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The success of a private school in Costa Rica can be thought of as a recipe in the sense that it requires certain ingredients and careful preparation.

Let’s take a look at the main ingredients of Pan-American School, a private learning institution located near the upscale sections of Santa Ana and San Antonio de Belén in Costa Rica:

• History
• Philosophy
• Accreditation
• Campus
• School Life

The history of Pan-American school dates back to the Primary School (Escuelita) of the Interamerican Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IICA) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. A teacher at that school in Cartago, founder James Genis implemented an educational philosophy so successful he was motivated to bring the concept to San José.

Pan-American School began March 2, 1971 in Los Yoses, San José with 34 students. Its unique philosophy and bilingual curriculum promoted rapid growth which caused the school to move to Barrio México and later Escazú and Guachipelín. These days, the school has enjoyed a modern campus on the border of Santa Ana and Belén.

The philosophy of Pan-American School is to be a leading bilingual World School in Central America, preparing internationally-engaged individuals, committed to the pursuit of excellence, and who make meaningful contributions to their country and to the global community.

Pan-American School graduates earn three diplomas:  the U.S. High School Diploma, the Costa Rican Bachillerato en Educación Media, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB).  This is possible due to its authorization by the Ministry of Education of Costa Rica, and its international accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) of the United States and the International Baccalaureate Organization.  The school is also a member of the Association of Private Schools (ACEP), the Association of American Schools of Central America (AASCA), and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

Pan-American School has a safe and secure campus of over 35,000 square meters with five buildings for classrooms and offices. Surrounded by trees, the buildings were designed by internationally renowned architect Bruno Stagno to take advantage of natural light and ventilation. In addition to several play areas for younger children, there are sports fields for soccer, basketball, volleyball, an athletic track, and a 1,250 meter multi-purpose gymnasium.

Pan-American School provides a safe and challenging environment not only on the academic field but also with complementary co-curricular activities and opportunities to allow students to develop other areas of interest. Some of the highlights include an ecology and sustainability program, field trips, drama, martial arts, pre-ballet, a cooking club, guitar, visual arts, 3-D design and printing, and more.

To prepare the perfect educational recipe with the ingredients above, Pan-American School relies on a diverse staff of teachers, counselors and administrators who are committed to the formation of citizens prepared to face the challenges of living in and contributing to an increasingly globalized world.