Cloud Forest School

Costa Rica, Monteverde

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The school at a glance

Instructs in English, Spanish

Fees CRC 6,250 - 10,000

Ages 4 - 12 years

Type Co-educational

Opened 1991

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum

Taught languages Spanish, English

Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Service and Sustainability

Clubs Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional

Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School

Introduction

Cloud Forest School is an independent bilingual K–6 program set on 106 acres of cloud forest near Monteverde, Costa Rica. The bespoke curriculum blends English and Spanish instruction with a strong emphasis on environmental education embedded across all subjects. Since 2003, the school has piloted six-week units that guide learning decisions and connect academics to real-world ecological issues, helping students graduate bilingual and environmentally conscious. Classrooms open onto the forest, with outdoor, play-based kindergarten and Prepa programs. Learning extends beyond the campus into the forest and local community, including field trips, volunteer opportunities, and internships. The mission is to cultivate well-rounded individuals who can meet today's challenges with curiosity, compassion, and practical problem-solving. The campus features an organic garden, a native tree nursery, a recycling center, a reforestation program, and an extensive trail system that supports daily land stewardship and experiential learning. The school welcomes diverse learners and families worldwide.

cloudforestschool.org

Cerro Plano, Santa Elena de Monteverde, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

Santa Elena, Costa Rica

Stages

Kindergarten through 6th grade (K-6)

Type

bilingual K-6 school

Pupil Nationality Mix

Approximately 85% local Costa Rican students and 15% international students

Additional learning support

Spanish as a second language program

Country affiliation

Independent

Diving Deeper

The school has not added this information

Fees

Application / Registration Fees
- A registration (pre‑matrícula) requirement exists and a specific registration fee for families living outside Monteverde has been listed as USD 200.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term where available)
- Pre‑Kindergarten / Kindergarten: Annual tuition reported at approximately USD 6,250 per year.
- Preparatory year: Annual tuition reported at approximately USD 7,000 per year.
- Grades 1–6: Annual tuition reported at approximately USD 10,000 per year.
- Range reported for the school overall (various sources) is roughly USD 6,450–USD 10,200 per year depending on program and grade.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school operates on the Costa Rica academic calendar (August–May) with stated deadlines for pre‑registration/payments in the academic calendar; families are required to meet pre‑registration payment deadlines. Exact term-by-term billing dates and instalment schedules are managed through the school's enrollment process and family contracts.

Boarding fees
- No boarding program or boarding fees are published for the school; available information describes it as a day school.

Other costs and fees
- Summer camp: Program cost was listed as USD 500 per week for camp offerings (includes program, some transportation, one tour per week, t‑shirt, snack and lunch under the camp terms).
- Uniforms: The school has been described as not requiring uniforms, so uniform costs are not listed as a standard tuition item. Families should still expect incidental costs such as field trips, materials, school photos, and optional activities.
- Financial aid / scholarships: The school provides partial scholarships and reduced tuition to a substantial portion of local students; additional fees (application for scholarships) and documentation requirements exist for scholarship consideration.

Refund information
- No publicly posted, detailed refund policy for tuition or deposits was found in the available documents. Refunds, withdrawal penalties, and prorating of tuition are handled according to family contracts and the school's administrative policies.

Fee payment options
- Accepted payment methods include domestic bank transfers (accounts in Costa Rica in colones and in US dollars), international wire transfers (SWIFT), PayPal, checks payable to the school's association or to the Cloud Forest School Foundation (for U.S. payments), and credit card payments via a credit card authorization form. Contact emails for payments and finance queries are finanzas@cloudforestschool.org and recepcion@cloudforestschool.org. Specific bank account details and wiring instructions are provided in the school's bank information document.

Notes on published detail availability
- The school publishes payment instructions, pre‑registration forms, credit card authorization, and the academic calendar. Precise, itemized per‑term tuition amounts, explicit term instalment schedules, detailed refund policy text, and a full current fee table by grade for the 2026/27 academic year are not published in a single publicly accessible fee schedule in the materials located. The figures above are drawn from available enrollment documents and independently published summaries; families should expect to confirm exact current amounts and instalment options directly with the school's finance office during enrollment.

Academics

Curriculum

The school has a strong interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates environmental education into all subject areas and aims to graduate well-rounded, bilingual and environmentally conscious individuals.

Wellbeing

The school has not added this information

Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

1) The school is bilingual and located on 106 acres of cloud forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The admissions process begins with an initial interest interview with the director of external and international relations to discuss the student's goals, language needs and fit with the program. This interview helps determine whether further steps are needed and can guide next steps.
2) Applicants complete the enrollment form to apply, and the school will schedule a virtual meeting to answer questions if desired. The international-student pathway notes that the Spanish as a second language program is available for those who need language support.
3) Families commit to at least one full semester to participate fully; the minimum attendance is one semester, as shorter visits are disruptive to the regular student body.
4) The school operates on a differentiated calendar from August to May, with 180 school days; bilingual instruction in English and Spanish is part of the program and environmental education is integrated across subjects.

