TRAIL School vs United School of Panama

	T TRAIL School Panama City, Panama	U United School of Panama Panama City, Panama
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $4,000 - 13,660	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 American Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 135	Pupils 335
Typical class size	Typical class size 16	Typical class size 16
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Spanish, Mandarin
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2021
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location TRAIL School is located at the Panama Pacifico campus, 841 Andrews Blvd., Panama Pacifico, Panama. It serves the Panama Pacifico community. The campus is accredited by MEDUCA Panama.	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 TRAIL offers early childhood education through high school. The program includes Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.	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 The school is an inclusive foundation school.	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 The Inclusive Learning Center provides support for students with additional learning needs.	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 —	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	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 —	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 Fee - Non‑refundable application fee: USD 110 per student. Payments for the application are accepted online by credit card through the school's RenWeb application when the application is completed. Enrollment Fee - Annual enrollment fee charged per student to guarantee a spot for the following year. - Early Bird Enrollment Fee (returning students, paid within the two‑month early window): USD 700. - Regular Enrollment Fee (new students, or if paid outside the Early Bird window): USD 800. - The enrollment fee is due in full at the time of admission for new students, is not prorated regardless of enrollment date, and is non‑refundable. Annual Tuition — fees by year group (amounts shown are per academic year) - Early Childhood Department — Half Day (8:00 am – 11:30 am): USD 4,000 per year. - Early Childhood Department — Full Day (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 5,000 per year. - Kindergarten (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 6,500 per year. - Grades 1–4 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 7,500 per year. - Grades 5–8 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 8,000 per year. - Grades 9–12 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 8,500 per year. Equivalent per‑term amounts (annual ÷ 3, shown for budgeting convenience if fees were split into three equal instalments) - Early Childhood — Half Day: USD 1,333.33 per term (USD 4,000 ÷ 3). - Early Childhood — Full Day: USD 1,666.67 per term (USD 5,000 ÷ 3). - Kindergarten: USD 2,166.67 per term (USD 6,500 ÷ 3). - Grades 1–4: USD 2,500.00 per term (USD 7,500 ÷ 3). - Grades 5–8: USD 2,666.67 per term (USD 8,000 ÷ 3). - Grades 9–12: USD 2,833.33 per term (USD 8,500 ÷ 3). - Note: Tuition is published as annual amounts; the per‑term figures above are straight equal instalment equivalents for budgeting. Other mandatory or one‑time charges - Technology Fee (annual): USD 100 for PK3–Kinder; USD 250 for Grade 1 and up. - Capital Donation (one‑time, at entry): minimum USD 4,000 (requested as a philanthropic contribution to support school resources and development). Boarding - The school does not list a boarding/residential programme or boarding fees; programs and published fees are for day enrolment. Other possible costs (examples families commonly budget for) - Additional costs that may apply in practice (not listed as fixed annual charges in the published fee breakdown) include: after‑school program fees, field trip/excursion charges, school supplies, learning‑support or specialist service fees, and optional activity or club fees. The published fee schedule explicitly lists the application fee, enrollment fee, tuition, technology fee, and capital donation. Refund information - The application fee (USD 110) is non‑refundable. - The enrollment fee (USD 700 early bird / USD 800 regular) is non‑refundable. - No separate published refund schedule for tuition instalments or other fees is provided in the fee breakdown; application and enrollment fees are explicitly stated as non‑refundable. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and other recurring charges are published as annual amounts; the enrollment fee is charged annually to secure a spot and is due in full at admission for new students and is not prorated. - The school uses RenWeb (a web‑based application) for admissions and online payments for the application; the application payment is accepted online by credit card at submission. Specific term dates, installment schedules, and the school's internal billing calendar are not provided alongside the published annual fee figures. Fee payment options - Application payments: accepted online by credit card through the RenWeb application. - The published materials note integration with RenWeb and Odoo for student information and administrative systems; additional accepted payment methods for enrollment, tuition, and recurring charges (for example, bank transfer, in‑person card payment, or local currency options) are not detailed in the published fee summary. Summary for parents - Required up‑front, non‑refundable charges: Application Fee USD 110; Enrollment Fee USD 700 (early bird returning) or USD 800 (regular/new). - Annual tuition ranges by age/grade from USD 4,000 (Early Childhood half day) to USD 8,500 (Grades 9–12). - Annual technology fee and a one‑time capital donation minimum are additional expected costs. (Key published fee items and exact amounts are cited above.)	