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I have desperately been trying to find a good, bilingual school in the Central Valley area which doesn’t cost a fortune. So far, I haven’t been able to find one where the tuition was any less than $400.00+ per month for each child. I have heard very good things about some school called Talarke (?). Supposedly it is a wonderful school but the website is under construction & I get no response from my emails. Does anyone know anything about this school or any others which are not so expensive? Perhaps there is no such animal, which would explain why so many expats home school.
Hi,
I recently visited last November and was able to look at a few schools around San Jose. The bilingual schools are mostly catering to the upper class, obviously it would cost a lot more. Relatively speaking, $400 is quite inexpensive for the 1st rate education your children would get. Schooling here in CA costs about $1000/month.
I have the contact information for the school you mentioned in Tres Rios (Talarke) given to me by one of the posters here. Susana Cabezas, the number at the school is 506 273 3353.
Good luck.
Hey I know where this school is, isn’t it up on top of the ridge looking down into the valley? I belive this is also a french speaking school as well.
There is a housing development on that same ridge where the homes start at about $800,000 with a 9 hole golf course.
I don’t know if judging schools in Costa Rica based on their internet presence is the best way to choose an education for your children. You really need to visit potential schools to get a real feel for them.
There’s no question that San Jose does have the best private schools, and a good number of them as well. As my kids are high school age, if we were living there now that’s where I’d like them to be. These schools offer them their best chance to get into college upon graduation.
However, my feeling is that younger kids do just fine, and get a good education as well, in the MANY smaller, and much less expensive private schools around and outside of San Jose. These smaller schools may not have any internet presence, but that is not a reflection on their quality.
Here are a few bilingual/trilingual schools:
American International School of Costa Rica
US calendar year
Cariari, San José, Costa Rica
website: http://www.ais.comAnglo American School
Bilingual = English & French
http://www.angloamericano.ed.crBlue Valley School
Escazu
http://www.bluevalley.ed.cr/British School
Bilingual = English & Spanish
http://www.infoweb.co.cr/britschCountry Day School
Escazu, Costa Rica
website: http://www.cds.ed.crEuropean School
Heredia, Costa Rica
http://www.europeanschool.comHumboldt College
Trilingual = Spanish, German & English
http://www.humboldt.ed.crLincoln School
English
San José, Costa Rica
email: director@ns.lincoln.ed.cr
website: http://www.lincoln.ed.crMarian Baker School
Bilingual – Spanish & English
San José, Costa Rica
website: http://www.marianbakerschool.comMonteAlto School
Heredia, Costa Rica
Bilingual = English & Spanish
http://www.montealtoschool.comPan American School
San Antonio de Belen, San Jose. Costa Rica
http://www.panam.ed.crSEK Costa Rica
Curridabat, Costa Rica
Biligual = English & Spanish
http://www.sek.netSaint Francis College
Bilingual = Spanish & English
Moravia, San Jose. Costa Rica
http://www.stfrancis.ed.crSaint Gregory
Tres Rios, Costa Rica
Trilingual = English, Spanish & French
http://www.sgs.ed.crSaint Jude School
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
http://www.stjude.ed.crSaint Mary School
Guachipelin, Escazu. Costa Rica
Bilingual = English & Spanish
http://www.saintmary.comSaint Paul College
Bilingual = English & Spanish
San Antonio de Belen, San Jose. Costa Rica
http://www.saintpaul.ed.crSan Lorenzo
Trilingual = Spanish, ENglish & French
San Pedr, San Jose. Costa Rica
http://www.sanlorenzocr.comScott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comScott gave you a list of the top tier schools. As I said, there are many, many more small private schools around, all bilingual. While these smaller schools may not be able to compete in quality, my feeling is that for the elementary level, they’re good enough, and a heck of a lot cheaper.
For high schoolers, I’d try to place them in the top tier if I could to better facilitate the transition to college.
Here’s what I know about these schools:
Lincoln School has perhaps the most exclusive reputation. It’s maybe half Tico, and half mixed gringotico (I like that name!). As a result, it’s primary “flavor” is still Tico, but the environment and infrastructure are very americanized. Lincoln School is one of the few schools accredited in the U.S. (I don’t know which others are), which means there are no problems getting into a U.S. university upon graduation. Lincoln school is also one of the few schools in CR that has a school year compatible with the U.S. All other schools in CR follow a calendar year schedule. Placing kids in these schools from the U.S. (or vice versa) means either skipping or re-doing a full semester. Lincoln school is expensive, several thousand per year plus an up front $4,000 – $5,000 membership fee if I remember correctly. Also, they’re finally getting out of their old digs in the middle of Moravia, with all the associated traffic, and building near Santo Domingo, on grounds currently surrounded by coffee plantations. Should be very nice.
