Pierce – The American College of Greece has a history that traces back to 1875 in Smyrna, Asia Minor. From these early days in Smyrna, the motto «Non ministrari sed ministrare» (to serve and not to be served) has been part of the long and rich history of the college, and has acted as a guiding light of the school, its students, and alumni, for over 140 years.
After the 1922 Asia Minor catastrophe, the school relocated to downtown Athens at the invitation of Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. Throughout the years, the school also moved to Palaio Faliro and Hellenikon, before until 1965 when it finally settled in its own, permanent location in the Athenian suburb of Aghia Paraskevi, sheltered by the slopes of Mt. Hymettus.
Today, Pierce has 1,340 students in its 7th through 12th grades. Pierce is renowned for its outstanding English program. The school also offers a plethora of extracurricular activities and state-of-the-art facilities, to ensure that students have all the necessary resources to develop their personality, talents, and interests.
As of 2016, Pierce has become an IB World School, with the initiation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, opening a new chapter in the school’s long and proud history.
Pierce is the secondary educational unit of The American College of Greece, an educational institution that also includes Deree – offering undergraduate and graduate programs – and Alba Graduate Business School at The American College of Greece.
Mission Statement
The mission of Pierce is to provide a holistic education to form intellectually independent, morally responsible, socially engaged global citizens. “Non ministrari sed ministrare” (Not to be served but to serve) defines our institutional character and our aspiration for our students.
