The American Farm School of Thessaloniki, Greece, is an independent, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1904 to serve the rural population of Greece and the Balkans. Major educational divisions include the Secondary School, the Dimitris Perrotis College of Agricultural Studies, and the department of Lifelong Learning. 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 historic Secondary School core program offers girls and boys from every rural region of Greece an accredited general high school education with an additional practical focus on a full range of agricultural and technical subjects. Students live in campus dormitories and follow an extracurricular program that build leadership skills and encourages students to become well-rounded individuals. All students receive full tuition scholarships and contribute only a portion of their boarding costs.

The Dimitris Perrotis College of Agricultural Studies, founded in 1996 through the major gift of Mrs. Aliki Perroti in memory of her husband, develops leaders for the international agribusiness, tourism, and environmental protection sectors. The BSc (Hons) degree is validated by the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

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

The Dimitris and Aliki Perrotis Library serves every facet of education through its collection of books, periodicals, electronic resources and web-based applications. 

All educational and research programs at the American Farm School are supported by the large-scale Demonstration and Teaching Farm that includes one of the most important Holstein Friesian dairy herds in Greece; a poultry unit using the latest research for egg, broiler and turkey production; greenhouses; vegetable gardens; vineyards; fruit and olive trees; and extensive experimental and production field crops at the Zannas Farm located near the delta of the Axios River.