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Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas

Chile, Puerto Varas

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, German, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1904
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages German, English
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Preschool
Introduction

Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas is a German international school in Chile offering an IB continuum as part of the Schulen Partner der Zukunft network. The campus serves students from early childhood through secondary and holds authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP); a Diploma Programme (DP) candidacy is under way. The curriculum combines IB frameworks with local guidelines, organized around transdisciplinary themes that promote inquiry, personal development, and global awareness. German language instruction starts in Spielgruppe (age three) and continues through IV Medio, while English begins in Grade 5; Spanish remains the language of instruction. The school blends constructivist pedagogy, social-emotional development, and the Faustlos program for peaceful conflict resolution in the early years. Facilities include a Biblioteca, Umweltherzen environmental space, and mobile technology labs; digital learning is supported by Moodle and Alexia. On campus, students engage in sport, science fairs, cultural activities, language exchanges, and community service.

Ruta 225, Puerto Varas, Los Lagos, Chile

The Essentials

Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas has instruction in Spanish, German, English.

Location
The school is located at KM 1,4 Camino Ensenada, Puerto Varas, Chile. Contact: Tel +56 65 2 230450; Email info@dspuertovaras.cl.

Stages
From Spielgruppe (playgroup) to IV Medio (12th grade).

Type
The school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and is an applicant for the IB Middle Years Programme.

Country affiliation
Germany (Schulen Partner der Zukunft network)
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Nivel Inicial: uniform incluye un buzo deportivo y la polera oficial del colegio; los alumnos de Kinder reciben un delantal cuadrille rojo diseñado por el Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas y una polera de recambio para las actividades psicomotrices. 1º Básico a IV Medio: el uniforme masculino incluye pantalón gris de tela, polera blanca de piqué oficial, zapatos negros, polerón rojo oficial, calcetines grises y una parka negra; el uniforme femenino incluye una falda gris (obligatoria a partir de 4º Básico), pantalón gris permitido del 1 de mayo al 15 de septiembre, polera blanca de piqué, zapatos negros, polerón rojo oficial, parka negra y una bata blanca para laboratorios (de 7º Básico a IV Medio). El uniforme deportivo incluye un buzo y shorts negros oficiales, polera deportiva roja, y zapatillas negras para ambos sexos. Todos los alumnos desde 4º Básico deben ducharse y vestir el uniforme tras las clases de Educación Física; de 1º a 3º Básico deben traer una polera de recambio.

Governance and Ownership
La Corporación Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas es una corporación de derecho privado cuya personalidad jurídica le fue concedida por Decreto Supremo 1330 del Ministerio de Justicia, con fecha 21 de abril de 1911. El objeto de la Corporación es otorgar toda clase de prestaciones y acciones de educación a la población estudiantil, de calidad, laica y sin fines de lucro. Para lograrlo, la Corporación promueve la multiculturalidad y la enseñanza del idioma y la cultura alemana, y ejerce sus funciones inspirada en una visión tolerante y amplia de la realidad. El Directorio tiene a su cargo la Dirección Superior de la Corporación, conforme a los Estatutos y a los acuerdos de la Asamblea General de Socios, y está compuesto por siete miembros: un Presidente, un Vicepresidente, un Secretario, un Tesorero y tres Directores. Los miembros del Directorio se eligen en la Asamblea General Ordinaria y duran tres años en el cargo, pudiendo ser reelegidos indefinidamente. Directorio 2024-2025: Presidenta: Sra. Ximena Folsch; Vicepresidenta: Sra. Christy Mac Leay; Secretaria: Sra. Susan Weisser; Tesorera: Sra. Marcela Madrid; Director: Sr. Mario Paschke; Directora: Sra. Gabriela Daetz; Director: Sr. Álvaro Arriagada. Contacto: directorio@dspuertovaras.cl.
Fees
Application / registration fee
- A non‑zero application/registration payment is required when submitting admissions documentation; a comprobante (proof of payment) must be included with the application.

Tuition (arancel) — structure and amounts
- The school charges an annual tuition (arancel) for each enrolled student and issues the arancel as part of the enrollment documentation and contract of services.
- Specific numeric tuition amounts by year group (per term or per year) are not published in public school documents available for the 2026/27 period; families receive the precise annual and per‑term breakdown at matriculation or as part of the Contract of Educational Services.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Enrollment requires signing the Contract of Educational Services and presenting documented payment of the arancel at the time of matriculation.
- Payment may be made by bank collection methods (PAC, PAT), by cheque, or by card payments processed through TransBank when available; the school records payments in its accounting office.

