Compare International Schools in Tamarindo, Costa rica

Instructs in English, Spanish

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees CRC 3,142 - 8,976

Flourish Children's School is a faith-based, bilingual learning community located at Casa Vida Church in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Founded in 2021, the school welcomes students aged 2 to 18 and uses a bespoke, Charlotte Mason–inspired program that emphasizes project-based learning. The curriculum runs a mirrored Spanish–English track, with studios alternating languages daily or by subject to foster bilingual, biliterate, multicultural learners. Bible stories, worship songs, and daily prayer anchor the day, while small class sizes enable individualized instruction and attentive guidance from adaptive learning specialists, occupational and speech therapists as needed. Facilities include a renovated campus with a new play structure, minimalist Montessori-style classrooms, and ample outdoor space. Enrichment features include Discovery Labs, Expression Lab, STEM + Makers Lab, Entrepreneurship Lab, Life Skills Lab, and Podcasting Lab, plus Morning Basket rhythms and Flourish Fridays Chapel. The program balances academic inquiry with character formation and real‑world projects through hands‑on labs and service-minded initiatives.

Location

Located in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, Flourish Children's School operates from Casa Vida Church. It serves children ages 2 through 18. The program is faith-based with Christian instruction, including Bible stories, worship songs and daily prayer.

Stages

Seedlings (ages 2-3); Sprouts (ages 3-4); Blossoms (ages 4-6); Orchids (ages 6-8); Flora (ages 7-8); Palms (ages 8-10); Selva (ages 10-11); Leadership Academy (ages 11-18).

Type

Faith-based

Additional learning support

Occupational and speech therapists are available for special services.

Religious affiliation

Christian

Tuition & Fees — 2026/2027

- Fees are presented in U.S. dollars and are billed in Costa Rican colones at a fixed school exchange rate of ₡500. Tuition may be paid annually, by semester, by quarter, or in installments (11 monthly payments: August–June). Tuition is set as an annual fee and is not reduced or discounted for holidays, student absences, natural disasters, or other emergencies. Enrollment fees are non‑refundable.

Application / Enrollment Fees

- Preschool, Primary and Secondary (Open Enrollment window): USD 1,200 per student.
- Preschool, Primary and Secondary (Late Enrollment window): USD 1,400 per student. These enrollment amounts include new student fees, registration, materials, student insurance and tax.

Tuition fees by program / school year (annual and installment options)

- Preschool (ages 2–4) — annual fee / (11 monthly installments shown):
- Tuesday & Thursday — Half Day: USD 3,142 (11 installments of USD 286).
- Tuesday & Thursday — Full Day: USD 3,815 (11 installments of USD 347).
- Monday / Wednesday / Friday — Half Day: USD 4,264 (11 installments of USD 388).
- Monday / Wednesday / Friday — Full Day: USD 4,937 (11 installments of USD 449).
- Monday–Friday — Half Day: USD 6,283 (11 installments of USD 571).
- Monday–Friday — Full Day: USD 6,732 (11 installments of USD 612). Pickup times are set by program (Half Day pick-up ~12:00 PM; Full Day pick-up ~2:30–2:45 PM).

- Primary School (Pre‑K through Grade 5): USD 7,854 annually (11 installments of USD 714, August–June).

- Secondary School (Grades 6–12): USD 8,976 annually (11 installments of USD 816, August–June).

Discounts

- Sibling discount: 15% for the third child and above; applies to the youngest full‑time child and only to tuition (not to enrollment or materials fees).
- Founding Families discount: 10% for families enrolled during the founding years (2021–2023) who have remained continuously enrolled; applies to tuition only.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Payment plan options: Annual (single payment), Semester, Quarter, or 11 monthly payments (August–June). Specific due dates are set by plan:
- Annual payment due August 10.
- Semester payments due August 10 (Semester 1) and January 10 (Semester 2).
- Quarter payments due August 10, November 10, February 10 and April 10.
- Monthly payments due on the 10th of each month (August–June).
If a payment is received on or after the 11th, a late fee of USD 30 is added to the next invoice. Administration requires a 30‑day written notice to unenroll a student to avoid being charged the next tuition installment.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not offered. All programs are day programs with scheduled pick‑up times; no boarding fee applies.

