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Colegio Karl C. Parrish

Colombia, Barranquilla

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 746
Type Co-educational
Opened 1938
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages English, Spanish, French
Strengths Languages, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Colegio Karl C. Parrish is a private, bilingual school in Barranquilla offering a Colombian–American curriculum for students aged 3 to 18. Instruction is conducted in English and Spanish, and the school operates two diploma paths: the Colombian Bachillerato (grades 7–12) and an American High School Program that includes Advanced Placement courses. AP offerings include Calculus AB, Physics, English, Spanish, Biology, Economics, US History and Chemistry, among others. Graduates earn both the US High School Diploma and the Colombian Diploma. BYOL for grades 3–12 and an Optimal Resource Center (ORC) support program provide inclusive, language-rich learning. The school embraces Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning and 21st Century Learning approaches. The campus spans about 80,000 square meters and houses a large library (over 21,000 volumes), a swimming pool, gym, Alumni Hall, and a Student Center opened in 2020. Ninety-five percent of graduates achieve the dual diploma, reflecting strong college preparation and global-minded education.

Sabanilla Montecarmelo, Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia

The Essentials

Colegio Karl C. Parrish has 746 pupils, instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
Barranquilla metropolitan area, Atlántico, Colombia. Address: Calle 1B # 23-163, Puerto Colombia, Colombia. Barranquilla - Colombia is listed as the city for the school.

Stages
Preschool through 12th grade, with Elementary and Secondary divisions.

Type
The school is a private, bilingual educational establishment.

Additional learning support
The Optimal Resource Center (ORC) offers specially designed programs and strategies to help students with learning differences, including an Early Intervention Program for Preschool and First Grade and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) within the general classroom.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required for students. A PE uniform is part of the school attire. For photo days, students must wear the complete uniform; PE uniforms are not worn for individual photos, and group photos follow the school dress code.

Food Options
The cafeteria service encourages healthy eating habits by offering appealing, balanced meal choices for elementary and secondary students. The daily menus are nutritionist-approved. A variety of options are available for secondary students, while the elementary meals are tailored to younger tastes.

Governance and Ownership
The school is nonprofit, private, non-sectarian elementary and secondary. The main campus is located in Barranquilla, Colombia. The Director is Dr. Matthew Shannon.
Fees
Application fee
- Application (admissions) processing fee: COP 250,000 (non‑refundable). Payment for the application fee is made by bank transfer to the school's Bancolombia savings account as instructed during the application process.

Annual tuition (tariff) by grade — academic year 2026/2027 (Tarifa anual: matrícula + pensión)
- STEM (maternal): COP 103,009,146.
- Pre‑K (PK): COP 103,009,146.
- Kínder (K): COP 103,009,146.
- 1° grade: COP 100,827,222.
- 2° grade: COP 98,836,986.
- 3° grade: COP 95,079,474.
- 4° grade: COP 91,181,683.
- 5° grade: COP 91,181,658.
- 6° grade: COP 91,181,596.
- 7° grade: COP 87,196,639.
- 8° grade: COP 87,196,639.
- 9° grade: COP 87,196,639.
- 10° grade: COP 85,550,002.
- 11° grade: COP 81,486,431.
- 12° grade: COP 82,277,563.

How the annual tariff is applied, and per‑term (quarterly) amounts
- The annual tariff shown above is the combined value of matrícula (registration) plus the annual pension. By regulation the registration (matrícula) may not exceed 10% of the annual tariff; the remaining portion is the annual pension. For billing and per‑term figures below the matrícula is shown at 10% of the annual tariff and the annual pension is shown as the remaining 90% (consistent with applicable rules on tariff breakdown).
- Pensions at KCP are billed and payable in advance by trimester (four payments per school year). The standard payment dates are: 31 August, 30 November, 28 February and 31 May. Credit card payments may be used for up to 50% of each pension payment; other accepted forms include payment via the school payment portal and cheque. The registration (matrícula) is due by the last day of May for the year that begins that school year.

