History
Just a year after Brasília’s inauguration, the need for an English-language school became apparent as embassies, missionaries, and businesses relocated to Brazil's new capital. In response, in March 1961, the U.S. Embassy, at the request of the growing local community, invited the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anthony's Parochial School to establish a school to educate their children.
In April 1961, Sister Rita Michael, our first teacher, began developing a curriculum based on the American model. However, she quickly encountered a challenge: Brasília had no school supplies available! Missionaries and embassy personnel reached out to friends and family in the U.S., who sent textbooks and reference books, helping to create a small library. This collaboration marked the beginning of our lasting partnership with the international community, a relationship that remains strong to this day.
By June 1964, just three years after opening, Sister Rita, along with Sisters Jean Ann Carroll, Conrad, and Joan Berard, recognized that the school was growing well beyond its initial scope. They approached the American Embassy for support, but as the U.S. government does not build schools, the American community, with embassy backing, invited Jim Serfling to serve as EAB's first headmaster.
On September 15, 1964, the U.S. Embassy officially registered EAB with the Brazilian government, with classes initially held for 41 students in two embassy apartments in SQS 113. On November 4, 1964, EAB gained formal registration through a notary public, and later that month, the embassy requested land from Brasília’s governor, José Sette Câmara Filho, to establish a permanent campus. The city granted the current site for a nominal fee, and construction soon began, culminating in the opening of the new building in 1967.
In those early days, a single-lane road and slopes of red dirt led down from L2 to EAB’s one building, now the Upper School. Back then, it held only a few classrooms, a small library, and a couple of offices, with the Headmaster’s residence just behind. There was no cafeteria—everyone brought packed lunches, and the janitor’s wife, who lived on-site with her husband, made cafezinho for the staff. By 1967, EAB had grown to 70 students from Kindergarten through 3rd grade, with a handful of 4th–6th graders sharing one class.
We believe it’s essential to share the story of our humble beginnings and reflect on the incredible journey that has shaped our school. From those early days on a single-lane road to a vibrant community of over 680 students from more than 44 countries, we have grown beyond what our founders could have imagined. Today, we celebrate both our rich history and our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence at EAB—values that continue to drive our beloved school forward.