About CAC

HEAD OF SCHOOL'S WELCOME

Wayne Rutherford

Dear Future Eagles,

Welcome to our website, and thank you for your interest in Cairo American College (CAC), the premier American international school in Cairo, Egypt. Once students enroll at CAC, they and their families embrace the CAC Mission and Core Values and become lifetime members of our community!

Founded in 1945, CAC has a long-standing history of offering an exceptional American education experience in Egypt. Currently we have 800 students enrolled from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, representing more than 50 countries. Our diverse faculty bring with them many years of teaching experience, a global outlook, a genuine love for kids, and a desire to see students succeed.

CAC emphasizes holistic learning and supports students as they discover their skills and passions. Students participate in a diverse array of courses and co-curricular activities including athletics, student clubs, and visual and performing arts. We explore our host country by incorporating Egypt’s history and culture into our curriculum and sending students on experiential learning trips around Cairo and Egypt. CAC is a member of several associations of international schools. Through these affiliations, our students attend educational trips and athletic competitions on four continents.

At the high school level, we work one-on-one with students to research, apply to, and matriculate to top institutions of higher education around the world. Our learning community is tight-knit, and older students serve as role models and mentors for younger students. Alumni also return to campus to speak in classes and lead student activities. Graduates join a global community of more than 15,000 CAC alumni and former students who are at the forefront of business, research, the arts, social innovation, and political service. The friendships that students form at CAC last a lifetime. Though our alumni are spread across 90 countries, they are constantly connecting and collaborating with one another.

What truly makes CAC stand out among international schools is our close community. Parents are welcome on campus and are here every day to bring their children to school, support student activities, attend performances, and coach sports teams. Families engage in social activities and join organizations that positively impact CAC and greater Cairo. Every new family adds unique value to our community. My family has been at CAC for five years, and we all feel privileged to be a part of this exceptional school.

We look forward to learning more about you, helping you to learn more about us, and perhaps welcoming you into our community!

Warm regards,

Wayne Rutherford
Head of School
 wrutherford@cacegypt.org

Mr. Rutherford is an US citizen from the state of Oregon. He has been Head of three international schools: CAC, the International School of Dakar, in Senegal; and Hokkaido International School in Sapporo, Japan. He started his career overseas in 1991, teaching high school English and ToK at the International School of Manila. Mr. Rutherford holds two degrees from Stanford University (BA '90, MA '91). Mr. Rutherford is in Cairo with his family, and his daughter graduated with the Class of '18, and his son will graduate with the Class of '19. An international family, Mr. Rutherford's wife is from Japan and their children are dual-national and bi-cultural TCKs. 

Strategic Plan
In 2014-15, CAC conducted a Strategic Planning exercise in conjunction with our Accreditation process. This resulted in 'CAC 2020,' a five-year plan for the advancement, improvement, and growth of CAC.
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CAC CAMPUS TOUR
Take our Campus Virtual Tour by clicking on the hotspots on the map.
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AT A GLANCE
(CAC) is an independent coeducational day school, which offers an educational program from prekindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities.  The School was founded in 1945.  The school year runs from mid-August to mid-June. Organization:  10-member Board of Trustees, elected or appointed, governs the School.
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CURRICULUM
Cairo American College offers a college preparatory program based upon proven and timeless learning principles that strengthen learning: Rigorous Content, Social Interaction, Construction of Knowledge, Positive Environment, and Constant Feedback. Cairo American College is accredited by the Council of International Schools and Middle States Association for School and Colleges. The curriculum at Cairo American College is American-based following American standards. The primary set of standards across the school is American Education Reaches Out (AERO) created and supported by the United States State Department. Students are involved in traditional subject areas: Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts, and Physical Education. The instructional pedagogy is progressive following current American emphasis. Students are involved in inquiry-based learning and in Elementary and Middle Schools have standards-based grading and reporting. Students show their learning through tests, written assignments, oral presentations, projects, demonstrations, and discussions. Students in grades 3-9 participate in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. The High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12 and a number of Advanced Placement courses. High school students take the SAT and/or ACT assessments as part of their college application process. Students attend school from 7:55 to 3:05 every Sunday through Thursday. Elementary school students follow a five day rotation; middle and High School students follow an eight-day rotation of eight blocks, going to four blocks (85 minutes) per day. After school, students are involved in clubs, sports, and other extra-curricular activities.   CAC Learning and Teaching Principles
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CAC CURRICULUM
Cairo American College offers a college preparatory program based upon proven and timeless learning principles that strengthen learning: Rigorous Content, Social Interaction, Construction of Knowledge, Positive Environment, Constant Feedback. Cairo American College is accredited by the Council of International Schools and Middle States Association for School and Colleges. The curriculum at Cairo American College is American- based following American standards. The primary set of standards across the school is American Education Reaches Out (AERO) created and supported by the United States State Department. Students are involved in traditional subject areas: Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts, and Physical Education. While traditional subjects, the instructional pedagogy is progressive, again following current American emphasis. Students are involved in inquiry-based learning and in Elementary and Middle Schools have standards-based grading and reporting. Students demonstrate their learning through tests, written assignments, oral presentations, projects, demonstrations, and discussions. Students in grades 3-9 participate in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. The High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12 and a limited number of Advanced Placement courses. High school students participate in the SAT and ACT assessments as part of their college application process. Students attend school from 8:00 to 3:00 every Sunday through Thursday. Elementary school students follow a five day rotation and Middle and High School students follow an eight-day rotation of eight blocks, going to four blocks (85 minutes) per day. After school, students are involved in clubs, sports, or after school activities.   CAC Learning and Teaching Principles
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CAC HISTORY
Prior to 1945, K-12 educational opportunities for American children in Egypt were limited to several Egyptian schools that admitted foreign students; other nationality schools including British, French and Greek Schools; a church-affiliated American boarding school in Alexandria; and private arrangements such as a small school for Americans conducted on a houseboat near Maadi. Following World War II, increasing numbers of American families came to live in Egypt. These U.S. citizens founded The Cairo School for American Children as a private, independent school to educate their children.  
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In 2014-15, CAC conducted a Strategic Planning exercise in conjunction with our Accreditation process. This resulted in 'CAC 2020,' a five-year plan for the advancement, improvement, and growth of CAC.

