Pan-American School

Pan-American School is located in San Antonio de Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica. The campus spans more than 35,000 m² and consists of five classroom buildings designed in harmony with nature. It is strategically situated near major highways and residential areas, with three 24-hour supervised entrances/exits and sports fields and recreational areas. It offers a bilingual English-Spanish education and is the first private school in Costa Rica certified as Carbon Neutral thanks to solar energy and recycling.

IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (DP).

Private international day school.

Costa Rica; NEASC-CIE accreditation from the United States.

Pan-American School is the first IB Continuum School in Costa Rica, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). It provides a balanced, bilingual English-Spanish education within an inclusive, non-selective program. The curriculum emphasizes skill development and includes a broad range of arts, design, and physical education programs. It features extensive social-emotional support for students. It places a special focus on service and global sustainability. Languages taught are English and Spanish.

Student-teacher ratio is 6:1. Average class size is 18.

IB Diploma Programme highest score: 44/45 (2021). The school offers the widest range of DP courses in Costa Rica.

Graduates earn IB Diploma Programme, US High School Diploma, and the Costa Rica Ministry of Education National Diploma. The DP program offers the widest range of DP courses in Costa Rica. Personalized, focalized attention and an extensive student support team help students prepare for higher education. There is a focus on service and global sustainability as part of the education.

Pan-American School has an extensive social and emotional support system. The Student Support team includes psychologists and psycho-pedagogists who work with students from preschool through 12th grade. In ECE, follow-up is carried out by a psycho-pedagogist; in the PYP, the team includes psycho-pedagogists and a psychologist. In Secondary School, a psychologist serves grades 6-8, a psycho-pedagogist serves grades 6-10, and another psychologist for grades 9-12 also supports vocational guidance and university applications. There is an open-door policy allowing students to seek support as needed, and classroom observations plus targeted workshops foster a positive learning environment.

The Learning Support Department provides support to students from preschool through fifth grade. In Primary School, the team includes psycho-pedagogists and a psychologist. In Secondary School, the Learning Support Department ensures socio-emotional well-being and addresses academic needs, with a psychologist for grades 6-8, a psycho-pedagogist for grades 6-10, and another psychologist for grades 9-12 who also supports vocational guidance and university applications. The intervention is carried out through observations, evaluations, and group or individual interventions, in collaboration with teachers and parents, to help each child reach their full potential.

Language Support is part of Pan-American School's mission to be a leading bilingual school in Central America. Language learning is an essential component of student engagement and participation in learning and the local community. The Language Support program in PYP identifies students who need support in either Spanish or English. Students are immersed in regular classroom content while supported by language acquisition specialist teachers in collaboration with homeroom teachers. In MYP, Language Acquisition courses are offered in Spanish or English, taught by language acquisition specialists and following the IB language scope and sequence; these specialists collaborate with content teachers to make content comprehensible and promote inclusion.

Socio-emotional well-being is addressed by the Learning Support Department. There is a psychologist for grades 6-8, a psycho-pedagogist for grades 6-10, and another psychologist for grades 9-12 who also provides vocational guidance and university applications. The open-door policy allows students to seek support as needed. The Learning Support staff conducts classroom observations to understand learning strategies and social dynamics, and informative workshops and integration activities are carried out to foster a positive learning environment.

The safety and wellbeing of the school community are paramount. On-campus medical staff, a robust Learning Support team, private ambulance service, 24/7 security, an external armed response unit, and door-to-door bus services support safeguarding. Regular emergency drills, defibrillators on campus, and strict entry procedures are in place. Security committees, backup generators, and lightning protection, plus extensive protocols, further enhance safety, with ongoing training for staff, students, and families.

1. Contact the admissions team to schedule a campus tour or a virtual information call. Submit the admissions inquiry to receive a link to schedule the call or tour. The inquiry form asks which grade levels you are interested in, from Paws Cubs (18 months - 3 years) to Grade 12. This initial step helps families understand PAS and decide if PAS is the right fit for their child. 2. Submit documents and set up an admissions test, and arrange a student visit to campus. Submit the required documents and schedule an admissions test; a student visit to campus can also be arranged. This step provides the admissions team with information needed to evaluate candidacy and offers a firsthand view of PAS facilities. The goal is to complete the screening process so enrollment can proceed. 3. Finalize enrollment. Complete the enrollment process according to the instructions provided by admissions. Submit any remaining forms and fees as required. The admissions team will confirm your child's enrollment status and next steps. 4. Start your new adventure in learning. After enrollment, students begin learning at PAS and joining the PAS community from day one. Families are encouraged to engage with the school community and support their child's growth. The PAS environment focuses on personalized learning and a connected community.