The Casco School vs United School of Panama

	T The Casco School Panama City, Panama	U United School of Panama Panama City, Panama
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $5,220 - 10,647	Fees / year $8,600 - 9,500
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 13 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 450	Pupils 335
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 16
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English, Spanish, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2018	Opened 2021
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Panama City, Panama, with two campuses in Albrook and Costa del Este.	Location Av. Principal de Costa Sur, Corregimiento de Juan Diaz, Republic of Panama. The campus is minutes from Panama City, providing easy access for families.
Stages	Stages Pre-School, Primary School, Middle School and High School (Albrook); Pre-School and Primary School (Costa del Este).	Stages Preschool and Kindergarten. Elementary School. Since August 2021 USP offered PK4 to 4th grade and will offer PK4-12 by 2029.
School type	School type Private bilingual international school (British curriculum).	School type Multicultural community offering a trilingual curriculum in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support One-to-one language support for students needing extra help with English or Spanish.	Additional learning support Student Support and Success Department. Inclusion Policy states USP is open to boys and girls of any race, religion, or nationality, and diversity is valued.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Panama	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure School day runs 7:30 am–5:00 pm; classes typically 8:30 am–3:00 pm; younger children may have half-day options until 12:00 pm.	School day structure Preschool day uses Head, Heart, and Hands (H3) learning stations with hands-on activities. In Elementary, Language Arts, Mathematics, Mandarin, Spanish, Social Studies, Physical Education, Science, and Computer Science are taught, with National Geographic Learning and i-Ready Math supporting instruction. USP uses technology across the curriculum and is an Apple Distinguished School.
Bus service details	Bus service details Yes, a transportation company provides routes throughout the city.	Bus service details SCHOOL BUS: MISAR Transportes is a trusted provider with over 15 years of experience; private transportation is recommended; buses include seatbelts, insurance, first-aid kits, and dedicated assistance.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and one‑off fees - Enrollment fee (one‑time, payable at enrollment): - Non‑sponsored families — Reception & Primary / Pre‑School: USD 1,389.00. Middle & High School: USD 1,492.00. - Sponsored families — all levels: USD 1,543.00. - Minimum capital donation (one‑time on admission): USD 2,500.00 (applies to new student admissions). Tuition fees by year group and billing frequency - Non‑sponsored families (monthly fee; billed as 10 instalments per year): - Half Day (Pre‑school): Monthly USD 522.00 — equivalent to Annual USD 5,220.00; per academic term (annual ÷ 3) USD 1,740.00. - Full Day (Reception & Primary): Monthly USD 799.00 — equivalent to Annual USD 7,990.00; per academic term USD 2,663.33. - Middle & High School: Monthly USD 905.00 — equivalent to Annual USD 9,050.00; per academic term USD 3,016.67. - Sponsored families (annual tuition; may be paid annually or by term — Term 1, Term 2, Term 3): - Half Day (Pre‑school): Annual USD 5,586.00 — per term USD 1,862.00. - Full Day (Reception & Primary): Annual USD 9,051.00 — per term USD 3,017.00. - Middle & High School: Annual USD 10,647.00 — per term USD 3,549.00. Billing schedule and payment terms - Non‑sponsored families: tuition is set as a monthly fee and billed in 10 instalments per academic year. Parents complete enrollment by settling required fees and signing the school contract. - Sponsored families: may choose to pay the tuition annually or by the three academic terms (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3). - Discounts: a 5% discount is applied for full‑year payments made before July 31; a family discount of 5% applies to the enrollment fee invoice for the youngest child when three or more children attend. Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; there are no boarding programmes and therefore no boarding fees. Other costs and recurring extras - Uniforms: the school does not use a uniform; school T‑shirts for trips, sports, and events are available for purchase. - Materials and supplies: the enrollment fee is stated to cover necessary supplies and materials for the full academic year. - Extracurricular activities, after‑school clubs, special events, and trips may carry separate charges; these are additional to tuition and one‑off fees. Refund information - No specific public refund policy for enrollment fees, capital donation, or tuition refunds is published on the school's publicly posted admissions/fees material. The enrollment fee is described as covering supplies and materials; the capital donation is listed as a required one‑time payment. Fee payment options - Publicly listed billing options: non‑sponsored billing is by 10 instalments (monthly fee basis); sponsored families may pay annually or by the three academic terms. No detailed list of accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, specific card payments, or online payment portal) is published in the school's publicly posted admissions/fees material.	