Boarding / residential provision
- The Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas operates as a day school (programming from early years through IV Medio) and does not list boarding or residential accommodation as part of its offer.

Other costs and typical additional fees
- School insurance: A mandatory school insurance program is part of matriculation. Coverage components described include an accident reimbursement (to complement ISAPRE/FONASA reimbursements) with a maximum of 50 UF per pupil and a school‑fee coverage (in the event of death or permanent disability of a covered adult) of up to 161 UF per pupil; families choose coverage options at enrollment. Claims are submitted to the school's insurance contact; the published procedure for medical reimbursement requires scanned documentation and indicates a processing term (45 business days for the documented policy period).
- Uniforms: The school requires official uniform items for every level (sportswear, formal pieces, parka/polar, lab apron for older grades, etc.); procuring those items is an additional parental expense. The school provides a detailed list of required uniform pieces by level.
- Textbooks and supplies: A grade‑by‑grade list of required school supplies and texts is published for families; these are additional costs to plan for at enrollment.
- Incidental and damage costs: The school may charge parents for replacement or repair of school property damaged or lost by a student; such payments are processed through the office of Accounting.

Refund information
- Insurance refunds and medical reimbursement follow a specific claim procedure handled by the insurer through the school; parents submit documentation via the school contact indicated for claims (the insurer/school contact processes reimbursements and sets the processing timeframe).
- Terms governing cancellation of enrollment, conditionality or cancellation of matrícula, and any financial consequences (including possible withholding or requirement to pay outstanding amounts) are governed by the school's Reglamento Interno and the Contract of Educational Services; specific published percentages or formulas for tuition refunds are not provided in the public documents available.

Fee payment options (methods accepted)
- Bank collection methods (PAC and PAT), payment by cheque, and card payments via TransBank are accepted for arancel/matriculation processing; the accounting office registers and processes payments.

Practical notes for parents (facts to anticipate when budgeting)
- Expect an application/registration charge at application time, an annual tuition (arancel) payable at matriculation or under an agreed installment plan, mandatory school insurance chosen at enrollment, required uniform purchases, and costs for textbooks and supplies by grade. Administrative or repair charges may be invoiced separately through the school's accounting office.
Academics

Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers science–humanities education from early childhood (Medio Mayor) through the fourth year of upper secondary education. The initial cycle comprises Spielgruppe, Prekinder and Kinder for students aged 3 to 6, with German taught from age 3 and a focus on constructivist pedagogy, social-emotional development, and the Faustlos program for peaceful conflict resolution. The First Primary Cycle covers grades 1–4 and uses the national curriculum implemented through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), organized around six transdisciplinary themes that foster conceptual understanding and personal and social skills to prepare students to be agents of change. The Second Primary Cycle and Secondary Education cover grades 5–12, with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 5–9, aligning the national curriculum with Ministry of Education guidelines. The school is authorized to deliver PYP and MYP and is pursuing authorization for the Diploma Programme (IB DP), aiming to offer a continuous IB continuum; the IB framework emphasizes inquiry, international-mindedness, and holistic development within a student-centered approach.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters the development of cognitive, artistic, and athletic abilities. German is taught as the first foreign language and contributes to forming individuals who are engaged with a multicultural society and the environment, all within a person-centered educational model. The school's mission emphasizes forming integral people and promoting a respectful, inclusive community. The vision describes a secular institution that develops students who fully realize their potential, maintain harmonious relationships, and lead with mutual understanding in a global society. The school includes a Plan for Integral Formation and a Plan for Citizen Formation as part of its social and emotional learning framework, and maintains a School Coexistence Plan to support a positive and safe learning climate. The IB program and its practices reinforce these aims by encouraging students to be proactive, responsible, autonomous, and open-minded.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has a Diversity in Learning Policy that governs attention to diverse learning needs and differentiated assessment to ensure equitable curriculum access. It recognizes different learning styles and uses appropriate diversification and curricular adjustments when needed. It defines Special Educational Needs as permanent or temporary difficulties requiring additional or extraordinary supports to ensure learning, with clear distinctions between permanent and temporary needs. It provides integrated support for all students and employs a psychoeducational team that coordinates interventions and may involve external specialists when appropriate. It establishes diversified evaluation procedures to guide supports and to share resolutions with families and teachers, and outlines specific actions to reduce barriers in methodological and socio-emotional learning, including clarifying instructions, adjusting workload, offering flexible modalities, and using alternative communication strategies.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school participates in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, authorized for the Primary Years Programme since 2019 and for the Middle Years Programme, with plans to implement the Diploma Programme to offer the full IB continuum. This reflects a multilingual, internationally oriented educational approach designed to prepare students for global engagement. The school also certifies German and English language proficiency; a ceremony recognizes language diplomas in German and English, underscoring English language certification as part of its linguistic offerings. The Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD) is available through KMK testing at the school, with DSD I (B1) and DSD II (B2/C1) offered since 2011 and 2014 respectively, and students may take these exams if they meet required standards. In addition, the school maintains language-related certificates in German and English, reinforcing its multilingual curriculum and opportunities for language certification.

