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Instituto Thomas Jefferson Guadalajara

Mexico, Guadalajara

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Unlisted
Ages 1 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2002
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Malaysian Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, German, Italian, Mandarin
Strengths STEM, Languages, Sport
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Instituto Thomas Jefferson Guadalajara operates two campuses, Palomar and Valle Real, serving ages from 1.6 months to 19 years, with Nursery taught in English. The school is private, co‑educational, and bilingual, offering about 80% English and 20% Spanish instruction in Elementary and a third language option of French, Italian or German. Palomar emphasizes 80% English immersion and a project‑based STEAM program, with Gifted and Talented offerings. Valle Real provides a bilingual program aligned to international standards, awarding both the International High School Diploma and the Mexican Bachillerato, supported by STEAM projects and Gifted and Talented programs. Valle Real is LEED‑certified, NEASC‑accredited, and part of the ITJ network since 1978, with ISP exchanges. Facilities include robotics, science and computer labs, performing and visual arts spaces, a library, an auditorium, and extensive sport and outdoor areas. The curriculum blends SEP guidelines with international standards and emphasizes multilingual learning and life skills.

The Essentials

Instituto Thomas Jefferson Guadalajara has instruction in English, Spanish.

Location

Ramal de La Tijera 1850-1753, La Tijera, Jal., MX. The ITJ Palomar campus is located in La Tijera, a well-connected area in the Guadalajara region. It is accessible by major roads from nearby neighborhoods including El Palomar, El Cielo Country Club, Bugambilias, and Club de Golf Santa Anita.

Stages

Ages 1 to 18; Preschool (18 months–6 years); Elementary School (7–11); Middle School (12–14); High School (15–18).

Type

Private, co-educational day school; bilingual and multicultural, with 80% of instruction in English and 20% in Spanish; Nursery with total English immersion; third language options include French, German, or Italian.

Additional learning support

Gifted & Talented Program; Inclusion Programs with MAP tracking and consistent feedback.

Country affiliation

ASOMEX affiliation (Association of American Schools in Mexico).

Fees
Application / registration fees
- New-student registration (inscripción) is charged per level. Typical figures reported for ITJ campuses (Guadalajara/Palomar) are: Maternal: MXN 10,065; Pre‑school: MXN 13,000–16,670; Primary: MXN 10,500–12,375; Middle School (Secundaria): MXN 26,430; High School (Preparatoria): MXN 26,950.

Tuition by school year / level (monthly and annual)
- Maternal (Nursery level): Monthly ≈ MXN 7,405; Annual (reported) ≈ MXN 74,050.
- Pre‑school / Kinder: Monthly ≈ MXN 8,250–10,130; Annual (reported) ≈ MXN 130,000–166,700.
- Primary (Elementary): Monthly ≈ MXN 9,975–11,756; Annual (reported) ≈ MXN 99,750–117,560.
- Middle School (Secundaria): Monthly ≈ MXN 14,235; Annual (reported) ≈ MXN 260,430.
- High School (Preparatoria): Monthly ≈ MXN 15,860; Annual (reported) ≈ MXN 260,950.

Note: those monthly figures are the commonly published monthly amounts (the site and parent documents present monthly and annual equivalents). Where a range is shown above, the range reflects variation by specific grade within that level or by campus offering.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Annual tuition is commonly split into monthly instalments for the school year. For ITJ Palomar (Guadalajara) an earlier explicit schedule split the annual tuition into 11 monthly payments (August through June).
- Current contract language used by ITJ campuses for the 2025–2026 cycle requires monthly payment of colegiatura and establishes timing-based adjustments: a small early‑payment benefit for paying in advance, and a late fee for payments after the stated due date (the 2025–2026 contract specifies a 3% anticipado benefit for payment during the last 5 days of the prior month and a 10% extemporaneous charge for payments made after the 10th natural day of the month). Families are required to provide payment confirmation and include the student reference in transfers.
- The school may operate specific early‑re‑enrolment or discount programs (examples in past schedules included a discount for early payment of the previous month's instalment); precise discount windows and percentages can vary by cycle.

Billing schedule — practical points
- Typical instalment months reported: either 10 or 11 monthly payments across the academic year (examples include Aug–June split into 11 payments or other school-year instalment breakdowns). Parents should expect the school to issue the instalment calendar and payment deadlines at enrolment.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered at ITJ Palomar/Valle Real — ITJ campuses operate as day schools (no boarding/residential programme and therefore no boarding fees).

Other costs and mandatory add‑ons
- Uniforms: purchased separately through the school's approved uniform supplier; uniform costs are not included in inscription or monthly tuition.
- Books, learning-platform licences, technology devices and specialised software: charged separately (school materials and platform licences are not included in the tuition figure).
- School insurance / tutor insurance: schools in the ITJ network have charged a guardian/insurance premium in past cycles (example: MXN 1,250 in the 2021 Palomar schedule); schools also maintain an accident insurance policy for students (details and premiums vary by cycle).
- Association of Parents fee (APF) and similar community fees: examples in prior schedules include a parent association fee (example: MXN 600 in the 2021 Palomar document). Extracurricular activities, field trips, special projects, and graduation events are typically billed separately.
- After‑school clubs / extracurriculars: additional registration and monthly or per‑term fees may apply for after‑school programmes. Some campuses require card payment for extracurricular registrations and list card types accepted for those payments.

