Panajachel Colegio Internacional

Panajachel Colegio Internacional (PCI) is a non-profit, Board of Directors-governed child-centered school with an environment that requires students to take responsibility for their learning and behavior. Students are at the center of each decision we make as a school. PCI provides an excellent university-preparatory education to our students, who continue in universities both abroad and in Guatemala. Our student body is diverse--Guatemalans and some expats. Half of our students receive significant scholarship assistance. We provide the best education in the Lake Atitlan area, comprised of communities of indigenous Maya, other Guatemalans, and expats.

For the current school year we have a rich team of teachers and administrators who bring a wealth of educational knowledge, experience and skills to our school. 

We are accredited by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. National accreditation affirms our belief that while we offer a program that meets or exceeds the high standards of an American and international education, we also fulfill the needs of all those who intend to further their education in Guatemala.

PCI’s mission is to serve the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala by providing an outstanding bilingual education—English and Spanish—to a diverse international, regional and indigenous student body in a challenging environment of educational excellence. We endeavor to guide our students to their highest potential by encouraging hard work, responsibility, critical thinking, social accountability, and independence in learning.

We provide a balanced social, physical, and academic curriculum in an atmosphere of mutual respect, dignity, and trust, thereby equipping our students to be productive citizens in the changing global society. We utilize advanced methods, resources, and technology in innovative and authentic ways to enhance learning and communication.

WE BELIEVE... 

• We are a community of learners—students, faculty, and parents—working together to build a safe, supportive, and challenging environment of educational excellence.
• Student opinions and ideas are vital; students are empowered to achieve at their highest potential when they are actively involved and share responsibility for their own learning.
• A quality education enables students to make positive life choices in caring for themselves, others, and the environment.
• Independence of spirit is essential in exploring, communicating, and defending our beliefs.
• Diversity strengthens and enriches the climate and culture of our school; it helps us to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities and contributions of each individual.
• Multilingual learning encourages respectful collaboration and leads to better cultural understanding. 
• In order to grow we must embrace change, take chances, and be challenged by high expectations in a climate where ongoing improvements are valued and achieved.
• Education is a life-long process which offers great opportunity while imposing the responsibility of courage, integrity, and ethical conduct.
• The learning process is more important than the outcome; knowing how to find an answer or ask a question is often more useful than the answer itself. 
• Teachers, administrators, and staff will flourish in a community that provides opportunities to grow, develop, and learn together in all aspects of their professional lives.