Dr. Mark Starbuck
Head of School
The Metropolitan School of Panama is one of Panama’s leading educational institutions. Founded in 2011, the MET offers a world-class academic program for children in Early Childhood 3 through 12th grade. With more than 775 students hailing from 45 different nationalities and 125 faculty members that boast an impressive range of international teaching experience, the school is enriched by the wealth of its diverse and multicultural community.
Come and learn about life as a student at the MET. We are an international school with a goal of fostering an unrivalled multilingual learning environment where young students become truly global citizens. We are the only IB continuum school in Panama, and children who study here learn to master both English and Spanish; two highly renowned world languages.
At the MET we immerse students in real-life, hands-on projects, and we aim to develop the whole child – academically successful, and active in the arts, sports and service. We help our students become well-rounded individuals, with the skills necessary for success in a globalized future, and with the values to act responsibly in building a healthier, more sustainable, more harmonious, and more just world.
We invite you to visit our school. We are confident that when you walk through the front doors at our new campus in Green Valley you will feel the MET Difference and understand what makes our school such a special learning community. We look forward to meeting you!
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 32 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Nationalities
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Number of students
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1,300
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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45+
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Languages
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Native English speaking teachers
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Yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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Yes
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Spanish
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Classroom
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Max. number of students per class
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24
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Average number of students per class
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22
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Technology has become a new and key “literacy” for today’s students and professionals. Thus the MET is a technology-rich school where we offer an Apple one-to-one technology program, where each student from Kinder to 4th Grade has an iPad, and each student from 5th to 12th Grade has a Mac laptop.
Each classroom is equipped with the latest technological offerings for education, such as SMARTboards in every classroom. These interactive digital boards enhance the teaching and learning experience in the classroom by expanding the nature of content, introducing different media and digital educational resources to lesson plans and providing interactivity through which students can demonstrate their mastery of content.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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As the MET already offered a one-to-one Apple technology program, we were able to switch to a virtual school offering within 24 hours of schools closing in Panama. During the pandemic, students connected to classes from 19 countries and we continue to offer virtual classes when quarantining or government mandates require this. Our new state-of-the-art campus is equipped with Wifi6 (5G) and offers students wireless capacity and modern technologies not previously seen in Panama school campuses.
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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We accommodate all religions and non religious families
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Academics
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External examinations or assessments available
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IB Diploma
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Results in these examinations
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For the 2021-2022 academic school year, the MET students achieved the international average pass rate of 89%. Our class average score was 31 points, meeting the world average.
We are very proud to report that our highest scores were a very impressive 43 and 42 points. 40 points is the level of attainment required to gain admission to the world’s elite universities, such as Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford.
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Student support
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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To meet the diverse needs of MET's students, MET's Exceptional Education Program offers support services for students with mild to moderate learning needs.
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Learning support offered
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The MET’s Universal Inclusion Model has been developed by combining research based inclusion programs including Response to Intervention and is designed to support students based on their individual and specific needs. MET's services follow a multi-tiered approach that encourages each student’s success through frequent progress monitoring and instructional interventions, personalized to the child’s personal level.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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METAGS Enrichment Program: to qualify for this Exceptional Education Program academic service, the MET uses standardized assessments in achievement and cognitive ability that are internationally recognized. The program will incorporate pull-out instruction/extension and an individual personal project to stretch and enhance critical thinking skills.
The program will provide a variety of learning experiences that challenge, engage and inspire students to develop their full potential. Students will have opportunities to collaborate with their academic peers, develop an awareness for their giftedness as well as explore topics in depth and of individual interest.
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Admissions
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Entry evaluation for students
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Assessment
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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No deadline
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes. As an international school we have rolling admissions.
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School day
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School start time
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8:00am
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School finish time
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3:00pm (Friday 1:15pm)
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School bus service available
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Yes
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School provided lunches
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Yes - included in the school fees.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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MET strives to offer meal options to meet students' individual dietary needs. In addition to regular meal plan, MET offers daily vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free menu options, as well as modified options for students with sensory needs.
If a child has any dietary needs, MET informs the school's nutritionist upon admission. Parents may also schedule an appointment with the school’s nutritionist at any time to work together in developing an individual nutritional plan for the child.
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Uniform required
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Yes
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Facilities
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Facilities at the school
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We have a black box theater, 8 fully equipped science labs, a media center, a library plus 3 music rooms and various creative spaces.
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Sports facilities at the school
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Extensive outdoor sports fields include FIFA-sized soccer fields, indoor athletic facilities, and a pool provides young athletes turf to train and compete in inter-school competitions.
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About the school
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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The Metropolitan School of Panama is a private IB World school that is setting a new standard of excellence in Panama. Now in it's tenth year and the only the only school in Panama and Central America to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB)'s continuum of programs in English for students in Early Childhood 3 through 12th grade.
The IB is a world acclaimed academic program with innovative teaching methodologies that allows the development of intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills necessary to learn, work and succeed in a rapidly globalizing world.
In September 2017, MET joined Nord Anglia Education, the world's leading schools organization, uniting with over 70 other outstanding schools in 33 countries around the world to offer a quality education in Panama. The MET's learning community is unique. It is a vibrant tight-knit community that resembles a family more than a school. Every member of our MET family shares the same goals: to provide the best educational experience to our children within an environment that fosters respect and celebrates diversity.
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Teaching approach of the school
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The MET is committed to each child reaching their personal level of excellence through a balanced academic program that nurtures their self-esteem and potential, and engages them in the world that surrounds them.
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Learning
The Metropolitan School of Panama offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum of programs, an innovative curriculum that encourages both personal and academic achievement, offering the best academic preparation while instilling the values for global citizenship and a passion for lifelong learning. These programs aim to develop well rounded students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
The Metropolitan School of Panama's educational approach centers on developing the whole child. The MET's program combines the rigorous academics of the IB with visual and performing arts, cutting edge technology, competitive sports, social awareness, and physical and emotional well-being.
Our Campus
The Metropolitan School of Panama's campus is located in Green Valley, in the North of Panama City. The location for the new school places the school in the heart of a new, vibrant and growing community.
This premium development project boasts an unmatched infrastructure. It combines an abundance of beautifully landscaped open spaces with urbanized lots for residential, commercial, sports and institutional use.
The development's emphasis on wide and gracious boulevards, modern elegant housing along with shopping, business and community centers completes a community that will complement the broader MET Community.
See our campus and facilities in this interactive virtual tour.