| Before I talk about Costa Rican schools, I would like
to share with you what one foreign resident said motivated
him to move here to educate his children:
One of the many ills of our American society is, simply we
are TOO affluent. I know many are starving and have no shelter.
I am not addressing this segment of our society. Rather, I
am addressing the great masses in the middle and upper strata.
We have too much house, too many cars, too many things, too
much stuff. Add to this, the influence of the reactionary
baby-boomer parents who wish to give their children everything
they didn't have, and you end up with a population of children
who have unrealistic expectations of what life is, who are
disenchanted, listless, confused, depressed, and seeking an
out. They grew up in unstructured environments with too much
stuff and not enough rules, or any kind of life ethic that
would help them to grow into successful human beings. In short,
they weren't optimally deprived of money, free time, privileges,
etc.
Costa Rica isn't as affluent as the United States in the
ways that many measure, but I'll bet the kids truly understand
the principle of working to attain a goal, and I'll bet more
of them have real purpose, respect, and discipline than American
children. The United States has become too affluent and now
complacent. We are seeing the ills of this everywhere. Costa
Rica is looking pretty good.
If you have small children or teenagers, you will be pleased
to know that Costa Rica has a variety of schools from which
to choose. There are many public schools, numerous private
bilingual schools and four English-language or American schools.
The location of the school you chose will also determine your
choice of where to live. Your educational options are much
greater in the Central Valley than in rural or outlying areas.
Living out side of the Central Valley will most certainly
limit your choice of schools. Public schools in rural areas
most often offer instruction only through the ninth grade.
Public schools tend to be crowded, but legal foreign residents
are entitled to attend public schools. However, since all
instruction is in Spanish, you should not even think of enrolling
an older child in a public school unless they speak, read
and write Spanish fluently. Children younger then 10 usually
can pick up the language quickly. If your children are not
Spanish speakers, you also have the option of enrolling them
in a private school if there is one in your area.
All schools in Costa Rica that go beyond the ninth grade
have to offer the National Baccalaureate or Bachillerato
de Educación Diversificada. This degree is required
to enroll in university in Costa Rica. With this diploma
alone, however, it is very difficult if not impossible
to enter a university in the United States.
The International Baccalaureate is a second type of diploma
offered by Costa Rica's European schools. To earn this
diploma, students must complete and test in six subjects;
write an extended 4,000 word essay of independent research
guided by a faculty mentor; complete 150 hours of creative,
action and service (CAS) activities; and participate in a
critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge. The program
begins in the 11th grade and is completed in the 12th grade.
Admittance to universities in the United States, Europe and
Latin America is possible with this degree.
The third type of degree is the United States Diploma, with
which students may be admitted to universities in the United
States or Europe and other parts of the world. But you cannot
enter university in Costa Rica with this diploma alone.
All of the American Schools in Costa Rica offer the United
States Diploma. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,
(SACS), accredits all of these schools.
Where the International Baccalaureate is not offered, in
the American Schools, many students opt for two diplomas
to create more opportunities when choosing a university.
They work for the National Baccalaureate, then go onto the
12th grade for the United States Diploma. In the 12th grade
many students take advanced placement courses, to get college
credit.
Group os Students at a Costa Rican Private School
All Costa Rican students whether they attend private or public
schools, are required to take Public Education Ministry (MEP)
testing in the sixth, ninth and 11th grade.Even if they have
perfect grades, students have to pass these tests to move
on to the next level.
The school week is Monday through Friday, and the day begins
about 7:30 a.m. and ends about 2 p.m. in private schools.
Schedules vary according to the school and age of the students.
Public schools are on a similar schedule unless they are operating
two shifts, in which case the second shift may not end before
5 or 6 p.m.
Most schools include pre-kinder to 12th grade. The school
structure is further divided into pre-kinder, kinder, primaria
(grades one to six), secundaria (seventh to 12th grades).
Some private schools have a middle school (grades seven and
eight) and high school (grades nine through 12). Class size
in private schools ranges from 20 to 30 students, depending
on the age of the students and the school. Public schools
tend to have much larger classes, ranging from 40 to 60 students.
Students are graded on a scale with 100 being the highest
possible score and 70 being the minimum passing grade. The
grading system is not on an ABCDF system as in many schools
in the United States.
