Frequently Asked Questions

USP is open to students of any race, religion, or nationality. United School of Panama exists to serve the educational needs of a diverse international multicultural community. Admission is open to all students who seek a challenging, international, balanced, English as a first language education and exhibit respectful, caring, and responsible behavior.

No. At USP we are committed to introducing an ESL (English as a Second Language) program to help level students at the level they need to be.

USP follows an international calendar from August – June.  We have a mid-year break from December – January. Please refer to our Academic Calendar 2021-2022 for specific details.

School hours are from 7:50AM – 3:10PM, with the exception of Fridays when classes end at 1:20PM.  Extracurricular activities are from 3:30PM-5:00PM, Mondays – Thursdays.

Please refer to our Tuition and Fees 2021-2022.

Students at USP are admitted throughout the year.

Grade placement is determined by previous school records, evaluation, and student age (PK and K).  For students from abroad in 2^nd grade or above, MEDUCA (Ministry of Education) requires a validation process to be completed to verify placement. USP will provide all relevant information to families.

PK and K:  16 students per class.

1^st – 4^th grade: 20 students per class.

Our teaching student ratio es 8:1

USP follows The Core Knowledge Curriculum.  The Core Knowledge approach puts knowledge at the heart of schooling.

Specific and Sequenced:Most curriculum standards provide general goals and objectives but offer teachers little guidance about the specific knowledge students should learn in each grade. In contrast, the Core Knowledge approach is to specify, in a clear grade-by-grade sequence, what students need to know.

Excellence and Equity:Only by specifying the knowledge and skills that all children should share can we guarantee equal access to that knowledge. Educational excellence and equity require that every child in a democracy have access to important shared knowledge and language.

Starting Early:It’s important to begin building strong foundations of knowledge in the early years. The Core Knowledge approach focuses on preschool through grade eight. In these early years, especially the preschool and elementary grades, schools can do the most to help children lay the groundwork for language development and future success.

Our teachers are suitably qualified by and have the experience required to teach in our school. USP has a professional team with a mix of experienced and young teachers.

USP offers a trilingual program starting with English as the primary language of instruction.  In addition, students learn Spanish and Mandarin.

Typical Day in Preschool & Kindergarten

At USP, school days are designed to blend a balance of routine so the children feel at home and know what to expect, and variety to keep the children stimulated and learning.  Movement, creativity, and surprises are part of the day.

Typical Day in Primary Grades

Teachers ensure that each day brings challenges and rewards as students learn, exercise, and build lasting friendships.  Every experience is an opportunity for learning.

Here is what a typical day at PK & Kindergarten would be like:

link

Here is what a typical day at PK & Kindergarten would be like:

link

USP offers a variety of Extra-Curricular Activities starting at the beginning of the school year to help our students maintain a healthy lifestyle, find their passion, and develop their abilities.  Please visit our ECA section for more information. (link here)

We have a strong belief in our positive approach to behavior. We treat our students as creative, independent, and thoughtful individuals trusting them to act responsibly. On the rare occasion students do not live up to our expectations, we have clear procedures that involve the student, their parents, and teachers, to ensure that they learn from the experience.

A hot lunch and morning snacks are provided daily.  Students and staff eat the same lunch. We believe that lunch is a social and learning opportunity, where we can share the day, build friendships, learn about healthy choices and develop language skills.

According to MEDUCA regulations (Ministry of Education in Panama), all students in Panama must wear uniforms. We offer the USP uniform for sale at the school.  We will provide detailed information once your child is admitted to the school.

The School does not own buses.  We work with external companies that provide transportation services for our families.  Buses serve residential areas where our families live. The Bus Company works directly with families to ensure a safe and personalized service with convenience to our students. Payments are made directly to the company.

The relationship between home and school is of paramount importance in a child’s education. This makes two-way communication a critical factor in the partnership between parents and the school. Parents must feel comfortable approaching us to solve problems and to feel confident about the teaching and learning taking place in the classroom.  USP will provide a digital platform for parents to feel connected with what’s happening at school as well as other channels of communication such as e-mail and a WhatsApp business account for easy contact.  USP maintains an “open-door policy” for all of our families; however, to ensure the best quality and following biosecurity measures, we encourage parents to set up appointments.

Our parents are all invited to take an active role in school life. Some events offer parents the opportunity to spectate or participate directly, while others encourage families to support their children from home. USP provides information channels to keep parents informed about classroom learning.

USP has a Parent Representative Body.  These representatives encourage a community atmosphere between families, as they facilitate social communication outside of school.

We are also always happy to hear from parents with particular skills or backgrounds in order to offer our students diverse and interesting viewpoints.