Fee details Application and one‑time fees - Evaluation (Pre‑Admission): USD 150.00 (one‑time). - Sign‑up (one‑time): - Preschool (PK / Kinder): USD 9,500.00 (one‑time). - Elementary (1st–5th): USD 9,500.00 (one‑time). - Middle School (6th–8th): USD 4,750.00 (one‑time). Enrollment and recurring administrative fees - Enrollment Fee (annual): USD 825.00 — billed annually in April. Tuition — amounts, payment frequency and annual totals Note: tuition is shown as a monthly amount with 10 payments across the school year ("Monthly x10"). Annual tuition = monthly amount × 10. - Preschool (PK / Kinder) - Tuition: USD 860.00 per month × 10 payments = USD 8,600.00 per year. - Elementary (1st–5th grade) - Tuition: USD 905.00 per month × 10 payments = USD 9,050.00 per year. - Middle School (6th–8th grade) - Tuition: USD 950.00 per month × 10 payments = USD 9,500.00 per year. Books, technology, insurance, food and other recurring charges - Books and school supplies (annual, billed in June): - Preschool: USD 750.00 (annual). - Elementary: USD 750.00 (annual). - Middle School: USD 925.00 (annual). - Technology / Platform (annual, billed in July): - Preschool: USD 0.00 (annual). - Elementary: USD 530.00 (annual). - Middle School: USD 530.00 (annual). - Insurance: Included in fees (no separate charge shown). - Food and Nutrition (monthly ×10): - Preschool: USD 167.00 per month × 10 = USD 1,670.00 per year. - Elementary: USD 178.40 per month × 10 = USD 1,784.00 per year. - Middle School: USD 181.56 per month × 10 = USD 1,815.60 per year. - Extra‑curricular activities: Charged by activity; optional and billed monthly (amounts vary by activity). School transport (bus) - School bus service is outsourced; families pay the transport provider directly. Specific bus fees are set by the transport company and are not included in the tuition figures. Recommended transport providers are listed by the school. Uniforms and related costs - Uniforms are required and are available for purchase at the school. The fee schedule lists uniform requirements by level (Preschool; Grades 1–8) but does not list a uniform price. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable; no boarding fees are listed. United School of Panama operates as a day school. Billing schedule and payment terms (timing shown in fee schedule) - One‑time fees (Evaluation and Sign‑up) are payable at admission as one‑time payments. Enrollment Fee is billed annually in April. Books and school supplies are billed annually in June. Technology/platform charges are billed annually in July. Tuition and food/nutrition are shown as monthly payments over 10 months (Monthly ×10). Additional charges (extra‑curricular activities, transport) are billed separately by the provider or by activity. Specific late‑payment penalties or installment contract terms are not listed in the published schedule. Refunds and cancellations - No explicit refund or cancellation policy for fees is provided in the published fee schedule. Refund terms (if any) are not specified in the fee tables. Fee payment options - The published fee schedule shows payment frequencies and billing months but does not specify accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, etc.). Families should note that some services (transport) are billed and collected directly by external providers. Contact options (phone and WhatsApp) are provided for the school's Admissions/Finance offices. Summary — example total‑year costs to expect (per pupil, illustrative) - Preschool (annual examples): - Tuition: USD 8,600.00 - Books & supplies: USD 750.00 - Technology: USD 0.00 - Enrollment Fee (annual): USD 825.00 - Food & Nutrition (annual): USD 1,670.00 - One‑time Sign‑up (if applicable): USD 9,500.00 - Evaluation (one‑time): USD 150.00 - Total for first year including sign‑up and evaluation (illustrative): USD 21,495.00 (not including transport, optional activities, or uniform). - Elementary (annual examples): - Tuition: USD 9,050.00 - Books & supplies: USD 750.00 - Technology: USD 530.00 - Enrollment Fee (annual): USD 825.00 - Food & Nutrition (annual): USD 1,784.00 - One‑time Sign‑up (if applicable): USD 9,500.00 - Evaluation (one‑time): USD 150.00 - Total for first year including sign‑up and evaluation (illustrative): USD 22,589.00 (not including transport, optional activities, or uniform). - Middle School (annual examples): - Tuition: USD 9,500.00 - Books & supplies: USD 925.00 - Technology: USD 530.00 - Enrollment Fee (annual): USD 825.00 - Food & Nutrition (annual): USD 1,815.60 - One‑time Sign‑up (if applicable): USD 4,750.00 - Evaluation (one‑time): USD 150.00 - Total for first year including sign‑up and evaluation (illustrative): USD 18,495.60 (not including transport, optional activities, or uniform). (Amounts shown in USD as presented in the school's published fee schedule.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The Casco School uses a British Curriculum foundation for its bilingual education. Curricula include the National Primary Curriculum of England & Wales; EYFS; MEDUCA; and IB Certification. In Middle and High School, Years 10-11 follow the Cambridge IGCSE, with Years 11-13 focused on college planning. The Casco School operates two campuses, Albrook and Costa del Este, with instruction in English and Spanish.	Curriculum details USP follows the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and is fully accredited by Panama's Ministry of Education (MEDUCA). The curriculum includes a trilingual program—English, Spanish, and Mandarin—and integrates Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Technology across grades. Language Arts uses National Geographic Learning and a project-based curriculum to develop literacy and critical thinking, while Mathematics uses the i-Ready program with diagnostic assessments. Mandarin is taught in five phases—listening, comprehension, speaking, writing, and performing—with cultural context. Spanish follows Panamanian Ministry standards, building grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary with increasing complexity, while Social Studies emphasizes Panamanian culture and global citizenship. Science aligns with NGSS for K-5 through National Geographic Exploring Science and MindTap; Computer Science covers robotics, coding, and data analysis; and USP is moving toward Apple Distinguished School status with technology integrated across the curriculum.