Numeric breakdown (example per grade, using matrícula = 10% of the tariff and pension = 90% of the tariff)
- STEM / PK / K (annual tariff COP 103,009,146): matrícula COP 10,300,915; annual pension COP 92,708,231; pension per trimester (4 terms) COP 23,177,058.
- 1° (annual tariff COP 100,827,222): matrícula COP 10,082,722; annual pension COP 90,744,500; pension per trimester COP 22,686,125.
- 2° (COP 98,836,986): matrícula COP 9,883,699; annual pension COP 88,953,287; pension per trimester COP 22,238,322.
- 3° (COP 95,079,474): matrícula COP 9,507,947; annual pension COP 85,571,527; pension per trimester COP 21,392,882.
- 4° (COP 91,181,683): matrícula COP 9,118,168; annual pension COP 82,063,515; pension per trimester COP 20,515,879.
- 5° (COP 91,181,658): matrícula COP 9,118,166; annual pension COP 82,063,492; pension per trimester COP 20,515,873.
- 6° (COP 91,181,596): matrícula COP 9,118,160; annual pension COP 82,063,436; pension per trimester COP 20,515,859.
- 7° / 8° / 9° (COP 87,196,639): matrícula COP 8,719,664; annual pension COP 78,476,975; pension per trimester COP 19,619,244.
- 10° (COP 85,550,002): matrícula COP 8,555,000; annual pension COP 76,995,002; pension per trimester COP 19,248,751.
- 11° (COP 81,486,431): matrícula COP 8,148,643; annual pension COP 73,337,788; pension per trimester COP 18,334,447.
- 12° (COP 82,277,563): matrícula COP 8,227,756; annual pension COP 74,049,807; pension per trimester COP 18,512,452.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Matriculation (registration) payment deadline: by the last day of May for the school year; students who have not paid matrícula by 1 August may be prevented from attending classes. Pensions are payable in advance by trimester on the dates listed above. Late payments incur a surcharge (interest) as established at the time of payment. The school requires families to be current on financial obligations for issuance of reports, certificates and participation in graduation ceremonies.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable: KCP operates as a day school; there are no boarding fee schedules.

Other costs and periodic charges
- Mandatory annual accident/medical insurance: paid once per year.
- Other periodic charges (expressed for 2026/27):
- Books & technology (PK–K): COP 1,224,054.
- Books & technology (1st–12th): COP 3,619,496.
- Extracurricular activities (methodology / institutional activities): COP 1,850,592.
- Pre‑school snack (merienda preescolar): COP 3,029,494.
- Meals / lunches (almuerzos): COP 4,469,744.
- Uniforms and annuals: paid separately; payment accepted in cash or by electronic means.

Refunds and non‑refundable items
- The admissions/application processing fee is non‑refundable. Registration or enrollment payments are generally non‑refundable except in the circumstance that a family is relocated away from Barranquilla before the beginning of the school year for which the student was enrolled; other refunds of sums paid for educational costs may be made only in accordance with the rules set by the School's Board.

Accepted payment methods and payment options
- Application fee: bank transfer (Bancolombia account details provided during application).
- Tuition and other fees: payments accepted through the school payment portal, by cheque, or by credit card. Credit card use is permitted for up to 50% of the value of each pension payment, subject to the school's terms. Uniforms and annuals may be paid in cash or electronically.

Notes on timing and version
- The annual tariff figures above are the values presented by the school for submission to the Secretary of Education for the 2026–2027 school year; the school publishes a similar tariff communication for 2025–2026 with slightly lower tariff figures. The school's Manual of Convivencia establishes the payment schedule, permitted payment methods and the basic refund policy.
Academics

Colegio Karl C. Parrish teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
KCP uses a bilingual Colombian–American curriculum. The language of instruction is English and Spanish. The school offers both the Colombian Bachillerato program (grades 7–12) and an American High School Program that includes Advanced Placement courses. AP courses offered include Calculus AB, Physics 1, Physics 2, English Literature, English Language, Spanish Literature, Spanish Language, Biology, Microeconomics, US History and Chemistry. Graduates earn both the US High School Diploma and the Colombian Diploma. BYOL is required for grades 3–12, and an ORC program provides support for learners with special needs. The school embraces Reggio Emilia and 21st Century Learning approaches.

