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Costa Rica, San Jose
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Berkeley Academy Costa Rica was established in August 2013 in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. The leadership includes Peter J. Swing, Ed.M., President & Head of School, and Yorlenny M. Aguilar as Vice President and Co-founder. The school operates under Costa Rican law and Academy policy, offering a U.S.-based graduation program alongside the Costa Rican national curriculum. The official languages of instruction are English for U.S. required courses and Spanish for Costa Rican required courses, following a North American calendar with two semesters.
The school enrolls about 350 students, with roughly one-third U.S. and Canadian citizens and two-thirds Costa Rican or other nationalities. Graduates complete 100 hours of community service for graduation (Grades 9–12). Campus life includes on-campus events such as CR MEP Bachillerato exams and lectures, including Professor Peter J. Swing on multiculturalism in Costa Rica. Berkeley Academy PTO organizes social events and school activities to foster community; funds raised supporting enrichment programs and family events.
Berkeley Academy PTO is an organization of parents and teachers that works to provide an enriching environment for parents and staff to be involved in extra-curricular activities with the Berkeley family. The PTO meets to organize social events, school events such as dances, picture day, sponsor/host recognition, and other activities based on parent interest. Participation is voluntary and many parents engage to the extent they choose. Funds raised by the PTO are returned to the school and students as enrichment programs and activities. These efforts help create a sense of community among Berkeley Academy families.
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.