Refund information
- Refunds are limited and governed by the contract terms and by the Acuerdo que Establece las Bases Mínimas de Información para la Comercialización de los Servicios Educativos (published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 10 March 1992). ITJ's standard contract (2025–2026 wording used across campuses) states that reinscription refunds and any refunds are handled under those legal terms and the school's contract conditions; refund entitlement or limits depend on the specific program and timing and must follow the formal written procedures stated in the contract.

Fee payment options
- Online payment portal: the Palomar campus publishes a parent/payment portal link (payment portal domain: itjgdl.servoescolar.mx) for electronic payments.
- Bank transfer / interbank transfer: the campus contract references transfer as an accepted method (families must include student reference in transfer).
- In‑person payments at the school cashier (Caja): accepted forms include debit or credit card and cheque in some cases (specific accepted card brands and cheque payee names vary by grade and campus).
- School payment platform (SESWEB) and card payments: the contract and campus pages reference online payment tools and card payments (Visa/Mastercard commonly accepted for extracurricular payments).

Summary of availability and currency of figures
- Published, grade‑by‑grade numeric tuition schedules for the 2026/27 academic year were not publicly available at the time of this review. The figures given above use the most recent publicly posted level summaries and campus fee schedules found for ITJ Palomar/Guadalajara and ITJ network documents (examples include a 2021 Palomar fee schedule and 2024/2025 published level ranges), together with the ITJ standard contract language used for the 2025–2026 cycle that defines payment terms, discounts and late fees. Where specific amounts vary by grade or by campus the entry shows a range or an explicit earlier‑cycle figure.
Academics

Instituto Thomas Jefferson Guadalajara teaches Malaysian Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 1 to 18.

Curriculum

Two Guadalajara campuses—Palomar and Valle Real—offer bilingual schooling with strong English immersion and internationally accredited programs. Palomar provides 80% English immersion and a dynamic STEAMS curriculum in a project-based environment, developing the confidence, critical thinking, empathy, and global perspective needed to thrive. Gifted and Talented programs are available at Palomar. Valle Real delivers a bilingual, internationally accredited program where students earn both an International High School Diploma and the Mexican Bachillerato, supported by STEAM projects, a Gifted and Talented program, and global opportunities. Preschool through High School covers ages from 1.6 months to 19 years (Preschool: 1.6 months–6 years; Elementary: 7–11; Middle: 12–14; High School: 15–19).

Exam Results

The network states outstanding results and access to top universities, with Valle Real explicitly noting that graduates can pursue higher education at top universities worldwide.

Higher Education Progression

Graduates pursue higher education at top universities worldwide, including through the International High School Diploma and the Mexican Bachillerato pathways.

Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented programs exist at both Palomar and Valle Real, complemented by STEAM projects and global opportunities.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Life skills are integrated across the curriculum through a Life Skills framework backed by Camtree, part of Cambridge University (Hughes Hall). The school develops communication, digital fluency, leadership, and resilience within this framework to support a growth mindset. Personalized support is available through the Gifted and Talented Program and the Inclusion Program to strengthen confidence and meet individual needs.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school provides personalized support through a Gifted and Talented Program and an Inclusion Program to strengthen confidence and meet the needs of diverse learners.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school uses a bilingual curriculum with instruction in English and Spanish. Multilingualism is developed through English immersion and SEP-compliant Spanish certification.

Mental Wellbeing

The school maintains a safe, supportive community where wellbeing is prioritized. A team of school psychologists supports students across Kindergarten, Primary, and Secondary levels, reinforcing mental health and social-emotional growth.

Safeguarding

The school has a formal safeguarding policy and a dedicated safeguarding team committed to creating a space where all children feel safe, respected, and supported. Safeguarding measures include on-site medical staff, mandatory ID badges for staff and parents, background checks for new employees, first aid training for staff, security personnel at entrances, and CCTV surveillance across the campus.

Admissions

Admissions

The admissions journey is clear, personalized, and fully supportive, with multilingual guidance available for international families. 01 Initial inquiry: Reach out to the Admissions Team or complete the online inquiry form to express interest and ask questions. 02 Schedule a school tour: Book your personalized tour through the website, by phone, or via WhatsApp. 03 Attend your guided visit: Join a guided campus visit and schedule your admission exam at the end. 04 Take the evaluation: Complete the admission evaluation; the acceptance letter is issued within 7 to 10 business days. 05 Pick up your acceptance letter: Receive the official acceptance letter and prepare for enrollment. 06 Complete your enrollment: Submit all necessary documents and finish registration. 07 Welcome to ITJ Palomar: You are welcomed into the community and begin your journey.

Scholarships

SEP scholarships are available at ITJ Palomar Guadalajara and can be requested after having been at ITJ Palomar for one year.

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