28 July, 2026
How did our Class of 2026 beat the global IB average?
The Metropolitan School of Panama celebrates the achievements of its Class of 2026, with IB Diploma results that surpassed the global average and graduates earning multiple internationally recognized qualifications. Beyond the numbers, these results reflect years of curiosity, resilience, and purposeful learning, preparing students to thrive at leading universities and beyond.
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Inquire nowWhen our IB results came in this July, one number stood out: 32. That's the average score achieved by the students from our Class of 2026 who earned the full International Baccalaureate Diploma, comfortably above this year's global average of 30.88, as published by the IB Organization itself. And that was just one part of a much bigger story.
Most importantly: 100% of our 67 graduating seniors earned a recognized high school qualification, ensuring that every student leaves the MET prepared for the next stage of their journey. All 67 completed the requirements for a NEASC-accredited U.S. High School Diploma, and 63 also earned the Panamanian MEDUCA Diploma, together giving our graduates broad access to universities around the world, and reflecting the strength, inclusivity, and flexibility of our academic programme.
Building on that foundation, 66 graduates chose to take on the challenge of the IB Diploma Programme, through a variety of pathways aligned with their strengths, goals, and university aspirations, achieving an average score of 32, well above the global average.
Scores that speak for themselves
Three of our students placed among the top-performing IB candidates worldwide:
Devereaux D. — 42 points
Maya T. — 41 points
Ignacio M. — 40 points
To put that in perspective: worldwide, only around 1 in 10 full Diploma candidates crosses the 40-point mark. All three of our top scorers did.
Our graduates' average subject grade also came above the global figure: 5.02 versus 4.93 worldwide.
We're also delighted that 30 graduates earned the prestigious IB Bilingual Diploma, a reflection of the multilingual, internationally minded environment that defines our school.
Multiple pathways, one standard of excellence
Not every strong result carries the full Diploma label. Alongside our Diploma graduates, 18 seniors earned a combined 103 IB Subject Certificates, demonstrating serious achievement in university-level coursework, more than 20% of them scored a 5 or 6, including in subjects as demanding as English Language and Literature. For many, these certificates translate directly into advanced standing or university credit at institutions across North America and Europe.
A first worth mentioning
This year we also offered Spanish Literature and Performance for the first time, a rare IB subject only available in Spanish or French, by special request from the school. Our students weren't just the first in our community to take it on: they scored above the global average on their very first attempt.
In the words of our Head of Secondary
"As we celebrate these achievements, we are reminded of a truth we often share with our students: excellence is not a moment; it is a habit.
The results of the Class of 2026 represent far more than examination scores. It is often said that mastery requires 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. By the time our graduates crossed the stage, they had spent nearly 18,700 hours in school—almost twice that amount.
The question is not whether they invested the time. The question is who they became through it.
Those 18,700 hours of primary and secondary education were not simply preparation for life; they were life. They were years of learning, growth, perseverance, challenge, friendship, and discovery.
The achievements we celebrate today are evidence of that journey. They reflect years of commitment, resilience, and purpose. As we often tell our graduates, the diploma is simply the evidence of the discipline, determination, and character developed along the way."
— Brian Brackrog, Head of Secondary
In the words of our Head of School
I am delighted to celebrate the IB results of the Class of 2026. These results are testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and unwavering support of our teaching faculty over the last two years.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best on your next exciting adventures both here in Panama and across the world as MET alumni!
— Lawrence Hill, Head of School
What this tells us
Whether through a bilingual IB Diploma, a world-class score, or an individual subject certificate, the Class of 2026 has plenty to celebrate. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2026, and to the teachers and families who walked this journey with them.
Have questions about our IB Diploma Programme? Get in touch here!
Global data source: International Baccalaureate Organization, May 2026 results (ibo.org).
Most importantly: 100% of our 67 graduating seniors earned a recognized high school qualification, ensuring that every student leaves the MET prepared for the next stage of their journey. All 67 completed the requirements for a NEASC-accredited U.S. High School Diploma, and 63 also earned the Panamanian MEDUCA Diploma, together giving our graduates broad access to universities around the world, and reflecting the strength, inclusivity, and flexibility of our academic programme.
Building on that foundation, 66 graduates chose to take on the challenge of the IB Diploma Programme, through a variety of pathways aligned with their strengths, goals, and university aspirations, achieving an average score of 32, well above the global average.
Scores that speak for themselves
Three of our students placed among the top-performing IB candidates worldwide:
Devereaux D. — 42 points
Maya T. — 41 points
Ignacio M. — 40 points
To put that in perspective: worldwide, only around 1 in 10 full Diploma candidates crosses the 40-point mark. All three of our top scorers did.
Our graduates' average subject grade also came above the global figure: 5.02 versus 4.93 worldwide.
We're also delighted that 30 graduates earned the prestigious IB Bilingual Diploma, a reflection of the multilingual, internationally minded environment that defines our school.
Multiple pathways, one standard of excellence
Not every strong result carries the full Diploma label. Alongside our Diploma graduates, 18 seniors earned a combined 103 IB Subject Certificates, demonstrating serious achievement in university-level coursework, more than 20% of them scored a 5 or 6, including in subjects as demanding as English Language and Literature. For many, these certificates translate directly into advanced standing or university credit at institutions across North America and Europe.
A first worth mentioning
This year we also offered Spanish Literature and Performance for the first time, a rare IB subject only available in Spanish or French, by special request from the school. Our students weren't just the first in our community to take it on: they scored above the global average on their very first attempt.
In the words of our Head of Secondary
"As we celebrate these achievements, we are reminded of a truth we often share with our students: excellence is not a moment; it is a habit.
The results of the Class of 2026 represent far more than examination scores. It is often said that mastery requires 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. By the time our graduates crossed the stage, they had spent nearly 18,700 hours in school—almost twice that amount.
The question is not whether they invested the time. The question is who they became through it.
Those 18,700 hours of primary and secondary education were not simply preparation for life; they were life. They were years of learning, growth, perseverance, challenge, friendship, and discovery.
The achievements we celebrate today are evidence of that journey. They reflect years of commitment, resilience, and purpose. As we often tell our graduates, the diploma is simply the evidence of the discipline, determination, and character developed along the way."
— Brian Brackrog, Head of Secondary
In the words of our Head of School
I am delighted to celebrate the IB results of the Class of 2026. These results are testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and unwavering support of our teaching faculty over the last two years.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best on your next exciting adventures both here in Panama and across the world as MET alumni!
— Lawrence Hill, Head of School
What this tells us
Whether through a bilingual IB Diploma, a world-class score, or an individual subject certificate, the Class of 2026 has plenty to celebrate. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2026, and to the teachers and families who walked this journey with them.
Have questions about our IB Diploma Programme? Get in touch here!
Global data source: International Baccalaureate Organization, May 2026 results (ibo.org).
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