinators presenting scholarship programs to NAS students.
- University of MinnesotaminorUniversity visit partnership with Aimee Thostenson presenting international programs and scholarships to NAS students.
- University of CalgaryminorCanadian university partner with English as second language programs; multiple NAS alumni admitted.
- ALI MontrealminorMontreal-based language school offering English and French courses for international students.
- BLI MontrealminorMontreal-based language school for English and French instruction with locations in Quebec City.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
North American School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cultura Inglesa: Long-established Brazilian English language school institution with physical campuses, certified instructors, and test-preparation offerings. Closely matches NAS's physical-classroom, multi-modality English instruction model in Brazil.
- CCAA: Brazilian language school chain with strong emphasis on French and English instruction. Directly comparable given NAS's parallel focus on French (especially for Canadian/Québec immigration pathways).
- CNA Idiomas: One of Brazil's largest English and Spanish language school franchises with hundreds of units nationwide. Directly comparable as a domestic Brazilian language school competing for the same student base in Porto Alegre and across Brazil.
- Wizard (by Pearson): Major Brazilian language school franchise with nationwide footprint, backed by Pearson. Comparable as a franchise-based English/Spanish language school serving Brazilian families and adults — directly overlapping NAS's customer segments.
- International House São Paulo: Brazilian branch of the global International House network of language schools. Comparable as a premium in-person English school with international accreditation, teacher training, and standardized testing orientation.
- Wise Up: Brazilian English language school chain with a strong physical presence and standardized curriculum. Comparable as a direct competitor in the Brazilian in-person English language instruction market.
- Fisk Centro de Ensino: Brazilian language and K-12 tutoring franchise with national footprint. Comparable as a broad-based language and supplemental education provider serving similar Brazilian family and student segments.
- Aliança Francesa (Brazil): Official French language and cultural institution in Brazil offering courses from beginner to advanced levels and certification exam prep. Directly comparable for NAS's French programs including TCF/TCFQ preparation for Québec immigration.
Broad incumbents
- Kaplan International Languages: Global language school operator with broad international footprint, including pathway programs to universities abroad. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering English language instruction plus study-abroad pathways that overlap with NAS's exchange and consulting business.
Regional players
- STUDIES International: Brazilian study-abroad and international education consultancy helping students apply to universities abroad. Comparable to NAS's educational consulting arm, though primarily focused on application support rather than in-person language instruction.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
North American School social profiles
Digital presenceNorth American School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North American School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
North American School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North American School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North American School
What does North American School do?
North American School is a private language school in Porto Alegre, Brazil that delivers English and French instruction across multiple age groups and proficiency levels, American High School Dual Diploma program, standardized test preparation and official test administration (ACT, IELTS, Pearson Vue), and educational consulting for international study placement across 26 countries. The school also arranges student exchange programs in 9 countries and runs University Experience campus-visit programs for North American universities.
Is North American School a public or private company?
North American School is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was North American School founded?
North American School was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is North American School based?
North American School is headquartered in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does North American School make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Language Course Instruction is the primary driver. The others are test Administration Fees, educational Consulting and student Exchange Programs.
Who are North American School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cultura Inglesa, CCAA, CNA Idiomas, Wizard (by Pearson), International House São Paulo, Wise Up, Fisk Centro de Ensino and Aliança Francesa (Brazil). Kaplan International Languages is listed as a broad incumbent. STUDIES International is listed as a regional player.
Does North American School have an API?
No public API is recorded for North American School.
What industry is North American School in?
North American School's product category is Language Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAEAB, English Language Schools (ESL/EFL), with a secondary code of EDAIAEAA, General Language Schools (Multi-Language). Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.