How to Choose an International School in Cali: 2026 Family Guide

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Knowing how to choose an international school in Cali starts with an honest picture of the market. The city has a modest number of bilingual and international schools, many of them clustered in the south, and only a few offer the IB Diploma. That makes the choice less about comparing a long list and more about testing a short one against your calendar, your commute and your child's stage.

This guide is built as a decision path rather than a ranking. It explains the calendar issue that catches many newcomers, how the Pance schools compare, what the money looks like and what to ask before you pay anything.

Cali for families: where schools sit and how long the trip is

Most private bilingual schools are in southern Cali, close to residential areas such as Ciudad Jardín and Pance. Others sit elsewhere in the city, so a family living across Cali may face a much longer trip. One expat parent writing about Cali in 2025 described heavy traffic and said their own children spend two to three hours a day on the school bus. That is one family's experience, but it is a useful warning to test the route before committing.

Pance is semi-rural, with large campuses and green space, but it is a drive from the centre and from the airport side of town. The same expat guide says the monthly price usually includes transport and lunch at the schools it covers, so ask what is covered before comparing totals.

The first decision: calendar A or calendar B

Colombia recognises two academic calendars. Calendar A runs from late January or February to November or early December and is followed by all official public schools. Calendar B runs from September to June. Private schools may choose either, provided they complete the 40 weeks required by the Ministry of Education.

For 2026 the official calendar A in Cali started on 26 January, had a mid-year break from 29 June to 19 July and ended on 7 December. Calendar B schools run to a different rhythm, with their long break between June and August. This matters when you move: a child arriving in July from Europe or North America may fit a calendar B school better than a calendar A one, and the reverse may be true for a child arriving in January. It also affects the national Saber 11 exam, which calendar A schools usually take in August and calendar B schools in April.

New Cambridge School says it follows a B calendar. Ask every school you consider for its exact dates for the year your child would start.

Curricula and languages you will find

• Colombian national curriculum: compulsory, taught mainly in Spanish, and the basis for local validation of studies.
• IB Diploma Programme: the IBO lists the Diploma at both New Cambridge School (authorised 2019) and Arboleda School (authorised 2022), taught in English and Spanish at Arboleda according to the IBO.
• US curriculum with Cognia accreditation: listed on the Cognita pages for both Redcol schools alongside the Colombian and IB programmes.
• French and German: available in schools linked to those national systems. Arboleda's Cognita page lists English and Spanish, while a local press interview with its rector mentions English and French, so ask what is actually taught.

In practice, "bilingual" in Cali usually means Spanish and English with increasing English exposure. Ask how many hours a week your child would spend in English at the entry grade, and what the school does for a child with no Spanish.

Schools to look at first

New Cambridge School, Pance

New Cambridge School is a Redcol school at Cra 125 in Pance, taking children from 12 months to Grade 12. Cognita lists the Colombian curriculum, the IB Diploma for Grades 11 and 12 and the US curriculum with Cognia accreditation, and says the school uses HighScope in preschool and the Yale RULER programme for social and emotional learning. Its admissions page describes five steps: online form and fee, documents, a family interview plus either a "Magic Day" or admission test depending on grade, a result, and then tuition payment or a waiting list.

This is one school, not two. It is also listed as Colegio Nuevo Cambridge Cali, the Spanish name the IBO uses (as Redcol Colegio Nuevo Cambridge Cali), with the same Pance campus. The two listings are a reminder to check names when you search. The admissions page describes sibling and alumni benefits, so ask for the exact terms if you have more than one child.

Arboleda School, Pance

Arboleda School is also in Pance, on Avenida La María, and is another school listed by Cognita under Redcol. It takes children from age 1 to 17, and Cognita lists the Colombian curriculum, the IB and the US curriculum with Cognia accreditation. The IBO lists its Diploma Programme. It is described as having a learning support team, which is worth asking about in detail if your child needs support.

The two Pance schools are close to each other, so compare them on the same day, and keep in mind they are two different schools in the same group. Visit at drop-off, ask each one about its calendar, and ask who is responsible for bilingual and learning support in the grade you need.

Fees and what to budget

Cali schools rarely publish full tuition tables. A June 2025 practical guide for expats, written by a parent, put private tuition at roughly COP 1 million to 4 million per child per month, usually including transport, lunch and some activities, which is roughly US$250 to US$1,000 at current exchange rates. It says top-tier bilingual schools may also require a one-off payment of roughly COP 10 million to 30 million, which the author describes as a mandatory donation rather than tuition. This is a single blog, not a published fee schedule, so ask each school for its current fee sheet.

Prices are in pesos, which adds currency risk for families paid in dollars or euros. Ask how many instalments are charged a year.

• Application fee: paid when the online form is submitted.
• Enrolment (matrícula): paid yearly to confirm the place.
• Donation or debenture: one-off, at some schools only.
• Transport and meals: sometimes included, sometimes billed separately.
• Uniforms, materials and exams: IB and Cognia exam fees, devices and trips.

Practical advice

Check the calendar before the curriculum. A mismatch with your move date can cost a term. Ask each school how mid-year entry works and whether students can transfer at the end of a semester.

Test the journey. Drive from your address to the school at 6:30 am on a weekday. If it takes more than 40 minutes, discuss transport options before you apply.

Ask for the full price in writing. Request a sheet that lists tuition, matrícula, any donation, transport, meals and exam fees, so you can compare schools on the same basis.

Prepare documents early. Schools may ask for interviews, financial documents and previous school reports, and students entering after first grade may take a placement test. Starting the process several months before your move avoids a rushed decision.

Compare more schools

For a wider view of the city, see Best international schools in Cali (ranking).

More guides to schools in Cali

• Best international schools in Cali (ranking)

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose a calendar A or calendar B school in Cali?

Choose by your move date. Calendar A runs from late January to early December and, for 2026, Cali's official dates were 26 January to 7 December. Calendar B runs from September to June. Private schools may use either if they complete 40 weeks, so ask each school for exact dates.

Which schools in Cali offer the IB Diploma?

The IBO lists the Diploma Programme at both New Cambridge School (also listed as Colegio Nuevo Cambridge) and Arboleda School, two separate Redcol schools in Pance. Cognita also lists a US curriculum with Cognia accreditation for both. Confirm subject choice and entry requirements with the admissions office before you apply.

How much does an international school cost in Cali?

One 2025 expat blog put private tuition at roughly COP 1 million to 4 million per child per month, often including transport and lunch. It says some top schools also ask for a one-off payment of roughly COP 10 million to 30 million. Treat that as a guide and request a written fee sheet from each school.