Students from pre-kinder through 12th grade are required
to wear uniforms established by each school. Even private
schools require the use of uniforms. There is usually an emblem
on the chest of each school's shirt with the name of the particular
institution.
Costa Rica's private English-language American schools are
exceptional, and have high academic standards. Four are accredited
in the United States: Lincoln School, Marian Baker School,
Country Day School and American International School. Some
follow the U.S. school year schedule with vacations in June,
July and August.
Others follow the Latin American academic calendar, which
begins sometime in February and ends in November or December.
Changing from the U.S. calendar to one of these schools may
require that your children move back half a year and start
the grade over. Schools are also free to move students up
a half-year if they are academically and mature enough to
handle the change.
These schools are academically oriented and prepare students
for admittance to colleges in the United States as well as
in Costa Rica. They teach English as a primary language and
offer Spanish as a second language. In some ways these schools
are better than similar institutions in the United States
because not as many harmful distractions or bad influences
exist in Costa Rica. Children also have the opportunity to
learn a new language, which is of great value to them. The
cost of some of these private schools can be more than $300
per month.
It is a good idea to visit a number of schools before deciding
which one is right for your child. You should ask to visit
a couple of classrooms as well as see all of the facilities.
This way you may view the school's infrastructure.
Make a list of the pros and cons of each school before making
your final decision. Do not forget to see if the school is
accredited in the United States Also find out about the teacher-student
ratio. Be sure to see what percentage of the students graduate
and go on to universities in Costa Rica and the United States.
Finally, try to talk to other foreigners who have children
enrolled in private schools to see if they are satisfied with
the quality of education their children receive.
We talked with one U.S. couple who did not have the resources
to afford a private school, so they opted for home schooling.
They recommended several programs that you can find on the
Internet: http://www.calvertschool.edu, http://www.unl.edu
and http://www.keystonehighschool. com.
Our son attends the Lincoln School in Moravia. He has learned
more than at the private school he attended in the United
States. All subjects are taught in English except for an hour
a day of Spanish. There are special courses of Spanish as
a second language for students new to the country and advanced
classes for foreign students who have mastered the language
and Costa Ricans. We have seen children who move to the country
learn to speak fluent Spanish in a couple of years. Conversely,
Costa Rican children are able to master English in a short
period of time. If you listen to the high school students
speak English, you would think they grew up in North America.
It must be pointed out that, generally, the younger the student,
the more quickly a second language can be learned. Junior
and senior high school students take much longer to learn
a new language than preschool and elementary students.
The following schools are accredited in the United States.
Some follow the U.S. schedule, September to June. Others follow
the Costa Rican academic year which, begins in March and ends
in November:
Lincoln School: Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with classes
in English. Tuition about $450 monthly: Apdo. 1919, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 247-0800, Fax: 247-0900, E-mail: director@lincoln.ed.cr,
Web: http://www.lincoln.ed.cr. Follows the U.S. academic year.
American International School: Pre-kindergarten through grade
12. Classes taught in English, U.S.-style education. Annual
tuition: $1,070 pre-kindergarten, $3,130 for kindergarten
to grade 12. Apdo. 4941-1000, San José, Costa Rica.
Tel: 239-2567, Fax: 239-0625 Email: aiscr@cra.ed.cr. Follows
the U.S. school year.
Country Day School: (Escazú) Kindergarten through
grade 12. Annual tuition: $3,245 pre-kindergarten, $6,510
grades one to 12. Apdo. 8-6170, San José, Costa Rica.
Tel: 289-8406, Fax: 228-2076, E-mail: codasch@racsa.co.cr,
Web: http://www.cds.ed.cr. Follows the U.S. school year.
Country Day School Guanacaste: This new branch of the Country
Day School offers a curriculum similar to the main campus
in Escazú. Since the school is located near Flamingo,
a surfing class is available for high school students. All
subjects are taught in English except for Spanish. Future
boarding facilities are being considered. Tel: 6545042, Fax:
654-5044, E-mail: cdsgte@costarica.net, Web: http://www.cds.
ed.cr.
Marian Baker School: Kindergarten through grade 12. U.S.
curriculum with classes in English. Annual tuition: $3,550
kindergarten, $6,610 preparatory to grade six and grades seven
to 12. Apdo. 4269, San José, Costa Rica, Tel: 273-3426,
Fax: 234-4609; E-mail: mbschool@racsa.co.cr.
