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Costa Rica, San Jose
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Escazú, San José, Costa Rica. 1 km north of the Guachipelín Tunnel. Apdo. 127-1255 Escazú, San José, Costa Rica.
Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade (Pre-K–12).
Independent private, college-preparatory school offering US High School Diploma, MEP Diploma, and IB Diploma Programme.
The Learning Support Program provides specialized instruction for students with diverse learning needs, with individualized strategies. ESL and SSL language programs support language development; psychology and counseling services are available to support students.
Costa Rica. Accredited by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) and authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Christian.
School day begins at 7:20 a.m. with a community time and ends at 2:30 p.m. with a dismissal pattern at 2:30 p.m. (bus departures around 2:35 p.m.).
Transportation is provided in select areas. Bus 1 routes: Santa Ana – Centro, Pozos, Alto de las Palomas, Lindora, Río Oro, Piedades; Bus 2 routes: Guachipelín de Escazú, Distrito Cuatro, Alto de las Palomas, San Rafael de Escazú, San Antonio de Escazú, Trejos Montealegre, Bello Horizonte, Aurora de Alajuelita, Pavas. Buses have seatbelts, insurance, and are inspected regularly; two trained adults supervise. Lighthouse acts as a mediator between parents and the transportation company; the transport contract and payments are made directly between the parent and the provider.
Application & Entrance Fees
- One-time entrance fee per family for first-year enrollment: USD 1,000 (charged once; not refundable).
- There is no separate non‑refundable application fee shown apart from the entrance fee; an enrollment agreement and payment are required to secure an offered place.
Annual Enrollment Fee (per student)
- Preschool (Pre‑kinder – Kinder, half day): USD 555.
- Preschool (Pre‑kinder – Kinder, full day): USD 680.
- Preparatory: USD 753.
- Elementary (1st–5th): USD 824.
- Middle School (6th–8th): USD 887.
- High School (9th–12th): USD 887.
(These amounts are listed as the annual enrollment fee charged per student.)
Tuition — payment options and amounts by year group
For each grade band the school publishes three payment options: Yearly (single payment with 10% discount), Half‑Year (two payments with 5% discount), or Monthly (12 equal monthly payments). The published figures for the 2025–2026 school year are as follows.
- Preschool (Pre‑kinder – Kinder, half day):
- Monthly (12 months): USD 555 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 3,164 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 5,994 per year.
- Preschool (Pre‑kinder – Kinder, full day):
- Monthly (12 months): USD 680 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 3,876 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 7,344 per year.
- Preparatory:
- Monthly (12 months): USD 753 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 4,292 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 8,133 per year.
- Elementary (1st–5th grade):
- Monthly (12 months): USD 824 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 4,697 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 8,899 per year.
- Middle School (6th–8th grade):
- Monthly (12 months): USD 887 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 5,056 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 9,580 per year.
- High School (9th–12th grade):
- Monthly (12 months): USD 887 per month.
- Half‑year payment (5% discount applied): USD 5,056 per half‑year.
- Yearly payment (10% discount applied): USD 9,580 per year.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment periodicity permitted: Monthly (12 equal payments), Half‑Year (two payments per academic year with a 5% discount), or Yearly (single payment with a 10% discount). Payments to secure a place are required at enrollment.
- Discount for families with multiple children: 20% discount applies for the 3rd and 4th child.
- The USD 1,000 entrance fee per family is charged at first‑year enrollment and is explicitly stated as non‑refundable.
Boarding
- Boarding is not provided as a school service. The school lists day‑school services (for example transportation, cafeteria, library, academic support) and operates as a day school.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- School transport (bus): Service is arranged by independent transport companies; contracts, fees and payments for bus service are handled directly between families and the transport provider (transport fees are not included in published tuition figures).
- Uniforms: Official school uniform items (for example the official polo) are purchased through an external uniform supplier (Tonka) as specified by the school. Uniform costs are additional to tuition.
- Copying/office charges: Small administrative or copy fees apply when students request copies or similar services; these are charged separately.
- Exam replacement / administrative exam fee: A replacement/rescheduling fee for a missed test or exam is published as CRC 20,000 (Costa Rican colones) for exam re‑sits where applicable.
- Clubs and extracurricular activities: Some clubs or after‑school activities may involve third‑party charges or additional fees payable separately.
Refunds and cancellation
- The one‑time entrance fee (USD 1,000 per family) is non‑refundable.
- Parents complete an enrollment agreement and payment at enrollment to secure a place; the enrollment agreement governs further payment and withdrawal terms. (Specific refund terms for tuition payments, or for mid‑year withdrawals, are set in the school's enrollment agreement and related policy documents.)
Fee payment mechanics (how payments are handled)
- Families make required payments at enrollment to secure an offered place; the school accepts payments according to the selected periodicity (yearly, half‑year, or monthly). Specific payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit card, cash) are managed through the school's finance office at enrollment and in the enrollment agreement.
Important summary points
- Published tuition figures above correspond to the school's published schedule for the 2025–2026 school year; the school offers discounts for half‑year (5%) and yearly (10%) payments and a family entrance fee of USD 1,000 charged once for first‑year enrollment.
- Additional recurring or one‑time charges that are commonly payable by families include uniforms (purchased from the designated supplier), transport fees (contracted and paid to the transport company), small administrative fees (copies), and specific exam or administrative charges (for example CRC 20,000 for exam re‑sit).
International students 22%; Costa Rican citizens 78%; 15+ nationalities represented; the most common nationality is Costa Rican.
Lighthouse International School is an independent private, college-preparatory school in Costa Rica that serves students from ages 3 to 18. The curriculum combines an American-pattern education with IB Diploma Programme options and a bespoke program, including a High School path that awards the U.S. High School Diploma and the Costa Rican MEP diploma while offering the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11–12. Core subjects are taught in English by native-speaking teachers, with Spanish instruction to support bilingual growth; the primary language of instruction is English. The school emphasizes inquiry, leadership and character development within a Christ-centered environment. Founded in 2008, Lighthouse is accredited by the Ministerio de Educación Pública and authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme, affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization. The program runs Preschool through IB, with Applied Technology from Pre‑K to 8th grade and a STEM Fair, plus arts, music, sports, service learning and daily Community Time devoted to spiritual reflection.
