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Costa Rica, San Jose
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Spanish is taught at CDS Costa Rica through two programs: Spanish for Native Speakers and Spanish as a Second Language. Spanish for Native Speakers follows the Costa Rican Ministry of Education curriculum and begins in first grade, with literacy in first grade and grammar and writing in second grade. Spanish as a Second Language offers three levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—and focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Before joining us, your child will sit a short placement exam to determine which SSL level is best.
Spanish for Native Speakers and Spanish as a Second Language are offered. Spanish for Native Speakers follows the Costa Rican Ministry of Education curriculum and begins in first grade, with literacy in first grade and grammar and writing in second grade. Spanish as a Second Language is offered at three levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. CDS notes that students become fully bilingual through the language program.
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.