Web: http://www.marianbakerschool.com. Follows the U.S. school
year.
Blue Valley School: Preschool to grade 12. Tel: 215-2203,Fax:
228-8653, E-mail: bvschool@racsa.co.cr., Web: http://www.bluevalley.ed.cr.
Follows both U.S. and Costa Rican calendars.
The European School: Pre-kindergarten through six. Apdo.
177, Heredia, Costa Rica. Tel: 261-0717, Fax: 237-4063, E-mail:
eurschool@cafebritt.com or aaronson@racsa.co.cr, Web: http://www.
eupeanschool.com
The less expensive bilingual private schools below also prepare
students for U.S. colleges and universities, but follow the
Costa Rican academic year that begins in March and ends in
November.
Anglo American School: Kindergarten through grade six. Costs
about $100 a month. Apdo. 3188-1000, San José, Costa
Rica. Tel: 225-1723.
British School: Kindergarten through grade 12. Tel: 2200131,
Fax: 506-232-7822, E-mail:director@britishschoolcr.com,Web:
http://www.britishschoolscr.com.
Canadian International School Pre-kindergarten through grade
two. About $100 monthly. Apdo. 622-2300, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 272-7097; Fax: 272-6634.
Colegio Bilingue Santa Cecilia: Preschool to grade 11. Tel:
2377733, Fax: 237-4557, colsuper@racsa.co.
Colegio Humboldt: Kindergarten through grade 12. Classes
half in German, half in Spanish. Apdo. 3749, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 232-1455, Fax: 232-0093, E-mail: humboldt@racsa.co.cr,
Web: http://www. infoweb.co.cr/humbolt.
Colegio Internacional: Grades seven through 10. Apdo. 963,
2050 San Pedro, Costa Rica. Tel: 224-3136 Fax: 253-9762, E-mail:
sekerdir@racsa.co.cr, Web: http://www.sek.net.
Colegio Metodista: Kindergarten through grade 12. Classes
in English and Spanish. Apdo. 931-1000, San José, Costa
Rica. Tel: 2250655, Fax: 225-0621.
Escuela Británica: Kindergarten through grade 11,
classes half in English, half in Spanish. $150 per month.
Apdo. 8184-1000 San José, Costa Rica. Tel: 220-0131
Fax: 232-7833, E-mail: british@racsa. co.cr, Web: http://www.infoweb.co.cr/british..
Liceo Franco-Costarricense: Classes in French, English and
Spanish. Concepción de Tres Ríos. Tel: 273-4543,
Fax: 279-6615, Email: lyfrancos@racsa.co.cr, Web: http://www.lefranco.ac.cr.
International Christan School: Pre-kindergarten through grade
12. Annual tuition: $990 pre-kindergarten, $1,300 preparatory
and kindergarten, $2,200 grades one to six, $2,300 grades
7 - 8 , $2,500 grades 9 - 12. Apdo. 3512-1000, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 241-1445 Fax: 241-4944, E-mail: intchris@racsa.co.cr,
Web: http://www.icscr.net.
Pan American School: Pre-kinder through 12. Tel: 293-7393,
Fax: 298-5700, E-mail: cpcrsa@racsa.co.cr, Web: http://www.panam.ed.cr.
Located in San Antonio de Belén.
Saint Anthony School: Pre-school through grade 6. Classes
half in English, half in Spanish. Apdo. 29-2150, Moravia,
Costa Rica. Tel: 235-1017, Fax: 235-2325, E-mail: santhony@racsa.co.cr.
Saint Francis: Kindergarten through grade 11, classes in
English and Spanish. Inquire about rates. Apdo. 4405-1000,
San José Costa Rica. Tel: 297-1704 Fax: 240-9672, E-mail:
sfc@stfrancis.ed.cr.
Saint Mary's: Pre- kindergarten through grade six, about
$100 monthly. Classes in English and Spanish. Apdo. 229-1250,
Escazú, Costa Rica. Tel: 228-2003.
Summerhill Latinoamericano: Pre-school, elementary school and weekend camp programs.
Tel: 280-1933, Fax: 283-0146.
*See the yellow pages for more listings.
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