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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
SEK International School Costa Rica is a private institution serving students from preschool through high school in Costa Rica. The school has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 2018 and provides a bilingual start: Play Group (Maternal) with bilingual teachers, Preschool with digital boards and iPads, and Primary education delivered in Spanish and English to build multilingual literacy. The Secondary School blends the Academic Curriculum with a Complementary Curriculum that includes Programming, Robotics, Plastic Arts, Karate, Dance, and Swimming. More than 50% of teaching hours are conducted in English from the early years. Students may participate in English-immersion opportunities at SEK Preparatory International School in Florida or Boca Raton for seamless SEK studies. SEK Costa Rica is part of the SEK International Institution, a private education group with over 134 years of service, opened here in 1988. The campus features extensive educational technology: iMac laboratories, interactive whiteboards, three iPad carts carrying 90 iPads for Infant and Primary Education, campus-wide Wi-Fi, Moodle, and G Suite, with digital tools integrated across subjects.
de, 5km al norte, Del Servicentro La Galera 1, San José, Curridabat, Cipreses, Costa Rica
The Essentials
SEK International School Costa Rica has instruction in English, Spanish.
Location
Cipreses de Curridabat, Del Servicentro La Galera, 1.5 km al norte, San José, Costa Rica. It serves the Greater San José Metropolitan Area and nearby cities; transport is provided door-to-door with safety as priority, and a companion accompanies students on all transports. The school operates within the eastern part of San José metropolitan area.
Stages
Preschool; Primary School; Secondary School; High School
Type
Private educational institution
Additional learning support
Psychopedagogical support available
Country affiliation
Costa Rica
Bus service
Transport comprises 28 routes with about 70% of students using it; covers the Greater San José Metropolitan Area and nearby cities (Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, Santa Ana, among others); offers door-to-door service with an experienced driver and a dedicated companion; peripheral routes exist for clubs and summer courses.
Fees
Application fees - The school does not publish a single, general application fee schedule for all levels in its public documentation. Specific to the IB pathway, there is a one-time registration/evaluation charge of USD 800 for students entering the IB Diploma (11°–12°).
Tuition and programme-specific fees (amounts provided where published) - Pre-IB (9° and 10°): USD 105 per month (charged as part of programme-related monthly fees). - IB Diploma (11° and 12°): USD 150 per month for the PD program; in addition, the PD evaluation/registration fee of USD 800 is charged once and is prorated across 20 months for billing purposes. - Annual or term tuition by year group (preschool through secondary outside the IB-specific items above) is not published in the school's public documents; the school's published materials give the payment structure but do not list full annual or per-term tuition amounts for each grade in the publicly available bulletins and regulations.
How tuition is billed (billing schedule and payment terms) - Standard billing cycle: tuition is divided into 10 monthly instalments covering February through November. Invoices are issued on the 1st of each month and payments are due by the 5th of each month. - Early-payment discount: a 2% discount applies to families who pay all 10 monthly instalments in full before the end of February. - Book charges: the cost of textbook packages is billed in five instalments (20% each) for the months of February, March, April, May and June. - School insurance: an annual student accident insurance premium is billed in February. - Late or returned-payment penalties: a late-payment surcharge is applied on amounts unpaid after the due date (interest calculated in accordance with the country's maximum legal rate); returned checks incur a USD 25 administrative fee.
Boarding (residential) fees - Boarding is not listed among the school services; the school operates with day-school services (including on-campus meal provision and transport options) rather than a boarding/residential programme. There are no published boarding fees.
Other costs and recurring charges - Uniforms: wearing the official SEK uniform is mandatory; uniforms are sold through the school's uniform service and must be genuine SEK items. Uniform purchases at the school do not accept cash; payments for uniforms are accepted by bank transfer or by check, and the bulletin lists the school's bank accounts in both Costa Rican colones and US dollars. - Meals / media pensión: the contract of enrolment includes the mid-day meal service (media pensión) as part of the school contract; any additional transport service is contracted separately and billed when chosen. Transport is offered on multiple routes and transport fees are billed separately. - Extracurricular clubs and auxiliary programmes: these carry extra fees; extracurricular activity fees are billed by period (the bulletin states activity payments are billed bimonthly) and will appear as separate charges. - Textbooks and digital device programme: textbooks are charged in instalments (see above); the school's communications describe an iPad/digital-textbook programme for certain year levels that may involve equipment or programme charges for secondary grades. - Incidentals: additional incidental charges (lost/damaged books, certain trips, specific external exam fees, sports or club-specific costs) may be billed as incurred. The bulletin and institutional regulations treat such charges as separate from the basic tuition instalments.
Refunds and withdrawal obligations - Contractual obligations and refunds: the school's internal regulations treat the educational contract as a course-long obligation. If a family decides to terminate enrolment during the school year, the family is normally liable for the tuition and fees due up to the end of the academic year unless the school's direction accepts a justified cause. The regulations require payment of fees owed through the school year when a family withdraws without an accepted justified cause. These rules effectively mean refunds are restricted and withdrawal obligations normally carry financial responsibility for outstanding tuition.