Mental Wellbeing
The Diversity in Learning policy supports socio-emotional development by promoting equity, reducing barriers, and fostering personal growth and self-esteem. The school implements a psychoeducational support approach, with coordinated actions to support students' well-being and learning, including teacher training and information sharing across school years and referrals to external specialists when needed. It pursues a climate of inclusion and personal security, aligning diversified learning with strategies to strengthen resilience and confidence. The Talenteer program (featured in school communications) aims to broaden students' horizons, develop socio-emotional skills, and prepare them for higher education, reinforcing mental wellbeing through social and emotional development. The school also emphasizes citizenship formation and inclusive coexistence planning to cultivate a positive, respectful school climate and healthy student relationships.

Safeguarding
The school publishes an Internal Regulations and Coexistence Policy, and admission processes require acknowledgment of the Educational Project, evaluation and promotion regulations, and the Internal Regulations and Coexistence Policy posted on the school site. This framework supports safeguarding by defining expectations for student conduct and by ensuring families are informed about the school's governance and convivencia standards. The school also provides procedures and supports to address student wellbeing within its inclusion and diversity practices, and communicates these policies to the community during admissions and ongoing schooling.
Parent Experience

History
The Noble institution came to light on July 24, 1904, but its origins go back years earlier. In December 1857, 26 settlers from the southern Lago Llanquihue region gathered to create a school for their children. They raised 156 pesos, needing 394 more to reach 550 pesos for the building, and the President approved 394 pesos on January 3, 1858 after government support was requested. The school began with itinerant preceptors in a room lent by José Gebauer, operating seasonally between August 10 and January 10 in Puerto Varas and March 10 to July 31 in La Laja. On July 24, 1904, parents refounded the German College, acquiring a large building from Don Augusto Heppner and starting classes there in 1906; the school's privileged lakeside location and founders' effort helped it become the leading school in the area.

Community
The school community includes the Centro de Padres y Apoderados (Parents and Guardians Center). The Executive Board comprises Arlet Carrasco Barril (Assistant Treasurer), Cyntia Sepúlveda González (Secretary), Fernanda Kuschel Lopetegui (Treasurer), and Víctor Oyarzún Urra (President). The Center conducts general assemblies and coordinates parental involvement, and hosts events and activities such as the Elternbeirat program and a title-image competition.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parents and Guardians Center (Centro de Padres y Apoderados) serves as the PTA, led by Víctor Oyarzún Urra (President), Arlet Carrasco Barril (Assistant Treasurer), Fernanda Kuschel Lopetegui (Treasurer), and Cyntia Sepúlveda González (Secretary). It coordinates parent involvement through general assemblies and school-life activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Facilities at the Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas support academic, cultural, and environmental learning. The campus includes a Biblioteca (library) that hosts literary activities and events. Umweltherzen is the environmental space for projects and related news. Technology resources include mobile laboratories with Microsoft Windows notebooks and Chromebooks, with a reservations system managed through the library. Digital learning is supported through Alexia and Moodle access for students and staff.

Sports Facilities
The school has on‑campus sport installations, including a gymnasium used for basketball and other activities. The facilities are used for events such as national German school basketball competitions, reflecting a dedicated space for athletics on site. The campus also hosts outdoor sports installations used in physical education and summer programs.

