Within the wider field of international schools in Panama City, Oxford International School, usually shortened to OIS, is one of the larger English medium campuses, with a student body reported at around 1,400. It teaches an international curriculum in English and prepares students for the SAT, serving the San Francisco district and the wider city from its site in the Carrasquilla area. It is a distinct institution from the separately run Oxford School in the city, and families researching it should be careful not to confuse the two. OIS is not an IB school, so it is best compared with the city's other international and American style campuses rather than with the dedicated IB schools in Panama City.
Oxford International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | International curriculum taught in English, preparing students for the SAT, with TOEFL also available |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years through secondary, ages 3 to 18 |
| Size | A large campus, with enrolment reported at around 1,400 students |
| Student support | Inclusive classrooms with co teaching, access to an educational psychologist, enrichment for able and gifted pupils |
| Fee band | Not published by the school; mid to upper range for the city (see Panama City fees) |
| Location | 74th East Street near Via Espana, Carrasquilla, central Panama City |
Curriculum and academics
Oxford International School teaches an international curriculum in English and points its senior students toward the SAT, the standardised test used for entry to many universities, with TOEFL available for English proficiency. This places OIS in the English medium international and American style category rather than the British or IB ones. The school describes an emphasis on academic standards alongside character, integrity and the idea of forming proactive world citizens, and it reports that its leavers go on to further education. Classes average around twenty five students, and the school says it supports learners who are not yet fluent in English.
Because OIS follows the SAT pathway rather than the IB Diploma, families weighing it usually compare it with the American track at schools such as Balboa Academy and with the other large English medium campuses in the city. Parents who specifically want the IB Diploma should look instead to the dedicated providers we cover in the best IB schools in Panama City, and our note on the IB Diploma explains how that route differs from an SAT based programme. The Panama City hub maps where the international, American, IB and bilingual options sit relative to one another so you can place OIS in the wider picture.
Comparing Oxford International School with another campus?
Put OIS side by side with another Panama City school on curriculum, stages and fee band before you shortlist.
Oxford International School Panama fees
Oxford International School does not make its tuition public, so the only reliable figure is the one admissions gives you for your child's year group. In the context of our guide to international school fees in Panama City, a large English medium school of this kind typically sits in the mid to upper part of the range, but you should treat that as orientation rather than a quote and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Panama City schools commonly charge a one off enrolment or admission fee in addition to tuition, so ask whether it is refundable and when it falls due. Beyond tuition and that fee, budget for transport across the city, uniforms, lunches where provided, trips and activities. Our fee calculator brings these into a single annual figure, which is the fair way to set OIS against another international or American alternative once you have the school's own numbers.
Admissions
The school operates an entry evaluation, which it describes as including a psychological assessment and an academic evaluation that depends on the grade a child is entering. It runs a waiting list, and it indicates that new students generally join at the start of the year, with the main registration window falling early in the calendar year. Younger children are placed by age, while older entrants are assessed against the year group they are joining.
Families relocating to Panama should contact admissions early to understand availability in the relevant grade, the documents required and the evaluation involved, particularly because a popular large school can carry a waiting list. Ask about the assessment, the timeline and any English language support if your child is not yet fluent, and confirm the intake calendar for the year you plan to join.
Location and who goes there
Oxford International School is on 74th East Street near Via Espana, in the Carrasquilla area, and it describes itself as serving the educational needs of the San Francisco district and the rest of Panama City. That central position places it within reach of many of the residential neighbourhoods that working families choose, and the surrounding area is one of the busier commercial and residential parts of the capital. The school day runs from the morning into the early afternoon, with supervised care and a bus service available.
The intake is described as culturally diverse, drawing students of Hispanic, Afro Panamanian, Amerindian and Asian background, which gives OIS a strongly local as well as international character compared with the more expatriate dominated campuses. For how Carrasquilla and San Francisco compare with Costa del Este, Clayton and the other districts on commute, housing and school choice, the Panama City hub sets out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Oxford International School 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 Oxford International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Oxford International School Panama fees?
Oxford International School does not publish its tuition openly, so the only reliable figure is the one you obtain from admissions. It sits in the mid to upper part of the Panama City range as a large English medium school. Budget for a one off enrolment fee, transport and the usual extras on top of tuition when you compare it with another campus.
What curriculum does Oxford International School Panama follow?
Oxford International School teaches an international curriculum in English and prepares students for the SAT, with TOEFL also available. It is not an IB World School, so families specifically seeking the IB Diploma should compare it with the city's dedicated IB schools, while those wanting an English medium international pathway with strong university placement consider OIS in its own right.
What ages does Oxford International School Panama take?
The school takes students from age three to eighteen, spanning early years through to the end of secondary, on a single site serving the San Francisco area and the wider city.
Does Oxford International School Panama support students with additional needs?
The school describes inclusive classrooms with co teaching and some pull out support for students who need it, access to an educational psychologist, and enrichment for able and gifted students. Discuss your child's specific needs with admissions to understand what can be provided.
Where is Oxford International School Panama located?
The school is on 74th East Street near Via Espana in the Carrasquilla area, serving the San Francisco district and the rest of Panama City, which places it close to many central residential neighbourhoods.
