Colegio Alemán del Istmo vs The Casco School - Albrook
Colegio Alemán del Istmo and The Casco School - Albrook are both in Panama City, about 4 km apart. Both schools offer Bespoke programmes. Colegio Alemán del Istmo also offers American and German, and The Casco School - Albrook also offers EYFS, British, Cambridge IGCSE and IB. Published annual fees are $5,488 - 12,202 at Colegio Alemán del Istmo and $5,220 - 10,647 at The Casco School - Albrook, which puts Colegio Alemán del Istmo roughly 11% higher. Colegio Alemán del Istmo takes pupils from 0 to 17, and The Casco School - Albrook from 2 to 18. The Casco School - Albrook is the larger school, with around 450 pupils to Colegio Alemán del Istmo's 110. Typical class sizes are 10 at Colegio Alemán del Istmo and 15 at The Casco School - Albrook.
American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum
Curriculum
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
110
Pupils
450
Typical class size
Typical class size
10
Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, German, Spanish
Instruction language
English, Spanish
Opened
Opened
2016
Opened
2018
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The school is located on Street I, Joseph Esses Boulevard, at the top of the hill, Edison Park, Betania, Panama City, Panama.
Location
—
Stages
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.
Stages
—
School type
School type
German international school offering trilingual education in English, German, and Spanish.
School type
—
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
—
Additional learning support
—
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Germany
Country affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
—
School day structure
—
Bus service details
Bus service details
—
Bus service details
—
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
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.
Fee details
—
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
CadI uses a color-coded uniform: a red daily polo, a yellow polo for excursions, and a blue daily-wear tracksuit, with black sneakers and plain white socks. The physical education uniform is a white CADI polo, black PE shorts, and white sneakers. Graduating students may wear a polo variation to identify their status on Mondays and Fridays; civilian clothes are worn on civil days; hair and jewelry rules apply (only small gold or silver earrings, a thin chain under the sweater, and a watch; bracelets are not allowed; hair accessories must be black, white, blue, yellow, or red; no makeup or hair coloring).
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
The school is a private daytime educational institution with no religious affiliation. The Board of Directors acts as advisors to the Director. The school holds Cognia accreditation.
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
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).
Curriculum details
—
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
—
Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
—
Exam results
—
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
—
Higher education progression
—
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
—
Gifted and talented
—
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
—
Academic calendar
—
Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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.
Social & emotional learning
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
The school is a trilingual institution focusing on English, German, and Spanish.
English as an additional language
—
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is addressed through the Empowering Eagles psycho-emotional program and psychology-led activities.
Mental wellbeing
—
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
The school publishes internal regulations (Reglamento Interno 2023-2024) governing student conduct and safety.
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
—
Safeguarding policy
—
Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
—
Facilities overview
—
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
—
Sports facilities
—
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
—
Academic facilities
—
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Co-Curricular and Summer Camp are offered; Annual Events are part of the school community.
Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Founded in 2016 as Colegio Nikolaus Kopernikus, the school rebranded in 2022 as Colegio Alemán del Istmo (CADI). Located on Calle I Edison Park in Panama City, CADI benefits from a strategic and vibrant setting. Its accessible location serves students and families from diverse neighborhoods, fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and multicultural community.
History
—
Community
Community
CADI maintains a dynamic social community with events and enrichment programs. Oktoberfest brings Bavarian fare and live music to the campus, creating a festive atmosphere. The annual Talent Show is held in May, showcasing a range of student talents on a decorated stage. Panamanian Traditions (Folkloric Day) features traditional dances and attire with active participation from parents and school members, reinforcing cultural engagement.
Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
—
Parent teacher association
—
Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
CADI is a trilingual school that teaches English, German, and Spanish, with German language given special emphasis. It offers Baby Welt (from 6 months to 3 years), Preschool PK3–Kinder, Primary 1st–5th, and Middle School 6th–11th. Founded in 2016 as Colegio Nikolaus Kopernikus and rebranded as CADI in 2022, it is located in Panama City. CADI holds Cognia accreditation, reflecting a commitment to high‑quality instruction and robust processes.
Academic & intellectual
—
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Fine Arts is offered as a co-curricular activity. Elementary students engage in Debate and Leadership, and Creative Expression as part of Beyond Classroom. A Co-Curricular Application Form is available for families to enroll.
Arts & creative
—
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
The school teaches English, German, and Spanish in a trilingual framework. German culture is integrated into the curriculum through German culture activities and experiences. International exchanges are part of Middle School life.
Cultural & language
—
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Elementary students develop their voice through debate and leadership and express themselves creatively. Middle School includes International Exchange and emphasizes wellness and emotional coaching. The Beyond Classroom program supports hands-on, real-world experiences across grade levels.
Social & hobbies
—
Community & service
Community & service
Community involvement is encouraged through school events and volunteering. Social responsibility programs promote kindness, empathy, and understanding within the school and wider community.
Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
Elementary emphasizes debate and leadership as part of developing communication skills. High School offers Career Advice, Business Approach, and Dual Learning. Middle School provides opportunities for International Exchange and leadership development as part of a holistic program.
Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Wellness and emotional coaching are part of Middle School life. Life Tool Benefits include Practical Application and Knowledge, Career Exploration, Cultural Awareness, and Networking Opportunities. The program supports real-world skills and well‑being as part of comprehensive student development.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
English, German and Spanish are taught. The main focus is acquiring German, as it has the largest number of native speakers in the European Union and is among the top ten most spoken languages globally. Germany is renowned for its engineering, science, and technology programs. Many universities in Germany also offer programs taught in English, making study there accessible to international students.
Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
The school is a trilingual school that emphasizes English, German and Spanish.
Bilingual teaching
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
—
Immersion programs
—
Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
—
Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
The school has Cognia accreditation.
Accreditations
—
Admissions
Admissions
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.
