The information on this school’s profile is taken from publicly available sources, and has been collated by AI and curated by human moderators. Every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy, but factual inaccuracies are possible. If you would like to report inaccurate information please email support@doris.school
Jaime Achury (Rector); María Cristina Barbosa Cifuentes (Director General)
School Principal
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, French
Typical class size 25
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction
Gimnasio El Hontanar is a Colombian, co-educational day school serving ages 3 to 18. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the final two grades (10th and 11th) alongside a bilingual English-Spanish model with a French program in middle and high school, supported by an International Learning framework, immersion programs, and a dedicated International Teaching Team. Cambridge language development is integrated, with a Cambridge Certification Ceremony in 2025 recognizing Movers, KET, PET, and IELTS. Preschool to primary classes are capped at 25 students. The campus, set in a green, natural setting, features modern, well-lit classrooms, science laboratories, a spacious library, a computer lab, and multipurpose spaces. A wide range of sports and arts, including soccer fields, music, dance, and marching band, complements a rich extracurricular program. The school follows the CHARACTER COUNTS! ethos for community service and offers student well-being support, open-campus higher-education events, and international exchanges for students.
mts. antes del peaje Costado Occidental (sentido, Cra. 7ma, Bogotá - Chia #300, Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia
The Essentials
Gimnasio El Hontanar has typical class sizes of 25, instruction in Spanish, English.
Location
Located in Chía, Colombia, Gimnasio El Hontanar sits on Carrera 7, 300 meters before the toll (direction Bogotá-Chía). The Bogotá metropolitan area surrounds the school. It serves preschool through Bachillerato (upper secondary).
Stages
Preschool, Primary, and Bachillerato (upper secondary).
Country affiliation
Colombia
Religious affiliation
Christian
Bus service
Door-to-door transportation is available for students who require it, contracted with a parent or guardian; buses are an extension of the school; rules are in The Code of Conduct Manual.
Fees
Application / Admission fee - The admissions process requires acquisition and submission of an admission form; there is no separately published, fixed “application fee” amount publicly available. The formal enrollment (matrícula) is charged as an advance on the annual tuition and is set at 10% of the annual cost.
Tuition (annual) and installments by school year - The school charges an annual tuition (pensión) for each enrolled student. This annual tuition is payable in 10 monthly instalments. Each monthly instalment is due within the first five (5) days of the month. Specific numeric tuition amounts by grade/year group (the per‑grade fee schedule) are not published in the institution's publicly available fee policy documents.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Matricula (enrollment): charged once per year at the time the student's place is formalized; equals 10% of the annual tuition. - Pensión (tuition): billed as the annual tuition amount split into 10 monthly payments; each monthly payment must be settled within the first five days of the month. - Other periodic charges: certain items are collected once per year at the start of the academic year (see “Other costs” below). - Transport service: when contracted, transport is billed on an annual basis and must be paid for the full contracted period; suspension of transport for non‑payment does not exempt the family from the remaining payment obligations for that period. - The school issues certificates and academic records only to students who are current (paz y salvo) with their treasury/payments.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The institution operates as a day school (Preescolar, Primaria y Bachillerato); no boarding fee line is published.
Other costs and periodic fees (examples and how they are charged) - Service of food (alimentación): provided under a contract and regulated by the contract signed with the family; food service costs are included as part of the school's list of chargeable services when applicable. - Transportation: optional service offered under separate contract; payment obligations remain for the contracted period even if the service is suspended. - Student ID card, accident insurance, agenda, yearbook, systematization of academic reports, photocopied materials: these are charged once per year (or when scheduled) as preestablished annual amounts. - Graduation / examination fees: Pre‑school graduation costs (transition) are charged once per year for those cohorts; students in the final year pay registration and examination fees (including ICFES and international exam fees) and IB Diploma maintenance and exam fees as applicable. - Book rental program: an optional, voluntary annual book‑rental program is offered; families that opt in pay a preestablished annual fee at the start of the year (or at matriculation). Replacement or repair charges apply if rented materials are lost or damaged. - Uniforms and school presentation: use of uniform is required by the school; uniform costs are borne by families but numeric uniform prices are not published in the fee policy.
Refunds and withdrawal - The published procedures explain how to notify the school and the administrative steps for withdrawal, but there is no separately published, detailed refund schedule for matricula or pension within the fee‑policy document. Families must follow the formal withdrawal procedure (written notice to the academic direction and admissions) and settle outstanding obligations; certificates are released only once accounts are up to date.
Fee payment options and surcharges - The school's fee policy document defines the billing structure and collection rules but does not enumerate a comprehensive list of accepted payment channels (bank transfer, online portal, card terminal) in that document. Some third‑party directory listings have reported that in‑person card payments at school treasury may incur a small surcharge (for example a 2% additional charge reported in earlier directory listings); the school's manual itself does not list payment channel details or surcharges. Families should expect standard payment channels (bank transfer, in‑person payment) to be used, and note that card payments at the school cash office have been reported historically with a small surcharge.
Summary of availability of numeric fee amounts - The school's internal fee policy and admissions manual state the structure (matrícula = 10% of annual tuition; tuition payable in 10 monthly instalments; specific one‑time annual charges for items such as insurance, agenda, yearbook, book‑rental option, IB and exam fees, transport and food contracted services) but do not publish a grade‑by‑grade numeric fee schedule in the publicly available policy document. As a result, exact numeric tuition amounts per year group or per term for the 2026/27 (or 2025/26) academic year are not listed in the institution's accessible fee policy materials.
