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Colombia, Bogota
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Gimnasio El Hontanar was founded in 1994 by María Cristina Barbosa Cifuentes, originally named Crayola y Lápiz Kindergarten. It grew from a family of educators committed to a values-based education with bilingualism and the development of competencies for a global, competitive world. In January 1998, parents requested expansion to primary levels, prompting the name change to Gimnasio El Hontanar and continuation of education for all levels; the school later moved to Hacienda Casablanca in Suba. The first graduating class arrived in 2006, and the school earned ICONTEC Quality and Environment certifications and authorization to offer the IB Diploma Programme, becoming the first calendar A school in Colombia to obtain it. It has been recognized in rankings such as Dinero and Col-Sapiens, opened a new Sede Norte in 2014 in Chía, and in 2016 received the BIBO Environmental Award; in 2020 it implemented remote learning and later adopted a blended model, earning the Great Place to Study certification.
UNIVERSITY OPEN CAMPUSES: Last month, 10th and 11th grade students from Gimnasio El Hontanar actively participated in the Open Days held by Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana—key experiences in their journey toward choosing a professional path. CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATION CEREMONY AT HONTANAR 2025: Cambridge Certification Ceremony celebrated the dedication and language development of students who successfully completed Movers (3rd grade), KET (5th grade), PET (7th grade), and IELTS (11th grade). A TRIMESTER FULL OF FUN AND LEARNING IN PRESCHOOL: The first trimester of the year has been full of movement, creativity, and excitement for our preschoolers, with sports activities and playful projects designed to enhance their skills and spark curiosity. GIMNASIO EL HONTANAR AMONG THE BEST SCHOOLS IN COLOMBIA ONCE AGAIN: In the 2024–2025 edition of the Sapiens Research rankings, Gimnasio El Hontanar has once again been recognized as one of the top schools in the country.
Respect, understanding, and dedication are among the values highlighted in describing this group of parents, who are essential to our educational project; through their support and perseverance we have earned recognition in the Col-Sapiens ranking. We are very proud of our community, which includes not only administrators, teachers, and students, but also parents as the first educators of each child, with foundations strengthened at home. Thanks to these home foundations, the school is recognized as one of the best schools in the country. Parents participate as partners in education, reinforcing the learning process. The group of parents is a central pillar of the Gimnasio El Hontanar community.
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.
