Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
Costa Rica, San Jose
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
The school uses project-based learning and differentiated instruction, with formative and summative assessments. Teacher-created rubrics guide each learning experience under the guidance of the Assessment Team. In the final years of secondary education, students may choose between the National Bachillerato (Bachillerato MEP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). The school offers PYP for ages 3–12, MYP for ages 11–16, and DP for ages 16–19, and graduates can also obtain the American Diploma to complement IB, broadening academic and university pathways.
The school offers clubs in musical, artistic, athletic, technological, and language areas. Robotics and debate are among the activities available through clubs, supporting exploration of diverse interests. Club sessions occur weekly for one hour and are led by highly qualified teachers to ensure both enjoyment and learning. Students pursue their passions—whether in sports, science, literature, or the arts—through clubs that challenge and inspire growth.
Golden Valley is an international, trilingual school with English immersion and German as a third language. English is taught with eight hours per week as a foreign language on the Heredia campus, and language clubs complement the core program. The school emphasizes cross-cultural and multilingual learning as part of its holistic approach.
Club offerings span Musicales (Music), Artísticos (Arts), Deportivos (Sports), Tecnológicos (Technology), and Idiomas (Languages); clubs meet once per week for one hour. The program encourages students to engage in extracurriculars that nurture social ties, creativity, and collaborative problem-solving across diverse fields.
COEEPI comprises fifteen students from sixth to twelfth grade and stands for Comisión Organizadora del Encuentro Estudiantil sobre Pueblos Indígenas. Founded in 2022, its mission broadened from raising cultural awareness to building lasting relationships between Golden Valley students and Indigenous communities, aiming to address educational access and social equity.
From ninth grade to twelfth grade, international university counseling is individualized and comprehensive, helping students and families build relationships with international universities. Students can apply to pre-university summer programs, contact international universities, and pursue international graduate studies. The office collaborates with the Learning Support Services Department for activities such as College Day and career guidance, and provides guidance on the university application process, letters of recommendation, and developing an informed student profile.
The Student Wellbeing Department supports emotional well-being as a core component of academic success, offering preventive and remedial academic and socio-emotional support. It provides family guidance, talks and workshops, and career guidance, and also coordinates teacher training to support holistic student development.
Golden Valley School is an international day school in Costa Rica serving ages 0 to 18. The program blends Montessori philosophy with the International Baccalaureate framework (PYP, MYP, DP) and an American Diploma option, with families able to choose Bachillerato MEP in final years. English is the primary language of instruction, with immersion from early years, and German taught as a third language; in primary, English is delivered for about eight hours weekly. The school emphasizes inquiry-based, cross-disciplinary learning and project experiences, supported by digital platforms that track progress and offer enrichment. Since 1997, Golden Valley has focused on developing principled, well-informed students who contribute to their communities. A STEAM approach sits beside active sport and arts programs. Extras include a Gifted Students Program, university counseling, and social responsibility initiatives such as COEEPI, linking students with Indigenous communities and international university pathways.
