Olinca is an international school of academic excellence that develops competencies and life skills from a global perspective through an integrated curriculum, providing socio-emotional support with a deep commitment to society and the planet.
Since 2022, we have been part of the Cognita group, headquartered in London, which brings together select schools from the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, and other countries
Benefits for Our Students
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Inspire
Grow
Care
Broaden
Our Roots
To understand Olinca, we must go back to the origin of its name, which comes from two Nahuatl words: ollin (movement) and atl (water), which together evoke the idea of water in motion.
This meaning reflects the essence of our school: we are change, evolution, and constant innovation. We keep moving to respond to a dynamic world, without losing sight of what defines us. Deeply proud of our Mexican roots and, at the same time, open to the world, we are a community that is local in spirit and international in outlook.
Since our founding in 1973, we have consistently led the way in new educational trends, such as adopting the International Baccalaureate into our curriculum in the 1980s. Likewise, we introduced a community service program spanning from Kindergarten through High School, and more recently, incorporated the global goals of the 2030 Agenda across all our academic programs.
Our Founder, "Miss Tere"
A visionary woman and education leader, she opened the door to global standards for students around the world. Her commitment to Mexico and to education left a lasting mark on thousands of students through the International Baccalaureate.
In 1973, María Teresa Compeán Palacios, with a deep love for Mexico and an international vision, founded Colegio Olinca with the mission of shaping better human beings. She founded the IB program in Mexico and championed it as a member of the IBO Council (International Baccalaureate Organization), headquartered in Switzerland. She also founded and promoted national and international student and teacher exchanges, community service programs, and continuous innovation. In addition, she was involved in numerous foundations supporting children, young people, older adults, and cultural projects.
She spoke at countless conferences on education and leadership, both in Mexico and abroad, in countries including Argentina, the United States, Canada, England, Cuba, Ecuador, Switzerland, India, and Singapore.
She co-founded and advised on curriculum development for schools throughout Mexico, including Colegio Arjí in Villahermosa, Tabasco; Colegio Nautilus in Acapulco, Guerrero; Colegio Argos, Instituto Cenca, and Colegio Buena Tierra in Metepec, State of Mexico; and Colegio Amaranto in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.
THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT IN LIFE, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF TOUCHING THEIR LIVES, FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Looking to the Future
We champion cutting-edge education, incorporating robotics, design, and STEAM workshops into our curriculum. We complement this training with top-tier educational platforms that enrich learning and strengthen digital skills. In this way, our students not only gain knowledge but also become critical, creative, and responsible users of digital environments.
We are a community passionate about meaningful education, with a deep social and environmental commitment, driven by the goal of making everything we do count — for ourselves and for others.
2024 — Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary accreditation, making Olinca the first school in Mexico to offer the Cambridge Early Years programme.
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