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Costa Rica International Academy

Costa Rica, Guanacaste

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 425
Type Co-educational
Opened 1963
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages Spanish
Typical class size 11
Strengths STEM, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

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.

Reserva Conchal 500 Meters South of, Provincia de Guanacaste, Brasilito, 50308, Costa Rica

Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials

Costa Rica International Academy has 425 pupils, typical class sizes of 11, instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
Located in Brasilito, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, CRIA sits on the Gold Coast near Reserva Conchal. The campus is 500 meters south of Reserva Conchal in Brasilito. It is accessible from nearby beach towns such as Flamingo, Conchal, and Tamarindo. The purpose-built campus spans 32 acres with 41 air-conditioned classrooms and extensive facilities to support a K–12 program.

Stages
Early Years; Primary; Secondary (High School).

Type
Private day school; bilingual (English and Spanish); US-accredited and Costa Rica MEP-accredited.

Additional learning support
Learning Support (LSP) and English Language Learner (ELL) programs are offered. Approximately 15% of students in Grades KG–8 receive ELL and/or LSP support; push-in and pull-out services; specialized math support in middle school; integrated into mainstream classrooms with individualized teacher support.

Country affiliation
US accreditation (MSA) and Costa Rica MEP accreditation; dual accreditation.

Religious affiliation
Secular; no religious instruction.

Bus service
CRIA operates bus service for the 2025-2026 school year with two routes: Ventanas and Playas del Coco. The service is prepaid per semester and follows a fixed schedule and assigned routes; students must ride their assigned bus; private contractors may operate some routes; rules emphasize punctuality, assigned seats, and conduct on the bus.
Diving Deeper
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Fees
*Tuition — annual, early-bird, semester and monthly options*

- Toddler (Half day)
- Annual (Option

1, due 15 July): USD 6,800.

- Early Bird (Option

2, due 15 April): USD 6,120.

- 70/30 Semester Plan (Option

3): 70% = USD 4,760 (due 15 July); 30% = USD 2,040 (due 15 Nov).

- 9 Monthly Installments (Option

4, 15 July–15 March): USD 756 per month.


- Toddler (Full day)
- Annual: USD 8,040.
- Early Bird: USD 7,236.
- 70/30 Semester Plan: 70% = USD 5,628; 30% = USD 2,412.
- 9 Monthly Installments: USD 894 per month.

- Pre-K (Half day)
- Annual: USD 6,800; Early Bird: USD 6,120; 70/30: 70% = USD 4,760 and 30% = USD 2,040; 9 monthly: USD 756/month.

- Pre-K (Full day)
- Annual: USD 8,040; Early Bird: USD 7,236; 70/30: 70% = USD 5,628 and 30% = USD 2,412; 9 monthly: USD 894/month.

- Kindergarten (KG)
- Annual: USD 8,620.
- Early Bird: USD 7,758.
- 70/30 Semester Plan: 70% = USD 6,034; 30% = USD 2,586.
- 9 Monthly Installments: USD 958 per month.

- Primary (Grades 1–5)
- Annual: USD 10,950.
- Early Bird: USD 9,855.
- 70/30 Semester Plan: 70% = USD 7,665; 30% = USD 3,285.
- 9 Monthly Installments: USD 1,217 per month.

- Secondary (Grades 6–12)
- Annual: USD 12,950.
- Early Bird: USD 11,655.
- 70/30 Semester Plan: 70% = USD 9,065; 30% = USD 3,885.
- 9 Monthly Installments: USD 1,439 per month.

*Application, matriculation and new-student fees*

- Matriculation Fee (annual): USD 1,250 for returning students if paid by April 15; if paid after April 15 the Matriculation Fee increases to USD 1,500 to guarantee a seat. Matriculation Fee is required prior to acceptance each year.

- New Student Fee (one-time, billed upon acceptance):
- Toddler to Grade 5, local students: USD 750.
- Grades 6 to 12, local students: USD 1,250.
- All international new students (Toddler–Grade 12): USD 2,500.

*Billing schedule and payment terms*

- Annual payment due date (Option

1): 15 July. Early Bird Discount payment deadline (Option 2): 15 April. 70/30 Semester Plan payments due: 15 July (70%) and 15 November (30%). 9 monthly installments run 15 July through 15 March.


- One quarter term = 30% of the annual tuition rate (minimum enrollment). One semester = 55% of the annual tuition rate. Students enrolled between one full semester and one full year are required to pay the annual tuition in full. Grade 12 students must pay full year tuition and attend the full academic year; no partial payments accepted.

- Late payments incur a 1.5% monthly penalty and unpaid balances may lead to de-enrollment if any portion is unpaid by the last day of each quarter term. All tuition and mandatory fees are required and are non-transferable.

*Boarding fees*

- Boarding fees: not applicable. No boarding fee schedule is provided in the CRIA 2026–27 Tuition and Fees Policy; the published fee schedule covers day-student tuition and associated mandatory fees only.

*Other costs and regular additional fees*

- Parents are responsible for additional charges such as:
- regular school-to-home transportation and optional bus service; food services; instrument rentals and consumable materials; official P.E., House Team and CRIA uniforms; some after-school activities; field trips and club/team trips; a copy of the yearbook and school photos; and personal reference texts when required. A school supplies list is provided by grade for purchase.

