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Gimnasio El Hontanar

Colombia, Bogotá

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1994
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, French
Typical class size 25
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Gimnasio El Hontanar is a Colombian, co-educational day school serving ages 3 to 18. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the final two grades (10th and 11th) alongside a bilingual English-Spanish model with a French program in middle and high school, supported by an International Learning framework, immersion programs, and a dedicated International Teaching Team. Cambridge language development is integrated, with a Cambridge Certification Ceremony in 2025 recognizing Movers, KET, PET, and IELTS. Preschool to primary classes are capped at 25 students. The campus, set in a green, natural setting, features modern, well-lit classrooms, science laboratories, a spacious library, a computer lab, and multipurpose spaces. A wide range of sports and arts, including soccer fields, music, dance, and marching band, complements a rich extracurricular program. The school follows the CHARACTER COUNTS! ethos for community service and offers student well-being support, open-campus higher-education events, and international exchanges for students.

mts. antes del peaje Costado Occidental (sentido, Cra. 7ma, Bogotá - Chia #300, Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia

The Essentials

Gimnasio El Hontanar has typical class sizes of 25, instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
Located in Chía, Colombia, Gimnasio El Hontanar sits on Carrera 7, 300 meters before the toll (direction Bogotá-Chía). The Bogotá metropolitan area surrounds the school. It serves preschool through Bachillerato (upper secondary).

Stages
Preschool, Primary, and Bachillerato (upper secondary).

Country affiliation
Colombia

Religious affiliation
Christian

Bus service
Door-to-door transportation is available for students who require it, contracted with a parent or guardian; buses are an extension of the school; rules are in The Code of Conduct Manual.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Food service is provided directly by the school, guaranteeing the quality of the food. The school ensures a balanced diet that meets the needs of the child. Monthly, through an online platform, the menu to be offered is shared. Source: turn5view0

House System
Houses Program: Since 2010, Gimnasio El Hontanar has implemented the Houses program to develop leadership, cooperation and care among students and teachers. There are five houses: Arrayán (Myrtle Tree), Bambú (Bamboo), Ciprés (Cypress), Nogal (Walnut), and Sauce (Willow). Each house includes students from kindergarten to eleventh grade and is led by a Grade 11 prefect and a Grade 10 vice prefect, with a house leader from the teaching staff. Each teacher belongs to a house to support integration. The houses uphold these values: Bamboo – Responsibility; Cypress – Resilience; Myrtle – Autonomy; Walnut – Respect; Willow – Honesty. Source: turn2view0

Governance and Ownership
Gimnasio El Hontanar is operated by Crayola y Lápiz S.A.S. (Gimnasio El Hontanar). NIT 800071491-9. Address: Cra. 7°, 300 m before the toll booth (Bogotá-Chía direction). Telephone: +57 (1) 884 4197; Mobile: +57 316 470 1496; Email: contacto@gimnasiohontanar.edu.co. Source: turn8view0
Fees
Application / Admission fee
- The admissions process requires acquisition and submission of an admission form; there is no separately published, fixed “application fee” amount publicly available. The formal enrollment (matrícula) is charged as an advance on the annual tuition and is set at 10% of the annual cost.

Tuition (annual) and installments by school year
- The school charges an annual tuition (pensión) for each enrolled student. This annual tuition is payable in 10 monthly instalments. Each monthly instalment is due within the first five (5) days of the month. Specific numeric tuition amounts by grade/year group (the per‑grade fee schedule) are not published in the institution's publicly available fee policy documents.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Matricula (enrollment): charged once per year at the time the student's place is formalized; equals 10% of the annual tuition.
- Pensión (tuition): billed as the annual tuition amount split into 10 monthly payments; each monthly payment must be settled within the first five days of the month.
- Other periodic charges: certain items are collected once per year at the start of the academic year (see “Other costs” below).
- Transport service: when contracted, transport is billed on an annual basis and must be paid for the full contracted period; suspension of transport for non‑payment does not exempt the family from the remaining payment obligations for that period.
- The school issues certificates and academic records only to students who are current (paz y salvo) with their treasury/payments.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The institution operates as a day school (Preescolar, Primaria y Bachillerato); no boarding fee line is published.

Other costs and periodic fees (examples and how they are charged)
- Service of food (alimentación): provided under a contract and regulated by the contract signed with the family; food service costs are included as part of the school's list of chargeable services when applicable.
- Transportation: optional service offered under separate contract; payment obligations remain for the contracted period even if the service is suspended.
- Student ID card, accident insurance, agenda, yearbook, systematization of academic reports, photocopied materials: these are charged once per year (or when scheduled) as preestablished annual amounts.
- Graduation / examination fees: Pre‑school graduation costs (transition) are charged once per year for those cohorts; students in the final year pay registration and examination fees (including ICFES and international exam fees) and IB Diploma maintenance and exam fees as applicable.
- Book rental program: an optional, voluntary annual book‑rental program is offered; families that opt in pay a preestablished annual fee at the start of the year (or at matriculation). Replacement or repair charges apply if rented materials are lost or damaged.
- Uniforms and school presentation: use of uniform is required by the school; uniform costs are borne by families but numeric uniform prices are not published in the fee policy.

