About Our School

Our Community

The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was established on April 2, 1951 in Rocquencourt, France. It was intended to be a military arm of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The headquarters continued in that location until 1967 when, upon France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military structure, SHAPE was relocated to its current location in Casteau, Belgium.

SHAPE is currently composed of NATO member countries and additional Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations, making it one of the most culturally unique military settings in the world. Within this vital and diverse community, SHAPE American High School (SAHS) exists not only to educate the children of American servicemen and women assigned here, but also to educate the children from other NATO and PfP nations.

In addition, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) SHAPE school coordinates with 11 other nation schools on the international installation. About 330 students are currently enrolled in the SAHS in grades 9-12. American students make up just over half of the student population, while NATO and PfP nation students comprise the remaining half.

This multicultural component results in SAHS having the most diverse student population among the 11 nation schools on SHAPE, as well as among all schools in the DoDEA system.

Our School

SHAPE American High School is a US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, serving grades nine through twelve, within the broader setting of the SHAPE International School.

SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) schools are part of the DoDEA Europe West District. Our school provides a learning environment for approximately 370 students composed of military dependents from the United States, NATO, PfP countries and from their military support civilians. As 50% of our school population is comprised of students from countries other than the United States, our student body has the unique opportunity to experience the traditions, lifestyles, and cultures of those various nations daily.

Students learn through a block schedule with 85 minute classes. Each student has seven classes and a Seminar (study) period, with each class meeting once every two school days. This enables students to have longer periods in each classroom. Teachers use these longer periods to implement more effective cooperative, interdisciplinary, and differentiated learning activities for their students.

SHAPE American High School has a very dedicated, experienced, caring staff. All staff is committed to ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for all our students while making sure that the students meet or exceed the DoDEA curricular standards for each course. In addition, our teachers do a great job building strong and effective relationships with each of their students, making the learning experiences relevant and applicable, and ensuring that those learning experiences are rigorous, varied, and exciting.

Our school is accredited by Cognia accreditation organization, and students follow the current DoDEA curriculum. Specific graduation requirements, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, electives, and Virtual School opportunities can be found in our Parent/Student Handbook and on the school's website.

SHAPE students have opportunities to play interscholastic sports through three different sport seasons as well as to participate and be involved in Student Council, National Honor Society (NHS) and many other clubs and activities. We encourage students to get involved in these extra-curricular activities as it helps enrich and enhance their education.