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Gimnasio Los Portales

Colombia, Bogotá

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 325
Type Co-educational
Opened 1987
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Spanish, English, French
Strengths STEM, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Gimnasio Los Portales is a mixed‑gender, Bogotá-based International Baccalaureate World School serving ages 2 to 18. The school teaches in a multilingual setting with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an acquisition language, and offers the IB Continuum: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. Founded in 1987, it emphasizes values-based education and integrity, with a mission to form people of character who think critically and lead with practical skills for present challenges and future opportunities. The on‑site Wonder Place Preschool serves ages 2 to 4; facilities include a cafeteria, nursing, transport, and a library, plus spaces for wellbeing, arts, and sports. Experiential learning focuses on STEAM, Multilingüismo, Go International, and the Ignite Program, alongside a broad range of extracurriculars and clubs that foster global citizenship and personal development. A range of leadership, service, arts, and sports activities support students' growth.

Cl 212 #77 - 20, Suba, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

The Essentials

Gimnasio Los Portales has 325 pupils, instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
Located in the northern part of Bogotá, Colombia, in the Zona Arrayanes area. The main campus address is Calle 212 No. 77-20, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. The Portales campus serves families in this area.

Stages
Preschool: Wonder Place Preschool for children aged 2 to 4 years. The preschool is bilingual. Primary and secondary: Colegio Mixto with International Baccalaureate and multilingual education.

Type
Co-educational school offering the International Baccalaureate diploma program and multilingual education.

School day structure
School day runs from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Bus service
Transportation service for Bogotá and Sabana Norte provided by Tehc S.A.S., with route monitors and two coordinators, satellite positioning and speed monitoring, and compliance with service levels with the school and local authorities. Contact: Julieth Andrea López Avendaño, [email protected], Office hours: Monday to Friday 5:30 am to 5:00 pm; additional hours 5:00 am to 8:00 pm with telephone numbers 676 4055 ext. 104 and 743 5224 ext. 103–104.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The cafeteria provides balanced meals to support student well-being. Meals are prepared to high standards and include a salad bar, fruit options, three types of juice, and a dessert.

Governance and Ownership
The Fundación Los Portales is a nonprofit organization established under the laws of Colombia, with legal personality recognized by Resolution No. 131 of June 11, 1987, issued by the Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá, and ratified by Resolution No. 44 of January 12, 2011, issued by the Secretaría de Educación Distrital, based in Bogotá and identified with the NIT. The policies herein apply to students, parents/guardians, users of the facilities, speakers, affiliates, officials, employees, members of the School Governance bodies, and other persons who may be involved with the Foundation or the School in relation to the collection or processing of personal data.
Fees
Application fees
- No publicly posted, grade-specific application fee amount was found for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years. The school uses an online admissions process and admissions contact channels for registration.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a public, grade-by-grade fee schedule for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years. Exact tariff-annual, matrícula (registration) and monthly pension amounts by grade are not available in a public fee table.
- Third-party school-directory listings report typical pension ranges for Gimnasio Los Portales in Bogotá; examples found include pension values reported in the range of COP 600,000 to COP 1,831,000 depending on grade and the specific listing. These directory figures should be treated as approximate indicators rather than an official per-grade tariff.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Billing follows the common Colombian private-school structure: an annual tariff is established for each grade which is split between a matrícula (initial registration fee) and periodic pension payments. The matrícula may be up to 10% of the tariff annual, and pensions are commonly billed in up to ten monthly payments during the academic year. Specific due dates, penalties for late payment and exact invoice periods for Gimnasio Los Portales are administered through the school's billing system and parent portal.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Gimnasio Los Portales operates as a day school; no boarding program or boarding fees are listed. There is no public indication that boarding is offered.

Other costs or fees (uniforms, transport, meals, extras)
- Uniforms: a school uniform requirement exists; no public, school-published price list for uniform items was located. Expect a one-time uniform purchase cost at admission or when items are replaced.
- Transportation: third-party directories list an approximate monthly transport fee (route) for the school in the range shown by directories (example listing showed COP 520,000). Actual transport route fees and coverage vary by neighborhood and are billed separately.
- Meals / cafeteria: directory listings include a cafeteria cost estimate in their summaries (example listing showed COP 406,000); the school operates an on-campus cafeteria service billed separately from tuition.
- Materials, extracurriculars and exams: schools commonly charge for consumable materials, extracurricular programs, language/exam fees and elective activities; no complete public itemized list or amounts for these ancillary fees was located for Gimnasio Los Portales.

