Cairo American College has provided thousands of students with a quality education since 1945. More than 60 years after its establishment, CAC has grown considerably to encompass a culturally diverse student body that includes both expatriate and local students, representing over 60 nationalities.
CAC was established in 1945 in a three-story villa with 50 American students enrolled in grades 1-8. Ten years later the school relocated to larger premises on the former grounds of the Mohamed Ali Ibrahim Palace while still catering to the expatriate community, primarily Americans. It was not until 1970 that CAC moved to its current 11-acre campus in Digla. The more spacious facilities allowed the school to gradually expand from around 400 students to 1,400.
Since construction of the current campus began in 1967 there have been substantive changes in teaching methodologies and many technological advances. With strong standards of excellence already in place, it became necessary for CAC to re-examine existing facilities to ensure that the 13 buildings comprising the 11-acre campus support the world-class approach that the school provides. The Board of Trustees was challenged with the decision of whether to renew the current campus to meet the needs of the 21st Century, or to build in a new location. In November 2006, the Board of Trustees unanimously accepted a Master Plan for the renewal of the current CAC campus.
The new campus developments will involve improvements that will allow for a higher quality education while maintaining the school's current campus. The Master Plan was developed to improve student life without further expansion into the surrounding areas, thereby maintaining and improving the school's association with the Digla community. CAC is at the pinnacle of community schools in Cairo and aims to remain so for generations of students in the years to come.
In an effort to produce an optimal design that takes into consideration the needs and requirements of the unique community that CAC serves, architects have consulted with CAC students, faculty and parents throughout the planning process. The largest part of the construction involves the Elementary and Middle schools and libraries. Over the next three years, new Elementary and Middle schools will be completed and the existing Administration Building will be renovated and connected to the Elementary School.