Refunds and withdrawal
- The published procedures explain how to notify the school and the administrative steps for withdrawal, but there is no separately published, detailed refund schedule for matricula or pension within the fee‑policy document. Families must follow the formal withdrawal procedure (written notice to the academic direction and admissions) and settle outstanding obligations; certificates are released only once accounts are up to date.

Fee payment options and surcharges
- The school's fee policy document defines the billing structure and collection rules but does not enumerate a comprehensive list of accepted payment channels (bank transfer, online portal, card terminal) in that document. Some third‑party directory listings have reported that in‑person card payments at school treasury may incur a small surcharge (for example a 2% additional charge reported in earlier directory listings); the school's manual itself does not list payment channel details or surcharges. Families should expect standard payment channels (bank transfer, in‑person payment) to be used, and note that card payments at the school cash office have been reported historically with a small surcharge.

Summary of availability of numeric fee amounts
- The school's internal fee policy and admissions manual state the structure (matrícula = 10% of annual tuition; tuition payable in 10 monthly instalments; specific one‑time annual charges for items such as insurance, agenda, yearbook, book‑rental option, IB and exam fees, transport and food contracted services) but do not publish a grade‑by‑grade numeric fee schedule in the publicly available policy document. As a result, exact numeric tuition amounts per year group or per term for the 2026/27 (or 2025/26) academic year are not listed in the institution's accessible fee policy materials.

(End of fee overview)
Academics

Gimnasio El Hontanar teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Preschool, Primary, Middle School, and High School are offered. The Educational Model is bilingual, with English instruction and a French program in middle and high school, supported by an International Learning framework, Immersion Programs, and an International Teaching Team (I.T.T.). In the final two grades, 10th and 11th, students complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Cambridge language development is integrated, with a Cambridge Certification Ceremony in 2025 recognizing levels including Movers (3rd grade), KET (5th), PET (7th), and IELTS (11th). Open Campus events expose students to higher education, with 10th and 11th graders attending Open Days at Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Primary classes are capped at 25 students per class.

Student Teacher Ratio
Classrooms at primary level have a maximum capacity of 25 students per class.

Exam Results
Gimnasio El Hontanar is listed among the best schools in Colombia in the 2024–2025 Sapiens Research ranking. Cambridge certifications were celebrated in 2025 across multiple levels (Movers, KET, PET, IELTS). The IB Diploma Programme is offered in the final two grades (10th and 11th) to prepare graduates for higher education at national and international universities. University Open Campus events provide a bridge to higher education through exposure to major Colombian universities.

Higher Education Progression
University Open Campus events involve 10th and 11th grade students attending Open Days at Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Character development is taught, reinforced, fostered, and modeled to help students and families shape their character. The six pillars of character are taught, with the meaning of each pillar explained. Standards of acceptable behavior are reinforced at home, and boundaries are set with consistently applied consequences. Values are promoted regularly, emphasizing the positive outcomes of ethical behavior. The world is acknowledged as imperfect, but actions and behavior can improve it. The pillars of character are modeled through the actions and words of the school community.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Solid bilingual education—teaching for understanding—development of competencies and multiple intelligences.
Parent Experience

History
Gimnasio El Hontanar was founded in 1994 by María Cristina Barbosa Cifuentes, originally named Crayola y Lápiz Kindergarten. It grew from a family of educators committed to a values-based education with bilingualism and the development of competencies for a global, competitive world. In January 1998, parents requested expansion to primary levels, prompting the name change to Gimnasio El Hontanar and continuation of education for all levels; the school later moved to Hacienda Casablanca in Suba. The first graduating class arrived in 2006, and the school earned ICONTEC Quality and Environment certifications and authorization to offer the IB Diploma Programme, becoming the first calendar A school in Colombia to obtain it. It has been recognized in rankings such as Dinero and Col-Sapiens, opened a new Sede Norte in 2014 in Chía, and in 2016 received the BIBO Environmental Award; in 2020 it implemented remote learning and later adopted a blended model, earning the Great Place to Study certification.

