Gimnasio de Los Cerros

What Gimnasio de Los Cerros does

Gimnasio de Los Cerros is a private, Catholic, all-boys K-12 school in Bogotá, Colombia, founded in 1964 by Don Gonzalo Alemani under the inspiration of Opus Dei following a meeting with San Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer in Rome. Operated by Corporación Educativa Central CEC (NIT 800.143.557-6), the school delivers education across three levels — Early Years (K4-3), Middle Years (4-6), and Upper Years (7-12) — culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, of which 825 graduates have been produced. Its core offering combines the proprietary Método Cerros (person-centered pedagogy), bilingual Spanish-English instruction, personal mentorship, and the Pirineos Experience for experiential learning. The institution serves upper-middle-class and upper-class Colombian families in Bogotá and the surrounding Sabana municipalities of Chía, Cajicá, and La Calera.

The school's technology stack is anchored by a proprietary digital ecosystem: the Phidias student information portal, the OnTrack satellite-based transportation tracking platform, the BibloCerros library catalog, Microsoft Teams for daily family communication, and the newly launched Cerros AI suite (Copiloto Docente and Extended Essay Coach). Strategic partnerships include the International Baccalaureate Organization, Round Square (one of only six Colombian schools admitted), Windsor School in Canada for two-month immersion, Universidad de La Sabana for parent education, and a sister-school alliance with Gimnasio Iragua for joint activities.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition and enrollment fees, with ancillary income from the Cerros Store (branded merchandise) and donations supporting the Fondo de Becas scholarship fund. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a four-step admissions process (contact, in-person visit, payment and documentation, enrollment), supplemented by referrals through the 2,000+ Alumni Cerros network and open-house events. Marketing channels span the school's website and blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided directly by the admissions office.

Name

Gimnasio de Los Cerros

Legal name

Corporación Educativa Central CEC

Website

https://loscerros.edu.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gimnasio de Los Cerros is a private, Catholic, all-boys K-12 school in Bogotá, Colombia, founded in 1964 under Opus Dei, serving upper-middle-class families with bilingual education, the IB Diploma Program, mentorship, and a recently launched Cerros AI ecosystem supporting its 2,000+ alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDAJABAL

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDAIAHAC

Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Secondary School Programs (Boarding, Exchange, Summer)

SECONDARYEDAIAHAB

Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Secondary School Programs (Boarding, Exchange, Summer)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Bilingual boys school
• International baccalaureate program
• Catholic values education
• College preparatory school

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Private school revenue generated through annual tuition and enrollment fees charged to families. The school offers a scholarship fund (Fondo de Becas) to assist families facing extreme economic difficulties with partial or total coverage of tuition and enrollment costs.
2. School Store (Cerros Store): Virtual store selling branded merchandise including notebooks, uniforms, caps, backpacks, water bottles, stuffed animals, pens, and other school items.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gimnasio de Los Cerros delivers private, Catholic, all-boys bilingual education from K4 (around age 3) through Grade 12 in Bogotá, structured into Early Years, Middle Years, and Upper Years under the proprietary 'Método Cerros' personalized approach. The Upper Years culminate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and the school layers specialized programs including personalized mentorship, the Pirineos Experience (expeditions, hikes, summer camps), a 2-month Canada immersion in Windsor, Ontario, and the Cerros AI academic support ecosystem. Supporting services include a 30+ route school transportation network with satellite tracking, an on-site restaurant serving 1,200+ daily, and an after-school extracurriculars program.

Product overview

Gimnasio de Los Cerros is a private, Catholic, all-boys school in Bogota offering a unified educational service structured across three levels (Early Years, Middle Years, Upper Years) from kindergarten through Grade 12. The core educational offering combines the 'Metodo Cerros' personalized approach with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and a bilingual Spanish-English curriculum. Specialized programs include Pirineos Experience (experiential learning with expeditions), personal mentorship, Canada immersion, and the recently launched Cerros AI ecosystem for academic support. Additional services encompass extracurricular activities, early childhood education (age 3+), physical education, parent education programs, a scholarship fund, and an alumni network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cerros AI: Institutional AI ecosystem designed to support academic processes and pedagogical work, including Copiloto Docente and Extended Essay Coach tools
• Pirineos Experience
• Cerros Store / Pipo's Store
• Alumni Cerros