Other costs and optional fees

- Enrollment fees (USD 1,200 open / USD 1,400 late) include registration, materials, student insurance and tax.
- Optional U.S.‑accredited transcript (where requested): USD 450 (optional).
- Additional extracurricular or after‑school activities may incur separate fees when offered; specific activities and costs are billed separately.

Refunds and cancellations

- Enrollment fees are non‑refundable. Tuition is charged as an annual fee and is not reduced or discounted for holidays, student absences, natural disasters, or other emergencies. A 30‑day written notice is required to unenroll to avoid the next scheduled tuition charge.

Fee payment options and banking details

- Accepted payment types and channels include:
- Cash (the school accepts cash payments with conditions on bill condition).
- Bank transfer / wire to designated school accounts (Banco Nacional and BAC) — SINPE and IBAN details are published for transfers; for wire transfers add USD 17 to cover bank transfer fees charged by the receiving bank (parents should also cover any fees charged by their own bank).
- Payments may be made using the school's invoicing/payment plan arrangements tied to the annual/semester/quarter/monthly schedules.

- Sample bank details published for payments (bank name, currency and SINPE/IBAN are provided by the school for bank transfers). For wire transfers the school requests an additional USD 17 to cover transfer fees.

Practical notes (payment administration)

- All fee amounts are billed in colones at the school's fixed exchange rate. Families selecting non‑annual plans should follow the stated due dates; late payments incur the stated late fee. Student records are not released until financial obligations are met.

(End of fees overview)

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The Flourish approach prioritizes student well-being as part of learning. The environment nurtures well-being and character development alongside academics. The team includes P.E. coaches and enrichment guides to support holistic growth. Occupational and speech therapists are available for special services. The faith-based setting includes daily prayer, Bible stories, and worship songs as part of daily life.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Occupational and speech therapists are available for special services.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school offers a dual language program with a mirrored Spanish-English curriculum. Studios alternate languages daily or by subject to encourage bilingualism, biliteracy, and multicultural understanding.

Mental Wellbeing

Well-being is central to the learning approach. The curriculum follows a Charlotte Mason philosophy with project-based learning. It emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and character development alongside academics. The environment is designed to nurture students' well-being.

Admissions

1. Open enrollment begins March 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. The School Year is 2026-2027. Enrollment is for Flourish Children's School in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. 2. If you would like to enroll your student for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the application before May 30. The deadline is May 30 for the 2026-2027 school year. 3. After submission, the committee will respond within a week to set up a visit and interview. The process includes a visit and an interview after the application is submitted. 4. All families must be interviewed and students will undergo an academic evaluation. The admissions process requires both a family interview and an academic evaluation for students. 5. After May 30, enrollment fees will increase for late enrollment. Late enrollment results in higher enrollment fees.

Scholarships

Flourish scholarships are awarded annually to families based on need and to include underrepresented populations in the Flourish community. The program allows 25% of students to receive a tuition scholarship. Scholarships are renewable and distributed on an annual basis. Scholarship applications for the 2026-2026 school year are due in March for current families and May for new families. Tuition assistance and scholarship requests require families to submit financial information and proof of income in the online application.

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Liceo de Villarreal

I don't have enough information to produce an accurate, fact-based profile of Liceo de Villarreal from only the input that it is a public school. If you can share additional details (for example, the specific programs offered, language of instruction, notable facilities, or any publicly listed extracurriculars), I can craft a 150‑word description and select up to three strengths and up to three clubs that reflect the school's actual offerings. If you'd prefer a generic template for a public secondary school in Spain that you can customize later, I can provide that as well.

Location

Located in the district of Tamarindo, Costa Rica. It is a public institution established in 1998. It offers programs including conversational English, TIE, OT, and specialties such as Tourism, Culinary Arts, Information Technology, and Robotics.

