Panama Coast International School
Description
Panama Coast International School (PCIS) has served Panama’s Pacific beach communities since 2008 and is described as the area’s oldest full-English private school. It’s based in Nueva Gorgona, about an hour and a half from Panama City, and teaches students ages 3 to 18 from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
Open Admissions: There are no entrance exams; students from any country or language background are accepted and assessed through observation in their first weeks.
US Curriculum: Classes follow a US-based curriculum with a STEAM approach and lead to US-accredited high school diplomas.
Small Groups: Instruction happens in small groups, taught by native English-speaking teachers with North American certifications.
Four-Day Week: Classes run Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 3 PM.
PCIS is approved by Panama’s Ministry of Education and set up for expat families along the Pacific coast who want an English-language school close to home. If you’re settling near Nueva Gorgona and want a full-English option without a long commute to Panama City, it’s worth a visit.