Edited by Nik Higgins · Co-founder & CEO
Costa Rica offers a range of international schools for expat families, with options spanning British, IB, American, and other curricula. Families relocating here will find schools at various price points, from affordable to premium institutions with world-class facilities.
Compare 3 international schools in Costa rica. Filter by curriculum, fees (average CRC 13,891), location, and more to find the right international school now.
International Christian School (ICS) San José is a PK-11 international school in Costa Rica serving ages 0 to 17. The campus in San Miguel, Santo Domingo, Heredia offers Preschool, Elementary and Secondary education with English and Spanish instruction. The curriculum combines IB programs (PYP and MYP) with a bespoke option, and in high school students choose between the IB Diploma and the National Baccalaureate, decided in ninth grade. A College Preparation Program supports ninth through eleventh graders with career exploration, college applications, and admissions exams such as UCR and TEC, plus SAT or ACT when applicable. The school emphasizes experiential learning through organized outdoor trips, e-learning resources, and a virtual tour. Athletics, arts and robotics are integral, with robotics projects competing nationally, and student art displays and musical productions enriching the creative program. ICS maintains a Christian-values culture and a history of contributing to Costa Rica's education system and society.
Journey School of Costa Rica is an international, bilingual day school serving ages 2–18 across two campuses: Tamarindo (the flagship) and Jacó. The school offers a dual-language PreK–12 program aligned with the IB Primary Years (PYP) and Middle Years (MYP) frameworks, with instruction in English and Spanish. A transdisciplinary, project-based approach unites mathematics, science, language, and the arts, anchored by a Reggio Emilia-inspired ethos and the idea of the '100 Languages of Children' to support expression through multiple modalities. Social-emotional learning is woven into daily life via Conscious Discipline and restorative justice. Tamarindo carries IB accreditation and national approvals (MEP, Dirección de Educación Privada) as well as Middle States Association, while Jacó pursues similar accreditations. The community includes students from 35 countries, speaking 27 native languages. After-school options span sports, arts, robotics, culture, and service, reinforcing inquiry, well-being, and global citizenship. Students benefit from a collaborative, international community that supports curiosity, kindness, and discovery.
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.
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