Bogota - School Report Question and Answers
Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
This is common. I am perplexed by reviews that claim otherwise. The staff will either not help, or can't. It is hard to change ingrained attitudes no matter how much attention is paid. - Mar 2015
My son never felt this. There is a small group of Colombian students at CGB who have been there long-term but the number of continually-rotating international students has kept this group reasonably open and accepting of new students. I think it is a much better situation at CGB than at other schools here in Bogota and better than other international schools my boys have attended. - Feb 2015
The school has zero tolerance for bullying and we saw that firsthand when our child had a bullying experience (with another American child), and the school nipped it right in the bud. I can't say strongly enough how inclusive the school is. They foster an environment of acceptance and that really showed across the students, the parents, the faculty, administration and staff. - Jan 2015
Children report that extensive bullying is allowed and happens to the American kids. Children feel there is a lot of racial bias against children who are not Caucasian or Hispanic with light skin. The society is very racist and Colombian culture class teaches the "social pyramid." Colombians with white skin are at the top of the pyramid and those with black skin are at the bottom. My child reported being taught this in class, and he/she was also taught that mixing races is "wrong." - Aug 2014
Yes, being excluded, but I think this is to be expected a school with 90% local students (though their stats say differently, a high percentage of their "US" citizens are dual citizens and have extended family & friends in Colombia; many have grown up here.In my daughter's class of 120 students, as far as I know, there is one other North American and 3 South Koreans and that's it for foreigners (possibly some students from Mexico or S. Am. countries of which I'm unaware).Which is fine -- it gives you a "local" experience and is great for her Spanish (the social language is almost entirely Spanish).However, these kids have been together mostly since K4, have well-established social cliques, and you shouldn't expect your child to break into those and be fully accepted (even if they make a big splash initially as "the new kid").There is a sizable group of locals (maybe 15% of the class) which is open to including newcomers. - May 2012
Those I know are very happy at this school. No bullying or exclusion. - Sep 2010