(End of fee overview)
Academics
Gimnasio El Hontanar teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Preschool, Primary, Middle School, and High School are offered. The Educational Model is bilingual, with English instruction and a French program in middle and high school, supported by an International Learning framework, Immersion Programs, and an International Teaching Team (I.T.T.). In the final two grades, 10th and 11th, students complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Cambridge language development is integrated, with a Cambridge Certification Ceremony in 2025 recognizing levels including Movers (3rd grade), KET (5th), PET (7th), and IELTS (11th). Open Campus events expose students to higher education, with 10th and 11th graders attending Open Days at Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Primary classes are capped at 25 students per class.
Student Teacher Ratio
Classrooms at primary level have a maximum capacity of 25 students per class.
Exam Results
Gimnasio El Hontanar is listed among the best schools in Colombia in the 2024–2025 Sapiens Research ranking. Cambridge certifications were celebrated in 2025 across multiple levels (Movers, KET, PET, IELTS). The IB Diploma Programme is offered in the final two grades (10th and 11th) to prepare graduates for higher education at national and international universities. University Open Campus events provide a bridge to higher education through exposure to major Colombian universities.
Higher Education Progression
University Open Campus events involve 10th and 11th grade students attending Open Days at Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Character development is taught, reinforced, fostered, and modeled to help students and families shape their character. The six pillars of character are taught, with the meaning of each pillar explained. Standards of acceptable behavior are reinforced at home, and boundaries are set with consistently applied consequences. Values are promoted regularly, emphasizing the positive outcomes of ethical behavior. The world is acknowledged as imperfect, but actions and behavior can improve it. The pillars of character are modeled through the actions and words of the school community.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Solid bilingual education—teaching for understanding—development of competencies and multiple intelligences.
Admissions
Admissions
The admissions process is the beginning of a journey for a student to build a successful and meaningful life. The process follows the identity and philosophy of Gimnasio El Hontanar, guaranteeing transparency, quality, and equal opportunities in accepting applications. The school seeks to satisfy the needs of all its students and aims to fulfill fundamental bases that allow high-quality skills, education, and appropriate integral development for all students. Preschool and First Grade: the applicant must present an academic assessment through the school's occupational therapist and psychologists to determine if the child has the basic learning devices necessary to attend school, such as the development of fine and gross motor skills, psychosocial and perceptual competences, and the basic academic concepts appropriate to age and grade. Second through Eighth Grade: the applicant must have excellent academic and disciplinary references from the previous school; the applicant must take a written math test to evaluate concepts, logical reasoning, and mathematical thinking relevant to the intended grade; the applicant will also be required to take a language test in both Spanish and English, including a written and oral component to evaluate speaking and listening skills. Note: applications for grades 9–11 are not accepted. Required ages (by February 1 of the entry year): Pre-kindergarten +3 years old (3.5–4), Kindergarten +4 years old (4.5–5), Transition +5 years old (5.5–6), First +6 years old (6.5–7). Family Profile: Gimnasio El Hontanar seeks aspiring families to be professionals committed to integral education of their children; education through habits and values takes place within the family context and is reinforced by the school through educating, strengthening knowledge, creating values, and providing social experiences to practice what is learned. Students should possess a profile aligned with the International Baccalaureate profile by developing social skills such as taking responsibility, respect, cooperative attitudes, problem-solving, teamwork, and appropriate behavior in different contexts. Keys of Excellence: the school is a bilingual, mixed-gender, Calendar A school; ranked among the best schools in Colombia for its academic results; Catholic orientation; small class size; International Baccalaureate Program; value-centered education; Character Counts program; commitment to the environment; technology-focused classrooms; Multiple Intelligences Theory programs; a wide range of sports and artistic activities; business leadership training; environmental certification; international exchange program; 2011 Excellent School Management Award winner; 2013 Environmental Responsibility Award winner; 2016 Best Environmental Practice according to BIBO, El Espectador. Affiliations: Private Schools Association – ASOCOLDEP; International Baccalaureate Organization; Andina Association for International Baccalaureate Schools; REDPAPAZ; Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science – ACAC; Network of schools which protects our planet; Cambridge English Language Assessment – Exam Preparation Center; New England Educational Group (New England School, Hontanar School, Los Arrayanes School, Liceo La Sabana, Santa Cristina de Toscana School Campestre del Norte Kindergarten, Crayola and Lapiz Kindergarten). For more information on admissions, contact Coordinación de Admisiones at PBX 884 4197 ext. 208 or PBX 681 5287 ext. 112, Cel.
FAQs
What curriculum does Gimnasio El Hontanar follow?
Preschool, Primary, Middle School, and High School are offered.
What age range does Gimnasio El Hontanar serve?
The school serves students from age 3 to 18.
Is the school co-educational?
The school is described as co-educational.
Where is Gimnasio El Hontanar located?
Located in Chía, Colombia, Gimnasio El Hontanar sits on Carrera 7, 300 meters before the toll (direction Bogotá-Chía). The Bogotá metropolitan area surrounds the school. It serves preschool through Bachillerato (upper secondary).
When was Gimnasio El Hontanar established?
The school was established in 1994.
Who leads Gimnasio El Hontanar?
The school is led by Jaime Achury (Rector); María Cristina Barbosa Cifuentes (Director General).
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?
Spanish is the official language of Colombia and the main language of communication. English is taught as a second language as a life opportunity to connect with the global community.
How do I apply to Gimnasio El Hontanar?
The admissions process is the beginning of a journey for a student to build a successful and meaningful life.
What extracurricular activities are available?
The school offers programs for music (choir, guitar, keyboards, violin), art, dance, and marching band.
Is there a school bus service?
Door-to-door transportation is available for students who require it, contracted with a parent or guardian; buses are an extension of the school; rules are in The Code of Conduct Manual.
