Balboa High School in the Canal Zone
HISTORY
Balboa High School was located in Balboa the
Republic of Panama in an area which, many referred to as the old Canal Zone. Historically, the secondary schools in the canal
area came into being upon the completion of construction of the Panama Canal. In 1914, the one secondary school building was
located in the community of Gatun. With the completion of the canal in 1914, the secondary school was moved to Ancon. In 1916,
the high school was opened in Balboa.
Balboa High was a fully accredited institution
of learning. Founded in 1914 as a secondary school for the Panama Canal Company, it later became part of the DoDDS system
in 1979. The North Central Accrediting Association accredited BHS.
Balboa High School students
were young people from all over the world. Many of them were dependents of U.S. military personnel stationed in Panama. These
dependents plus U.S. civilian students, Panamanian, and third country nationals, all together, create a dynamic cultural diversity
in our student body. One that was quite unique. The last graduating class was BHS 1999. BHS is now history for that year what
was known as the old Canal Zone was turned over to Panama.
