Overview
For the last twenty-five years, the Ashton School has been serving our community as a privately owned, independent Dominican/International school offering instruction in English at the pre-school, elementary and secondary school levels, as well as Spanish instruction in the subjects required by the National Ministry of Education. The instructional program is student-centered and maintains high academic and personal development expectations, grounded in research-based practices and biblical principles.
Ashton School enforces child protection and reporting procedures in accordance with the Dominican Republic’s regulations, as per the Sistema de Protección de la Niñez y Adolescencia (Ley 136-03), which is aligned with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Normas del Sistema Educativo Dominicano para la Convivencia Armoniosa en los Centros Educativos Publicos y Privados.
Our Emblem
Roots and Wings
Roots grounded in an excellent academic program and biblical principles;
Wings to soar with the knowledge and values learned to thrive, serve and impact the world around them.
Our Vision
The Ashton School is dedicated to be an institution of excellence centered on inspiring minds and transforming hearts.
Our Mission
To provide a challenging academic program shaped by international and national standards, values based on biblical principles, enhanced with physical and cultural experiences, so its students will be able to integrate their academic knowledge and skills with wisdom, respect, and love for God and others.
Our Guiding Principles
- Deliver a guaranteed, viable, and research-based curriculum, informed by the U.S. Common Core and Next Generation of Science Standards, with Biblical integration, in English, and Dominican (MINERD) standards for Spanish and Dominican Social Studies, which will provide students with the knowledge and skills in core subjects that will result in college readiness for both local and foreign universities.
- Students demonstrate proficiency and deeper understanding, showing mastery in a body of knowledge and skills within each discipline. (EL)
- Students apply their learning and transfer knowledge and skills to novel, meaningful tasks that have a local or global impact, solving real life situations.” (EL, STUCO)
- Use a comprehensive, standards-based assessment system to provide timely feedback, which results in improved student performance that encourages them to take responsibility for their learning goals, and allows them to showcase their areas of strength in a variety of ways. (Guskey, Pollock, STUCO).
- Students become academically and socially prepared to meet the demands of a 21st Century workforce by developing the four C’s of 21st Century Education: Critical thinking/problem-solving/analyzing, and considering multiple perspectives, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity/Innovation skills. (Partnership for 21st Century Skills)
- Students create authentic and complex work, demonstrate higher order and original thinking, consider multiple perspectives and carry out work that is personally and externally meaningful and helpful. (TfT, STUCO)
- Students seek and find God’s fingerprints in the intricate, purposeful, and unique design of what He has created through a series of critical thinking and highly effective learning experiences. They analyze and utilize the discoveries by applying them on a day-to-day basis,helping to identify their purpose. (TfT, STUCO)
- Students communicate clearly and graciously, write, speak, and present ideas effectively using a variety of media, technology and MakerLab tools within and across disciplines in English and Spanish, prioritizing public speaking. (Ashton, TfT and STUCO)
- Students understand the importance of knowing, loving and honoring God and others in accordance with biblical principles to live with integrity. (Ashton founding principle)
- Provide a balanced and rigorous academic program that integrates principles as presented in the Bible, to shape both the intellect and hearts of our students.
- Teach students about a loving and just God, as well as the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible, with an emphasis on Jesus’ example as a man, Savior and role model for all humankind.
- Staff and students demonstrate loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, responsible, honest, respectful and self-controlled behaviors and attitudes. (Galatians 5:22-23 & Ashton School founding values which are underlined)
- Uphold a conduct policy founded on loving & logical actions while balancing justice and grace.
- Students take responsibility for their actions by considering (reflecting on) actions, confessing (admitting) actions/attitudes, committing to future improvements and ultimately being able to demonstrate the change that has taken place. (Culture of Grace®)
- Provide an environment in which students enjoy school, work towards socio-emotional and mental well-being with guidance from teachers/advisors/counselors/administrators, and are able to make friends and feel like an important member of the group. (Ashton founding statement, ASPAS, and STUCO.)
