Pan-American School

What Pan-American School does

Pan-American School is a private, non-selective international school in Costa Rica, founded in 1971 by James Genis in San José and now operating from an 8.64-acre (35,000 m²) campus of five buildings in San Antonio de Belén, Heredia. It serves families seeking bilingual English-Spanish education for children from 6 months through Grade 12, structured as the first IB Continuum school in Costa Rica offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), supported by a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, average class size of 18, and a specialized support staff of psychologists, psycho-pedagogues, and language specialists. Complementary programs include Sports & Fitness, Visual Arts, Music (Music Fever method), Learning Support, Language Support, and College/Career Counseling, and graduates receive three credentials: the IB Diploma, US High School Diploma, and Costa Rican MEP National Diploma. The student body draws from 43 nationalities with 28% international representation.

The school is dually accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization (since 2015) and NEASC-CIE (since 2006), was the first private school in Costa Rica certified as Carbon Neutral, completed the NEASC-IB Collaborative Learning Protocol accreditation in October 2023, and in August 2024 joined the "Founding Fifty" of the RAIL endorsement on responsible AI in learning. Its technology stack consists of third-party educational platforms (Toodle, ManageBac, Follett Destiny) and an in-house student information platform (SIPAS), with no proprietary AI/ML capability.

The business model is tuition-driven: families pay annual recurring fees (specific pricing is not publicly disclosed) to enroll in the school's programs. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the school website, WhatsApp and phone inquiries, campus tours, and community events such as the school's hosted PASMUN conference. The school is privately held with no disclosed parent company, investors, or M&A activity, and operates as an autonomous institution under its own governance.

Name

Pan-American School

Legal name

Pan-American School

Website

https://panam.ed.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pan-American School is a private Costa Rican international school founded in 1971, serving families seeking bilingual English-Spanish education from age 6 months through Grade 12. It is the first IB Continuum school in Costa Rica (PYP, MYP, DP) and is dually accredited by IBO and NEASC-CIE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private International Education (K-12)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK), Bilingual & Language-Immersion Early Learning Academies (EDACADAG)

Keywords

• International baccalaureate education
• Bilingual K-12 schooling
• Private school Costa Rica
• College preparatory program
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Belén

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition fees paid by enrolled families. The admissions page references 'Fees 2025-2026' though specific pricing is not publicly displayed on the website. Additional revenue may come from ancillary services including campus rentals and facility usage fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pan-American School is a private bilingual (English-Spanish) international school delivering the full IB Continuum from Early Learning Center (ages 6 months–6 years) through Grade 12. Students graduate with three diplomas: IB Diploma, US High School Diploma, and Costa Rican Ministry of Education National Diploma. The core academic offering is supplemented by sports, arts, music, learning support, language support, and college counseling services, all delivered on a single 35,000 m² campus in Heredia, Costa Rica.