Community
UNIVERSITY OPEN CAMPUSES: Last month, 10th and 11th grade students from Gimnasio El Hontanar actively participated in the Open Days held by Universidad de La Sabana, Universidad del Rosario, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana—key experiences in their journey toward choosing a professional path. CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATION CEREMONY AT HONTANAR 2025: Cambridge Certification Ceremony celebrated the dedication and language development of students who successfully completed Movers (3rd grade), KET (5th grade), PET (7th grade), and IELTS (11th grade). A TRIMESTER FULL OF FUN AND LEARNING IN PRESCHOOL: The first trimester of the year has been full of movement, creativity, and excitement for our preschoolers, with sports activities and playful projects designed to enhance their skills and spark curiosity. GIMNASIO EL HONTANAR AMONG THE BEST SCHOOLS IN COLOMBIA ONCE AGAIN: In the 2024–2025 edition of the Sapiens Research rankings, Gimnasio El Hontanar has once again been recognized as one of the top schools in the country.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Respect, understanding, and dedication are among the values highlighted in describing this group of parents, who are essential to our educational project; through their support and perseverance we have earned recognition in the Col-Sapiens ranking. We are very proud of our community, which includes not only administrators, teachers, and students, but also parents as the first educators of each child, with foundations strengthened at home. Thanks to these home foundations, the school is recognized as one of the best schools in the country. Parents participate as partners in education, reinforcing the learning process. The group of parents is a central pillar of the Gimnasio El Hontanar community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Gimnasio El Hontanar's main branch is located in the countryside of Carrera Séptima, 300 meters before the toll booth going north, on the west side. It serves preschool, primary, and high school since 2015. The campus is surrounded by nature and offers modern, spacious, open, and naturally lit classrooms, sport fields for soccer, basketball, and volleyball, playgrounds, and green zones. It also features physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories that follow international standards, a spacious library, a computer lab, and multipurpose rooms, along with other bright spaces that support academic and ethical activities.

Sports Facilities
The campus includes sport fields for soccer, basketball, and volleyball, with spacious, open areas designed for athletic activity. There are playgrounds and green zones to complement physical education. Gimnasio El Hontanar collaborates with nearby sports clubs to provide additional opportunities and larger spaces. Beyond clubs, students participate in a wide range of activities during school hours, including swimming, horseback riding, taekwondo, tennis, ballet, figure skating, hockey, golf, squash, bowling, ultimate Frisbee, fitness, Pilates, spinning, and more.

Academic Facilities
Modern, spacious, open, and naturally lit classrooms. Physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories that follow international standards. A spacious library and a computer lab. Multipurpose rooms and other bright spaces that enable a wide range of academic and ethical activities.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Sport activities are offered through collaboration with nearby clubs, promoting motor development, time-use habits, and teamwork. Clubs provide large and comfortable fields for disciplines such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and gymnastics. During school hours and with nearby clubs, students participate in additional activities such as swimming, horseback riding, taekwondo, tennis, ballet, figure skating, hockey, golf, squash, bowling, ultimate Frisbee, fitness, Pilates, spinning, and more. Artistic activities include music (choir, guitar, keyboards, violin), art, dance, and marching band, with performances at project fairs, talent shows, Christmas shows, inter-school activities, and festivals. The school also offers extracurricular programs across sports and arts to develop self-esteem and expressive abilities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Gimnasio El Hontanar structures its academic approach on pedagogical theories that respond to current needs. The learning process starts from experience and reflection and emphasizes applying what has been learned in real contexts to support the student's integral development and commitment to the community. Competence is defined as putting knowledge into practice, so learning is evident when students can use what they have learned in everyday life. Teaching for Understanding guides the academic process, and Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences informs the school's project‑based approach.

Arts & Creative
The school offers programs for music (choir, guitar, keyboards, violin), art, dance, and marching band. Artistic skills developed by students are regularly exhibited at project fairs, talent shows, Christmas shows, inter‑school activities, and various student performances at festivals. Students participate in performances and exhibitions that showcase their talents. These activities are integrated into the school's program.

Cultural & Language
Students study a bilingual Spanish‑English curriculum, with proficiency assessed through Cambridge University examinations at different levels. Complementary activities reinforce language acquisition, and the institution offers summer camps or student exchanges in Canada or England. Gimnasio El Hontanar has an agreement with the Alberta Educational Division in Canada for immersion trips, and with Buckswood School in England for academic exchanges. The language policy emphasizes Spanish as the official language and promotes learning a second language to connect with a global community, complementing the IB mission and its communicative component.

Social & Hobbies
Sport activities are promoted through collaboration with nearby clubs, and large sports fields support soccer, basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading. During school hours, students participate in additional activities such as swimming, horseback riding, taekwondo, tennis, ballet, figure skating, hockey, golf, squash, bowling, ultimate Frisbee, fitness, Pilates, spinning, and other options. Artistic activities include music, art, dance, and marching band, with performances at fairs and festivals. Extracurricular activities strengthen self‑esteem and expressive abilities within the school.

Community & Service
Gimnasio El Hontanar has adopted the CHARACTER COUNTS! program to develop institutional values. The program centers on pillars such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and related ethical virtues. The pillars guide activities including community service and volunteering and promote a culture of ethical behavior. The program supports personal and social growth through actions that benefit the school and wider community.

