Union School is a private, co-educational, and non-sectarian Pre-K to 12 institution established in Haiti for the purpose of providing an American accredited program of studies in both English and French for students of all nationalities. Our school consists of an elementary school (grades pre-k to 5), a middle school (grades 6 -8), and a high school (grades 9 to 12).

The school has moved locations several times since its conception and in August 2002 relocated to a spectacular new campus in Juvénat. This facility is housed on two hectares, with two buildings, 38 classrooms, two computer labs, two science labs, a library with 12,000 volumes and sports fields.

A view of the Middle and High School building and basketball court at our new Juvénat campus.

Tweets by @kimdoey

Our History

Union School was founded in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1919 as a school for the children of U.S. Marines Corps families stationed in Haiti. This was only for the elementary grades and the courses came from Washington, D.C.

From 1920 to 1934 the school, then named Colony School, was located on Turgeau Avenue with one hundred and ten students. On June 10, 1934, the Marines left Haiti, and the Colony School was left with fourteen students. In 1934, French was also added to the curriculum. With the help of benefits, raffles, bingos and plays, in addition to tuition, the school was able to remain open and increase its size over the years. In 1943, the school was reopened on the Champs de Mars in downtown Port-au-Prince. It was also in this year that the school was renamed Union School, and the school policy was changed to accept qualified students of all nationalities. Through constant fundraising and the increasing enrollment, the school was able to construct a building on Harry Truman Boulevard, in Bicentenaire, 1954.

In 1987, Union School operated out of the building that now houses the Karibe Hotel in Juvénat, and in 2001, it moved to its newly-constructed campus. Over the years our school has grown to incorporate other English speakers in the community, including dependents of business people, foreign diplomats, international organizations and local residents.

Union School’s downtown campus and Marie Bogat, USH Director, 1973

Mission

Union School Provides an enriched, accredited American program in a safe and nurturing environment. We strive to empower all our students to become successful lifelong learners who are creative, engaged, empathetic, and productive global citizens.

Vision

We envision our students in a caring and stimulating environment which maximizes individual potential. These confident, bilingual students value academic excellence, celebrate cultural diversity, and are conscious of social issues. They demonstrate the core values and behavior of responsible citizens equipped for the future.

Accreditation through SACS

Fully accredited by SACS (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) since 1962, Union School holds membership in the Association of Colombian-Caribbean American Schools, the Association of the Advancement of International Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Tri-Regional Association of American Schools (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean.

Our school accreditation is renewed every seven years based on the evaluation of expert educators appointed by the U.S. Department of Education.It is mandated that the entire operation system of the school is reviewed. Our administration has generally been pleased with expert committee’s commendations, and has always worked hard to follow its recommendations well.

School Environment

Union School is dedicated to providing a welcoming and accepting school climate. During the 2010/2011 school year, we worked with our student, parent and teacher communities in order to form a School Climate Action Plan.

Academic Excellence

We strive to provide an up-to-date, inquiry-based, and technologically-relevant curriculum which leads our students towards higher education and their individual potential. Our school provides varied educational environments in which to address unique learning needs. Union School believes in a learning process which addresses the total development of the student: cognitive, social, moral, cultural, and physical.

Our Philosophy

We are committed to meeting the needs of students from diverse cultural backgrounds, offering a program that focuses on excellence in academics and all other areas of their lives. We provide our students with an American curriculum with particular emphasis on Haitian history and culture. This program recognizes that education is a life-long process through which individuals continually acquire skills, develop abilities, and increase their potential. We emphasize the importance of acquiring fluency in oral and written English at all levels, and obtaining proficiency in French.

Working together, our school community empowers students to pursue excellence, explore the consequences of their actions, and to take meaningful risks. We encourage our students to become responsible citizens and leaders, who hold true to democratic values.

Our Core Values

At Union School, we encourage the positive development of responsible behaviors that are based on the following core values:

Honesty – the personal honor and dignity, which will promote social well-being. An honest person is genuine and has a good reputation.
Responsibility – the ability to tell right from wrong and to make reliable, trustworthy decisions based upon that knowledge.
Courage – the strength to make a decision for yourself and stand up for what is right. Courageous people stand up for those who are oppressed and against injustice and peer pressure.
Empathy – the ability to put oneself in someone else’s place in order to better understand the other person.
Respect – the ability to feel or show esteem for, to honor.

Throughout the school year, we participate in activities that specifically aim to grow and strengthen the core values listed above.

Beyond the Classroom

It is important to us that our school plays an active role in our surrounding community. Our students have many outreach opportunities off of campus, in which they learn essential community-building and leadership skills. On campus, our After-School Activities program helps students refine their skills in soccer, basketball, karate and chess. We host events and work collaboratively with the Children of Haiti Project, H.E.R.O, J’aimeHaïti and Special Olympics Haiti. We also work closely with the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince throughout the year on events outside the classroom.