Product overview

Pan-American School is an IB Continuum school offering a comprehensive bilingual (English-Spanish) educational program from Early Learning Center (6 months) through Grade 12. The school operates a unified platform of programs including the Early Learning Center with age-based tracks (Tiny Paws through Trailblazers), the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). These core academic programs are complemented by specialized offerings including Sports & Fitness, Visual Arts, Music (Music Fever method), Learning Support, Language Support, and College/Career Counseling. Students graduate with three diplomas: the IB Diploma Programme, US High School Diploma, and Costa Rican Ministry of Education National Diploma. The school is the first in Costa Rica to offer the complete IB Continuum and is accredited by NEASC-CIE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Learning Center (ELC) Early childhood education program serving children from 6 months to 6 years old, with five age-based tracks (Tiny Paws 6mo-2yr, Curious Cubs 2-3yr, Pathfinders 3-4yr, Explorers 4-5yr, Trailblazers 5-6yr). Uses inquiry and play-based learning with English immersion, designed for families seeking early bilingual education and school readiness.
• Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB-recognized program for grades 1-5 (ages 6-11) using a transdisciplinary approach integrating subjects through concepts and central ideas. Develops skills in visual arts, technology, music, design, mathematics, languages, and physical health. Bilingual English-Spanish instruction.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB program for grades 6-10 serving as a bridge from Primary to High School. Emphasizes conceptual understanding, skill development, and interdisciplinary connections across eight subject groups including Languages, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, and Physical Education. Bilingual English-Spanish instruction.
• Diploma Programme (DP) IB two-year program for grades 11-12 offering six subject groups plus the DP Core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS). Students graduate with three diplomas: IB Diploma, US High School Diploma, and Costa Rican Ministry of Education National Diploma. Features the widest range of DP courses in Costa Rica.
• Sports & Fitness Program Comprehensive sports program featuring national and international competitions in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and cross-country through AASCA and ACEP affiliations. Includes a Fitness Program for secondary students with early morning physical activities. Individualized according to student goals.
• Visual Arts Program Visual arts education for all students from ECE through Grade 12, focusing on critical thinking development, technical art-making skills, and presentation abilities for communicating ideas through artistic projects.
• Music Program (Music Fever) Music education method for children and adolescents developing social and emotional skills. Students learn vocal technique, composition, music and culture, sight reading, and performance (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Choir). Prepares students for IB Music.
• Learning Support Student support department providing comprehensive academic, emotional, and social development support through psycho-pedagogues and psychologists in both Primary and Secondary schools, with early detection, intervention strategies, and an open-door policy.
• Language Support Program Bilingual language acquisition support program offering English and Spanish language development for PYP students, with specialist teachers collaborating with homeroom teachers, and MYP Language Acquisition courses based on proficiency levels.
• College and Career Counseling University counseling services providing individual counseling, mentoring, and personalized guidance for post-secondary preparation, helping students develop skills and confidence for higher education and career pursuits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students have obtained Costa Rican MEP title since 2016 through IBO-MEP validation agreement
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IBO authorized Pan-American School as an IB World School, enabling the school to offer the PYP, MYP, and DP programs. The school is the first in Costa Rica to offer the complete IB Continuum, demonstrating a deep strategic partnership with IBO for curriculum delivery and accreditation.
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on International Education (NEASC-CIE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006NEASC-CIE provides international accreditation services to Pan-American School, recognizing the school's educational quality against US and international standards. The school completed a joint NEASC-IB accreditation protocol in 2023, one of the first globally to undergo this new process.
• Association of American Schools of Central America (AASCA)minorOthersPan-American School participates in AASCA-organized tournaments for soccer, basketball, volleyball, and cross-country. Students also attend AASCA Leadership Conferences. This affiliation provides competitive sports opportunities and leadership development experiences within the Central American international school community.
• Asociación de Centros Educativos Privadas (ACEP)minorOthersSchool participates in ACEP-organized competitive events and tournaments for private schools in Costa Rica, providing additional competitive opportunities beyond AASCA-affiliated activities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln School: Private bilingual international school in San José, Costa Rica, serving preschool through Grade 12 with US-style curriculum and IB Diploma Programme. Directly comparable to Pan-American School as a competing premium international school in the same country and city-region.
• British School of Costa Rica: Private British-curriculum international school in Costa Rica serving preschool through secondary with Cambridge/IGCSE offerings. Comparable as a competing premium international school targeting expatriate and local upper-middle-class families.
• Saint Mary's School (San José): Bilingual Catholic international school in San José offering K-12 education with US High School Diploma and IB programmes. Directly comparable as a Costa Rican private international school competing for similar families.
• Country Day School Costa Rica: Private American-style school in the Greater San José area offering bilingual education and college-prep curriculum through Grade 12. Competes directly with Pan-American School for Costa Rican and international families seeking premium K-12 education.

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: Global operator of premium international schools (80+ campuses) offering IB and other curricula. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the premium international K-12 segment, though not present in Costa Rica and operating at vastly larger scale.
• ACS International Schools: Network of international schools founded by the US State Department offering IB and US curricula across multiple countries. Comparable as a broad incumbent in premium international K-12, representing a potential partnership or competitive benchmark for Pan-American School.

Regional players

• Escuela Americana de El Salvador: Private American international school in San Salvador offering K-12 education including IB programmes. Comparable regional peer in the Central American premium international-school segment serving similar expat and local families.
• International School of Panama: Premium English-language international school in Panama City offering IB programmes from PYP through DP. Comparable as a Latin American IB Continuum school with a similar multicultural student body and premium pricing model.
• Carol Morgan School: Private American international school in Santo Domingo offering IB programmes and US-style college-prep curriculum. Comparable as a Caribbean/Central American premium international school with similar accreditation and demographic mix.
• American School of Guatemala (ASF): Leading private US-style international school in Guatemala City offering IB Diploma Programme and college-prep curriculum in English. Comparable to Pan-American School as a Central American premium international school with IB and accreditation credentials, but in a different country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pan-american-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pan-American School