Academic Facilities
The Bachillerato Internacional (IB) program is available, with authorization to offer the Primary Years Programme (PEP) and candidacy for the Middle Years Programme (PAI). The school serves students from Spielgruppe through IV Medio with new methodologies. Mobile technology laboratories provide Windows notebooks and Chromebooks, with reservations managed via the library. Moodle and Alexia offer digital learning environments for students and staff.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Library-related activities include bookmark contests, book fairs, and literary events. The school hosts a Science and Technology Fair and German-language cultural activities, including a Week of the Book and other language celebrations. Environmental initiatives are coordinated through Umweltherzen, the environmental space for projects. Physical education is emphasized with Día de la Actividad Física, and basketball and other sports are part of the extracurricular calendar. The school also observes cultural observances such as Tag der Deutschen Einwanderung in Chile.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is authorized to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP) since July 2019 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). It has acquired applicant status to deliver the Diploma Programme (DP) and is working to become an IB World School. The educational project is guided by the International Baccalaureate framework, aiming to develop proactive, responsible, autonomous, and reflective individuals who contribute to society and the country.

Arts & Creative
The school stimulates the development of cognitive, artistic, and athletic abilities and fosters the learning of the German language, contributing to the formation of well-rounded individuals who engage with society and the environment.

Cultural & Language
The school is part of the network of German-speaking schools in Chile and PASCH-Net, an initiative of the German international cooperation. German is taught from early childhood (Spielgruppe) to IV Medio and English from 5th grade; Spanish remains the language of instruction. The school hosts language exchanges and welcomes students from abroad to practice German or English. The school also issues language certificates in German and English.

Social & Hobbies
The school hosts the Regional Debate Tournament 'Voces de debate en el sur' as the inaugural event and participates in regional debate activities.

Community & Service
The school supports student volunteering, with Middle School students and staff engaging in service activities. It implements environmental education and encourages responsible citizenship and community involvement. The school emphasizes environmental awareness, with recycling, composting, and ongoing efforts to become a leader in environmental stewardship.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school runs DSPV Summer Sports Schools at its facilities, offering activities such as athletics, basketball, soccer, artistic gymnastics, and swimming. These programs provide recreation and skill development during school breaks.
Languages

Language Provision
The German language is a fundamental pillar of our Educational Project that opens doors. The school offers German language certification through the Deutsches Sprachdiplom at levels I and II (B1 and B2/C1), and has been authorized as an examination center since 2011 for B1 and since 2014 for B2/C1. All students have the opportunity to take these exams if they meet the required levels. This certification opens doors for our graduates to study at certain Chilean institutions and German higher education institutions at undergraduate and graduate levels. The Colegio Alemán de Puerto Varas is authorized to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP) since July 2019 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP); it has acquired applicant status for the Diploma Programme (DP) and is working to obtain authorization to become an IB World School.
Admissions

Admissions
Admissions for 2027 run from April 1 to April 10. The process has the following steps: 1. Web registration: interested families must register online and complete the forms available in the admission schedule, including the application form, a sworn declaration, a document detailing the non‑academic binding variable, and proof of payment of the registration fee. 2. Submission of formal documentation: after online registration, families must attach the documents specified in the Admission Regulations. 3. Interviews with families: parents or guardians of applicants participate in an interview with two members of the admissions committee to discuss the Educational Project and address questions. 4. Interviews with applicants: applicants from 2nd Grade to IV Medio participate in interviews to explore their interests and prior schooling. 5. Scoring: admissions consider two variables for all applicants from Medio Mayor through IV Medio: an academic variable (based on an observation day or tests) and a binding non‑academic variable. The final score combines these two components: 50% from academic assessment and 50% from non‑academic indicators. 6. Results and waiting list: selected applicants who fill vacancies are admitted; if vacancies are insufficient, a waiting list is created and remains in effect for the current year. 7. Enrollment: families notified of selection must enroll within five business days; failure to enroll is treated as withdrawal. 8. Age requirements by cycle: Medio Mayor admission requires the child to be 3 years old by March 31 of the ingreso year; Pre‑Kinder and Kinder require ages 4 and 5 by that date; Primero Básico requires 6 years by that date; from 2° Básico to IV Año de Enseñanza Media, language and mathematics exams are required and a passing mark of 60% is required for each. 9. Seats by course: course seat availability is published as part of the admission schedule. 10. Cupos por Curso are published on the admission materials and related links.

Waitlist
If the number of applicants with approved examinations exceeds the number of available seats, those with the highest scores are admitted and a waiting list is created. The waiting list remains in effect for the current year. The list is published in a visible place at the school and applicants' families are notified in writing within 15 calendar days after the selection term.
School Events
The school has not added events
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