Entry Requirements

Interviews and Assessments

Assessments
Children who are seeking entry into Early Childhood - 12th grade will need to complete an admissions screening assessment. We have a comprehensive screening process to evaluate the admissions and placement of each child. Early Childhood students are expected to be fully toilet trained upon entering school (no diapers allowed). Students applying to Secondary School (6th - 12th grade) may also be interviewed by the Secondary School Principal and/or the Curriculum Coordinator.

Language Proficiency
During the admissions process, language proficiency assessments may be conducted. Students who have limited English proficiency will receive English as an Additional Language support as required. Enrolling for EAL Services will be a requirement for admission and additional fees will apply. Please note that spaces are limited in the program. Due to the rigor of the MYP and DP program, students entering 7th - 12th grade will require a high level of English. The school does not offer an intensive EAL Program beyond 5th grade. 

Special Needs
During the screening period, if the admissions tester notes a concern, the Head of the Exceptional Education Program (EEP) may observe the student and/or conduct further screening. Depending on the results from this process, parents may be requested to arrange for an Educational Psychologist evaluation before the student is accepted into the school. Currently we do not have opportunities for students with moderate or severe emotional and behavioral disorders (Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder) or severe physical needs.

Application Evaluation 

Upon completing the steps detailed in this guide, the complete application will be evaluated by our Admissions Committee. The MET places a great deal of importance in forming well-rounded students of good character whose families embrace and support the values and mission of our school.

After the committee makes a decision, the Admissions Manager will notify the family regarding the outcome via email. The student may be accepted without conditions, accepted with conditions, denied or placed on a wait list. For those students placed on the waitlist, priority will be given to sponsored families and current MET siblings.

All admissions decisions are final and based on whether the school can provide a program that meets the individual needs of the student. Applying to the Metropolitan School of Panama does not guarantee acceptance into the school. 

Information for 11th and 12th Grade Applicants

Students applying to 11th and 12th grade must enroll before September 30th due to the rigorous demands of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) and IB regulations governing the suggested number of hours of study in all subjects. Students may enter 12th grade only if they are transferring from another IB Diploma Program school with a similar course offering.

All IB DP courses are taught in English with exception of Spanish language courses. Therefore, the applicant should demonstrate an advanced level of both written and oral fluency in order to ensure academic success.

Admission to the IB DP will be subject to the following:

• Results of the admissions examinations
• Interviews with the Secondary School Principal and IB DP Coordinator
• Record of prior academic achievement
• Previous school reports (including the most recent)
• The applicant’s future educational plan

Students may choose to enter one of two IB tracks.

IB Diploma Program Track
Includes at least 3 higher level (HL) courses, 3 standard level courses (SL), CAS, TOK and Extended Essay. Upon completion, students will receive an IB DP diploma, as well as a national diploma and a MET diploma.

Partial Diploma Track
Optional for students who wish to take a different combination of HL and SL courses. Creativity-Action-Service (CAS) as well as Theory of Knowledge (TOK) will still be required. Upon completion, students will receive a national diploma and a MET Diploma as well as an IB certificate for each IB DP course completed.

Validating International Transcripts 

The Panamanian Ministry of Education (MEDUCA), the legal entity that oversees academic institutions in Panama, requires that all students entering 2nd - 12th grade that transfer from a school abroad go through a validating process. 

Transcripts issued outside of Panama must be apostilled in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or in an embassy of the country that issued the transcripts, which will later be validated through MEDUCA. This procedure is a requirement to officially enroll the student into the correct grade level. 

Please download the "MEDUCA Validation" document below, to learn more information about the validation process.