Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced

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Founded in 1941, Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced is a private, Catholic, bilingual, and co-educational school in Bogotá, Colombia. Affiliated with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), it's fondly known as "San Bartolo." The school's campus sits within the traditional La Merced neighborhood in downtown Bogotá.

As a member of ACODESI (Association of Jesuit Schools in Colombia), FLACSI (Latin American Federation of the Society of Jesus), and UNCOLI (Association of International Schools of Bogota), San Bartolomé La Merced is part of a network of high-quality educational institutions. The school offers the Cambridge International Curriculum, providing students with a globally recognized education that prepares them for university and beyond.

Renowned for its academic excellence, San Bartolomé La Merced is considered one of Colombia's most prestigious schools. Its curriculum emphasizes a humanistic and social approach to education, fostering well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of leadership and social responsibility. Since its founding, it has consistently ranked among the top high schools in the nation^[1].

San Bartolo graduates have gone on to achieve remarkable success in diverse fields. Many have reached prominent positions in Colombian politics, including former ministers, congressmen, Bogotá city mayors, and ambassadors. Others have become scientists, journalists, academics, artists, and entrepreneurs, leaving their mark on Colombian society.^[2]  

In addition to its strong academic program, San Bartolomé La Merced offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, clubs, and societies. The school's emphasis on community service and social responsibility has also contributed to its reputation as an emblematic institution in Colombia.

ASIA (Antiqui Societatis Iesu Alumni) is the universal acronym representing the Alumni Associations of the Society of Jesus. ASIA Bartolina is the alumni association of San Bartolomé La Merced, a foundation dedicated to leading philanthropic initiatives, organizing business leadership forums, hosting sports tournaments, and fostering social connections among its members.

Origins and Development:

In the 1930s, political pressure from the Colombian government regarding the management of the National School of San Bartolomé (now Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé) presented financial challenges for the Society of Jesus. To ensure educational continuity, the Jesuits initiated the construction of a new school on La Merced farm in 1941. This marked the birth of Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced.

Transformation and Modernization:

From its founding until 1997, Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced operated as an all-boys boarding school. Recognizing the evolving needs of education, the school embarked on a modernization process. This included transitioning to a co-educational and bilingual model, reflecting a more inclusive and globally oriented approach.

Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced offers a comprehensive education spanning pre-school, preparatory, secondary, and high school levels within its single campus. The school's all-year programs provide a solid foundation in liberal arts while also offering a variety of elective courses to cater to students' interests.

To enhance global perspectives and language skills, the school collaborates with select institutions worldwide to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) programs overseas. These programs provide students with immersive language learning experiences in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, and New Zealand.

• Adolfo Carvajal Quelquejeu, politician
• Lorenzo García, industrialist
• Enrique Luque Carulla, entrepreneur, former owner of the Colombian supermarket chain, Carulla
• Fernando Londoño Hoyos, former minister of Colombia
• Juan Camilo Restrepo, former minister of Colombia
• Carlos Eduardo Ronderos Torres, former minister of Colombia
• Guillermo Fernández de Soto, former minister of foreign affairs of Colombia
• Anibal Fernández de Soto, former mayor of Bogota
• Augusto Ramirez Ocampo, former mayor of Bogota
• Fernando Panesso Serna, ambassador
• Salomón Hakim, neurosurgeon, professor and researcher
• Rene Van Hissenhoven, geologist
• Crístobal de Araque Ponce de León, perpetual chancellor of Our Lady of the Rosary University
• Rodrigo Losada Lora, political scientist
• Fernando Garavito, journalist
• José Fernando Neira, journalist
• Julio Sánchez Cristo, Colombian radio personality
• Hernán Peláez Restrepo, journalist
• Felipe Zuleta Lleras, journalist
• Gustavo Gómez Córdoba, journalist
• Fernando Hinestrosa Forero, attorney, former justice of Colombian Supreme Court, President Universidad Externado
• Roberto Suárez Franco, attorney
• Rodrigo Noguera Calderón, attorney
• Ernesto Barrera Duque, attorney
• Diego López Medina, professor at Universidad de los Andes, Faculty of Law, judge ad-hoc of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
• Antonio Barreto, professor at Universidad de los Andes, Faculty of Law
• Aquiles Arrieta, Judge Ad-Hoc Constitutional Court of Colombia
• Nicolás del Castillo Mathieu, historian
• Antonio Abello, former minister of Colombia and governor of Atlantico department
• Jaime Herrera Pontón, physician
• Jaime Pastrana Arango, physician
• Alejandro Martinez, artist
• Nicolás Montero, artist
• Héctor Osuna, architect
• Luis Ernesto Lobo-Guerrero, Professor at University of Groningen (Netherlands)
• Juan Diego Soler, astrophysicist at the Institute d'Astrophysique Spatiale Universite Paris Sud
• Mario Andrés Salazar, Biologist at the Ozcan Laboratory (Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School)

• List of Jesuit educational institutions

• San Bartolomé La Merced School site
• Colombian Association of Jesuit Schools site (ACODESI)
• Internationals Schools Union (UNCOLI)
• Antiqui Societas Iesu Alumni San Bartolomé La Merced (ASIA - Bartolina)
• es:Colegio San Bartolomé La Merced (Bogotá) (in Spanish)