Scholarships

The school offers scholarships; 40% of students receive a scholarship. To apply for a scholarship you must demonstrate that your family's income is not sufficient to pay the full monthly tuition. A formal scholarship application is available for the 2025-2026 academic year. Scholarships are for the school program itself, not for higher education progression.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

Where is Cloud Forest School located and what grades does it serve?

Cloud Forest School is located in Santa Elena, Costa Rica, on 106 acres of cloud forest near Monteverde. It serves preschool through 6th grade (ages roughly 4 to 12) and is a co-educational, bilingual day school.

What is the main focus of the curriculum at Cloud Forest School?

The school offers a strong interdisciplinary, bilingual program with environmental education embedded across all subjects. English literacy, math, and science are taught in English, while Spanish language and social studies are taught in Spanish, and outdoor, nature-based learning is integrated throughout.

What makes the campus and learning environment unique?

The campus sits in a cloud forest and emphasizes outdoor, play-based learning in the early years, with learning taking place on campus, in the forest, and in the local community. Students learn in a natural setting that supports environmental awareness and hands-on exploration.

What are the tuition ranges by year group?

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are about USD 6,250 per year, Preparatory year around USD 7,000, and Grades 1–6 about USD 10,000 per year. Overall, tuition typically ranges from roughly USD 6,450 to USD 10,200 per year depending on the program and grade.

Are there application fees or scholarships available?|Scholarships and financial aid?

A registration fee of USD 200 applies to families living outside Monteverde. About 40% of students receive scholarships, with applicants required to demonstrate that their income cannot cover full tuition; formal scholarship applications are available for the 2025–2026 academic year.

How does the admissions process work and is there a waitlist?

Admissions start with an initial interest interview with the director of external and international relations, followed by an enrollment form. A virtual meeting may be offered to answer questions, and language support is available through the Spanish as a second language program. Minimum attendance is one semester; there is no publicly available information about a waitlist.

How is language taught at Cloud Forest School?

The school provides bilingual instruction for grades K–6, with English used for literacy, math, and science, and Spanish used for language, social studies, and many other subjects. There is also a Spanish as a Second Language program to support learners who need language assistance.

Are there published details on exam results or progression to higher education?

Public details about exam results or progression to higher education are not provided. The school emphasizes a well-rounded, environmentally conscious bilingual education rather than catalogued exam outcomes.

Do we know anything about class sizes or the student–teacher ratio?

Specific class sizes or student–teacher ratios are not published in the available materials.

What facilities and campus features should families know about?

The campus features 106 acres of cloud forest with on-site classrooms and facilities that support land stewardship, including an organic garden, a recycling center, composting, a native tree nursery, a reforestation program, and a campus trail system.

Are sports facilities or dedicated spaces for academics available?

No dedicated sports facilities are listed in the available information. The emphasis is on the environmental, bilingual curriculum and outdoor learning rather than on formal sports complexes.

What extracurriculars or camps are offered at Cloud Forest School?

Camps are offered throughout the year with 2027 dates, focusing on the cloud forest and sustainability, and typically include arts, physical education, environmental education, language practice, gardening, hiking, and local field trips.

What leadership or service opportunities exist for students?

Students can participate in volunteer roles such as teaching assistants, involvement in curriculum development, landscaping, reforestation, and trail maintenance. There are internship and on-the-job training opportunities for teachers and other positions as part of the school's programs.

How does the school incorporate community service and cultural exchange?

The mission emphasizes land stewardship and environmental projects on campus, plus group experiences that involve homestays with local Costa Rican families and local community field trips, fostering collaboration and cultural exchange.

What wellbeing and support services are available for students?

The school provides a Special Education teacher on staff for SEN needs and a Spanish as a Second Language program to support EAL learners. Kindergarten focuses on language and social-emotional development, and a security guard supports safeguarding on campus.

How does the school support English language learners and bilingual students?

All students receive bilingual instruction (English and Spanish) across core subjects, with additional EAL support through the Spanish as a Second Language program to help language development and inclusion.

What safeguarding measures are in place at Cloud Forest School?

There is a security guard on campus to support safeguarding, and the school addresses students' intellectual, emotional, and physical wellbeing as part of its care approach.

Is Cloud Forest School a boarding school or a day school, and what about uniforms?

Cloud Forest School operates as a day school. There is a uniform consisting of a logo T-shirt worn as part of the attire.

What is the school dining situation?

The school does not provide a dining room service or on-site meals, so families should plan for meals separately.

What accreditation or governance does the school have?

The school is independent and non-profit, accredited and recognized by the Costa Rica Ministry of Public Education (MEP).

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