School Mission
Our school motto is AUT VIAM INVENIAM AUT FACIAM, which means “We shall either find a way or make one,” emphasizing society’s need for entrepreneurial and trail-blazing leaders for the 21st century.
Our mission is to educate the whole person using the Dalton Plan to develop individuals who contribute to humanity. Our community of lifelong learners fosters healthy, creative, social, and globally minded individuals who can think independently and critically. Our students strive for academic excellence by taking a challenging, balanced curriculum in core disciplines, the Arts, and technology as embodied by the Seven Cs (please scroll down and see the introductory poster below for more details).
The Dalton Plan, developed by Helen Parkhurst—founder of the Dalton School in New York City—has influenced education around the world, from the United States and Europe to Asia. Its core philosophy, grounded in the 19th and 20th centuries, continues to inspire schools today, including HCAS.
At the heart of the Dalton Plan are two guiding principles: Freedom and Cooperation. Freedom recognizes each student’s individuality, encouraging independence, creativity, and self-directed learning. Cooperation emphasizes positive socialization, fostering collaboration and meaningful exchange among peers and teachers.
Dalton education is structured around three key elements: House, Assignment, and Laboratory. The House extends beyond a homeroom, creating a community where students build relationships and develop a sense of belonging. The Assignment sets clear goals through projects and contracts between teachers and students, empowering learners to track their own growth. The Laboratory provides a space for exploration and innovation, much like the “garage” origins of companies such as Apple, Dell, and Amazon. At HCAS, our Laboratories are dynamic, student- or teacher-led centers of discovery that enrich learning through hands-on, co-curricular experiences.
Through these pillars, HCAS embraces the Dalton Plan to nurture independent thinkers, collaborative learners, and innovators ready to shape the future.
John Dewey
Helen Parkhurst
The House system is widely used in Commonwealth and private schools in North America. It is also a part of the Dalton Plan. At Hsinchu County American School (HCAS), the House system encourages both school and team spirit. Houses are committed to enhancing student relationships while fostering and encouraging team spirit, and a sense of belonging together regardless of age or grade. HCAS has chosen to implement a House system with each student and faculty member assigned to one of four houses named after the “four gods” of Chinese mythology as they represent qualities important to and inherent in the HCAS mission statement. While school and team spirit are promoted, the house system also encourages integration, responsibility and a sense of community among our students. Membership in a house is life-long in theory. Each student should be responsible for the well-being of fellow members and be proud to work for the betterment of the House. Houses will work together and compete in academic, sporting, service projects and events.
