Does Balboa Academy follow an international calendar?
Yes. Our school year starts at the beginning of August and ends in Mid-June. Please click here to view our Academic Calendar.
What is your policy for children that transfer from a school with a different calendar?
According to the Panamanian Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) policy, students must continue on in the same grade level and will be promoted to the next grade level the following school year.
What are the school hours?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
- PK (8:00-12:30)
- K-12 (8:00-2:55)
Wednesday:
- PK (8:00-11:30)
- K-12 (8:00-12:45)
Why is the Wednesday schedule shorter?
Outstanding tuition is a cornerstone of the Balboa Academy educational provision and for that reason, throughout the school year, Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to ongoing professional development, training, and planning for our faculty and staff.
What are the class sizes at Balboa Academy?
To ensure students have the support they need to reach their full academic potential, our class sizes are closely monitored.
Class sizes at each stage are as follows:
- PK: 6 classrooms with a maximum of 12 students per class
- K: 3 classrooms with a maximum of 20 students per class
- 1-2: 3 classrooms with a maximum of 22 students per class
- 3-5: 3 classrooms with a maximum of 25 students per class
- 6: Students rotate between 3 different classrooms with a maximum of 25 students per class
- 7-12: Students rotate between 7 classrooms with a maximum of 25 students per class.
Where can I find more information about Tuition Fees?
Please click here to see full details of our fees.
Are there opportunities for financial aid?
We do provide a number of scholarships to students who meet the criteria, but please keep in mind that scholarships, whether partial or full, are not awarded to students in their first academic year at Balboa Academy.
How does Balboa Academy determine grade placement?
Generally, placement in grade levels will be by age as of the first day of school of the academic year. For example, PK3 students must be 3 years old on or before August 3, 2023, for the SY2023-2024.
Parents applying with school transcripts or records from outside of Panama should have those validated through the Ministry of Foreign Relations (Embassy of the Country of Origin) and the Panamanian Ministry of Education (MEDUCA), to officially assign entering grade placement.
Does Balboa Academy offer any transportation services?
We offer a bus service for all students, including those participating in after school activities. This service is provided by TRANES PANAMA, S.A.
Please click here for more information.
Does Balboa Academy offer a lunch program?
A nutritious lunch can help our students achieve their full potential in the classroom, so we provide a balanced and healthy meal at lunchtime which is catered daily by Yaya's Kitchen. Parents may pre-order from their monthly menu, or if they prefer, students may also bring food with them from home.
With parent permission, High School 12th grade students may visit “La Plaza” food court across the street from our school buildings.
Do students at Balboa Academy wear uniforms?
Yes, as mandated by Panama’s Ministry of Education. Uniforms are sold at the Galapagos store in San Francisco, Calle 71. Please click here for more information.
What sort of after-school activities does Balboa Academy offer?
Our after-school program has grown in scope, as we are increasingly able to provide a wide variety of activities (within the areas of athletics, academics, and the arts) to our entire student base.
Our after-school program offerings change each quarter and after-school activities get underway the week after each quarter begins. Click here for more information and how to register.
What is Advanced Placement (AP)?
“Advanced Placement” (AP) is a program of college-level courses. Courses are available in many subject areas, including English, history, humanities, languages, math, psychology and science.
AP classes do not just earn you high school credit. You may also earn college credit if you take an AP exam at the end of the course AND earn a score of at least 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. Colleges and universities consider a score of 3 an indicator of your ability to do successful college work. Please click here for more information.
How can I contact the school?
The following numbers can be used to speak to a member of our school team:
- Main Office- Bldg. 100, 302-0035 / 302-0030 (Fax)
- Pre-Kindergarten- Bldg. 104, 317-0191
- Middle School- Bldg. 107, 302-0032/302-0043 (Fax)
- High School- Bldg. 104, 302-0041/302-0036
- Admissions- Bldg. 100, 302-1076
Contact Us Today
We believe in the extraordinary capacity of children to learn and reach their full potential. We warmly invite you to discover more about our educational program and philosophy.