Leadership & Professional
The School Government at Gimnasio El Hontanar comprises the General Director, Principal, Board of Directors, Administration Board, Coexistence Coordinator, Academic Council, Student Council, and Student President. A democratically elected School Government Committee includes a student representative, a teacher representative, and an administrator representative for a one‑year term. The committee organizes the government, registers candidates, conducts elections, and presents the results through official acts. It also reviews candidate resumes, advises on program feasibility, and periodically verifies compliance with the electoral process.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Welfare and Support Services department leads the personal and social growth program. The Psychology Department includes three educational and juvenile psychologists who support students and staff with social isolation, emotional regulation, risk of addictive conduct, and academic difficulties, and run preventive activities through the Character Counts! program. Occupational Therapy focuses on attention, handwriting, and motor skills to strengthen the learning process. Speech Therapy assesses and helps with speech, articulation, reading, and writing, and a school nurse is on site during the day; Chaplain services provide spiritual guidance at formal functions and in school life.
Languages

Language Provision
Spanish is the official language of Colombia and the main language of communication. English is taught as a second language as a life opportunity to connect with the global community. The main objective of language teaching is to support the mission of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and the communicative component of the IB community profile. The Communicative Objective is that students understand and express ideas and information with confidence and creativity in different languages and forms of communication.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers a bilingual (Spanish-English) curriculum with English proficiency developed to Cambridge examinations at different levels. Cambridge examinations are used to assess proficiency. Complementary activities reinforce language learning, including summer camps and student exchanges in Canada or England. Gimnasio El Hontanar has an immersion trip to Canada for sixth grade through the Alberta Educational Division, and an exchange arrangement with Buckswood School in Hastings, England for an academic period.

Immersion Programs
Immersion experiences are provided through Canada and England programs. Sixth-grade students participate in an immersion trip to Canada with the Alberta Educational Division. Buckswood School in Hastings, England offers an academic period exchange. These experiences provide practice of English and exposure to British and Canadian cultures.
Admissions

Admissions
The admissions process is the beginning of a journey for a student to build a successful and meaningful life. The process follows the identity and philosophy of Gimnasio El Hontanar, guaranteeing transparency, quality, and equal opportunities in accepting applications. The school seeks to satisfy the needs of all its students and aims to fulfill fundamental bases that allow high-quality skills, education, and appropriate integral development for all students. Preschool and First Grade: the applicant must present an academic assessment through the school's occupational therapist and psychologists to determine if the child has the basic learning devices necessary to attend school, such as the development of fine and gross motor skills, psychosocial and perceptual competences, and the basic academic concepts appropriate to age and grade. Second through Eighth Grade: the applicant must have excellent academic and disciplinary references from the previous school; the applicant must take a written math test to evaluate concepts, logical reasoning, and mathematical thinking relevant to the intended grade; the applicant will also be required to take a language test in both Spanish and English, including a written and oral component to evaluate speaking and listening skills. Note: applications for grades 9–11 are not accepted. Required ages (by February 1 of the entry year): Pre-kindergarten +3 years old (3.5–4), Kindergarten +4 years old (4.5–5), Transition +5 years old (5.5–6), First +6 years old (6.5–7). Family Profile: Gimnasio El Hontanar seeks aspiring families to be professionals committed to integral education of their children; education through habits and values takes place within the family context and is reinforced by the school through educating, strengthening knowledge, creating values, and providing social experiences to practice what is learned. Students should possess a profile aligned with the International Baccalaureate profile by developing social skills such as taking responsibility, respect, cooperative attitudes, problem-solving, teamwork, and appropriate behavior in different contexts. Keys of Excellence: the school is a bilingual, mixed-gender, Calendar A school; ranked among the best schools in Colombia for its academic results; Catholic orientation; small class size; International Baccalaureate Program; value-centered education; Character Counts program; commitment to the environment; technology-focused classrooms; Multiple Intelligences Theory programs; a wide range of sports and artistic activities; business leadership training; environmental certification; international exchange program; 2011 Excellent School Management Award winner; 2013 Environmental Responsibility Award winner; 2016 Best Environmental Practice according to BIBO, El Espectador. Affiliations: Private Schools Association – ASOCOLDEP; International Baccalaureate Organization; Andina Association for International Baccalaureate Schools; REDPAPAZ; Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science – ACAC; Network of schools which protects our planet; Cambridge English Language Assessment – Exam Preparation Center; New England Educational Group (New England School, Hontanar School, Los Arrayanes School, Liceo La Sabana, Santa Cristina de Toscana School Campestre del Norte Kindergarten, Crayola and Lapiz Kindergarten). For more information on admissions, contact Coordinación de Admisiones at PBX 884 4197 ext. 208 or PBX 681 5287 ext. 112, Cel.
School Events
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