Compare American Curriculum International Schools in Costa rica

Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA) is a private day school in Guanacaste serving the international community from PreK through 12. The school teaches a U.S.-based curriculum with AP courses and dual-enrollment university partnerships. It is fully accredited KG–12 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education. The 32-acre campus features 41 classrooms, science labs, a STEM Lab, two fine arts suites, a performing arts stage, a multipurpose court, soccer and beach volleyball facilities, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, and a library. The program is bilingual in English and Spanish and integrates Spanish language and culture across the curriculum; AP Spanish Language & Composition is offered. Extracurriculars include National Honor Society, Model UN, leadership councils, and service learning, with a Community Service requirement for grades 9–12, plus dual-enrollment with Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.

Located in Sámara, Guanacaste, Mareas Academy is a bilingual school offering Pre-K through High School education. The curriculum blends the Costa Rican framework with North American standards and is delivered in Spanish and English. From Kindergarten through high school, the Singapore Math method is used, supporting strong mathematical thinking. Mareas collaborates with The Ogburn School Inc. in Florida, enabling a fully recognized international program; work is reviewed to high standards and a legally valid certificate is issued by The Ogburn School at the end of each school year. Class sizes are small, with no more than 15 students, fostering individual attention. The new campus provides flexible, technology-enabled classrooms with interactive screens and cameras, barrier-free access, movable walls, an infant reaction area, and accessible restrooms, and runs on solar energy installed in 2016. The school emphasizes field trips, project-based learning, arts, and learning through nature and culture, shaping engaged learners.

True North School in Costa Rica offers an innovative, learner-centered education with an American and bespoke curriculum delivered bilingually. The school is the exclusive Costa Rica licensee for Learning 1 To 1, providing personalized, one-to-one learning paths. AYTN, Awaken Your True North, anchors the approach, cultivating five core skills—Appreciation, Audacity, Commitment, Curiosity, and Empathy—through leadership development and wellbeing. The day opens with a 20-minute skills session, then blends project-based learning with academic work and a Goal Time block to support autonomy and collaboration. The curriculum uses US and national standards as benchmarks across math, science, ELA, and Spanish, with enrichments in art, music, and physical education. A distinctive feature is the Conscious Innovation Lab, the first of its kind in Costa Rica, where students work on real-world problems. Accreditation by the Costa Rica Ministry of Education in 2020 and Cognia in 2022 confirms the school's international alignment. Committed to excellence.

American International School of Costa Rica (AIS) is a private, co-educational, non-profit day school serving ages 3 through 18 in Heredia, near San José. The school follows an American curriculum with Advanced Placement courses and offers both U.S. and Costa Rican high school diplomas, enabling students to pursue college paths in the United States or locally. Beginning in high school, students prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, with some taking honors and AP courses. AIS emphasizes critical thinking, writing, creativity, physical activity, leadership, and global mindedness across its programs. Complementary offerings include Music, Art, Drama, MakerSpace, Life Skills, Phys-Ed, Science Lab, and Model UN, plus Learning Support, SSL, and ESL. Facilities emphasize technology integration and hands-on learning, with a small campus that includes a MakerSpace, Science Lab, and a soccer field. The school has a longstanding, international community, supported by college counseling and a non-profit, service-minded culture for global opportunities.

Country Day School, Costa Rica (CDS) is a US-accredited private day school serving an international community from ages 1 to 18. Founded in 1963, it joined Nord Anglia Education in 2018, strengthening its offerings through collaborations with Juilliard, MIT, and UNICEF. The curriculum follows US frameworks: Elementary and Middle School use Common Core standards; High School leads to the US high school diploma alongside the Costa Rican Bachillerato, with more than 25 AP courses and the AP Capstone Diploma. Students prepare for university with mathematics built on Harvard Pure Math, Harvard Engineering, and MIT curricula, and Mandarin is available as a high school elective. The campus in San Rafael de Alajuela is LEED-certified, solar powered, and designed to save water and energy. It features 81 classrooms, seven STEAM spaces, arts and athletic facilities, and outdoor areas. Global Campus connects students with peers, enabling field experiences, international trips, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Lighthouse International School is an independent private, college-preparatory school in Costa Rica that serves students from ages 3 to 18. The curriculum combines an American-pattern education with IB Diploma Programme options and a bespoke program, including a High School path that awards the U.S. High School Diploma and the Costa Rican MEP diploma while offering the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11–12. Core subjects are taught in English by native-speaking teachers, with Spanish instruction to support bilingual growth; the primary language of instruction is English. The school emphasizes inquiry, leadership and character development within a Christ-centered environment. Founded in 2008, Lighthouse is accredited by the Ministerio de Educación Pública and authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme, affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization. The program runs Preschool through IB, with Applied Technology from Pre‑K to 8th grade and a STEM Fair, plus arts, music, sports, service learning and daily Community Time devoted to spiritual reflection.

Pan-American School is a private international day school in San Antonio de Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica, serving students aged 1 to 18. It offers the IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) alongside an American Curriculum and a Bespoke Curriculum, delivering a bilingual English-Spanish education within an inclusive, non-selective program. The school is the first IB Continuum in Costa Rica and is accredited by NEASC-CIE in the United States. The curriculum emphasizes skill development and a broad range of arts, design, and physical education, with social-emotional support and a focus on service and global sustainability. Languages taught are English and Spanish. The campus spans 35,000 m² in natural setting, with five classrooms, academic facilities, sports fields, and recreational spaces. It has 24-hour supervised entrances, Carbon Neutral certification via solar energy and recycling, and spaces rentable when not in session. Extracurriculars include Model United Nations (PASMUN), attracting over 300 participants from eight countries.

