American Nicaraguan School vs Nicaragua Christian Academy International

	A American Nicaraguan School Managua, Nicaragua	N Nicaragua Christian Academy International Managua, Nicaragua
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $139,172 - 318,631	Fees / year $203,631 - 309,841
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 893	Pupils 280
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 25
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1944	Opened 1991
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is located in Managua, Nicaragua.	Location Located at Km 11.2 Carretera Vieja a León, Managua, Nicaragua. The campus sits just outside Managua on the main highway. It is easily accessible by road.
Stages	Stages The school is divided into Early Education Center (Pathways), Primary School, and Secondary School, with a Specialized Learning Program.	Stages Preschool, elementary, and secondary.
School type	School type The American Nicaraguan School is a private co-educational international day school with Catholic affiliation.	School type evangelical, non-denominational, non-profit preschool, elementary, and secondary educational institution.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Diversity includes Nicaraguan 70.10%, USA & Canada 19.15%, Asian 5.82%, Latin American (exc. Nic) 3.70%, European 1.12%, Africa 0.11%, Dual citizens (U.S./Nicaraguan) 27.44%.	Pupil nationality mix 67 percent of students are Nicaraguan, 20 percent are North American, and 6 percent are Asian; the student body represents 19 countries.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support A Specialized Learning Program is available for students requiring additional support.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school has an American educational affiliation.	Country affiliation Affiliation with the United States education system; Accredited in the United States by Cognia (AdvancED) and ACSI; follows North American standards and the North American school calendar.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school has a Catholic affiliation with a Catholic Life programme.	Religious affiliation evangelical, non-denominational
School day structure	School day structure The 2024–2025 calendar has two semesters totaling 180 instructional days; the first semester runs from mid-August to mid-December, and the second from mid-January to early June.	School day structure The School Day runs 7:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. for Preschool and Kindergarten; 7:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. for Elementary and High School.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Entrance Fee • Entrance fee (Cuota de Ingreso): C$ 219,745.80 (approx. USD equivalent; no entrance fee for PK3–PK4). Tuition Fees (Monthly and Optional Annual Payments) • PK3 / PK4: C$ 13,917.23 per month. • Kindergarten: C$ 23,073.31 per month. • Grades 1–5: C$ 28,383.83 per month. • Grades 6–8: C$ 30,764.41 per month. • Grades 9–12: C$ 31,863.14 per month. Families may pay tuition monthly, quarterly, by semester, or annually. An 8% benefit applies for tuition paid in advance (annual payment). Annual / One-Time Fees • Registration fee (all students): C$ 14,649.72. • Activities & extracurriculars fee: C$ 8,789.83. • Technology fee: C$ 8,057.35 (PK3–Kindergarten) or C$ 12,818.51 (Grades 1–12). • PTO fee: C$ 366.24 per student. • Scholarship fund fee: C$ 1,831.22 per student. • Graduation fee (Grade 12): C$ 5,493.65. Special / Support Program Fees • Specialized English (ELL) or Spanish (SLL) language programs: C$ 10,987.29 per semester. • Specialized Learning support: ranges from C$ 10,987.29 to C$ 20,143.37 per semester depending on level and weekly frequency. Discounts and Multi-Child • Discounts on monthly tuition are available for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th children enrolled, varying by level (e.g., C$ 1,062.10 off for a 2nd child in Grades 1–5). Boarding • The school is a day school and does not offer boarding. Billing and Payment Terms • Tuition must be paid within the first 10 days of each billing period. An 8% late fee applies to overdue payments. Payments by credit card are accepted only through the school’s automatic debit program. Refunds • The entrance fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. If a student attends any portion of a semester, 100% of that semester’s tuition is due. Payment Options • Payments are typically made in Córdobas; tuition may be paid monthly, quarterly, by semester, or annually. Credit card payments are processed via the Automatic Debit Program; bank transfers and checks are subject to additional fees if drawn on international accounts. All fees are current for the 2026–2027 academic year and are quoted in Nicaraguan Córdobas (C$). Approximate USD conversions vary with exchange rates.	Fee details Entrance / Application Fees - Entrance Fee (one-time, new students): C$ 146,497 (USD 4,000). This fee is required of all new students and is nonrefundable. The entrance fee may be paid in full at enrollment or in ten monthly payments. - Registration Fee (annual): C$ 9,522 (USD 260). This annual, nonrefundable registration fee covers textbooks, workbooks, classroom materials, and student accident insurance and must be paid to reserve the student's place. Annual Tuition (standard family-subsidized rates) - PK1 (age 3 by Sep 30): C$ 146,497 (USD 4,000) per year. - PK2 (age 4 by Sep 30): C$ 186,784 (USD 5,100) per year. - Kindergarten (age 5): C$ 194,109 (USD 5,300) per year. - Grades 1–6: C$ 249,045 (USD 6,800) per year. - Grades 7–12: C$ 263,695 (USD 7,200) per year. Corporate / Full-cost Rates (when an employer or organization pays full cost) - Entrance Fee (one-time, corporate rate): C$ 183,122 (USD 5,000). This fee is nonrefundable and is due upon entrance. - Registration Fee (annual, corporate): C$ 9,522 (USD 260). - Annual Tuition (corporate rates): - PK1: C$ 190,446 (USD 5,200). - PK2: C$ 241,720 (USD 6,600). - Kindergarten: C$ 263,695 (USD 7,200). - Grades 1–6: C$ 333,281 (USD 9,100). - Grades 7–12: C$ 369,905 (USD 10,100). Billing schedule and payment terms - Available payment plans for annual tuition: - One single payment before August 30 (3% discount on tuition). - Two payments (August and January). - Four payments (August, October, January, March). - Ten monthly payments (August–May). - The registration fee must be paid to reserve space; the entrance fee may be paid in full or in up to ten monthly payments (standard rate). Corporate entrance fee is due upon entrance. Other annual and recurring fees - Technology fee (P–12): C$ 7,325 (USD 200) per year. - Graduation fees: Kindergarten/6th grade C$ 3,662 (USD 100); 12th grade C$ 7,325 (USD 200). - ELD (English Language Development), if applicable: C$ 21,975 (USD 600). - Activities (per semester): Sports (Grades 1–6) C$ 1,831 (USD 50); Sports (Grades 7–12) C$ 3,479 (USD 95). - Bus service is available but is contracted and billed separately by the transportation provider (Transportes Cruz). Families pay the transport provider directly. Multi-child discounts and promotions - Tuition discounts for multiple children in the same family: 3rd child receives 25% off tuition; 4th child and beyond receive 35% off tuition. - Preschool promotion for 2026–2027: - Permanent discount for PK1 students enrolled in 2026–2027: USD 250 off per year for each year through graduation (applies from preschool through high school). - Entrance fee discount: if the entrance fee is paid in full before Kindergarten graduation, the entrance fee is reduced to USD 3,000. