Country Day School Guanacaste
Costa Rica Guanacaste Schools Serving Hacienda Pinilla
The Country Day School was founded in 1963 as a private, English-language, co-educational, non-sectarian day school in the central valley of San Jose. The purposes and standards of the school are comparable to selective U.S. independent and college-preparatory schools.
The Country Day School Guanacaste, an extension of the original campus, 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 Sol Melia Paradisus Conchal Resort. The building was remodeled, and a covered gym, pool, athletic field, staff housing and a cafeteria were built. In addition, the school embarked in a new and exciting direction, and a 20-room boarding program residence hall was 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 it’s founding, CDSG has grown from 40 students to 160.
Country Day School (CDS) 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 from 10 to 20 students. 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.
In 2003, the boarding program captured the attention of Proctor Academy, a respected and well-known boarding school in Andover, NH with an emphasis on nature and experiential learning. A relationship was quickly formed, and Proctor has been sending groups of students to join other CDSG boarders ever since.
Country Day School 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 ( A.P.) courses. In addition, students who wish to enter Costa Rican university can apply for and obtain the Costa Rican Bachillerato.
Country Day School, while respecting all creeds, religions, and points of view, is a non-sectarian school. 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. Qualities 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.