We are excited to share with your Strategic Plan, and we hope that you find the vision it conveys for an excellent school to be as inspiring as we do.

 

Strategy 1 p1

Strategy 2 p1

Strategy 3 p1

Strategy 4 p1

 

Take our Campus Virtual Tour by clicking on the hotspots on the map.

(CAC) is an independent coeducational day school, which offers an educational program from prekindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities.  The School was founded in 1945.  The school year runs from mid-August to mid-June.

Organization:  10-member Board of Trustees, elected or appointed, governs the School.

Curriculum: Cairo American College offers a rigorous educational program, which follows a general U.S. standards-referenced curriculum model.  Starting in the eleventh grade, students may elect to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma.  School instruction is in English.  World languages include Arabic, French, and Spanish. Arabic is taught in grades 1-12; French and Spanish are offered in grades 6-12. Instruction in English-as-a-second- language is offered in grades 1-10.  Studies include the history and culture of Egypt, and technology is integrated into the curriculum school-wide.  CAC is a non-sectarian institution. 98% of CAC graduates go on to colleges and universities in the United States or other countries.  Cairo American College holds dual accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Council of International School.

CACInfoGraphicImageDesc

Download our Fact Sheet 2017-2018

 

 

Cairo American College offers a college preparatory program based upon proven and timeless learning principles that strengthen learning: Rigorous Content, Social Interaction, Construction of Knowledge, Positive Environment, and Constant Feedback.

Cairo American College is accredited by the Council of International Schools and Middle States Association for School and Colleges. The curriculum at Cairo American College is American-based following American standards. The primary set of standards across the school is American Education Reaches Out (AERO) created and supported by the United States State Department.

Students are involved in traditional subject areas: Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts, and Physical Education. The instructional pedagogy is progressive following current American emphasis. Students are involved in inquiry-based learning and in Elementary and Middle Schools have standards-based grading and reporting. Students show their learning through tests, written assignments, oral presentations, projects, demonstrations, and discussions.

Students in grades 3-9 participate in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. The High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12 and a number of Advanced Placement courses. High school students take the SAT and/or ACT assessments as part of their college application process.

Students attend school from 7:55 to 3:05 every Sunday through Thursday. Elementary school students follow a five day rotation; middle and High School students follow an eight-day rotation of eight blocks, going to four blocks (85 minutes) per day. After school, students are involved in clubs, sports, and other extra-curricular activities.

 

CAC Learning and Teaching Principles


Links to Divisional Academic Programs
Elementary School Academic Program        Middle School Academic Program        High School Academic Program

Links to PreK-12 Scope and Sequence Documents.
English Language Arts               Mathematics             Science           Social Studies

Visual Arts         Performing Arts       Design Technology     Physical Education

French & Spanish        Arabic Language Arts        Arabic World Language

Link to Table Indicating Standards Used within Subject Areas
CAC Table of Standards

Cairo American College offers a college preparatory program based upon proven and timeless learning principles that strengthen learning: Rigorous Content, Social Interaction, Construction of Knowledge, Positive Environment, Constant Feedback.

Cairo American College is accredited by the Council of International Schools and Middle States Association for School and Colleges. The curriculum at Cairo American College is American- based following American standards. The primary set of standards across the school is American Education Reaches Out (AERO) created and supported by the United States State Department.

Students are involved in traditional subject areas: Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts, and Physical Education. While traditional subjects, the instructional pedagogy is progressive, again following current American emphasis. Students are involved in inquiry-based learning and in Elementary and Middle Schools have standards-based grading and reporting. Students demonstrate their learning through tests, written assignments, oral presentations, projects, demonstrations, and discussions.

Students in grades 3-9 participate in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. The High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12 and a limited number of Advanced Placement courses. High school students participate in the SAT and ACT assessments as part of their college application process.

Students attend school from 8:00 to 3:00 every Sunday through Thursday. Elementary school students follow a five day rotation and Middle and High School students follow an eight-day rotation of eight blocks, going to four blocks (85 minutes) per day. After school, students are involved in clubs, sports, or after school activities.

 

CAC Learning and Teaching Principles


Prior to 1945, K-12 educational opportunities for American children in Egypt were limited to several Egyptian schools that admitted foreign students; other nationality schools including British, French and Greek Schools; a church-affiliated American boarding school in Alexandria; and private arrangements such as a small school for Americans conducted on a houseboat near Maadi. Following World War II, increasing numbers of American families came to live in Egypt. These U.S. citizens founded The Cairo School for American Children as a private, independent school to educate their children.