- Foster global perspectives and understandings for cultural diversity while continuing to respect and cultivate Dominican heritage. (Ashton founding principle)
- Provide an environment that promotes community relationships, volunteer activities, and service learning opportunities at all grade levels to contribute to a multigenerational legacy.
- Students and staff exhibit an awareness of and appreciation for God’s creation by demonstrating good stewardship of our resources and respect for life.
- Students and staff pursue justice and restorative transformation, seeking to bring fullness where there is emptiness, treating others well and standing up for what is right (e.g., empathy, kindness, integrity, respect, compassion) (TfT, STUCO)
- Students and staff contribute to the improvement of the communities and a better world by stewarding local and global resources which results in the bettering of God’s creation.” (e.g., citizenship, service, respect for life) (EL, TfT, STUCO)
- Give all students an equal opportunity to learn and meet curricular standards (with accommodations where necessary) by allowing them to demonstrate learning in a variety of ways while engaging in beautiful work that enriches the world and reflects God’s heart for diversity, complexity, and creativity.(Ashton founding principle, TfT, STUCO)
- Offer opportunities for students to engage in Learning Expeditions, take Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses, engage in Learning through Internships (LtI) in upper secondary school, as well as explore other learning opportunities for students who are ready for greater challenges.
- Students work to become effective learners, develop the mindsets and skills for success in college, career, and life (e.g., initiative, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration) (EL)
- Offer rigorous co-curricular activities that will contribute to healthier and physically active lifestyles, allow for exposure and experience in the arts and develop additional skill-sets to complement classroom learning.
- Expose students to a variety of athletic disciplines including: soccer, basketball, swimming, ping-pong, volleyball, chess and gymnastics. (Ashton founding statement, ASPAS)
- Provide student leadership and extended learning opportunities through clubs such as: Student Council, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, Junior Achievement, Debate, First Lego League and other offerings.
- Students and staff demonstrate loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, good, faithful, gentle, respectful, kind, responsible and self-controlled behaviors and attitudes resulting in the ability to: Make friends and establish positive relationships, express agreements or discords effectively and respectfully, make wise and healthy decisions, demonstrate good sportsmanship, respect individual differences, express gratitude and appreciation, and exhibit responsible work ethics. (Ashton founding principle)
- Employ, develop and retain teachers and leaders who will strive for high academic student achievement and sound spiritual values based on the school’s vision and mission, and as taught in the Bible, the only inspired and infallible Word of God.
- Provide a safe and physically comfortable environment that promotes student learning.
- Provide adequate physical and human resources, equipment, facilities and overall support systems to enhance overall organizational effectiveness and in turn improve student learning and spiritual formation.
- Monitor student performance and organizational effectiveness using data to guide the decision-making process.
- Engage in continuous school wide improvement by developing and adhering to a strategic plan, individual action/improvement plans and a continual self-analysis.
- Maintain responsible and sound financial practices based on recognized accounting principles.
- Ensure that school wide decisions and actions (instructional, administrative, and operational) are consistent with the school’s guiding principles, and strategic objectives.
- Focus on a shared vision, goals, and actions to improve student performance.
- Maintain constant and effective communication among parents, students and staff based on kindness, responsibility and respect. (Ashton founding statement, ASPAS)
- Encourage parental involvement, in cooperation with parent representatives, to contribute to our students’ academic and personal development. (Ashton founding statement, ASPAS)
Serve with Us
We look forward to meeting teachers who are passionate about inspiring the minds and transforming the hearts of students they are blessed to serve.
Accreditations and Affiliations
The Ashton School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS), which is the accrediting body of the parent organization called Cognia (formerly AdvancedED). As a SACS accredited school, the school provides instruction in English in the core subjects and prepares students for universities abroad.
The school is also recognized by the Ministerio de Educación de la República Dominicana (MINERD) and thus complies with the required hours and academic program in Spanish and Sociales.
