Within the wider field of international schools in Panama City, the International School of Panama is one of the anchor names, an established nonprofit that has run since 1982 and now carries children from age three to graduation on a single campus. It is an authorised IB World School, which places it among the city's recognised IB schools in Panama City, and it is a familiar reference point for families comparing the international options in the capital. ISP teaches in English with Spanish as a core language, and its size and history give it a breadth of facilities that smaller campuses cannot match.
International School of Panama at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Own kindergarten to Grade 12 programme in English, building to the IB Diploma in grades eleven and twelve |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years, elementary, middle and high school, Pre Kindergarten to Grade 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Status and accreditation | Nonprofit; authorised IB World School; accredited by Cognia |
| Fee band | Upper tier for the city (see Panama City fees) |
| Campus | Around ten hectares in Cerro Viento, San Miguelito, north east of central Panama City |
Curriculum and academics
ISP teaches its own kindergarten to Grade 12 programme rather than importing a single national system wholesale. The school describes its approach around what pupils should know, understand and be able to do, and tracks transferable skills alongside subject content, which is a deliberate move away from rote coverage. English is the working language across the school, Spanish is taught as a core subject, and there is English language support to settle children who arrive without fluent English. The senior school then builds to the IB Diploma, taken in grades eleven and twelve, so older pupils can leave with an internationally portable qualification recognised by universities worldwide.
Beyond the academic core, ISP runs STEM provision in dedicated innovation laboratories and offers an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate, reflecting a school large enough to specialise. Families weighing ISP are usually comparing the IB pathway here against the American track at schools such as Balboa Academy, and the choice tends to turn on whether a child suits the broad spread of the IB Diploma or a more course by course American programme. Our overview of the best IB schools in Panama City sets ISP alongside the other Diploma providers, while the Panama City hub maps where the American, IB and bilingual options sit relative to one another.
Weighing ISP against another Panama City school?
Put the International School of Panama side by side with another campus on curriculum, stages and fee band before you shortlist.
International School of Panama fees
ISP sits in the upper tier of our guide to international school fees in Panama City, reflecting its long history, its IB authorisation and the scale of its campus. As with most schools that run to the IB Diploma, tuition climbs by grade, and the senior years that carry the Diploma are the most expensive part of the journey. The school publishes its own fee schedule, so confirm the current figures with admissions before you plan around them rather than relying on third party listings, which date quickly.
Panama City schools commonly charge a one off admission or enrolment fee in addition to tuition, and that line can be significant at the better known campuses, so ask whether it is refundable and when it falls due. Beyond tuition and the admission fee, budget for a place deposit, IB examination entries in the final two years, transport across the city and the usual extras for uniforms, trips and activities. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure, which is the only fair way to set ISP against a bilingual or American alternative.
Admissions
ISP reviews applications through its admissions office rather than on a first come basis, so an open place in a year group does not by itself guarantee an offer. Younger children are usually placed by age, while from the early grades onward placement takes account of the records and grades a child brings from a previous school, along with any English language support that may be needed. Families relocating to Panama outside the main intake can ask about an in year place where one is available, and a large school like ISP is more likely than a small one to be able to accommodate a mid year arrival.
The school will typically want prior school reports and may assess a child to confirm the right grade and the level of English, particularly for entry higher up the school where the curriculum builds on earlier study. Places in the established international campuses can be sought after, so a family aiming at ISP should apply early and have documents ready. Contact the admissions office to confirm availability in your child's grade, the papers required and any assessment or interview, and to check the exact intake calendar for the year you are joining.
Location and who goes there
ISP sits in Cerro Viento, in the San Miguelito district on the north east side of Panama City, on a campus of around ten hectares near the Club de Golf. The size of the site lets the school spread out across separate buildings for the early years, elementary, middle and high school, with science and innovation laboratories, visual arts studios, libraries and sports facilities, a footprint few city campuses can match. The setting is more suburban than the high rise districts closer to the bay, which suits a school of this scale.
The intake mixes expatriate families on assignment, Panamanian families choosing an international education and returning families who want continuity with a globally recognised system, which gives the school a broadly international character. For how Cerro Viento and San Miguelito compare with Costa del Este, Clayton and the other residential districts on commute, housing and school choice, the Panama City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents, and our list of the best IB schools in Panama City shows where ISP sits among the Diploma providers.
International School of Panama reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of the International School of Panama, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are International School of Panama fees?
The International School of Panama sits in the upper tier of the Panama City range, with tuition rising by grade and the senior years the most expensive. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for a one off admission fee, a place deposit and IB examination entries in the final two years on top.
What curriculum does the International School of Panama follow?
ISP teaches its own kindergarten to Grade 12 programme in English, with Spanish as a core language and English language support for newcomers. The senior years build to the IB Diploma, which is taken in grades eleven and twelve, and the school adds STEM and an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate alongside the core academic track.
What ages does the International School of Panama take?
The school takes children from Pre Kindergarten at age three through to Grade 12 at age eighteen, organised across early years, elementary, middle school and high school on a single campus.
Is the International School of Panama an IB school?
Yes. ISP is an authorised IB World School and offers the IB Diploma Programme in grades eleven and twelve. It is also accredited by Cognia, and it sits among the established IB options families weigh in Panama City.
Where is the International School of Panama located?
ISP is in Cerro Viento, in the San Miguelito district north east of central Panama City, on a campus of around ten hectares near the Club de Golf. It is one of the larger school sites in the city.