Golden Valley School is an international day school in Costa Rica serving ages 0 to 18. The program blends Montessori philosophy with the International Baccalaureate framework (PYP, MYP, DP) and an American Diploma option, with families able to choose Bachillerato MEP in final years. English is the primary language of instruction, with immersion from early years, and German taught as a third language; in primary, English is delivered for about eight hours weekly. The school emphasizes inquiry-based, cross-disciplinary learning and project experiences, supported by digital platforms that track progress and offer enrichment. Since 1997, Golden Valley has focused on developing principled, well-informed students who contribute to their communities. A STEAM approach sits beside active sport and arts programs. Extras include a Gifted Students Program, university counseling, and social responsibility initiatives such as COEEPI, linking students with Indigenous communities and international university pathways.

Golden Valley School is an international day school in Costa Rica serving ages 0 to 18. The program blends Montessori philosophy with the International Baccalaureate framework (PYP, MYP, DP) and an American Diploma option, with families able to choose Bachillerato MEP in final years. English is the primary language of instruction, with immersion from early years, and German taught as a third language; in primary, English is delivered for about eight hours weekly. The school emphasizes inquiry-based, cross-disciplinary learning and project experiences, supported by digital platforms that track progress and offer enrichment. Since 1997, Golden Valley has focused on developing principled, well-informed students who contribute to their communities. A STEAM approach sits beside active sport and arts programs. Extras include a Gifted Students Program, university counseling, and social responsibility initiatives such as COEEPI, linking students with Indigenous communities and international university pathways.

Berkeley Academy Costa Rica is a private K–12 international school in Santa Ana, established in 2013. It delivers a U.S.-based high school program alongside the Costa Rican National Baccalaureate, awarding diplomas for each track. Instruction is English for U.S. required courses and Spanish for Costa Rican requirements, following a North American two-semester calendar. The curriculum includes the U.S. High School program grounded in UC/CSU A-G Requirements and more than 25 AP courses plus 20 Honors courses, with exams such as AP, PSAT variants, and the SAT. The school promotes bilingualism and multicultural perspectives, supported by comprehensive college counseling. A forthcoming state-of-the-art campus will feature a fully-equipped gym, a regulation soccer pitch, a semi-Olympic pool, an amphitheater, multiple auditoria, four student-research laboratories, four library centers, an art studio, and 60 classrooms. A Senior Thesis in Grade 12 (15 pages, 20 pages for honors) is required, defended under faculty supervision, along with internships and a Global Service program.

Blue Valley School is a private international campus in Guachipelín, Escazú, enrolling ages 2 to 18. The school delivers a bilingual English–Spanish curriculum from preschool through grade 12, blending Costa Rican requirements with international frameworks. Students can earn a U.S. High School Diploma, a NEASC-accredited American diploma, and the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12. The IBDP is bilingual in English and Spanish, with mandatory English and Spanish A Language and Literature courses, and includes Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service. The Costa Rican Bachillerato is awarded after government exams in 11th grade, while the U.S. Diploma is earned by meeting Blue Valley's requirements in 12th grade, and the IB Diploma after two years in the program. English is the primary language of instruction for most subjects; Spanish supports campus life and bilingual proficiency. Modern facilities support science, arts, and collaborative learning everyday.

Marian Baker School (MBS) is a private international school in Costa Rican Central Valley serving students aged 2 to 18. The campus overlooks San José and offers English-dominant instruction with Spanish taught across all grades and French introduced early. The school provides the IB Diploma Programme alongside the Cognia High School Diploma and the Costa Rican high school diploma, enabling graduates to pursue colleges worldwide, including the United States and Costa Rica. In addition to the bespoke curriculum and American-style options, MBS emphasizes bilingual literacy and prepares students for diverse paths. Facilities include a gym, a library, a cafeteria, and modern classrooms for middle and high school, with dedicated spaces and campus spaces for efficient movement. Extracurriculars feature Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Student Government, and AASCA sports; arts electives include drama, band, and cinematography. The school is nut-free and promotes wellness through nutrition and physical education for all.

Washington School – San Jose offers education for ages 3 through 18. It follows an American curriculum with AP courses alongside a Costa Rican program and is approved by the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education. ESL support is available, and faculty include educators affiliated with Harvard, UC Berkeley, and the University of Costa Rica. The school emphasizes Thought-Based Learning (TBL) and integrates Project-Based Learning (PBL), Solution-Based Learning (SBL), Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and Creative Arts-Based Learning (ABL). This approach helps students develop critical thinking and digital fluency for leadership in a progressive society. Washington School offers a Model United Nations program (WCRMUN) and a Soccer Team, with field trips as part of school life. Creative arts, including a Talent Show and video activities, are woven into learning. University connections provide exposure to international universities and opportunities for engagement with global peers.

West College is a bilingual school in Guachipelín, Escazú, Costa Rica serving students aged 2 to 17. English is taught at all levels, and Mandarin is taught from Kinder through 10th. Core subjects include English, Reading and Writing, Mandarin, Science and Research, Math, Thinking Skills, and Literacy (Preschool and Preparatory). Complementary subjects include Educational Technology and Robotics (Preparatoria). Preschool, Primary, and Secondary programs (Preescolar, Primaria, Secundaria) are complemented by exchanges program. West College is affiliated with GERA K-12, enabling K-12 experiences and exchanges. Founded in 1989, Escuela Modelo approach, emphasizing research-based and instrumental training with human quality. It reports 100% examination performance in assessments. The garden campus features green spaces and integrated spaces for each stage, within a family-like environment. Facilities include a gym, science laboratory, and a technology and robotics lab. Seminars and clubs enrich student life, with language and cultural programs and leadership development for international families worldwide.