Stages

Technological Orientation and IB Diploma Programme (secondary level)

Type

Public

Additional learning support

Special education available for cycles III and IV

Application fees
- There is no general application or admission fee charged for enrolment at Liceo de Villarreal as a public Ministry of Education (MEP) secondary school.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- There is no tuition charged to families for standard primary or secondary instruction at Liceo de Villarreal; public education at the primary and secondary levels is provided free of tuition. This applies across year groups.
- Students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at the school may incur separate IB-related assessment charges (external examination/registration fees) at the time of IB external assessment; these are not school tuition but assessment fees billed for IB candidature. Typical external IB assessment charges are normally invoiced to families by schools in the Diploma years. Estimated IB assessment ranges are commonly reported in the industry as several hundred US dollars per diploma-candidate session (actual amounts vary by session and region).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- For standard schooling there is no regular tuition billing schedule because no tuition is charged.
- If IB external-assessment charges apply, schools typically invoice those charges once per assessment cycle (commonly during the spring term preceding final exams); payment deadlines and exact invoicing timing are set by the school and follow the IBO/centre schedule. Instalment, late‑payment penalties, and invoicing frequency for any ancillary paid services (transport, meals, extracurricular activities) depend on the school's administrative rules when those services are provided.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding is not applicable. Liceo de Villarreal operates as a day secondary school; there is no boarding programme or boarding fees.

Other costs and typical fees families should plan for
- Uniforms and sports kit: families commonly pay for required uniforms or sports clothing where these are requested by the school.
- Textbooks, stationery and consumables: families normally cover personal school supplies, photocopying, subject‑specific consumables and replacement of lost items.
- Transport: private school-bus or private transport costs are paid by families when used. Public-school transport options (if any) will have separate charges set locally.
- Meals / canteen: charges for school meals or snack programmes are payable by families when provided.
- Extracurricular activities and trips: optional clubs, workshops, field trips and some competitions carry separate fees billed when those activities are offered.
- IB-related charges (for Diploma students): external assessment/exam fees, and any IBO-related administrative charges or CAS/DP programme contributions where the school applies them. These IB assessment fees are billed to families for candidates in Diploma years and typically appear on a specific invoice for the assessment cycle. Approximate reported industry ranges are several hundred USD per diploma-candidate session (actual amounts are set by the IBO and the school's invoicing practices).

Refund information
- For the standard instructional service at a public MEP school there is no tuition payment to refund because tuition is not charged.
- Refunds for paid ancillary items (for example, meal plans, extracurricular fees, IB assessment fees) follow the school's internal administrative rules or the external body's (IBO) refund policy; where the IBO issues refunds to the school for exam-related charges, schools may pass those refunds on according to their stated procedures. Parents should expect refunds (if any) to be handled on a case-by-case basis under the school's accounting rules.

Fee payment options
- For any ancillary paid items the school typically accepts common local payment methods such as: bank transfer to the school's account, payment in cash at the school administrative office, or other payment channels the school publishes for specific charges (examples in Costa Rican schools commonly include local bank transfers and in-person payments). Payment by credit card or online payment may be available for some services where the school or its partners support those methods. Exact accepted methods are set by the school for each charge.

Brief summary of findings and limitations
- Liceo de Villarreal is a public MEP day secondary school that offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma pathway; Costa Rican public primary and secondary education is provided free of tuition. No published schedule of per-term or per-year tuition or an application fee for 2026/27 was found for this school. The only typical charges families should expect are uniforms, supplies, transport/meals where used, optional activity fees, and any IB external assessment/examination fees for Diploma candidates (these IB charges are set by the IBO and invoiced by the school). Because the school does not publish a numeric per-grade or per‑term fee schedule for 2026/27, no per-term or per-year tuition figures are available to report.

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Compare International Schools in Tamarindo, Costa rica

Location

Stages

Type

Additional learning support

Religious affiliation

Curriculum

Student Teacher Ratio

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Admissions

Scholarships

Location

Stages

Type

Additional learning support

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Annual fees

Children's Ages

Curriculum offered

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