The beginnings of the Armenian Evangelical College date to the early 1920s (official founding 1923), when, from simple origins among the growing immigrant group, a school was organized, which in time developed into a boys' high school. Meanwhile, in 1921 an Armenian Girls' American School had been established, under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In 1934 the two high schools were combined and were governed by a board of managers initially representing the entire Armenian Evangelical community in Beirut; it came under the sole jurisdiction of the
First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut. The AEC established the first baccalaureate class in 1960. In 1969 the “Second Baccalaureate” was started, with financial aid from Mr. S. Philibosian. To date, the AEC has had almost 1500 graduates. ==See also==