Despite its name,
Athens College is not an academic institution for higher education. Instead, it's one of Athens, Greece's finest primary and secondary schools. The “college” even prides itself as a beacon for educational excellence; truth be told, it has a right to. Athens College is undoubtedly one of the city's most prestigious schools, striving hard to ensure that every student will be given a chance to take on higher education. Many of the elites in Athens even enroll their kids here because they know that the school never fails to provide high-quality education.
Source: Athens College Facebook Page
History of Athens College
Athens College was established in 1925 as a joint project between a group of prominent Greek figures and American philhellenes. The former included politician Emmanuel Benakis and entrepreneur Stephanos Delta while the latter had Dr. Bert Hodge, Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. The school opened at the heart of
Athens with only 351 students and 44 professors, but it didn't take long for it to expand through the years. By the 1930s, the college had already constructed a gymnasium and a library, which is still the largest school library in all of Europe.
What is Athens College's Campus Like?
Though Athens College opened in the middle of the Greek capital in 1925, it eventually moved to Psychiko, one of the more suburban
neighborhoods of Athens, in 1929. The campus still stands there today, now one of the biggest schools in Athens with a multitude of impressive school facilities. As mentioned previously, Athens College's school library is the largest of its kind in all of Europe. It's such a big space with so many books and other reference materials that the city practically treats it as another research facility. The campus also has ample outdoor space that allows the students to spend time outside, specifically for PE classes, sports, and the like.
Source: Athens College Facebook Page
The Athens College Student Body
From what started as a small school of only a little over 300 students, Athens College now boasts one of the biggest student bodies in the city. Today, the school welcomes over 3,000 students per year, composed of both new enrollees and those returning who have yet to graduate. They're spread throughout the school's different levels, including kindergarten, primary school, middle school, and senior high school. As an American school in Athens, the college never fails to draw in international students too. Their percentage varies from year to year, but they still make up a good portion of the entire student body.
What is Athens College's Curriculum?
For the most part, Athens College follows the standard national curriculum in Greece. What students learn here is more or less the same as other top schools in Athens and the rest of the country. Its academic departments include English, Greek Language & Literature, History & Social Sciences, Mathematics, Art, Music, Natural Sciences, Physical Education, and Information Technology. Upon reaching senior high school, students are also given the choice to take on a two-year International Baccalaureate program, which can increase their chances of getting into the most prestigious universities in the world. This is also mostly offered to international students.
Source: Athens College Facebook Page
How Much Does It Cost to Study at Athens College?
As one of the top schools in Athens, Athens College imposes fairly high tuition fees. Its pre-K and kindergarten alone already cost around €12,480.00 to €12,950.00 per year. When the student reaches primary school, the tuition fee costs about €11,650.00 per year with an additional €1,250.00 school lunch fee. Junior high school, on the other hand, costs €10,950.00 per year. And by the time the student reaches senior high school, the tuition fees will range from €10,950.00 for 10th grade to €14,950.00 for the IB Diploma program. Though all these prices are relatively high, Athens College is still not the most expensive school in the city.
Where is Athens College in Athens?
As already mentioned, Athens College is located in Psychiko, Greece, a smaller town along the outskirts of Athens. Compared to the busier city center, this largely suburban district is a lot more residential and comparatively more peaceful. It has its own hustle and bustle, but Psychiko far less hectic than Athens. This, along with its many good schools, makes the town one of the best places for families to live. It also helps that the area has some of the finest
luxury homes in Athens, from house & lots to big apartments that fit both big and small families.
Source: Athens College Facebook Page
Athens College is undoubtedly one of the finest schools in Athens, Greece. This is the best place to enroll your kids in the Greek capital if you want to broaden their horizons and increase their chances of getting into a prestigious university.
