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
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
TRAIL School, The Renaissance Academy of International Learning, is an inclusive foundation school serving ages 2 through 18 on a Panama Pacifico campus at 841 Andrews Blvd. The school follows an American curriculum and is MEDUCA-accredited. The Kindergarten program uses the Creative Curriculum and centers the child in the learning process, with English Language Arts taught through a Reading Workshop approach that includes daily reading and writing, phonics, decoding, and comprehension. Math emphasizes patterns, numbers, geometry, sorting, and hands-on problem solving. The program also provides Spanish immersion, Music, Physical Education, Art, and Technology to support a strong start. The campus features a gym, an athletics track, and an Inclusive Learning Center within the Elementary School. TRAIL offers 12 clubs and after-school Club House from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. There is a Service & Action requirement for grades 9–10 and a CAS component in grades 11–12, reinforcing leadership and community engagement.
WC46+86W, Blvd. Andrews, Panamá, Provincia de Panamá Oeste, Panama
The Essentials
TRAIL School has 135 pupils, typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English.
Location
TRAIL School is located at the Panama Pacifico campus, 841 Andrews Blvd., Panama Pacifico, Panama. It serves the Panama Pacifico community. The campus is accredited by MEDUCA Panama.
Stages
TRAIL offers early childhood education through high school. The program includes Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
Type
The school is an inclusive foundation school.
Additional learning support
The Inclusive Learning Center provides support for students with additional learning needs.
Fees
Annual tuition at TRAIL School ranges from USD 4,000 to USD 13,660 for 2026/27.
Application Fee - Non‑refundable application fee: USD 110 per student. Payments for the application are accepted online by credit card through the school's RenWeb application when the application is completed.
Enrollment Fee - Annual enrollment fee charged per student to guarantee a spot for the following year. - Early Bird Enrollment Fee (returning students, paid within the two‑month early window): USD 700. - Regular Enrollment Fee (new students, or if paid outside the Early Bird window): USD 800. - The enrollment fee is due in full at the time of admission for new students, is not prorated regardless of enrollment date, and is non‑refundable.
Annual Tuition — fees by year group (amounts shown are per academic year) - Early Childhood Department — Half Day (8:00 am – 11:30 am): USD 4,000 per year. - Early Childhood Department — Full Day (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 5,000 per year. - Kindergarten (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 6,500 per year. - Grades 1–4 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 7,500 per year. - Grades 5–8 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 8,000 per year. - Grades 9–12 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm): USD 8,500 per year.
Equivalent per‑term amounts (annual ÷ 3, shown for budgeting convenience if fees were split into three equal instalments) - Early Childhood — Half Day: USD 1,333.33 per term (USD 4,000 ÷ 3). - Early Childhood — Full Day: USD 1,666.67 per term (USD 5,000 ÷ 3). - Kindergarten: USD 2,166.67 per term (USD 6,500 ÷ 3). - Grades 1–4: USD 2,500.00 per term (USD 7,500 ÷ 3). - Grades 5–8: USD 2,666.67 per term (USD 8,000 ÷ 3). - Grades 9–12: USD 2,833.33 per term (USD 8,500 ÷ 3). - Note: Tuition is published as annual amounts; the per‑term figures above are straight equal instalment equivalents for budgeting.
Other mandatory or one‑time charges - Technology Fee (annual): USD 100 for PK3–Kinder; USD 250 for Grade 1 and up. - Capital Donation (one‑time, at entry): minimum USD 4,000 (requested as a philanthropic contribution to support school resources and development).
Boarding - The school does not list a boarding/residential programme or boarding fees; programs and published fees are for day enrolment.
Other possible costs (examples families commonly budget for) - Additional costs that may apply in practice (not listed as fixed annual charges in the published fee breakdown) include: after‑school program fees, field trip/excursion charges, school supplies, learning‑support or specialist service fees, and optional activity or club fees. The published fee schedule explicitly lists the application fee, enrollment fee, tuition, technology fee, and capital donation.
