Costa Rica Education

If you are thinking of relocating to one of the Costa Rica homes for sale and you have school-age kids, one of your main concerns is probably their education. You most likely would want to know what the educational system is and what schools would be available for your child.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Costa Rica has a literacy rate of 94.9 percent. The reason there is such a high rate of literacy is the incorporation of compulsory education for Costa Rican citizens into the Costa Rican constitution. Because education is so highly valued in Costa Rica, education is not only compulsory up to high school; it is also free, if it is a public school.

Since Costa Rica abolished the retaining of a standing army, its leaders have been able to focus on the educational requirements and standards of the county, which are quite good when compared with other South American countries.

The Costa Rican educational system is divided into Pre-School education, Primary education, Middle (High School) education and Superior education, which are available in both Public and Private schools.

The location you choose to live in will affect your choice of schools. However, if you have decided to live in one of the Jaco Condos for sale in Jaco, Costa Rica, you will be glad to know that Jaco, which is only a two-hour drive from San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, has a lot of good public and private schools.

Public schools in Costa Rica are on hand in most areas of the country, but usually do not go beyond the 9th grade which is the legal requirement. Schools which go beyond the 9th grade are required to offer the National Baccalaureate, which allows entry into the university.

Depending on the school you eventually choose, there are three possible Diplomas which a child might obtain from a Costa Rican High School: The National Baccalaureate/Diploma of Costa Rican which is accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education; the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is accredited by the IBO in Geneva, Switzerland or the USA High School Diploma, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

If you are relocating from the U.S or from Canada, it is advisable to enroll your child in one of the Private schools in Jaco, Costa Rica some of which have both English and Spanish curriculums. This is because even though the Costa Rican public schools are good, the culture shock might be a bit hard on your child. Besides, while the standards of the public schools are impressive, they might not meet the basic standards which your child is accustomed to.

Costa Rica has four major state-owned universities and a host of other private ones and is known for providing high standard education at affordable costs. Most universities though, require an understanding of Spanish as a prerequisite.

For more information on relocating to Jaco, Costa Rica, contact Coldwell Banka Vesta Group Jaco, Costa Rica. We have years of experience in helping foreigners who relocate to Costa Rica find a home in any of the premium Los Suenos real estate properties. We also offer help with most issues relating to your relocation to a Costa Rica home, including education.