As the next academic year approaches, many parents in Costa Rica are concerned about the educational futures of their children. In choosing the best private school in Costa Rica for your children, there is one golden rule and three mistakes to avoid:

 

The Golden Rule of Choosing a Private School in Costa Rica

 

In the minds of parents, there are no perfect schools because they only think in competitive terms. The million-dollar question should never be “Is this a good school?” Instead, the question to ask is: “Is this a good school for my child?” Before taking into consideration academics, sports, languages, or the facilities, parents should investigate about student life and whether it would be appropriate and nurturing to their children.

 

Three mistakes to avoid when choosing a school in Costa Rica:

 

1 – Jumping to conclusions and rushing decisions. Depending on the life goals of a family, a student could be enrolled in a Costa Rica school for several years. Rushing to choose a school without due diligence will result in pulling the student out of the classroom at the first sign of dissatisfaction, thereby creating instability.

 

2 – Making a decision based on just one recommendation. An expatriate family should not choose a school solely based on the advice of their neighbors who have lived in Costa Rica for just a few months. The key is to not skimp on research and to try to interview as many people as possible at the school, from the administrators to the educators and from the teaching assistants to other parents.

 

3 – Putting too much emphasis on just one educational aspect. For many expat parents, English language education is their only academic concern. Education should be looked at as a holistic formation that goes beyond language arts.

 

Pan-American School is dedicated to serve a broad spectrum of expatriate and Costa Rican families. If you would like more information about this school, please contact [email protected].