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 Kindergarten program uses the Creative Curriculum and centers the child in the learning process. English Language Arts is taught through a Reading Workshop approach with daily reading and writing, including phonics, decoding, and comprehension work. Math focuses on patterns, numbers, geometry, sorting, and problem solving through hands-on activities. The program includes Spanish immersion, Music, Physical Education, Art, and Technology to provide a well-rounded start to learning.	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 Group size is 14 students in Kindergarten; TRAIL describes low student-teacher ratios across the school.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	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. Early Childhood Application Process: The application is submitted online via RenWeb. Create an account and apply online through RenWeb, the admissions database. Schedule a parent interview, approximately 45 minutes in length, with the head of admissions; the child may greet the interviewer but is not required to participate in the meeting. Submit a Confidential School Report if PK3 or PK4 applicants are currently enrolled in a fully separated preschool program; the report is issued by the current school and sent directly to TRAIL, with Transcript Release Form and Form for PK3 & PK4 Applicants available on the page. The applicant family is responsible for confirming the application is complete, and the Admissions Office reviews only complete applications. 2. Kindergarten Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The application for each academic year will be available in December. Submit an Online Application by creating an account and applying through RenWeb. A bypass code may be provided by the Admissions office if space allows, enabling submission of the application. Schedule an Individual Child Assessment: Small group play sessions are used for evaluation; this year assessments are conducted individually via Google Meet on Mondays and Thursdays. Schedule a Parent Virtual Interview: After submitting the application, arrange a virtual interview via Google Meet on Mondays or Fridays afternoons. Submit Confidential Private School Report if the child has attended a private day care in Panama; if the child is not currently enrolled in a preschool, contact the Admissions office to discuss alternatives. The report must be sent directly from the current school to TRAIL and the form is downloadable from the page. 3. Elementary School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The December intake window applies to each academic year. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; for 2022-23 grades, contact the school to confirm availability; if space exists, the Admissions office will provide a bypass code to submit the application. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: Every applicant is required to participate in a family conversation and a student interview with the High School Admissions Director; this is an opportunity to learn about TRAIL's curriculum and programs and for questions to be asked. If applying to Torchlight with the Inclusive Learning Center (ILC), schedule an assessment with an ILC faculty member. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: Grade 1 applicants must submit a confidential school report; grades 2–5 applicants must have official transcripts from the past two years and a confidential Teacher Recommendation Form completed by the current school; translations are required if documents are not in English. 4. Middle School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The December intake window applies to each academic year. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; contact the school to confirm availability in the grade entered. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: An interview and informal family conversation with the Middle School Admissions Director are required to learn about TRAIL's curriculum and programs; an assessment with the Inclusive Learning Center (ILC) may be scheduled if Torchlight or ILC services are being used. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: The transcript release form and teacher recommendation forms should be sent to the current school; if not in English, translations are required. Current fifth graders applying to sixth grade must submit two teacher recommendations (one from the current year and one from the previous year); seventh and eighth graders require two different teacher recommendations (which can be from the same school). 5. High School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. New applications for each academic year become available in December. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; for grades 9–12, contact the school to confirm grade availability; if space exists, a bypass code will be provided to submit the application. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: All high school applicants participate in a family conversation and a student interview with the High School Admissions Director to learn about TRAIL's programs and expectations. If applying to Torchlight or ILC services, an assessment with an ILC faculty member will be scheduled. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: The transcript release form and teacher recommendation forms should come from the student's current school; the English and Math teachers should complete the recommendation forms, and they should be submitted after December 1 to ensure an accurate assessment. If documents are not in English, translations must accompany them.	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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