Home > Costa Rica > San Jose > United World College Costa Rica
IB and Costa Rican
Bilingual
Ages 16 to 18

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CitySan Jose
CurriculumsIB and Costa Rican
Leaving qualificationsIB Diploma, SAT, and ACT
Languages of instructionEnglish and Spanish
Age RangeAges 16 to 18
Boarding available - Yes
Yearly fees: Not public
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Quick summary of key school information

Leaving qualifications IB Diploma, SAT, and ACT
Language of instruction English and Spanish
Native English and Spanish teachers
Extra languages (other than English and Spanish)
Class sizes Average 15 students / class
Maximum 18 students / class
Extracurricular activities
School bus
School's webpage:

This school does not make their fees public for the academic year 2024/2025.

Address: De la esquina sureste de la Iglesia Católica, 400 mts al norte, San José, Santa Ana, 10901, Costa Rica
Is this school a perfect match for you?

Tell us your preferences and we’ll calculate your compatibility.

  • Based on 10 different criteria including price and location
  • Fees personalised to your childrens’ ages

All the details about this school in their own words

We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 40 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Number of students

206

Number of nationalities represented in the school

75

Most common nationality

Costa Rica, Germany, USA, China.

Ratio of local students to international students

10%

Native English and Spanish speaking teachers

Yes

Language support for students not fluent in English and Spanish

Yes

Additional language classes offered by the school

French, Spanish, English, Self Taught Language

Max. number of students per class

18

Average number of students per class

15

Does the school employ teaching assistants?

No

Use of technology in the classroom

Experiential Learning

Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)

Yes

Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?

We are a secular institution due to our diverse population. All students are allowed to practice their own beliefs and we provide spaces for it.

External examinations or assessments available

International Baccalaureate Program.
ACT and SAT exams.

Results in these examinations

85% pass rate of apprx.

Do teachers assign homework to their students?

Yes

Approximate hours of homework given

It really depends. Based on International Baccalaureate System.

Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation

98%. The rest attend summer programs or GAP year programs.

Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs

Yes

Learning support offered

At UWCCR students with special educationals needs with guidance and support during their time at school, from follow-ups on how to organize their time, study timetables to IEP's to teachers to make them aware of their students' needs. Also, the SEN Coordinator communicates with parents when further evaluations need to be made during the break or to organize them to be done in Costa Rica, with external professionals (at the parents' expenses). The SEN Coordinator also assists students that come from disadvantage academic backgrounds, especially with organizations that the school works with, to have support during their transition to the new system.

Student access to education psychologist

Yes

Entry evaluation for students

Yes

Brief description of entry evaluation required

There are two main routes to apply to UWC Costa Rica: Direct admit contact us at info@uwccostarica.org or vía your National Committee in your country.
Click here for more information https://www.uwc.org/howtoapply

Waiting list

Yes

Deadline for registration (new academic year)

Each Committee has a unique selection process that fits calendars, cultures, educational systems, and circumstances of each country so it is important to contact the National Committee to know what their application process and dates.

Students can join after academic year begins

No

School start time

August.

School finish time

May.

Supervised care before/after school

Yes

School bus service available

N/A Boarding School.

School provided lunches

Yes

Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)

Yes

Uniform required

No

Extracurricular activities or clubs offered

We offer a rich co-curricular program that reflects a commitment to balancing Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS). Our service expectations go well beyond IB CAS requirements. Key co-curricular programs include “Getting to Know Costa Rica” trips, Community Action Week, Global Affairs sessions, Model United Nations, Spectrum (queer community safe space), Cultural Weeks, Recycling and Composting, Dance, Crossfit, Yoga, Creative Cooking. These activities foster the relationship with communities and organizations in Costa Rica.
Through the Agents of Change program, students develop skills to put ideas into action. UWC Costa Rica encourages students to deliver social positive impact regardless of the path they choose to walk.

Sports activities included

Part of the CAS Program we offer: Yoga, Pilates, Crossfit, Football, Basketball, Voleyball, and more...

Sports teams or sport competitions available for students

Yes

Facilities at the school

Library, amphitheater, science labs, social center, outdoor dinning terraces.

Sports facilities at the school

Basketball Court, Football Court, Volleyball, Gym.

Qualities and characteristics best defining the school

As the only UWC in Latin America and the Caribbean, UWC Costa Rica offers a bilingual program and opportunities to learn more about the region’s social, political, and cultural history and explore Costa Rica. The country’s long-standing history of peace, democracy, environmental protection, and the absence of a national military provide the ideal setting for the College’s strong experiential learning curriculum.

UWC Costa Rica is located in Santa Ana, San José, and it is transitioning to a new space in San Isidro, Heredia, offering many learning opportunities in nature for the new generations; a campus surrounded by 40 hectares of a nature reserve is an ideal place for an inverse and transformative experience in connection with nature. Our current campus at the heart of Santa Ana allows students to engage with the Costa Rican community directly while still surrounded by nature.

The core learning experience at UWC Costa Rica is based on three educational programs, all working around our 5-year Strategic Plan and following our Sustainability Framework.

Teaching approach of the school

Experiential Learning Education.

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