Education
Dependent Education Last Updated: 10/10/2004 10:58 AM
Dependent children in Costa Rica have several K thru 12 American accredited schools: the American International School (AIS), Country Day School (CDS) and the Lincoln School, all of which offer college-prep curriculums and operate on a U.S.-style, August through June schedule, and two schools on the local schedule, Blue Valley and the British School. Please note that the International Bachillariate program is offered only at the Lincoln, British and Blue Valley Schools.
In order to avoid any problems with the school enrollment process, parents are encouraged to send the required documents before you arrive at post. These documents include the original school transcripts for the past two years, results of recent standardized achievements tests, copy of passport, vaccination record, two passport size photos, letter of recommendation from the principal or counselor of the previous school. Also, the Lincoln School, Blue Valley, the British School and CDS, all require an admissions test. The results of this test often take up to three days to be released and students will not be accepted until the results are known. AIS does test at admission only for placement to assure the student is at the proper grade and subject level for his or her ability. As many schools operate on a limited enrollment basis, failure to reserve a space early may preclude admission. Therefore, it is highly recommended that Embassy families with school-age children contact the selected school as soon as possible, ideally before May for the following August. This is especially important, if the family will arrive at post after school begins.
Special Needs Education Last Updated: 10/10/2004 11:03 AM
Although parents with special needs children should be aware that the schools serving the post community have limited resources and/or programs for students with special needs, schools in Costa Rica are very aware of these issues and will make an effort to accommodate special needs students. However, parents should check with the individual school with the particulars of their child’s needs before making a decision to enroll. In an effort to provide some general guidance as to what each school can provide, the following are excerpts from the school directors of to of the most subscribed “American Schools” at post.
“At CDS we have two learning center specialists for PK-4 grades who work with children in math and English who have MILD learning problems, both in the classroom and in pull-out situations. In middle and high school, special tutoring is available, but no modified programs. The environment there is a rigorous college prep atmosphere. We do not have the resources to work with children with significant learning disabilities at any level at CDS. CDS is wheelchair accessible in preschool, elementary, and middle school, but because the school is built on hilly terrain, it is a challenge for students in a wheel chair or on crutches. The exception is the three-story high school building, which has only stairs, with no ramps or elevators to the upper floors. Bottom line: This is not the ideal environment for a student using a wheel chair. Robert Trent, Director”
"The American International School has a tradition of meeting the needs of students, whether they are diagnosed with ADD or dyslexia, have other learning difficulties, physical or emotional problems, and or need special help to learn English or Spanish. We have a "Learning Support Program Building" (originally the Optimal Match Building) and are proud of the way our regular classroom teachers detect difficulties, refer students, and work with them with special programs and approaches. The only caveat to our accepting children with special needs is that we expect that all school age siblings also matriculate into our school. We will not accept nor do we think it fair for siblings to be in separate schools. Our school is for everyone.
Wheelchair bound students could be a problem. Although we have a one-story building without many long staircases, we would have to begin to install ramps as soon as we learned of the enrollment of a student who requires wheelchair access. Our Maintenance Staff are helpful to people with physical challenges and, especially in the elementary school, the movement from class to class would be infrequent and assisted. We would need to evaluate candidates on a case-by-case basis. Larue Goldfinch, Director"
Private schools operating on the U.S. schedule with classes in English, include:
American International School: Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade; 280 students; classes in English. Enrollment fee, $1,500 one time payment per family, grades 1–12; Registration $550 per student, annual tuition: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten (half day) $2.500; Kindergarten (full ay) $3675; 1st through 12th grade, $6150; bus fee, $900 annually.
For more information contact
Director, Larue Goldfinch
Apartado 4941–1000
San Jose
Telephone: (506) 293-2567
E-mail: ais@cra.ed.cr
Country Day School. Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade; 800 students; classes in English. Enrollment fee, $1.000 per year; Annual tuition: pre-kindergarten half-day, $3.037.00; Pre-Kinder full day $5215.00 kindergarten half day, $3.954; kindergarten and prep full day, $5.925.00; grades 1–12, $8.025.00; bus fee depends on the location of your residence.
For more information contact:
Director, Robert Trent
Apartado 1139-1250, San Jose
Telephone: (506) 289-8406
Lincoln School. Pre-kindergarten through grade 12; 750 students; classes in English. One-time membership per family, $1000. Registration fee, $50 per year; Monthly tuition: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten (half day), $260; preparatory $325 grade 1-5 $350; grades 6-8, $380; grades 9-12, $405.
For more information contact:
Director, Jack J. Bimrose
Apartado 1919–1000, San Jose
Telephone: 247-0800
The following school has classes in English but is a bi-lingual school requiring two classes in Spanish and are on the local school year.
Blue Valley. Kindergarten through grade 11, 575 students; both programs (U.S. and Costarican calendar) Enrollment fee, $1000, monthly tuition: Kindergarten $260, Elementary $360, Middle school $390, High school $415. Bus fee around $50 per student.
For more information contact:
Maria Cristina Urbina Apartado
Of the above schools, (American International School (AIS) and Country Day School (CDS) are ones favored by Mission personnel. They are the most similar to American schools, and their familiarity may help ease the transition for some students.
***There are several preschools available for children, ages 1½–6 years that include:
Ages 2–6, instruction in Spanish. Monthly fees: $90 with a matriculation fee of approximately $80.
For more information contact:
Director, Nora Masis
Apartado 6063, San Jose
Telephone 232–8496
Home Two Montessori. Ages 1½–5 years; 60 students, instruction in English and Spanish. Enrollment fee, $130. Monthly tuition: $195; materials, $160; transportation, $35. School calendar: February through November. Hours: 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Day Care in the afternoon.
For more information contact:
Alexandra Franco de Oller
1108-1250 Escazu, Costa Rica
759–1007 Centro Colon, San Jose
Telephone, 232–1805
Koala Day Care: Ages 6 months to 3.5 years; bilingual. Enrollment fee $100 per year, Materials $100, monthly tuition $200 Monday trough Friday.
For more information contact:
Karla Maria Chacon
Tel: 228-5196 or 289-7632
San Rafael de Escazu
