The International School of Panama
Web: www.isp.edu.pa
2008-2009
The International School of Panama (ISP) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school, which offers a college preparatory program from PK-12. ISP is the only school in Panama to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. Since its inception in 1982, ISP has established a strong academic reputation. The school year is split into 2 semesters – August to mid-December and January to mid-June.
Organization: ISP has three separate divisions: the elementary, middle and high schools. The School is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors elected to two-year terms by an association composed of parents and guardians of the School’s students. The Board delegates operational authority to a director. The School is a nonprofit organization.
Curriculum: The curriculum is designed to offer a diverse and modern educational program to both the expatriate and host-country communities resident in Panama. With the exception of Spanish language classes and specific requirements for those students who wish to pursue a Panamanian program diploma, instruction is in English. The elementary curriculum stresses skill development and is based on U.S. accredited standards. The middle school program is designed to refine these skills in the context of increasingly sophisticated content, while catering to the developmental needs of pre-adolescents. The high school offers a highly academic college preparatory program leading to an International Baccalaureate Diploma, U.S. High School Diploma and/or Panamanian Diploma. The school provides services for students leaning English-as-a-Second-Language and limited services are available for students with special learning needs. ISP is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Panama Ministry of Education, and is an approved IB school.
Faculty: In the 2008-2009 school year, there are 93 teachers, 3 Principals, 1 curriculum/staff development coordinator, and 18 teacher assistants. Many of the teachers are fluent in both English and Spanish. More than ten nationalities are represented by the faculty and many teachers have advanced degrees and IB training.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, enrollment was 776 (416 in elementary school, 167 in middle school, and 193 in high school). 589 students were international students, including 124 US citizens, and 187 were host-country nationals.
Facilities: The School is located on 8 hectares of beautiful tropical land in a suburb of Panama City. It has 60 air-conditioned classrooms, an elementary library and middle/high school media center, 3 computer labs, 3 art rooms, 2 music rooms and 3 science laboratories. The School also has a large air-conditioned gymnasium/multi-purpose facility, 2 outdoor covered basketball courts, 2 soccer fields, a running track and a cafeteria/auditorium.
Finances: In the 2008-2009 school year, the School’s income derives from tuition and fees. Annual tuition rates are as follows: PK3: $4,860; PK4: $5,400; Kdg-5: $7,740; grades: 6-8: $8,612; grades: 9-12: $9,572. Fees include textbooks. There is a one time capital donation of $10,000 and an additional fee for the high school IB program. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.)
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