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Curriculum IB (DP), American Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum
Taught languages English
Strengths Languages, Academic Enrichment, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Bureche School is a private pre‑K to 12 day school in Santa Marta, Colombia, set on a 12‑acre campus at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It combines the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with American and Colombian baccalaureates, creating a triple‑credential pathway for students aged 1 to 17. English and Spanish are the languages of instruction, with English taught by native or highly qualified teachers from the United States, Canada, and England, and French taught through immersion as part of a bilingual program. The preschool uses the HighScope approach, while the wider curriculum blends Colombian Ministry of Education standards, Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards. Cognia accreditation underpins the diplomas. The school emphasizes active, project‑based learning, exposure, and social‑emotional development through the RULER program and a Learning Center. After‑school activities are robust, and 80 hours of community service are required for graduation; ACCAS participation broadens competition and experiences.
Bureche School has instruction in Spanish, English.
Location
The Bureche School is located at KM 2 Troncal del Caribe, Via Gaira, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia. It sits on a 12-acre open campus just outside Santa Marta. The school is a private pre-K to 12 day school.
Stages
Private pre-K to 12 day school. It serves students from 18 months in the early stimulation program, with a HighScope preschool curriculum. It is currently an IB Diploma Programme Candidate School, and students receive both the Colombian high school diploma and the American high school diploma through Cognia accreditation.
Type
Private, pre-K to 12 day school.
Pupil Nationality Mix
The students are mostly Colombian nationals, with a few international students from other countries.
Country affiliation
Colombia
School day structure
From August to June (Calendar B).
Fees
Application / Registration fee - A registration (inscripción) fee is required at the start of the admissions process and must be paid to begin an application.
Tuition structure and how fees are charged - The school uses two distinct charges: matrícula (registration/enrolment) paid once per year, and pensión (tuition) which is the annual fee for educational services. The pensión is treated as an annual amount and is collected in equal monthly instalments. - The standard tuition billing cycle is ten monthly payments covering the academic year; pensiones are collected in equal monthly sums for the period August through May.
Tuition fees by year group (amounts) - The school's published public materials set out the fee categories (matrícula and pensión) and additional periodic charges by grade, but no numeric fee table for specific year groups or per-term amounts for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic year is publicly posted in the school's published materials that are available. The structure above (matrícula once per year; pensión billed monthly August–May) applies to all grades.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Matrícula is payable once a year at the time of formalising enrolment or renewal; an extraordinary (late) matrícula carries an additional charge. Pensiones are invoiced and expected to be paid within the school's stated payment deadlines. If an invoice is not paid within five (5) business days after issuance it is considered in default and will incur measures including interest on arrears and temporary blocking of access to the academic portal until payment is regularised. Continued non-payment can lead to reporting to credit bureaux and referral to collections. - If a student is absent for two or more months for personal reasons and the family wishes to keep the student's place, the parent/guardian must pay 80% of the pension for the period of absence to guarantee the spot. If a family renews matrícula after the academic year has begun and the student starts classes late, the family must pay the full year's costs (full matrícula and full pensiones).
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: Bureche School operates as a day school (pre-K through Grade 12). No boarding fees apply.
Other compulsory or routine costs - The following additional fees or periodic charges are specified as part of the school's fee regime: - Papelería (agenda, certificates, administration of records). - Bibliobanco and technology charges for loaned textbooks, workbooks and digital subscriptions. - Standardised testing costs (tests in Spanish and English) including application and analysis fees. - Pre-ICFES course cost for graduating students (where applicable). - Rights of degree (ceremony, diplomas and official documentation for graduation). - Accident insurance (charged by the school). - Services of the Learning Center (special educational support) and other optional extracurricular or voluntary services (restaurant/cafeteria, transport) which may be charged separately. - Uniforms are required and specific uniform items are listed by section and activity (daily uniform, physical education uniform, swimwear and ceremony attire); uniform items are an additional family expense.
Refund and withdrawal policy - If a student withdraws early during the academic year, payments already made for educational costs are not refundable; families must pay all sums invoiced up to the month of withdrawal. No refund is provided for amounts already billed as educational costs.
Late payment consequences and debt recovery - Late payments incur moratory interest at the maximum permitted rate, temporary suspension of access to the academic portal (Phidias) until the outstanding amounts are paid, written communications regarding overdue status, reporting to credit bureaux after specified notification periods, and potential transfer of outstanding debts to a collections agency with costs for collections charged to the debtor.
