MISSION
Costa Rica International Academy, a U.S. accredited college preparatory school serving an international community, inspires a passion for learning and provides children with the skills, values, and courage to become responsible leaders in their communities and the world.
VISION
We aspire to be a world-class international school with a culture of high expectations, high performance and accountability.
VALUES
We respect all creeds, religions and points of view. The School does not undertake religious instruction nor blend secular and sectarian education. At the same time, moral values and spiritual issues have a place in the educational process. Values such as fairness, justice, compassion, honesty, and the "Golden Rule" are taught without a religious label. Faculty and staff conduct reflect these values and serve as a model for the students.
PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES
In keeping with the mission, vision and values of the school, we strive to:
- Provide for the development of intellectual, social, aesthetic and moral values that satisfy the needs of our students;
- Serve students from the expatriate and local communities;
- Maintain high academic standards and foster a love of learning;
- Provide a program that focuses on basic skills in English (literature, writing, speaking, and listening), math, science, history, geography, Spanish, physical education and the arts;
- Maintain a structured plan for learning, which clearly articulates curriculum content;
- Evaluate student learning frequently with a variety of assessment tools to ensure that each child is progressing appropriately;
- Help students prepare for a world of rapid change in which continuing education, creative thought, the ability to use technology, and acquisition of skills are essential;
- Value and teach cultural understanding and knowledge of the complexities of our world;
- Teach and model virtues such as honesty, compassion, diligence, kindness, fairness, loyalty, and the “Golden Rule”; and
- Prepare students for admission to universities in North America, Costa Rica and around the world.
History & Background
Costa Rica International Academy was founded as a private, English-language, co-educational, non-sectarian school.
The purposes and standards of the school are comparable to selective U.S. independent and college-preparatory schools.
The School was founded in 2000 in facilities owned by the Flamingo Beach Resort. In 2002, the School acquired a property with a near-finished building on the road between Huacas and Brasilito, near Reserva Conchal and the current Westin Resort. The building was remodeled, and a covered gym, pool, athletic field, staff housing and a cafeteria were built.
In 2004, a new high school building with classrooms, science lab, library, computer lab and administrative offices were built. By August of 2007, the school completed a new elementary and early childhood building of 16 classrooms, administrative offices, and a new multifunctional cafeteria/auditorium. Since its founding,
CRIA has grown from 40 students to 350.
CRIA is recognized throughout Costa Rica for the academic excellence demanded of its students, its college preparatory program, the depth and range of its academic and co-curricular programs, and the quality and dedication of its faculty. Classes are small, averaging 18 students in the primary and 22 students in the secondary. An experienced faculty drawn from the United States, Costa Rica and other countries is guided by a teaching philosophy that challenges and supports students to be independent learners and thoughtful citizens.
CRIA is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education. The school offers a U.S. high school diploma and a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. In addition, students who wish to enter Costa Rican university can apply for and obtain the Costa Rican Bachillerato.
CRIA respects all creeds, religions, and points of view. The school does not undertake religious instruction nor blend secular and sectarian education. At the same time, moral values and spiritual issues have a place in the educational process. Values such as fairness, justice, compassion, honesty, and the “Golden Rule” are taught without a religious label. Faculty and staff conduct reflect these values and serve as models for the students.