Union School’s American-accredited academic program aims to be challenging, enriching, and comprehensive.  We strive to prepare our students for university admissions worldwide, and also to empower them to become successful lifelong learners who are creative, engaged, empathetic, and productive global citizens.

Union School is authorized to offer the following academic programs to our students:

• Elementary School Program – Grades Pre – K to 5
• Middle School Program – Grades 6 to 8
• High School Program – Grades 9 to 12
• Learning Center Program (for students with special needs) – Grades Pre-K to 12
• English as a second language (ESL) – Grades Pre-K to 12
• Advanced placement (AP) and Honors programs – Grades 9 to 12

In addition to these programs, Union School also offers in-depth university planning and counseling services.

We invite you to explore the resources available in this section to find out more about our course offerings, which follow American curriculum standards.Our certified teachers utilize these standards to reach every student through differentiated instruction techniques.

Welcome, Bienvenue, to our Community of Learners and Thinkers. We are committed to the pursuit of academic excellence and to the development of strong morals, based on the core values we believe are essential in preparing the citizens and leaders of tomorrow. A strong intellect combined with physical, personal, ethical, moral, and social intelligence reflect the profile of a graduate of Union school. In choosing the Union School, you are choosing the best American preparatory school for your children, and thus you are offering them access to a global community and opportunities for a fulfilling and rewarding future.

We offer a wide variety of programs in areas of academics, sports, and after-school and In-school activities. We invite you to visit our campus for a bird’s-eye view of our interactions and activities. Ours is a welcoming campus and our strength lies upon the commitment of mutual respect demonstrated by parents, faculty, staff and students in all aspect of our endeavors. School hours are from 7:40 a.m. until 2:40 pm. Business hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Classes start in late August, ending on June 15th.

How to Apply:

Step 1: Parents or guardian will review the Union School Admission Packet which consists of:

• Student Admission Policy/Admission Procedures
• Statement of Understanding
• Admission Application
• Confidential Information Form
• Fee /Tuition Payment Schedule (Local / International)
• Registration and Fee Policy
• Health Data Forms: Health Office Information/ Student Physical Examination Form

Step 2: Parents or guardian will submit the following documents:

• Completed Health Data Sheets: Health Office Information  / Student Physical Examination Forms
• Completed Admission Application
• Birth Certificate or copy of passport data page
• Immunization certificate
• 2 passport-size photographs
• Official academic transcripts from previous schools
• Letter of reference/introduction from previous schools
• Letter of recommendation from a current member of the Board of Trustees or someone in the Union School community.

Step 3: Parents will pay the application fee of $175USD.

Step 4: A family interview may be set up either with the Guidance Counselor, a school program Principal or the Director.

Step 5: Admission or Placement Testing will be set up.

Step 6: The Admission Committee will meet to review the student’s file and make a decision on admissions.

Step 7:The School will notify the parents of the decision.

Step 8: If the student is admitted, parents will:

• Take care of their financial obligations with the Business Office
• Receive uniform and book/supplies information sheet
• Receive summer reading lists if appropriate

• NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACTED UPON UNLESS IT IS COMPLETE AS PER ADMISSION PROCEDURES.
• THE DECISION OF THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE IS MADE AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION, AND THEREFORE, THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT RECONSIDER ITS DECISION, WILL NOT CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT AND WILL NOT RETEST ANY CANDIDATE.
• NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND CLASS UNTIL ALL PERTINENT TUITION AND FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.

Being a graduate of Union School means that you strive for excellence in all aspects of your life. Academic and life skills learned in the classroom translate into alumni who are effective communicators, avid researchers, and knowledgeable consumers. Being a graduate of Union School means having a knowledge and appreciation of culture and history, just as it means being respectful, caring and compassionate. At Union School, Haiti, we strive to put the tried and true values of the past into the hands the leaders of the future.

Our graduates attend the best colleges and universities worldwide:

A mental workout, chess during P.E.

At Union School, we offer a variety of programs that both complement and supplement our academic programs.   Our goal is to produce well-rounded global citizens, and these programs play an essential role to making this happen.

Our programs include:

• Athletics
• Community Outreach
• Technology
• Literacy
• Library
• Student Council
• After School
• Lunch
• Health

The following links are available to Union School community members including students, teachers, and parents:

• Moodle: http://courses.unionschool.edu.ht
• PowerSchool portal (7:30am-4:30pm M-F): http://powerschool.unionschool.edu.ht
• Union School email: http://mail.unionschool.edu.ht
• IXL math practice: http://www.ixl.com/signin/haiti
• Brainpop (7am-5:30pm M-F): http://www.brainpop.com