Refund information
- No publicly available, detailed refund policy for matrícula or pension payments specific to Gimnasio Los Portales was located in the materials accessible without secure login. General Colombian regulation notes limits and requirements for how schools set matrícula and pension charges, but specific school refund or cancellation terms are set by the school's contract with families.

Fee payment options
- The school uses a parent/administrative portal (Phidias) for family account management and payments, indicating online payment processing is used for billing and receipts.
- Third-party service provider listings and banking-convention references indicate PSE/online bank payment methods and institutional payment agreements with banks are used at affiliated institutions; families should expect to be offered electronic bank payment (PSE), direct bank transfer/consignation options and online card payments via the school's payment portal or partner payment services.

Summary (limitations and final note)
- No official, public fee schedule with per-grade, per-term and per-year amounts for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years was found in the school's public pages or in accessible downloadable documents. Available online references are limited to contact and admissions pages and third-party directory estimations; therefore this overview presents billing structure and commonly reported ranges where those were available. For exact, grade-specific annual tariffs, matrícula and pension amounts, the school's billing office and parent portal manage the official figures and invoicing.
Academics

Gimnasio Los Portales teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
Coeducational school offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It provides multilingual education and formation in values. The academic calendar follows Calendar B. Learning experiences include the International Baccalaureate, Multilingualism, STEAM, Go International, and the Ignite Program.

Gifted and Talented
Ignite Program is offered as part of learning experiences.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school supports social and emotional development through its values-based education and community initiatives, with a focus on leadership, responsibility, empathy, and open-minded collaboration across the student body.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school provides a multilingual curriculum with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an additional language, with ongoing development of oral and written communication in all languages.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1987, Gimnasio Los Portales is a coeducational school located in Bogotá, Colombia (Calle 212 No. 77-20). It offers an International Baccalaureate program and multilingual instruction as part of a values-based education. The school's mission is to form great people with integrity, develop unique minds with critical thinking, and form great leaders with practical skills for present challenges and future opportunities. Margarita María Rueda Pinzón serves as the rector; she is an engineer and administrator from Universidad de los Andes, holds a GMBA from Tulane and an MBA from Universidad de los Andes, and has been a Liderazgo por Bogotá 2019 fellow.

Community
Gimnasio Los Portales prioritizes mental health and well-being, addressing students' social, emotional, and psychological needs to develop life skills. Guidance and counseling support are provided across grades, with a focus on emotional development and alignment with the IB profile. Career guidance begins in 8th grade, including university fairs, campus visits, and invitations from institutions to share study options, with ongoing support through 11th grade. The Knowledge Enhancement Yard (KEY) program advances cognitive processes under a neuropsychologist's guidance, with personalized action plans implemented within the school setting to bolster learning.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Portales is a mixed‑gender school in Bogotá with multilingual education and an International Baccalaureate program. The on‑site Wonder Place Preschool serves children aged 2 to 4. The campus includes a Cafetería, Enfermería (nursing), and Transporte (transport). A Biblioteca supports study and learning, and there are spaces for Comunidad y Bienestar (wellbeing), Lúdicas Spark It Up (extracurricular activities), Artes (arts), and Deportes (sports). The experiential learning offerings include STEAM, Multilingüismo, Go International, Ignite Program, and other programs connected to global opportunities.

Academic Facilities
The school offers an International Baccalaureate program and Multilingüismo (multilingual education), along with STEAM experiences, Go International, and the Ignite Program.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities include Lúdicas Spark It Up, Deportes, Artes, Liderazgo (leadership), and Comunidad y Bienestar (wellbeing).
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is a mixed-gender IB World School offering the IB Continuum with Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The IB programs cultivate inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning designed to develop students as global citizens and leaders. Leadership, responsibility, and empathy are core values emphasized to prepare students for future leadership roles. The curriculum integrates IB's inquiry, action, and service across subjects to deepen understanding and academic growth.

