Private Schools in the Central Valley and Beyond
American International School Pre-K – 12
School of 214 students located in Cariari, Heredia. Classes are taught in English and the school follows the United States calendar and curriculum. English (ESL) and Spanish (SSL) as second languages are both offered for an additional monthly fee. What distinguishes AIS from other international schools is its family-oriented environment, student to teacher ratio of 12:1, and acceptance of all siblings including those with special needs. Two diplomas are offered at AIS, the National Baccalaureate (MEP) and the United States Diploma.
Contact information:
- Telephone: 506-2293-2567
- Fax: 506-2239-0625
- Director: Charles Prince
- Email: ais@aiscr.com
- Website: www.aiscr.com
Blue Valley School Pre-K – 12
School of 670 students located in Escazu. Classes are taught in English, and Spanish is offered at an additional fee with private tutors. What distinguishes Blue Valley from other international schools is that they run on both the Costa Rican and the United States calendar. This school offers the IB (International Baccalaureate) and the MEP (National Baccalaureate) but does not offer the United States Diploma.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2215-2203
- Director: Marie Gutiewirez
- Fax: 506-2215-2205
- Website: webmaster@bluevalley.ed.cr
- Email: mail@bluevalley.ed.cr
British SchoolPre-K – 12
School of 900 students is located in Rhomoser and operates on the Costa Rican calendar. Classes are taught in English; however, ESL and SSL are offered only at the primary level. Eighty-five percent of the student body is native Costa Ricans while the remainder is made up of Latin Americans from other countries. What distinguish the British School are the International Primary Curriculum, the International Certificate of Education, and the (IB) International Baccalaureate.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2220-0131
- Director: Prevor Davis
- Fax: 506-2232-7833
- Website: www.bscr.ed.cr
- Email:british@racsa.co.cr
Country Day School Pre-K – 12
School of 860 students located in the hills of Escazu, which operates on the United States calendar with a United States curriculum. Classes are taught in English; ESL (English as a second language) is not offered and children that do not speak fluent English are not accepted. On the other hand, this is one of the most prestigious schools in Costa Rica. CDS offers the National Baccalaureate as well as the United States Diploma. Country Day also has a school in Brazilito near Tamarindo in Guanacaste which is convenient for families living in Nosara.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2289-0919
- Director: Dr. Gloria Doll
- Fax: 506-2228-2076
- Principal: Mr. Harry Grzelewski
- Email: Gloria_doll@cds.ed.cr
European School Pre-K – 12
School of 490 students in San Pablo de Heredia follows its own calendar from late July to June, breaking every nine to ten weeks for short vacations. Classes are taught in English only and children that do not speak English are not accepted. Both the IB (International Baccalaureate) and the National Baccalaureate are offered at the European School.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2261-0717
- Director: Anne Aiomson
- Fax: 506-2263-5793
- Website: www.europeanschool.com
- Email: info@europeanschool.com
Falcon International Pre-K – 12
International school located on the Pacific Coast outside of Jaco and just one hour from the central valley operating on the US calendar has a student count of 100 with a student ratio of 8/1. Technology and environmental awareness are integrated at all levels of the educational process. FIS is the only school in CR that applies Measurement of Academic Performance Testing. This school provides service for children with special needs. In addition to the US Diploma and the CR Diploma offered at this school, every child will be Microsoft Certified upon graduation (MOS).
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2637-7400
- Director: Dr. Edwin Arrieta
- Email: admin@falconicr.com
- CIEO: Martha I Felhofer
- Website: www.falconicr.com
International Christian School Pre-K – 12
Located in San Miguel, Santo Domingo de Heredia. This school operates on the United States calendar year and curriculum. With 488 students, ICS is a multi-national school teaching in English. What distinguishes this school from others is that it promotes the active lordship of Jesus Christ in all respects of life with Bible classes being a part of the curriculum. ICS has both ESL and SSL program, and offers both the National Baccalaureate and the United States Diploma.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2241-1445
- Director/Owner: William Tabor
- Email: aulavirtual@icsostarica.org
- Principals: Mike & David Tabor
- Website: www.icscr.net
Lincoln School Pre-K – 12
Largest private school in Costa Rica with 1100 children enrolled, located in the mountains of Moravia outside of San Jose. Classes are taught in English following the United States curriculum and calendar. ESL & SSL are offered in addition to the regular schedule. What distinguishes Lincoln from other schools is that it offers all three diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, National Baccalaureate, and the United States Diploma.
- Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2247-6600
- Director: Jack Bimrose
- Fax: 506-247-6700
- Principal: Charles Prince
- Email: director@lincoln.ed.cr
- Website: www.lincoln.ed.cr
Marian Baker Pre-K – 12
School of 211 students located in San Ramon de Trios, between San Jose and Cartago. This school offers a United States and Costa Rica based curriculum following the United States calendar. Classes are taught in English; however, ESL and SSL are taught for those that are not at the same level as the other children. The school is smaller in size offering more personalized attention for each student. Marian Baker offers both the National Baccalaureate and the United States Diploma.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2273-0024
- Director: Linda Niehaus
- Fax: 506-2273-4609
- Principal: Judy Crook
- Email: Website: www.marianbakerschool.com
Pan American School Pre-K – 11
School of 600 students located in San Antonio de Belen, and operates on a Costa Rica calendar with a Costa Rica Curriculum. Classes are taught in English and in Spanish. This is the only school on the list that doesn’t go to the 12th grade. Classes go to the 11th grade finishing with National Baccalaureate. This school is very popular in the Central Valley because of the excellent education that is offered.
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 506-2293-7393
- Director-Alegria Lores
- Fax: 506-2293-7392
- Website: www.panam.ed.cr
- Email: info@panam.ed.cr
This is only a small list of schools available to students in Costa Rica. There are many good Catholic and other multi-national schools that are not included in this list. This list is comprised of the more popular schools in the Central Valley.
