American Farm School, Perrotis College (Thessaloniki)

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The American Farm School of Thessaloniki, Greece, is an independent, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1904 to serve the needs of Greece and the surrounding Balkan areas. Today major educational divisions include the Primary School, Secondary School, the Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment and Life Sciences, and Adult Education and Research. The School prepares its graduates for prominent roles in community life and in the agriculture and food sectors by teaching farming and business practices that are economically viable, ecologically sound and socially responsible. The School’s founder, Dr. John Henry House, was a practical idealist who believed in educating the whole individual: the head, the hands and the heart. After more than a century of implementing the founder’s vision, the American Farm School today remains dedicated to the dynamic fusion of theory and practice in all levels of agricultural education that has become the institution’s hallmark.


The Primary School began with the opening of a Preschool in 2011, offering Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. It will be followed by the start of a grades 1-6 Elementary School in 2013.

The historic Secondary School core program offers girls and boys from every region of Greece an accredited high school education with an additional practical focus on a full range of agricultural and technical subjects. Most students live in campus dormitories and all follow an extracurricular program that builds leadership skills and encourages students to become well-rounded individuals. Students are assisted by a generous scholarship program that supports tuition and in some cases boarding costs.

The Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment and Life Sciences, founded in 1996 through the major gift of Mrs. Aliki Perroti in memory of her husband, develops leaders for the international agribusiness, food science and environment sectors. The BSc (Hons) degree is validated by Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK and is recognized worldwide.

The American Farm School has been a leader in the rural development of Greece throughout the twentieth century. Today a formal division of Adult Education offers short courses, seminars, workshops and conferences to transfer to adults the vital knowledge and skills needed for sustainable economic development.

Greek Summer is an intercultural exchange program established in 1970. It is designed for U.S. and international teenagers who are enthusiastic about immersing themselves in Greek culture, contributing to the quality of life in a rural Greek village, and exploring the natural beauty of Greece, including a climb to the summit of Mt. Olympus. Throughout the years, the American Farm School has built a tradition of helping Greek villagers meet their evolving needs through community service projects carried out by Greek Summer participants. During Greek Summer, young Americans undergo their own metamorphosis of thought and spirit as they work to accomplish set goals. The intensity of the experience leads participants to realize new potential and discover resources within themselves and each other.
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