Other affiliations include:
Association of Private Educational Institutions (AINEP)
Dominican Association for Disaster Mitigation (ADMD)
Association of Colombian-Caribbean American Schools (ACCAS)
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Ministry of Education (MINERD)
Ministry Safe
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
National Honor Society (NHS)
National Student Council (NatStuCo)
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)
RenWeb/FACTS
Tri-Association
ASHTON BY THE NUMBERS
Students per class
Students take part in the athletics program
Of our energy is produced by solar panels
Extracurricular activities
Different Sports
Graduates received college financial aid
Years of experience
Latest News
See what’s going on @ashtonschool
🌿📚 As we celebrate Earth Day this week, we rejoice to have enjoyed a full year of instruction contributing to its care. Last week was the Celebration of Learning of our young nature keepers. They explored the beauty of nature, delved into hydroponics, and grew with God’s grace! 🌱✨ We’re so proud to nurture a generation passionate about sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. We incorporated Engineering, Art, ELA, Español and Science as part of our deeper learning project. #NatureKeepers #CelebrationOfLearning
Once again one of Ashton’s oldest tradition came to life with the Boat Project 2024 Edition! Congratulations to “El Tanque” team! Winners of the race.
Great job to all involved in the process!
The Science and Makerspace coordinators 👏 and of course students and parents as supporters of this innovative and distinctive practice!
Renaissance Rally-
7th grade hosted their celebration of learning with a creative twist. They became experts in the Renaissance as they prepared to complete a special rally. They’ve been studying the Renaissance since the beginning of February, and today they presented table games, children’s books, and riddles about the topics that they’ve explored during these months to their peers and parents. To move along across the different stations of the rally, they were required to answer riddles that only those with the expertise would know.
#renaissance #celebrationoflearning
Encanto still resonates in our hearts and minds! (Watch the full video through the link in our bio!)
What a beautiful representation of the story originally presented as an animated film.
We invite you to read the review that presents so well why we found this event so fitting to the values we uphold in school:
“And therein lies the movie’s power: This isn’t so much the story of a magical family as it’s about the “magic” found in family itself—how wonderful, and how difficult, our closest kin can be.
It’s about community, too. The movie reminds us, as the Bible does, that we’re all designed to be part of a bigger picture. Yes, we’re called to use our gifts to help others, but there’s no sin or weakness in asking for a little help when we need it, too. It reminds us that even our talents can trap us, not free us—that we can become the sum of what we do. But that’s not how God looks at us, and not how we should look at ourselves.
Our gifts are just a small part of who we are. And who we are is our real gift.
When I watched Encanto, I was reminded a little of Jesus’ parable of the house built upon the rock. In many ways, the Madrigal house was built upon a rock—its foundations laid in the midst of tragedy, its walls built of magic and duty and care and, yes, love. But we learn that, while all those ingredients are strong indeed, a bit of cement can hold it even better: honesty. Transparency. Grace.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Christ is not mentioned in Encanto, and some of the magic we see here would never earn acclaim from Paul. But we do see how weakness can become our strengths. However great we are, it’s grace that counts most. Encanto knows this, and it reminds us in one of the most entertaining ways possible.”
@pluggedinteam
https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/encanto-2021/
“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift” - Kate DiCamillo.
The Bedtime Story Night invites our youngest students to step into the school “after hours” in their pijamas with their favorite stuffed animal as their companion. This activity cultivates the love for books and reading from an early age.
The little ones had a great time during this year’s bedtime story night. Teachers and the principal seized this special opportunity to read to them, dance with them, and share snacks.
#Readmorebooks #Bedtimestories
Our drama students presented a stage adaptation of the highly acclaimed movie “Encanto.” They skillfully portrayed each unique character and delivered an outstanding performance. We thank God for taking care of each detail throughout the entire event.
#encanto #drama
Our Library reminded us that April 12th is observed as a very DEAR DAY! Read below to understand why we joined!
“D.E.A.R. Day, also known as Drop Everything and Read Day, is an annual celebration that takes place on April 12. As the name suggests, this holiday is intended for everyone to dedicate a significant period during the day to reading. The date is a reference to the birthday of one of the most renowned American authors, Beverly Cleary, as she was the first to create the concept of D.E.A.R. This celebration is still observed in the U.S. to this day and is a favorite of many school students” (nationaltoday.com)
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