About Us

Mission & Vision.

At Balanyá English Academy, our mission is to provide comprehensive English-based education and supportive services to our students, their families, and the community.

We provide each BEA student with opportunities through our approach to education, both inside and outside of the classroom, to help them unlock their fullest potential in a rapidly evolving and globalizing world. Our vision is that through BEA education our students will be empowered to achieve a better sense of security to support their health, their families, and actively engage in their communities.

Our Journey.

Chapter 1

Balanyá English Academy was formed in 2015 in Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Originally, BEA was named Grace English School and provided English language classes to local students in the community as an after school program. The school began to grow to provide additional programs and resources available to the students and their families including access to purified water, free or reduced cost dental or medical treatments, music lessons, and lectures to parents to support in the development in their children.

In 2017, an all English Academy was formed that provided all classes instructed to children in pre-K through first grade in English. Every year since, a new grade has been added. As of 2021, the school now has students from pre-K through fifth grade. Our students and their families have thrived with the education and support that we’ve been able to provide.

In 2020 - 2021, like everyone else around the world, we pivoted to all virtual classes for our students. We were able to ensure that all students had access to a computer and internet to ensure that while the rest of the world may be stopped, their education won’t.

Chapter 2

It became very clear that with all of the growth, that we would not be able to serve all of our students if we stayed in Chimaltenango. In 2020, we acquired a piece of land in Santa Cruz Balanyá, around 30 minutes from the original location. With the help of other organizations, we were able to build ten classrooms, two offices, and bathrooms. With this land and foundation, we will continue to be able to grow and expand to serve our students through middle school and high school in the future.

The Story Continues

After successfully completing our first year of in-person instruction at the Balanyá campus in 2023, we expanded in 2025 to welcome eighth grade students and many new families from across the community. To support this growth, we added four new classrooms for middle school and built a cafeteria/multipurpose facility. Beyond education, we are proud to have constructed a water house and filtration system to support the health and well-being of families in the area. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce three additional high school classes and remain committed to delivering a high-quality education as our students continue to thrive.