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school; transportation is arranged through an external bus provider billed separately. Refund information - The Entrance Fee (one-time) is nonrefundable. - The Registration Fee (annual) is nonrefundable. - No additional tuition refund terms are listed in the published tuition table. Fee payment options - The published tuition table specifies available payment schedules and discounts but does not list accepted payment channels (for example: credit card, in-person cash, or bank transfer). Families should confirm accepted payment methods directly with the school's finance office or admissions office.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school follows an American curriculum with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), AP Computer Science (CS50), and Visual and Performing Arts with Honors in Art and Music.	Curriculum details Comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum at all levels. It follows a North American school calendar year and is based on a United States and international school framework with integration of Spanish and Nicaraguan social studies. Textbooks come from Pearson Education, McGraw-Hill, BJU Press, ACSI, and Christian Schools International. The Spanish program uses Nacho Nicaragüense and Roger Matus Lazo Ediciones. An Accelerated Reading program is incorporated into English language arts for grades 1–8.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Preschool 15–20 students per class; Elementary 22–24 students per class; Secondary 22–25 students per class. Each level is taught by a certified teacher with several teacher assistants.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression College and career counseling services are available.	Higher education progression About 60% of NCA graduates enroll in four-year universities in the United States; about 30% continue studies in Nicaragua; remaining 10% attend universities in Europe or Asia, enter military service, or begin their careers.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. To apply, complete the Student Admission Request Form or the PDF version. The Shared Teacher Recommendation Form must be submitted for all applicants, and for PK3–5th grade include the Parent Questionnaire for the appropriate grade. Official school transcripts and/or report cards from previous schools should be provided, along with recent standardized test scores if available. 2. Submit a copy of the birth certificate, copies of both parents' IDs, and immunization records. Recent sight and hearing exams are required for PK3 through 5th grade, and Educational Support Documentation should be provided if applicable. 3. After submission, the Admissions Committee reviews the application and provides feedback on next steps. The review ensures alignment with program requirements and readiness for the next phase. Families should be prepared to supply any additional information requested. 4. An official decision is communicated by email from the Admissions Office. The email outlines any enrollment actions required and the timeline for next steps. Families should respond promptly to confirm the next steps. 5. The school offers rolling admissions, allowing families to join at any time during the year. This flexibility accommodates varying start dates due to relocation or travel plans. The Admissions team can assist with arranging tours or information sessions as needed. 6. Originals should be submitted upon arrival in Nicaragua. The Admissions Office will acknowledge receipt and provide guidance on next steps.	Admissions NCA International enrolls about 300 students from preschool through twelfth grade, with roughly 55% from Nicaraguan families and most of the remainder children of international missionaries. Admission requires an age-based placement with a September 30 cutoff (PK1 for 3-year-olds, PK2 for 4-year-olds, Kindergarten for 5-year-olds; first grade should be six years old; children who do not turn three by September 30 are not eligible). English fluency is required for entry into PK2 and above, as determined by an entrance evaluation and interview. A family partnership is required; a family interview is conducted for all new families, and the school emphasizes commitment to its Christian philosophy, expectations, and policies. Classes are capped at 15 in PK1, 18 in PK2, 20 in Kindergarten, 22 in Grades 1–3, and 24 in Grades 4–12. The school primarily serves evangelical missionary families, but all families are welcome to apply. Admission steps include submitting documents, an entrance evaluation (either a recent English-language test for transfers from American schools or an on-site evaluation; PK1 does not require an evaluation but must be potty-trained and 3 by Sep 30), and family/student interviews (student interviews for Grades 7–12). For the normal admissions cycle, all steps should be completed by the third Friday in April, with decisions communicated by email before May 15; late and midyear applications are considered only if space is available. Upon acceptance, families meet with the business administrator, sign a payment contract, and pay a non-refundable registration fee of $260 per student.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school has a Fondo de becas (Scholarship Fund). A Scholarship Fee per student is C$1,831.22.	Scholarships Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides financial support to families; about 20% of students receive TAP, and assistance can cover up to 75% of tuition. TAP is funded both by internal tithing and external gifts, and it is not a single-child sponsorship; there is a formal process to review TAP applications. Donations to TAP can be made through Resourcing Christian Education (RCE) International for U.S. contributions. The program operates as a partnership between the schools and supporters to help families in need access the program.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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