The Columbus School

Envigado, Colombia (km16 Alto Las Palmas).

Preschool (K4 to 1st grade), Elementary (2nd to 5th grade), Middle School (6th to 8th grade), High School (9th to 12th grade).

International bilingual school.

The school has a Learning Center with professionals who support students with learning difficulties or who need additional help.

Colombia

The school works with transportation providers Transporte Asia, Las Buseticas, and Orientours; the contract with the transport company is directly with the family.

The Columbus School offers four school phases: Preschool (K4 to 1st grade), Elementary (2 to 5th grade), Intermediate (6th to 8th grade), and Senior High (9th to 12th grade). The curriculum emphasizes academic excellence, bilingualism, and training in values and social responsibility. The Elementary program includes K5 through 5th grade with Math Scope and Elementary Math Progressions. For grades 6 through 12, there are alignment documents for Grade 6 through Grade 12, updated February 19, 2019. These documents provide an overview of learning for each term, including essential learning, assessments and depth of understanding. All students pursue higher education at Colombian universities and prestigious institutions abroad.

All students pursue higher education at Colombian universities and prestigious institutions abroad.

The Counseling Department is composed of 14 psychologists, each assigned to a specific grade level. They provide socio-emotional support to students, working in collaboration with families and the teaching staff. They conduct group interventions for the promotion and prevention of issues such as conflict resolution, bullying, substance abuse prevention, responsible sexuality, self-esteem building, and digital citizenship. They offer conferences and workshops for parents to strengthen strategies for effectively managing situations with their children. A High School college counselor supports students in decision-making regarding their professional future and the application and admission processes to local, national, and international universities. This process is carried out both individually through advising students and parents, and at a group level with activities such as university fairs, internship opportunities, conferences, workshops, and more.

The Learning Center provides a department of professionals who help students who have learning difficulties or who need additional help, with the aim that all students reach their highest level. It emphasizes inclusive education and supports diverse learners. The center features highly qualified staff who participate in ongoing professional development, are supported by instructional coaches, and can engage in Master's degree programs or campus courses offered by SUNY Buffalo to enhance practice.

English is the primary language of instruction in homeroom classes, and students receive one hour of daily Spanish instruction.

The Counseling Department provides socio-emotional support to students and works with families and teachers. It runs group interventions on topics such as conflict resolution, bullying, and digital citizenship. It also offers parent conferences and workshops to support families, and a High School college counselor assists students with university planning and applications.

The school maintains a Protection Policy under Policies and a Personal Data Processing Policy (English version) on its site to govern safeguarding of personal data. An Ethics and Transparency Line provides a channel to report suspicious behavior, with defined procedures for reporting concerns.

Step 0: Informational meeting for prospective parents. The Columbus School schedules information meetings in April and May 2024 for prospective K4 admissions for the August 2027 start. Attending is essential to begin the admissions process, and seats are limited. The meeting provides information about the school, includes a tour of the facilities, explains the admissions process and its requirements, and offers the opportunity to ask questions. If a family already has a child enrolled or assigned a seat, they should not register for this meeting. Step 1: Admissions form, submission of documents and interview. A few days after the last information meeting, the Admissions Office will email an invitation with instructions and requirements to begin the admissions process. The emails used come from the registration; families should provide current email addresses. From late May to early August 2024, families must complete the admissions form with the required documents; parents/guardians must schedule the first interview, which is required to finalize the applicant. Step 2: Initial analysis (internal process). To proceed, all required documents must be submitted and the admissions interview attended during the established dates. In August 2024 the admissions committee will review all applicant families and pre-select those invited to schedule a counselor interview. Step 3: Counseling interview. From late August to September 2024, the admissions office will email families to schedule the counselor interview. The interview is conducted in person at the school or via Zoom; the attendance of the parent or guardian is essential. Step 4: Final analysis. The admissions committee will conduct a second evaluation based on the school's admissions philosophy and the number of spaces available; the committee will publish the list of accepted families. Step 5: Response to the family. During October 2024 the admissions office will email responses to the accepted families; along with acceptance, instructions for paying the pre-matriculation are provided; the family must respond by email to indicate acceptance. Those not allocated a seat will also be notified. Step 6: Pre-matriculation payment. The deadline for payment is defined in the communication; families accepting the seat for August 2027 must send the pre-matriculation payment proof to the admissions office by the deadline; failure to provide the proof will result in the seat being offered to another applicant. End of the admissions process.

There is a yearly waiting list; the Admissions team explains how the waiting list operates.