Fee payment options - Families can use the school's Phidias platform and the institution has an online payments entry (Pagos PSE) linked from the school's published resources; payments via PSE (online bank payment) and card payments are supported by the Phidias payment flow commonly used by Colombian schools. Other conventional payment methods (bank transfer/consignation, in-person card or cash payments through the school's administrative office) are used where accepted by the school.
Summary of published numeric information found - The school's publicly available institutional documents and manuals set out the fee categories, billing months, additional charge types, payment deadlines, and refund and late-payment rules, but do not publish a numeric fee schedule (specific amounts per grade, per term or per academic year) for the 2026/27 academic year or for 2025/26 in the materials accessible publicly. For that reason, numeric values per grade and per term are not included here because they are not published in the school's public materials.
Academics
Bureche School teaches IB (DP), American Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum for students aged 1 to 17.
Curriculum
Active, project-based learning with bilingual education emphasizing English and French. English is taught by native or highly qualified teachers from the United States, Canada, and England; English assessments include MAP tests in grades 3–10 and PSAT/SAT in upper grades. French is taught with immersion; multilingual projects accompany language learning. The curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, enabling earning American and Colombian Baccalaureates, i.e., three diplomas. The school is Cognia-accredited; HighScope is used in the Pre-school; the RULER emotional intelligence program; a Learning Center provides professional support; and students gain international exposure and cultural experiences.
Higher Education Progression
Prepares students for university-level work and for what they will encounter in the first semester at university; IB Diploma Programme and American/Colombian Baccalaureates are designed to support higher education progression.
Admissions
Admissions
1. To begin the admissions process, the applicant's family must pay the current year's enrollment fee. Admission is subject to seat availability and to no impediments for the student to acquire a second language and/or integrate with the group. Applicants from first grade onward must take an entrance exam administered by the Director of the relevant Section; the results determine admission and the grade for entry. New students seeking entry to the final two grades (11th and 12th) must follow the same process if they come from a school offering the IB Diploma with the same subjects, and they must be enrolled and meet all academic requirements proposed by Bureche and by the IB Organization. 2. The Admissions Committee will review the documentation provided, the applicant's age, the available seats, and the academic and behavioral records sent by the previous school. In addition, the interview result and/or evaluation will be considered to determine whether the College can offer a seat and the exact grade placement. The Committee's decision will be communicated to the family. 3. Parents of students promoted normally at the College must enroll their children during the hours published by the School in the calendar year, at the end of the school year. If the established dates pass and enrollment has not been completed, extraordinary enrollment will be carried out, which entails an additional cost. The mere payment of the enrollment does not bind the student; official enrollment is established by signing the educational services contract and the academic enrollment via the Phidias platform after payment and delivery of all required documents. 4. If, within the first five (5) business days of the school year, the parent or guardian has not completed the enrollment process, the College may release the student's seat. 5. No student may attend classes unless enrollment has been finalized. 6. During the school year, the College reserves the right to move a student from one course to another within the same grade, with advance notice to families. The College also blends students annually to promote healthy socialization. 7. New entrants to the IB Diploma program must follow the IB-related admission steps and meet the academic requirements established by the College and the IB Organization.
FAQs
What curriculum does Bureche School follow?
Active, project-based learning with bilingual education emphasizing English and French.
What age range does Bureche School serve?
The school serves students from age 1 to 17.
What are the tuition fees?
Annual fees range from RMB 5,329,586 to RMB 5,329,586. Contact the school for the full fee schedule and any additional charges.
Is the school co-educational?
The school is described as co-educational.
Where is Bureche School located?
The Bureche School is located at KM 2 Troncal del Caribe, Via Gaira, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia. It sits on a 12-acre open campus just outside Santa Marta. The school is a private pre-K to 12 day school.
Who leads Bureche School?
The school is led by Carolina Henríquez.
Does the school provide SEN support?
No SEN provision information is publicly available. Parents with children who need additional learning support should enquire directly with the school.
What languages are used for instruction?
English and French are taught as part of a bilingual and multilingual programme. English is the main focus, supported by immersion with native teachers; French is taught through active methodologies and trilingual projects.
How do I apply to Bureche School?
1. To begin the admissions process, the applicant's family must pay the current year's enrollment fee. Admission is subject to seat availability and to no impediments for the student to acquire a second language and/or integrate with the group.
What extracurricular activities are available?
The school offers clubs and electives during X-Block, a weekly flexible period for tutoring and activities.
