Guiding Statements

Inspiring a Passion for Learning. Preparing Leaders for Life.

At Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA), our guiding statements reflect who we are, what we believe, and how we prepare students to thrive — academically, socially, and ethically — within our vibrant international community on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.

🎓 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 American international school in Costa Rica 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 our students.

🏫 Philosophy and Objectives

In keeping with the mission, vision, and values of our American international school in Costa Rica, 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.

🎓 CRIA Profile of a Graduate

Inspiring Confident, Capable, and Compassionate Citizens

The Profile of a Graduate defines the knowledge, skills, and character traits that students develop throughout their educational journey at Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA).
It reflects our commitment to preparing students not only for academic success, but also for purposeful, ethical, and engaged lives in a rapidly changing world.

📚 Academic Foundation

Our CRIA students demonstrate a strong academic foundation in the following areas:

1. Knowledge and inquiry processes that allow informed decision-making
2. Thinking and communicating mathematically and scientifically
3. Coherent production of English and Spanish in the four modalities of language learning (reading, writing, listening, and speaking)
4. Responsible, safe, and effective use of technology to demonstrate a high level of electronic literacy for education
5. Analytical and critical reading of a wide range of texts

💡 Thinking Skills & Learning Approaches

Our CRIA students are able to utilize the following thinking skills and learning approaches:

1. Innovative thinking that encourages students to embrace challenges, develop persistence, learn from and apply feedback, and see effort as a path to mastery
2. Curiosity, as demonstrated by a desire to explore, generate questions, and seek answers
3. Organizational skills, study habits, and effective time management
4. Apply thinking skills independently, critically, and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems

🌍 Community & Citizenship

Our CRIA students are able to actively and meaningfully contribute to various communities by:

1. Demonstrating thoughtful reflection about one’s role as a community member on a local, national, and global level
2. Successfully working both independently and collaboratively
3. Respecting and caring for our planet through active stewardship
4. Exhibiting respect for people of different backgrounds, including ethnicity, learning differences, country of origin, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, or beliefs

💙 Personal Qualities & Character

Our CRIA students exhibit the following personal qualities:

1. Integrity through adherence to moral and ethical principles, and by accepting responsibility for one’s own actions
2. Leadership as illustrated through self-discipline, effective communication, initiative, and compassion for others
3. Mental flexibility in the face of challenges
4. High-quality decision-making concerning the emotional and physical well-being of oneself and others

🌟 The CRIA Graduate

A CRIA graduate is academically prepared, globally minded, and ethically grounded — ready to contribute meaningfully to their community and to lead with purpose, integrity, and courage