Exam Results
SAT mean scores for the Class of 2020 were 530–720 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 520–710 in Math, with 37 test takers. May 2020 AP Courses Results included 48 candidates; May 2021 AP Courses Results included 29 candidates; in 2021, 83% of AP students earned scores of 3 or higher. KCP graduates have a 100% college/university acceptance rate and have attended US, Colombian, and European universities, including American University, Babson College, Boston University, William & Mary, Eckerd College, Florida International University, and Fordham University.

Higher Education Progression
KCP graduates have a 100% college/university acceptance rate. Classes 2020 and 2021 attended universities in the United States, Colombia, and Europe, including American University, Babson College, Boston University, William & Mary, Eckerd College, Florida International University, and Fordham University.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school places emphasis on social and emotional development alongside academics. Teachers and counselors pay close attention to the social, emotional, and academic needs of each student. An Elementary School Counselor is part of the student support team. The school uses Character Counts! to foster character and social responsibility. The school fosters a caring, multicultural community that supports student well-being. The mission and daily practice guide holistic development of students.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides an Optimal Resource Center (ORC) to support students identified with learning exceptionalities in Middle School and High School. The School Profile notes dedicated Academic Support for students with learning needs. The ORC is integrated with the broader support services to help these students access the curriculum. The program is designed to accommodate diverse learners within the regular school program. The ORC aims to help students participate fully in school life and progress toward their diplomas.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Language of instruction is English and Spanish. The curriculum is bilingual, binational, and multicultural, combining Colombian and American educational contexts. Most of the secondary staff are bilingual, allowing the majority of instruction to be in English. Teachers hold teaching certifications from the United States, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Barbados, Colombia, and Canada. Forty percent of teachers hold advanced degrees.

Mental Wellbeing
The school prioritizes students' social and emotional wellbeing as part of its academic program. Teachers and counselors attend to the social, emotional, and academic needs of each student. An Elementary School Counselor is part of the staff. Character Counts! contributes to wellbeing by promoting values and responsible behavior. The school fosters a caring, supportive community that supports students' mental health and wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The school maintains a Child Protection Policy to safeguard children and respond promptly to abuse or neglect. All staff must report suspected abuse or neglect; adult visitors and volunteers must also report. The policy is based on US and Colombian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The policy includes a Code of Honor, a disciplinary policy, professional boundaries and social media guidelines, and procedures for reporting and responding to allegations. Training on child protection is provided annually for staff, and the school follows a Comprehensive Pathway for Convivencia Escolar (Ruta de Atención Integral para la Convivencia Escolar) for safeguarding matters. The school may involve local authorities or external resources as needed and will maintain confidentiality as required.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in the 1930s by a group of prominent Barranquilla families to prepare students for United States college studies. Karl Calvin Parrish, an engineer from Iowa, gave his name to the school, which opened in 1938 for primary students under Miss Myriam Best. The school expanded with a second wing in 1943 and moved to its current site in 1978. Its facilities grew over the decades, including the Burton B. Fox Library (1983), a swimming pool and gym (1987), and Alumni Hall (1998). In the 21st century the campus added 21st-century facilities, a Reggio-style preschool program, a Science Lab Complex, and the KCP Student Center (2020), with a Campus Facilities Master Plan underway in 2023.

Community
KCP emphasizes a multicultural social perspective, with teachers and counselors paying close attention to the social, emotional, physical, and academic needs of each student; every child is known and cared for. Three Statements define the KCP experience: a Mission, a Vision, and a Purpose. The community highlights resources: 27 foreign educators, 80,000 square meters of green areas, and a library with 21,112 books.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus spans 80,000 square meters of green areas. The library houses 21,112 books. The language of instruction is English and Spanish. The majority of our secondary staff are bilingual, enabling most instruction to be in English.