Refund information - The application fee (USD 110) is non‑refundable. - The enrollment fee (USD 700 early bird / USD 800 regular) is non‑refundable. - No separate published refund schedule for tuition instalments or other fees is provided in the fee breakdown; application and enrollment fees are explicitly stated as non‑refundable.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and other recurring charges are published as annual amounts; the enrollment fee is charged annually to secure a spot and is due in full at admission for new students and is not prorated. - The school uses RenWeb (a web‑based application) for admissions and online payments for the application; the application payment is accepted online by credit card at submission. Specific term dates, installment schedules, and the school's internal billing calendar are not provided alongside the published annual fee figures.
Fee payment options - Application payments: accepted online by credit card through the RenWeb application. - The published materials note integration with RenWeb and Odoo for student information and administrative systems; additional accepted payment methods for enrollment, tuition, and recurring charges (for example, bank transfer, in‑person card payment, or local currency options) are not detailed in the published fee summary.
Summary for parents - Required up‑front, non‑refundable charges: Application Fee USD 110; Enrollment Fee USD 700 (early bird returning) or USD 800 (regular/new). - Annual tuition ranges by age/grade from USD 4,000 (Early Childhood half day) to USD 8,500 (Grades 9–12). - Annual technology fee and a one‑time capital donation minimum are additional expected costs.
(Key published fee items and exact amounts are cited above.)
Academics
TRAIL School teaches American Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.
Curriculum
The Kindergarten program uses the Creative Curriculum and centers the child in the learning process. English Language Arts is taught through a Reading Workshop approach with daily reading and writing, including phonics, decoding, and comprehension work. Math focuses on patterns, numbers, geometry, sorting, and problem solving through hands-on activities. The program includes Spanish immersion, Music, Physical Education, Art, and Technology to provide a well-rounded start to learning.
Student Teacher Ratio
Group size is 14 students in Kindergarten; TRAIL describes low student-teacher ratios across the school.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
TRAIL is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community. TRAIL fosters intercultural understanding and respect to develop caring individuals who contribute to just societies. TRAIL describes its mission as developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring people who connect with others. The school views community and inclusion as foundational to learning and personal growth. TRAIL emphasizes leadership and service, with a Service & Action requirement for grades 9-10 and a CAS requirement for grades 11-12, reinforcing personal development through real-world engagement. The After-School Program & Clubs and the School's community initiatives support social development and self-esteem among students and community members.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
TRAIL has an Inclusive Learning Center for Learning Support. The school describes itself as an Inclusive Foundation School. The Inclusive Learning Center is listed under the Elementary School page as a resource for Learning Support. The Inclusive Foundation supports faculty development and student aid to foster inclusive education.
Safeguarding
Maintaining Health & Safety 2020-21 is listed under the Academics section.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Early Childhood Application Process: The application is submitted online via RenWeb. Create an account and apply online through RenWeb, the admissions database. Schedule a parent interview, approximately 45 minutes in length, with the head of admissions; the child may greet the interviewer but is not required to participate in the meeting. Submit a Confidential School Report if PK3 or PK4 applicants are currently enrolled in a fully separated preschool program; the report is issued by the current school and sent directly to TRAIL, with Transcript Release Form and Form for PK3 & PK4 Applicants available on the page. The applicant family is responsible for confirming the application is complete, and the Admissions Office reviews only complete applications.
2. Kindergarten Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The application for each academic year will be available in December. Submit an Online Application by creating an account and applying through RenWeb. A bypass code may be provided by the Admissions office if space allows, enabling submission of the application. Schedule an Individual Child Assessment: Small group play sessions are used for evaluation; this year assessments are conducted individually via Google Meet on Mondays and Thursdays. Schedule a Parent Virtual Interview: After submitting the application, arrange a virtual interview via Google Meet on Mondays or Fridays afternoons. Submit Confidential Private School Report if the child has attended a private day care in Panama; if the child is not currently enrolled in a preschool, contact the Admissions office to discuss alternatives. The report must be sent directly from the current school to TRAIL and the form is downloadable from the page.
