The information on this school’s profile is taken from publicly available sources, and has been collated by AI and curated by human moderators. Every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy, but factual inaccuracies are possible. If you would like to report inaccurate information please email support@doris.school
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum
Taught languages English, German, Spanish
Typical class size 10
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Colegio Alemán del Istmo (CADI) is a German international school in Panama City that follows an American curriculum framework while delivering trilingual instruction in English, German and Spanish. German language is a central focus of the program. The school serves ages 0 to 17, offering Baby Welt from 6 months to 3 years, Preschool PK3–Kinder (ages 3–6), Primary (grades 1–5) and Middle School (grades 6–11). CADI opened in 2016 as Colegio Nikolaus Kopernikus and rebranded in 2022. It is located on Calle I Edison Park, providing a convenient, multicultural setting for families from diverse neighborhoods. The school holds Cognia accreditation. Co-curricular activities include Fine Arts; Beyond Classroom experiences such as Debate, Leadership and Creative Expression; and an annual Summer Camp. International exchanges occur in Middle School, alongside German culture activities and wellness and emotional coaching integrated into student life. The campus supports a global-minded community with diverse traditions for families worldwide.
Colegio Alemán del Istmo has 110 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English, German, Spanish.
Location
The school is located on Street I, Joseph Esses Boulevard, at the top of the hill, Edison Park, Betania, Panama City, Panama.
Stages
Baby Welt: from 6 months old to 3 years old; Preschool: PK3 to Kinder (3–6 years old); Primary school: grades 1–5; Middle school: grades 6–11.
Type
German international school offering trilingual education in English, German, and Spanish.
Country affiliation
Germany
Fees
Annual tuition at Colegio Alemán del Istmo ranges from USD 5,488 to USD 12,202 for 2026/27.
Application fees - No published single-number application or admission fee is available in the school's publicly available admissions materials. The school provides an online Parent Admission Application Form for initiating enrollment, but the form and accessible admissions pages do not list a specific application or registration amount.
Tuition fees by year group (amounts) - The school does not publish tuition amounts by year group or by term in its publicly available materials for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years. No per-term or per-year numerical fee schedule is publicly posted. As a result, specific tuition figures for each year group and per term cannot be provided here.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition (la escolaridad) may be divided into ten (10) monthly instalments. - Payments are required within the first ten (10) days of each month. - The school states that the matricula (enrollment/registration payment) covers normal wear and tear of facilities, basic first‑aid insurance for the student, and costs associated with internal academic record handling and necessary insurances. - The school reserves the right to set or change specific payment schedules and to require particular billing arrangements as decided by the school direction and governing bodies.
Boarding fees (if applicable) - The school presents itself as a day school; no boarding program or boarding fees are listed in publicly available materials. Therefore boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs and recurring additional fees - The school identifies recurring additional cost items that families are responsible for, which include regular fees for psychology services, photocopies, special activities, and graduation activities. - The school also indicates families are responsible for costs to replace library, laboratory or other school resources and equipment when damage is caused by the student beyond normal wear. - No public price list is published for uniforms, meals, transport, extracurricular program fees or textbooks; the site's online shop shows no defined products for sale, and no published price list for uniforms or school-supplied materials is available. Consequently, specific uniform costs or related item prices are not available in public materials.
Refund, cancellation and withdrawal information - No detailed numerical refund or reimbursement policy for paid tuition, matricula or other fees is published in the school's publicly accessible admissions pages or parent manual excerpts available online. The publicly accessible internal regulations describe payment obligations and instalment structure but do not provide a public, itemized refund schedule.
Fee payment options and methods - Public materials do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, specific credit cards, online payment gateway) or the precise mechanisms for making payments. The site is built on an e-commerce/ERP platform, but no active payment product listings nor an explicit payment-method statement are publicly posted. Families should assume the school can establish formal payment channels and billing documentation but no specific payment options are published.
Summary of available fee-related facts - Numerical amounts for application fees, tuition by year group or per term, uniform costs, boarding fees (not applicable) and explicit payment-method details are not published in the school's publicly accessible admissions or documentation pages; only the structure and administrative rules around payment timing and instalments, and categories of additional charges, are publicly stated.
Academics
Colegio Alemán del Istmo teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum for students aged 0 to 17.
Curriculum
Trilingual curriculum with instruction in English, German, and Spanish; German language is a central focus of the program. The school serves early years through middle school, including Baby Welt (from 6 months to 3 years), Preschool (PK3 to Kinder, ages 3–6), Primary (1st–5th grades), and Middle School (6th–11th grades).
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school implements psycho-emotional development through its Empowering Eagles program. A psychology department delivers emotional workshops to students in 1st through 9th grade. Workshops cover psycho-emotional development topics such as recognizing emotions, how the body signals emotions, and emotion awareness. The aim is to support students' social-emotional learning and resilience in daily life. The program is part of CADI's wider wellbeing and student-support initiatives.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school is a trilingual institution focusing on English, German, and Spanish.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is addressed through the Empowering Eagles psycho-emotional program and psychology-led activities.
Safeguarding
The school publishes internal regulations (Reglamento Interno 2023-2024) governing student conduct and safety.
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions are open for 2024-2025. BABY WELT: from 6 months old to 3 years old. Preschool admission: from PK3 to Kinder (3–6 years old). Primary school admission: 1st to 5th grades. Middle school admission: 6th to 11th grades. The admissions department responds to inquiries for information and new student applications. Location: Street I, Joseph Esses Boulevard, at the top of the hill, Edison Park, Betania, Panama City, Panamá.
FAQs
What languages are taught at CADI?
CADI is a trilingual school offering instruction in English, German, and Spanish. German language acquisition is a central focus, reflecting Germany's strengths in engineering, science, and technology.
What age range does the school cater to?
CADI serves students from 6 months old through age 17. Programmes include Baby Welt (6 months to 3 years), Preschool (PK3 to Kinder), Primary (grades 1-5), and Middle School (grades 6-11).
Is the school accredited?
Yes, CADI holds Cognia accreditation, demonstrating that it meets internationally recognised standards for educational quality.
What is the Empowering Eagles programme?
Empowering Eagles is CADI's psycho-emotional development programme. The psychology department delivers emotional workshops to students in grades 1 through 9, covering topics like emotion recognition and body awareness.
What is the school's history?
CADI was founded in 2016 as Colegio Nikolaus Kopernikus and rebranded in 2022 as Colegio Alemán del Istmo. It is located in Edison Park, Betania, Panama City.
Does the school require a uniform?
Yes, CADI uses a colour-coded uniform system: a red polo for daily wear, a yellow polo for excursions, and a blue tracksuit. Black sneakers and white socks complete the outfit.
What extracurricular activities are available?
Activities include Fine Arts, Debate and Leadership for elementary students, Creative Expression, and wellness programmes. High School students can access Career Advice, Business Approach, and Dual Learning.
How many students attend CADI?
CADI has approximately 110 students, providing a small, personalised learning environment across all age groups from infancy through middle school.
Does CADI have a Baby programme?
Yes, Baby Welt accepts children from 6 months to 3 years old, introducing early socialisation and learning experiences in a trilingual environment.
What community events does the school hold?
CADI hosts Oktoberfest with Bavarian fare and live music, an annual Talent Show, and other enrichment events that bring families and the wider community together on campus.
Where is the school located?
CADI is located on Street I, Joseph Esses Boulevard, at the top of the hill in Edison Park, Betania, Panama City, Panama.
Does the school offer career guidance?
Yes, High School students benefit from Career Advice, Business Approach programmes, and Dual Learning opportunities to prepare them for professional pathways and higher education.