- Special-education tuition surcharges may apply for services or programs (ELL, remedial learning, specialized arts, tutoring, ASAs, IEP supports, online courses, etc.) and are required for enrollment in those supports. The school covers MAP (KG–Grade 8) and PSAT (Grades 9–11) at approved times; any additional external testing beyond that must be paid by the student. Half-day Early Years students who stay beyond noon are charged a USD 30 per day surcharge (billed monthly).

*Refunds and transferability*

- All tuition and fee payments, including the Matriculation Fee, New Student Fee, and Early Bird payments, are non-refundable and non-transferable. Partial-year and partial-term invoicing rules apply (quarter = 30%, semester = 55%) and all fees for partial-year students must be paid in full prior to entry; no payment plans are available for partial-year enrollments.

*Fee payment options and instructions*

- Currency and methods accepted: school fees are quoted in USD and payment can be made in USD or in Costa Rican colones at the official Banco Central sell-rate used for conversion. International checks are not accepted. All bank-transfer fees are the responsibility of the sender. Cryptocurrency payments (Bitcoin and Ethereum) are accepted under specified terms; contact the Business Manager–Accounts Receivable for instructions. Cash payment by deposit is accepted at designated local bank branches. For international wire transfers add USD 70 to the invoice total for bank fees.

- Specific local bank deposit and international wire details (account name, banks, IBANs and SWIFT) are provided on the school's billing information for use when making wire transfers or deposits. All deposits must be identified with the student's name and a copy of the deposit sent to the School Business Office to ensure proper crediting.

*Discounts and sibling reductions*

- Early Bird Discount: 10% off the tuition fee (excludes Matriculation Fee and New Student Fee). Eligibility includes returning students with two full years completed at CRIA or new students who have a sibling with two full years completed; Early Bird must be paid by April 15 and is not combinable with other discounts.

- Sibling discount: 10% for the third child and 20% for the fourth child and above; applies to the youngest child(ren) enrolled full-time and applies to tuition fees only.
Academics

Costa Rica International Academy teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP).

Curriculum
CRIA is a private college-preparatory PreK–12 school serving the international community in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Students pursue a U.S.-based curriculum. The school is fully accredited KG–12 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education (MEP). CRIA emphasizes numeracy and literacy improvement, offers an Advanced Placement (AP) program, and provides dual-enrollment university partnerships.

Exam Results
CRIA offers AP courses in addition to regular courses. On average, CRIA students take 3–4 AP courses during high school. AP exam results: 2023: 67 AP exams with 91% scoring 3–5; 2024: 147 exams with 82.3% scoring 3–5; 2025: 116 AP exams with 90% scoring 3–5.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates pursue higher education at universities in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Costa Rica. The 2025–2026 profile lists a College Counselor and a long list of destinations, including American University (DC), Duke University, University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Washington, and many others; about 80% of graduates attend college.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. CRIA accepts applications from students of all nationalities who would benefit from the program and whose parents share the school's philosophy and objectives. Admission is granted when it has been determined that the school has the appropriate program and resources to meet the learner's needs. Applications for both immediate and future entry are considered at any time throughout the year. If a waiting list for any grade is necessary, qualified applicants will be admitted according to established policies on priority.

2. High School students (grades 9–12) can enroll for a minimum of one semester, while students in Toddler–Grade 8 may enroll for a minimum of one quarter. Applications are accepted year-round, with rolling admissions for Toddler–Grade 8 and waitlists may be used for any grade. Enrollment priority on the waitlist is based on criteria including: child of full-time teaching faculty member; sibling of a currently enrolled student; previously enrolled student, in good standing; full-year enrollment; and order of receipt of a completed application.

3. As a US-accredited college-preparatory school, the primary language of instruction is English for students in Grades 3 and up (dual language Toddler–Grade 2). Basic beginner English Language Learners shall not exceed 25% of any grade level from Grade 3–8. In Grades 9–12, students must be proficient in English to succeed in mainstream classroom subjects. A proficiency English test may be used to determine ELL support eligibility for students needing it.

4. By enrolling, families agree to abide by the policies and procedures explained in the Family Handbook. A seat is not guaranteed until the application is approved by a Division Principal AND the Tuition Fee Deposit and New Student Fee are both paid in full. The school does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, race, color, nationality, sex, disability, marriage status, gender, or sexual orientation.

5. Applicants should apply as early as possible; August enrollment requires submission by March 1, and January enrollment requires submission by October 1. Rolling admissions exist for Toddler–Grade 8; High School admissions occur at the beginning of fall or spring semesters. A placement review by the Child Study Team, inclusive of school counselors, division principals, and Learning Support and ELL teachers, is required for students who declare a need for ELL or Learning Support services. The process includes documentation submission, placement decisions by the division principal, and start-date notification. Enrollment is contractual for one year and is not guaranteed in subsequent years.

Waitlist
CRIA may maintain a waitlist for all grade levels when classes are full. Enrollment priorities determine waitlist order: 1) child of a full-time teaching faculty member; 2) sibling of a currently enrolled student; 3) previously enrolled student in good standing; 4) students enrolling for a full year; 5) in the order of receipt of a completed application. Qualified applicants are admitted to available seats according to these priority policies.
School Events
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