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Panama, Panama City
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1. Inquiries and appointment requests. USP Admissions welcomes inquiries from families and assists with new-student application requests. The Admissions Department is available to help with questions and to arrange appointments. For direct communication, contact via the WhatsApp Business account, and responses are prompt.
2. Age and grade placement guidelines. Admissions uses age and grade placement to ensure appropriate development. Pre-Kindergarten must be 4 by August; Kindergarten must be 5 by August. 1st through 9th grades have age requirements from 6 to 14 by August. Exceptions to these guidelines are rare and reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
3. Applications and review. The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates each application to determine how the applicant can benefit from USP's educational offering. The review considers the applicant's prior school records and age to determine appropriate placement. For students transferring from outside Panama in grades 2–9, MEDUCA's validation process may apply and USP guides families through this requirement. Applicants are informed of the outcome and the next steps.
4. Tuition and fees. The 2025–2026 year lists program-specific costs for Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School. Preschool (PK/KINDER) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $9,500 sign-up fee, a $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $860 for 10 months, a $750 annual books and supplies charge, and $167 per month for nutrition; transportation is outsourced and paid directly to the transport provider. Elementary (1st–5th) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $9,500 sign-up fee, an $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $905 for 10 months, a $750 annual books and supplies charge, $530 for technology annually, $178.40 per month for nutrition, and outsourced transportation; extras are available per activity. Middle School (6th–8th) includes a $150 pre-admission evaluation, a $4,750 sign-up fee, an $825 enrollment fee, a monthly tuition of $950 for 10 months, a $925 books and supplies charge, and $530 for technology; nutrition is $181.56 per month.
5. Admission timing and placement. We generally admit students at the start of the academic year or at the beginning of the second semester. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Grade placement is based on the student's previous school records, an academic evaluation, and age; for students entering 2nd grade and above from schools outside Panama, MEDUCA requires a validation process and USP guides families through this process.
United School of Panama (USP) offers an American and British curriculum within a multicultural community. It provides a trilingual program in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. The school follows the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, and is accredited by Panama's MEDUCA. Language Arts uses National Geographic Learning and project-based instruction; Mathematics uses the i-Ready diagnostic program; Science aligns with NGSS through National Geographic Exploring Science and MindTap. Mandarin is taught in five phases with cultural context, while Spanish follows Panamanian standards to develop grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary. Social Studies emphasizes Panamanian culture and global citizenship. The campus is modern, with open spaces for sport and convenient access to Panama City. Technology is integrated across the curriculum, with iPads and MacBooks in classrooms, MindTap resources, and i-Ready differentiation. USP is moving toward Apple Distinguished School status, reflecting ongoing investment in digital learning. The school welcomes international families.