Academic Facilities
Optimal Resource Center (ORC) supports students identified with special learning needs in middle and high school. The ORC focuses on meeting students' needs and teaching strategies to become lifelong learners who meet or exceed grade-level standards. Resource teachers pull students out of classes as needed. The language of instruction is English and Spanish, and Advanced Placement courses are offered. The American High School Program, including AP courses, is available in grades 9–12. The high school year runs from August to June with 180 school days.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Student life includes the Library, Athletics, Student Organizations, Community Service, The Arts, and Character Counts. Extracurricular activities are introduced gradually. Character Counts is a foundational program. Athletics is a core part of student life.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
AP courses are offered throughout high school as part of the US diploma track. SAT and TOEFL testing is proctored on campus to support college admissions. Ninety-five percent of students graduate with both the Colombian Bachillerato Diploma and the US High School Diploma. The Optimal Resource Center (ORC) supports students with learning differences and helps them succeed in an inclusive academic program.

Arts & Creative
Concerts, presentations, exhibits, and shows take place each year to showcase student talent. Dance features Creative Movement that develops rhythm and expressive movement. Dramatic productions and musical theatre are part of Performing Arts, building teamwork, stage presence, and public-performance skills. The Music program offers choir, orchestra, wind ensemble, rock band, violin, guitar, percussion, and related workshops.

Cultural & Language
The language of instruction is English and Spanish. The school integrates a bi-national, multicultural, and bilingual curriculum.

Social & Hobbies
Student Life includes a Library, Athletics, Student Organizations, Community Service, The Arts, and Character Counts. Athletics fosters teamwork and character through a 'Pursuing Victory with Honor' ethos and scheduled practices across elementary, middle, and high school. The Arts provide performance and exhibition opportunities, with dance, drama, and visual arts integrated into school life.

Community & Service
Community Service is a fundamental part of KCP's mission. Solving problems in society and helping the less fortunate are emphasized as part of Character Education. Students are required to complete 80 hours of community service.

Leadership & Professional
The school's purpose is to prepare students to be ethical leaders who can address global challenges. A US diploma track includes Advanced Placement (AP) courses to support college readiness. SAT and TOEFL testing are proctored on campus to aid college admissions. Ninety-five percent of graduates earn both diplomas.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports and fitness are central to KCP, with a structured athletics program for elementary through high school. The athletics ethos is Pursuing Victory with Honor. Facilities include a swimming pool and gymnasium, with a modern track field. The KCP Student Center provides healthy meals and serves as a hub for celebrations and extracurricular activities.
Languages

Language Provision
The school provides a bilingual curriculum in English and Spanish. The U.S. High School Diploma program with AP courses is offered for grades 9–12, and the Colombian Bachillerato Program is available for grades 6–12.

Bilingual Teaching
The language of instruction is English and Spanish.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Committee based on space availability, the entrance examination, and previous academic performance (grades, standardized test scores, and disciplinary record) for the grade applied. If space is not available, the application is placed on a waiting list and you will be contacted when space becomes available. An admitted student must be proficient in oral and written English, with an exception for STEM or Pre-Kinder entries where English is not required. The application will not be processed until all required documents are submitted.
2. English language requirements apply to admission: the applicant must demonstrate oral and written English proficiency for the grade being applied to. For First Grade the English level should be comparable to that of an average student in that grade; no English proficiency is required for students entering STEM or Pre-Kinder. If the applicant does not meet the English requirement, admission may not proceed until proficiency is demonstrated.
3. Required documents must be submitted for the application to be processed: a 2" x 2" photograph and a family picture; birth certificate; School Recommendation Form A-1; three family references; applicant's academic records; certificate of good standing from the previous school; financial information; custody documentation if applicable; both parents' IDs; and the non-refundable Admission Application Process Fee.
4. Start the process by paying the non-refundable application fee of $250,000 via wire transfer to Bancolombia Savings Account No. 55427852333 in the name of Sociedad Escuela Karl C. Parrish, and attaching the payment support to the Application Form. Complete the Prospect/Family General Information, the Application for Admission, and the Applicant Information Form (applicable for STEM, PK & KINDER).
5. Request an appointment to discuss admission: the school will contact you with a date and time for the appointment. For additional information, contact the Admissions Office by phone at 605-359-8929 ext. You may also use the online forms provided for appointment requests.
6. After submitting the required items and scheduling an appointment, the Admissions Committee will review the application and communicate next steps or decisions as space permits.

Waitlist
If space is not available, the application is placed on a waiting list and you will be contacted when space becomes available.
School Events
The school has not added events
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