Costa Rica has no equivalent of the US school ratings families are used to, so there are no scores on this page. What is here is what each school states publicly: grade levels, curriculum, languages, and accreditation. Where a school does not publish something, it is left blank rather than guessed at.

Every listing on this site shows the schools nearest to it. If you are weighing a particular town, the school is usually the constraint that decides it — not the house.

Brasilito
Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA)
U.S.-accredited bilingual school on a 32-acre campus near Reserva Conchal, serving this coast since 2000.
Early Years – SecondaryU.S.-accredited bilingualEnglish and Spanish
Brasilito
La Paz Community School — Cabo Velas Campus
IB World School between Flamingo and Brasilito, built around dual-language immersion and experiential learning.
PreK – 12International Baccalaureate (IB), experiential learningBilingual dual-language immersion
Palmira
La Paz Community School — Tempisque Campus
La Paz's second campus, inland near Palmira in Carrillo, running the same IB dual-language program.
PreK – 12International Baccalaureate (IB), experiential learningBilingual dual-language immersion
Tamarindo
Journey School of Costa Rica — Tamarindo
Authorized IB World School in Tamarindo offering the IB Diploma Programme with project-based learning.
Pre-K – 12International Baccalaureate (IB), project-based learningSpanish and English
Nosara
Del Mar Academy
Nosara IB World School on an 11-acre campus, running Montessori in the early years into the IB Diploma.
Pre-K – 12Montessori through IB Diploma ProgrammeSpanish and English
Huacas
Educarte
Bilingual MEP-certified school near Huacas, and the only school on this list that publishes its tuition.
Preescolar – SecundariaBilingual, MEP-certifiedSpanish and English
Sardinal
Lakeside International School
Bilingual PreK–12 school inland from Playas del Coco, built on an integrated Multiple Intelligences curriculum.
PreK – 12Integrated curriculum, Multiple Intelligences modelEnglish and Spanish
Villareal
Pacífico Internacional
Waldorf-inspired school in the hills at Cañafistula, just inland from Tamarindo.
Preschool – middle schoolWaldorf-inspiredBilingual
Tamarindo
TIDE Academy
Pre-K through 12 in Tamarindo on a personalized US curriculum — around 80 students from 17 countries at an 8:1 ratio, with high school accredited via Middle States through North Atlantic Regional High School.
Pre-K – 12Personalized US curriculumEnglish and Spanish
Playas del Coco
Dolphin's Academy
Bilingual elementary school in Playas del Coco, with curricula developed in alliance with Oxford and Cambridge.
ElementaryBilingualBilingual

From choosing a school to choosing a home

For relocating families, the right property often depends on much more than the home itself. School schedules, realistic daily drive times, children's ages, work locations, and access to services all affect where it makes sense to live. I help families compare the practical relationship between schools and communities, organize property tours, and build a housing shortlist around everyday life — not only the look of a house.

When available, I can point you to the right admissions contact. Tuition, enrollment, curriculum, transportation, and availability should always be confirmed directly with each school.

Relocating With Kids?

Tell me your kids' ages — I'll map the school run for every area.

I'm Tiago Leao, a luxury real estate agent with KRAIN Luxury Real Estate in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Every listing on this site shows real driving times to these schools, and I help relocating families match the right school to the right neighborhood before they ever get on a plane.

WhatsApp Tiago tiago@soldbytiago.com See homes & drive times

Every message goes straight to my phone — no team inbox, no handoff.