Public Schools in Costa Rica

The public school system in Costa Rica often ends at the 9th grade. Schools that offer courses beyond the 9th grade are required to offer the Bachillerato de Educación de Diversificada or National Baccalaureate. These National Baccalaureate school end at 11th grade.  Their calendar year is from February through November.

With the National Baccalaureate degree program, the student will take MEP (Ministerio de Educación Publico) tests in the 6th, 9th and 11th grade. This degree allows entrance into University in Costa Rica, but with this diploma alone, it is very difficult if not impossible to enter a University in the United States.

For this reason, most expatriates who move to Costa Rica with school aged children will send them to either a Catholic Schools or to a wide variety of Private Schools.  Most opt for the private schools.

The main function of the public schools is to provide basic literacy.  Those students who do have their eye set to higher education will always elect to continue though 11th grade which makes them eligible for admission to most colleges and universities in this country.

For a comprehensive discussion of the various high school (colegio) degrees available in Costa Rica, please see the fine article in Private Schools submitted by contributor Angela Passman.