Products and services

• Educational Programs (Early Years, Middle Years, Upper Years) Integrated K-12 bilingual educational service structured across Early Years (K4-grade 3), Middle Years (grades 4-6), and Upper Years (grades 7-12) under the proprietary 'Método Cerros' personalized learning model, for boys approximately 3 to 17 years old.
• Bachillerato Internacional (IB) Diploma Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 825 IB Diploma graduates admitted to universities worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Organización del Bachillerato Internacional (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGimnasio de Los Cerros is a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The school offers the IB Diploma Program (DP) for grades 11-12, allowing graduates to earn the IB Diploma recognized by 5000+ universities in 160+ countries. The school has graduated 825 IB Diploma students. The IB philosophy aligns with the school's mission to form integral persons with open minds and global citizenship.
• Round SquarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRound Square is an international non-profit network of 230+ schools in 50 countries committed to international education and holistic student development. Los Cerros is one of only 6 schools in Colombia admitted to this prestigious association. The partnership provides student exchanges, global conferences, service projects, and access to the IDEALS framework (Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, Service).
• Universidad de La Sabana - Instituto de la FamiliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school partners with Universidad de La Sabana's Family Institute to provide family counseling services and parent education programs. This includes a 'Diplomado en Familia' (Family Diploma) program and family advising services to support parents in their role as primary educators.
• FAMOF (Instituto para la Formación Familiar - IFFD)minorOthersFamily enrichment programs using the case method, tailored to children's developmental stages.
• Protege tu CorazónminorOthersProgram for character and affectivity formation, providing tools for parents to guide their children's emotional development.
• Colectivo Aquí y AhoraminorOthersPreventive program addressing alcohol and substance use, engaging families in awareness and prevention activities.
• Red PaPazminorOthersParent network organization providing resources and support for family education.
• InteraxionminorOthersProgram providing tools for responsible use of digital technologies, supporting parents in guiding children's technology consumption.
• Windsor School (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school maintains a 2-month Canada immersion program in Windsor, Ontario. Students live and study at partner institutions, strengthening English language skills and developing personal autonomy in an international setting.
• Banco DaviviendaminorOthersThe school's scholarship fund (Fondo de Becas) accepts donations through Davivienda Bank, Savings Account #457500056504, held by Corporación Educativa Central (NIT: 800.143.557-6).
• Fundación Santa Fe de BogotáminorOthersSpecialized clinic with which the school has an emergency services agreement for student medical emergencies.
• Gimnasio IraguacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister school for female students, part of the same Opus Dei educational project initiated in 1964. The two schools conduct joint activities including summer camps, solidarity campaigns, environmental promotion, sports events, art competitions, UN Models, conferences, confirmations, Round Square events, and Canada immersions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gimnasio Campestre Bogotá: One of Bogot\u00e1's most established premium K\u201312 schools known for rigorous academics and global university placement. Directly competes for the same upper-class families seeking international curriculum and bilingual education.
• Colegio Los Nogales: Bilingual, IB-offering private school in Bogot\u00e1 targeting similar upper-middle-class families. Comparable on academic rigor, bilingual model, and university placement focus.
• Colegio San Carlos: Elite private Catholic school in Bogot\u00e1 with Opus Dei heritage offering K\u201312 with strong university placement. Comparable in target family, character-formation emphasis, IB-adjacent curriculum, and premium Bogot\u00e1 positioning.
• Colegio Anglo Colombiano: Long-established bilingual private school in Bogot\u00e1 with IB programs. Direct rival for families prioritizing English fluency and international credentials.
• Colegio de San Bartolomé: Historic Jesuit private school in central Bogot\u00e1 offering K\u201312. Comparable in Catholic values-based formation, long heritage, and university-prep focus for premium families.
• Colegio Nueva Granada: US-influenced bilingual K\u201312 school in Bogot\u00e1 with IB Diploma Program and international student body. Competes for the same globally-minded, English-fluent families.
• Gimnasio Iragua: Sister girls' school operating under the same Opus Dei educational project founded in 1964 alongside Los Cerros. They share programming, faculty, alumni events, Canada immersion, and Round Square participation, making them the closest comparable peer by mission, model, and operational structure.

Emerging players

• Lexington College: Bilingual international school serving premium families in Bogot\u00e1 with US-aligned curriculum. Competes indirectly for globally-minded families but does not offer the full IB Diploma pathway at the same depth.
• Colegio Bolivar (Cali): Premium IB school in Cali with bilingual program and established university placement record. Comparable in curriculum (IB) and target segment but operates in a different Colombian city.
• Colegio Sorrento: Bilingual Bogot\u00e1 school positioned in the upper-mid private segment. Overlaps with Los Cerros in bilingual curriculum and target families seeking alternatives to traditional single-gender schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVRaYoH4FAauAGBu-poVsRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/gimnasiodeloscerros
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colegio-los-cerros
• Instagraminstagram.com/gimnasiodeloscerros

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gimnasio de Los Cerros