3. Elementary School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The December intake window applies to each academic year. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; for 2022-23 grades, contact the school to confirm availability; if space exists, the Admissions office will provide a bypass code to submit the application. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: Every applicant is required to participate in a family conversation and a student interview with the High School Admissions Director; this is an opportunity to learn about TRAIL's curriculum and programs and for questions to be asked. If applying to Torchlight with the Inclusive Learning Center (ILC), schedule an assessment with an ILC faculty member. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: Grade 1 applicants must submit a confidential school report; grades 2–5 applicants must have official transcripts from the past two years and a confidential Teacher Recommendation Form completed by the current school; translations are required if documents are not in English.
4. Middle School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. The December intake window applies to each academic year. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; contact the school to confirm availability in the grade entered. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: An interview and informal family conversation with the Middle School Admissions Director are required to learn about TRAIL's curriculum and programs; an assessment with the Inclusive Learning Center (ILC) may be scheduled if Torchlight or ILC services are being used. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: The transcript release form and teacher recommendation forms should be sent to the current school; if not in English, translations are required. Current fifth graders applying to sixth grade must submit two teacher recommendations (one from the current year and one from the previous year); seventh and eighth graders require two different teacher recommendations (which can be from the same school).
5. High School Application Process: Rolling applications are accepted based on availability. New applications for each academic year become available in December. Submit Online Application: Create an account and apply through RenWeb; for grades 9–12, contact the school to confirm grade availability; if space exists, a bypass code will be provided to submit the application. Schedule a Family Conversation and Student Interview: All high school applicants participate in a family conversation and a student interview with the High School Admissions Director to learn about TRAIL's programs and expectations. If applying to Torchlight or ILC services, an assessment with an ILC faculty member will be scheduled. Submit Official Transcript and Confidential Teacher Recommendations: The transcript release form and teacher recommendation forms should come from the student's current school; the English and Math teachers should complete the recommendation forms, and they should be submitted after December 1 to ensure an accurate assessment. If documents are not in English, translations must accompany them.
FAQs
What curriculum does TRAIL School follow?
TRAIL follows an American curriculum accredited by MEDUCA. Kindergarten uses the Creative Curriculum with a Reading Workshop approach, while the broader programme is inquiry-based and child-centred.
What age range does the school serve?
TRAIL serves students from age 2 through 18, covering Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, and High School divisions.
What are the tuition fees?
Annual tuition ranges from approximately USD 100 for nursery to USD 13,660 for upper school. Application fee is USD 110 (non-refundable), with annual enrolment fees from USD 700 (early bird) to USD 850.
Does the school support students with learning needs?
Yes, TRAIL has an Inclusive Learning Center that provides support for students with additional learning needs. The school describes itself as an Inclusive Foundation School.
What languages are taught?
English is the primary language of instruction with English Language Arts as a core subject. Spanish is also taught as a language course with immersion beginning in Kindergarten.
Where is the school located?
TRAIL School is located at 841 Andrews Boulevard in Panama Pacifico, Panama, on a campus with open spaces, a gym, and an athletics track.
How many students attend the school?
TRAIL has approximately 135 students, providing a small, close-knit community with low student-teacher ratios.
What is the Inclusive Foundation?
Established in 2014 as a not-for-profit, the Inclusive Foundation supports faculty development and student aid to foster inclusive education. It holds tax-deductible status and is governed by a Board of Directors.
What extracurricular activities are offered?
TRAIL offers 12 clubs and activities including robotics, STEAM, coding, art, music, and physical education, providing enrichment for the Panama Pacifico community.
Is there a school psychologist?
Yes, TRAIL has a school psychologist on staff to support students' mental wellbeing alongside the academic programme.
What is the group size in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten groups are limited to 14 students, reflecting TRAIL's commitment to low student-teacher ratios across all divisions.
What is the admissions process?
Early Childhood applications are submitted online via RenWeb, followed by a 45-minute parent interview. Elementary and older students may also complete academic assessments.