Accepted payment methods and practical payment details - Bank transfers and checks: the school accepts payments by bank transfer and check; the bulletin and uniform guidance provide the school's account numbers and IBANs in both Costa Rican colones and US dollars for transfers. Families are asked to send proof/copy of the transaction to the school's payment receipts email address. - Returned items and payment handling: the bulletin sets a USD 25 fee for returned checks and applies legal moratory interest on late payments in accordance with national law. The school's published materials do not list credit-card acceptance for standard tuition billing (uniform purchases and other service purchases specify transfers or checks).
Brief summary of available published figures and remaining items not published - Published, specific amounts found in the school's public documentation are limited to IB-programme items (Pre-BI USD 105/month; PD USD 150/month; PD evaluation/registration USD 800 prorated). The school's 2026 informational bulletin and internal regulations provide the billing schedule, bank-account details, administrative fees, and the contract/withdrawal rules but do not publish a full schedule of annual or per-term tuition rates by grade for all year groups. As a result, comprehensive per-term or per-year tuition amounts by grade level (preschool through secondary outside the IB items) and any one-off admission/registration charges for levels other than the IB evaluation fee are not listed in the publicly available documents examined.
Academics
SEK International School Costa Rica teaches IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 18.
Curriculum
Play Group (Maternal) is offered with bilingual attention and experienced teachers. Preschool uses digital boards and iPads to energize the learning process. Primary School teaches in Spanish and English, developing language skills and literacy. Secondary School combines the Academic Curriculum with a Complementary Curriculum including Programming, Robotics, Plastic Arts, Karate, Dance, and Swimming. More than 50% of teaching hours are in English from the early years, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) has been offered since 2018. Students may participate in English-immersion opportunities at SEK Preparatory International School in Florida or Boca Raton for continuous SEK studies. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is globally recognized by universities, with approximately 2,000 universities publishing DP admission policies.
Higher Education Progression
IB Diploma Programme is globally recognized by universities, with approximately 2,000 universities publishing DP admission policies.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides social and emotional wellbeing support. A School Coexistence Coordinator oversees student relationships and the school climate. The Psychology & Health team includes a psychologist and a nurse to support student wellbeing and health. The educational approach emphasizes respectful coexistence, empathy, and positive social interactions.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
A Psychopedagogical department supports learners with diverse needs in the SEK Play Group. This psychopedagogical focus is part of the school's approach to inclusive education.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Being bilingual in English and Spanish, SEK Costa Rica teaches more than 50% of its instruction in English from the early years. Most subjects are taught in English, with opportunities for immersion through international programmes.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported by the Psychology & Health team, including a psychologist and a nurse, to attend to students' mental health and health needs.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported by a School Coexistence Coordinator who oversees student safety and climate, alongside the Psychology & Health staff.
Admissions
Admissions
SEK Costa Rica International School offers a bilingual curriculum from Pre-kindergarten through to university. For admissions, Irene Armijo Bonilla is the Director of Admissions. Families can fill in an online form to be contacted. The school is located at Cipreses de Curridabat, 1.5 km north of Servicentro La Galera, San Jose, Costa Rica.
FAQs
What curriculum does SEK International School Costa Rica follow?
Play Group (Maternal) is offered with bilingual attention and experienced teachers. Preschool uses digital boards and iPads to energize the learning process. Primary School teaches in Spanish and English, developing language skills and literacy.
What age range does SEK International School Costa Rica serve?
The school serves students from age 1 to 18.
Is the school co-educational?
The school is described as co-educational.
Where is SEK International School Costa Rica located?
Cipreses de Curridabat, Del Servicentro La Galera, 1.5 km al norte, San José, Costa Rica.
When was SEK International School Costa Rica established?
The school was established in 1988.
Who leads SEK International School Costa Rica?
The school is led by Eduardo Ahumada.
Does the school provide learning support for students with special educational needs?
A Psychopedagogical department supports learners with diverse needs in the SEK Play Group. This psychopedagogical focus is part of the school's approach to inclusive education.
What languages are used for instruction?
The school teaches in English and French. Official academic certifications are offered in English and French.
How do I apply to SEK International School Costa Rica?
SEK Costa Rica International School offers a bilingual curriculum from Pre-kindergarten through to university. For admissions, Irene Armijo Bonilla is the Director of Admissions. Contact admisiones@sekcostarica.com or call (506) 4036-3580.
What extracurricular activities are available?
Music is taught through songs, games, learning musical instruments, and dancing. Crafts involve pencils, paints, crayons, papers, recyclable materials, and other resources to create weekly themed projects.
Is there a school bus service?
Transport comprises 28 routes with about 70% of students using it; covers the Greater San José Metropolitan Area and nearby cities (Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, Santa Ana, among others); offers door-to