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Teacher to pupil ratio is 1:10; a maximum of 20 students per class with two teachers (one English-speaking and one Spanish-speaking).	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression In Years 11-13, students participate in college planning, attend local college fairs and meet representatives from colleges and universities throughout the school year.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Inquiry and age placement. The Casco School welcomes inquiries year-round. Enrollment follows MEDUCA age placement regulations: Pre Nursery 2 years old before September 1; Nursery 3 years old before September 1; Reception 4 years old before September 1; Year 1 5 years old before September 1. For students transferring from a local calendar that runs March to December to The Casco School, January enrollments are placed in the grade completed in December, and August enrollments join the grade they are currently attending. Families can request a brochure by inquiry and arrange a tour or information session. 2. Tours and information sessions. On-campus tours are offered at Costa del Este and Albrook campuses, and virtual information sessions are available. These visits provide an opportunity to connect with the community and learn about The Casco School's distinctive educational approach. They help families understand the program and facilities. 3. Application. For Panama-based students, a taster day is arranged to experience a regular school day. For international applicants, a virtual family meeting is arranged to get to know the child and support a smooth transition. This stage initiates the formal application process. 4. Enrollment. About one week after the taster day, families receive the official welcome letter. To complete enrollment, parents must settle the fees, sign the school contract, and submit the required documents. The enrollment process formalizes the student's placement for the upcoming term. Further instructions are provided with the welcome letter. 5. Required documents and MEDUCA validation. All students enrolling from Year 2 to Secondary must validate their abroad records with a MEDUCA validation letter. Validation is not required for Preschool, Year 1, or Year 2. The validation process includes providing original records or transcripts, having them apostilled or authenticated, and bringing copies of passport and birth certificate; translations to Spanish are required, and documents are presented to MEDUCA for accreditation. 6. FAQ and curriculum. The Casco School serves Preschool through Year 13. The British curriculum is followed: EYFS in Preschool, National Curriculum of England in Primary, and Cambridge secondary curriculum in Secondary. The school offers extracurricular activities and maintains a 1:11 student–teacher ratio. There is no school uniform; a dress code applies, and school t-shirts may be worn for trips and events.	Admissions 1. Inquiries and appointment requests. USP Admissions welcomes inquiries from families and assists with new-student application requests. The Admissions Department is available to help with questions and to arrange appointments. For direct communication, contact via the WhatsApp Business account, and responses are prompt. 2. Age and grade placement guidelines. Admissions uses age and grade placement to ensure appropriate development. Pre-Kindergarten must be 4 by August; Kindergarten must be 5 by August. 1st through 9th grades have age requirements from 6 to 14 by August. Exceptions to these guidelines are rare and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. 3. Applications and review. The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates each application to determine how the applicant can benefit from USP's educational offering. The review considers the applicant's prior school records and age to determine appropriate placement. For students transferring from outside Panama in grades 2–9, MEDUCA's validation process may apply and USP guides families through this requirement. Applicants are informed of the outcome and the next steps. 4. Tuition and fees. The 2025–2026 year lists program-specific costs for Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School. Preschool (PK/KINDER) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $9,500 sign-up fee, a $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $860 for 10 months, a $750 annual books and supplies charge, and $167 per month for nutrition; transportation is outsourced and paid directly to the transport provider. Elementary (1st–5th) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $9,500 sign-up fee, an $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $905 for 10 months, a $750 annual books and supplies charge, $530 for technology annually, $178.40 per month for nutrition, and outsourced transportation; extras are available per activity. Middle School (6th–8th) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $4,750 sign-up fee, an $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $950 for 10 months, a $925 books and supplies charge, and $530 for technology; nutrition is $181.56 per month. 5. Admission timing and placement. We generally admit students at the start of the academic year or at the beginning of the second semester. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Grade placement is based on the student's previous school records, an academic evaluation, and age; for students entering 2nd grade and above from schools outside Panama, MEDUCA requires a validation process and USP guides families through this process.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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