St. Francis may have the best reputation among the purely Tico schools. I don’t think many gringo kids go there (which may make it a good choice!). It’s very Catholic, and very strict.
The American International School of Costa Rica, FKA The Costa Rican Academy, is an American school. Mostly gringos, many children of diplomats (i.e. transient). Very good reputation academically, but frankly, you might as well stay in the U.S. One of the purposes of moving to CR with kids is socialization with calm, gentle, courteous, Tico kids hungry for learning, not bratty, rebellious, rude Gringo headbangers who take life’s gifts for granted.
Country Day School is more American but has some Tico students as well. It has a very good reputation, small classes, and a remote campus near Flamingo Beach!
Humbolt also has a stellar reputation, but their emphasis is in German. There is a large Tico population with German descendancy in CR, dating back to WWII, and this community founded this school. Silvia and Claudia Poll, two tico sisters who have won olympic medals in swimming, are both blond, blue-eyed, and over six feet tall.
SEK is a totally Tico school which excels in science and engineering. A-one reputation.
I would say that the above mentioned schools have truly top tier status.
Marion Baker school is very small, and has mostly international kids.
St. Gregory and St. Paul are very Tico.
The Anglo-American, Pan-American and British schools have also been around for a long time (more than 20 years), have mixed Tico and foreign kids, and good reputations, but I don’t know much about them.
The other schools on Scott’s list were established more recently, although St. Jude is a part of la Escuela Católica Activa and el Colegio Bilingüe San Judas Tadeo, which have been around forever.
Again, if your kids are elementary school age, there’s probably a decent, small, inexpensive, private Tico school wherever you may decide to live, as long as it’s in a populated area. You’ll just have to come down and see for yourself.
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to provide me with school information. I know I will want to visit schools upon arrival, however this is extremely helpful. There are some (for whatever reason) I can cross off my list & others I will definitely want to check out!! Thank you again.
I have a friend who has his son in a bi-lingual school in San Ramon and I think he pays about $60 a month. It will all depend on where you decide to live.
Is San Ramon near San Jose? We are purchasing a home in San Jose & at least for awhile will rely on buses, public transportation,etc. Do you happen to know the name of the school? I know someone else posted a note talking about private schools costing $1,000. per month in California. Well, Costa Rica does not have California wages, & while many of the schools sound absolutely wonderful I cannot afford $500.++++ per month. My husband retired early so we will be living on his pension + I am planning on picking up extra money doing ESL.
San Ramon is too far away from San Jose for that school to work for you. It’s about an hour+ from San Jose. Now that I think about it, my friend’s son is only 7 or 8, so I’m not sure to what grade level that school goes. But surely there are other schools that are around the same price, they just won’t be those fancy schmancy diplomats’ kids school.
Deb,
We have visited Talarke and are moving to Costa Rica and enrolling our children there in January of 2008. San Ramon de Tres Rios is about 15 minutes from San Pedro and 25 minutes to San Jose. I hate traffic so we will locate ourselves very close to the school. Tuition is approximately $315 per month including home cooked meals and materials. It is a family run school that evolved from homeschooling. We spent two weeks in Costa Rica in June specifically to visit schools and stopped our search when we visited Talarke. Currently Talarke goes through 6th grade. This semester they have 63 students. It is very near the Marian Baker, the Methodista, and a couple of others for middle school and high school. The Director of the school is Susana Cabezas and their number is 506-273-3353. You can mention that Jerry Thompson referred you. If you want to contact me off list, my email is jdtj777@yahoo.com. I am not sure what is up with their website but it has been down for a few weeks. If you want something with larger classes that is a little more traditional, another excellent and challenging school on the East side is the Liceo Franco tri-lingual school. Good luck to you and your family. Jerryottfog please include the Talarke school website address here for our VIP Member parents … I can not find it
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comI had been trying for some time to get information re the Talarke school. I received the following from the director which should be helpful.
Debbie
Yes, our website is presently being revised and updated, to be installed under a new title.
We are an elementary school, and although we have graduated 6 generations of 6th graders, this year we only have students from 12 months to 3 rd grade. For the year 2010 we hope to open up 7th grade and after that, will add one grade per year until we have a full highschool.If you need any more information I will be glad to answer any further questions you may have. Call me at 273-3353 from 7:30 – 3:30 pm.
Sincerely,
Susana Cabezas
Director
I know St Gregory is a good school because my wife’s niece went there and they were happy with the teachers. This is also close to our house!
How ever my wife wants to put our son or daughter in the school that she went to which is in San Jose, it is the oldest school in the country!
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