Moving a family to Costa Rica

Every figure, with its source

Article 5 of the Reglamento de matricula y de traslados de los estudiantes gives every minor the right to free public education and forbids refusing it on grounds of socioeconomic situation, irregular migratory status or arrival from a foreign school system. Article 12 f) states that the enrolment procedure for a migrant student is the same one that applies to Costa Rican students. A child arriving before 30 April defines their academic standing in the first term by sitting the objectives and content of each subject, under article 15. After 30 April, article 16 lets the child complete the year begun abroad where the two school calendars are similar. Where a child has school records from another system, article 13 b.1) requires the parent to present them, and certification of foreign primary and secondary study follows the procedure set by the Direccion de Gestion y Evaluacion de la Calidad of the MEP. Where there are no records, article 13 b.2) places the child by placement tests written and marked by the receiving school. The head teacher must review the file and decide within 10 working days under article 14.

International schooling runs CRC 7,206,900 to CRC 9,577,000 per child per year.

Families who need an English-language classroom but cannot fund international school fees. The two San Jose schools we priced charge CRC 7,206,900 to CRC 9,577,000 per child per year, and Costa Rica's state system runs in Spanish.

Moving to Costa Rica With Children