The Education System in American Samoa

The American Samoa Department of Education (DOE) has 23 elementary schools and five secondary high schools, one of which is a poly-technical school. The DOE also offers early childhood education, vocational education, and special education programs.

The DOE’s stateside education program is designed to meet the educational needs of our children and is taught at a level comparable to stateside curriculum and standards. There are also several private elementary and secondary schools in American Samoa.

Concerns about the loss of traditional culture and language have led to a Samoan language arts and culture program being implemented in American Samoa public schools from early childhood education through high school. Samoan is also a required course in all public schools.

The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It was established in 1970 to provide post-secondary education opportunities in the liberal arts, teacher training, vocational-technical education and general education to the residents.

The College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, as well as certificate programs in a variety of academic and technical areas including Agriculture and Life Science, Art/ Music and Drama, Business College and Life Planning, Criminal Justice, Education, English Language, Institute of Health and Human Services, Languages and Literature, Mathematics, Nursing, Physical Education, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Samoan Language and Culture, Science, Social Sciences, and Trades and Technology.