Arts & Creative
The arts program includes Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theater. Art education emphasizes empathy, self-knowledge, critical thinking, expression, and the role of art in personal development. The curriculum highlights that the arts foster discipline, creativity, and social awareness, enabling students to become reflective and responsible individuals. The school stages annual musical productions, with examples ranging from Wonderland (2014) to Moana (2025).

Cultural & Language
Multilingual learning is embedded throughout the curriculum, with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an acquisition language. Spanish, English, and French language programs develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills across contexts. The program promotes open-mindedness and respectful engagement with diverse cultures in a globalizing world.

Social & Hobbies
Spark It Up! offers playful, formative experiences across three main areas: Mentes Tech, Estilo de Vida, and Bienestar. Mentes Tech includes robotics, Lego, and STEAM activities to build technical creativity. Estilo de Vida covers fashion design, sculpture, band, and scenography to develop creativity and collaboration. Bienestar provides classes in ballet, urban dance, taekwondo, and gymnastics to support physical well-being and cultural engagement.

Community & Service
The school runs a Model United Nations program to promote Education for Sustainable Development and global citizenship. It also implements the Proyecto Ambiental Escolar (PRAE), organized around five focus areas—Company/Environment, Culture/Environment, Territory/Environment, Health/Environment, and STEAM/Environment—to foster environmental responsibility. These initiatives engage students in research, debate, and community projects addressing real-world challenges.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership is encouraged through a Student Council and the Casas Portales house system, with two student captains per house. Student leaders represent peers, advocate for school improvements, and promote teamwork and institutional values. The school offers leadership opportunities through Model United Nations participation, student-driven initiatives, and ongoing community projects.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Movement and wellbeing are central to the school's approach to education. Physical education offers a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, and volleyball, with regular practice and inter-school competitions. Mental health and emotional wellbeing are prioritized, with counseling support, emotional regulation programs, and targeted guidance to help students develop resilience. Career guidance begins in 8th grade, including university fairs, campus visits, and admissions planning to chart each student's postsecondary path.
Languages

Language Provision
Multilingual focus throughout the curriculum, with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an acquisition language. Spanish is taught from the perspective of its use in communication, linking it to speaking ability and the symbol systems in society and culture, with emphasis on the technical aspects as well as its use and interpretation. English is learned through immersion in the environment, developing vocabulary, grammar, and the four language skills in alignment with the CEFR; the IB framework (PYP, MYP, DP) supports language and literature appreciation. French is offered to foster an international mindset, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has a bilingual preschool located in northern Bogotá. The preschool is divided into two groups: Explorers (4–5 years, Explorers I) and Explorers II (5–6 years), who develop multiple talents together, and Inquirers (6–7 years) who begin their journey toward primary education.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admissions profile. The school is a mixed-gender institution that offers the International Baccalaureate and is multilingual. The language offerings are Spanish, English, and French, and the school uses the IB Calendar B for its programmes. 2. Transition grade openings. The Transition Grade is accepting new admissions slots, and new openings are available for this entry level. Families are encouraged to inquire to secure a place. 3. Grade levels. The school is coeducational for Preschool through 6th grade, and girls only for 7th to 9th grade. This grade structure reflects the school's programme design. 4. Language and culture. Spanish, English, and French are offered. In the bilingual school, English and French proficiency is promoted to develop communication skills and global cultural appreciation. 5. International Baccalaureate and curriculum. The school is part of the International Baccalaureate community and is one of 15 schools in Colombia certified to offer the IB Continuum across all three IB programmes. 6. Digital transformation. The school emphasizes Digital Transformation, enabling students to realise their potential through real projects based on innovative digital methodologies. 7. Values education. The school provides solid values education, guided by the principles of the Christian Catholic faith and lived through the motto Be to Serve. 8. Inspiring campus. The campus is described as inspiring; the space is regarded as the third teacher, with a green, harmonious, and inspiring campus. 9. Admissions openness. Admissions are open; families are invited to fill out the form to receive more information about the Educational Project. 10. Career prospects. The Career Prospects section highlights post-graduation pathways and features logos of partner institutions. 11. Copyright and reproduction. © 2024 - All rights reserved; reproduction of all or part of the information contained on this portal is prohibited; this protects the portal's content and intellectual property.
School Events
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