English: Language Arts & Math
Reading, writing, and math are taught in English, building literacy and number sense in a language children will use far beyond Costa Rica.
The Experience · Grades 1–5
Primary
Grades 1–5
Where Curiosity Turns Into Real Skill.
Primary is where the wonder of the early years meets the structure of strong academics. Children build foundations in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies while learning to ask questions, make connections, and apply what they know.
Subjects often connect through a bigger question. A unit on the ocean might have children measuring tide data in math, reading about whale migration in language arts, testing water samples in science, and presenting what they found to the class. They practice each skill, and they see what the skill is for.
Two Languages, One School Day
How Bilingual Learning Works in Primary.
Both English and Spanish are languages of instruction here. Each subject is anchored in the language where it makes the most sense, so children use both across the whole school day.
Spanish: Language Arts & Social Studies
Spanish carries language arts and social studies, so children read, write, and understand their community and country in its own voice.
Science: Both Languages
Science moves between English and Spanish, depending on the unit and the vocabulary it needs. Costa Ballena is the lab: tide pools, rainforest, and a student garden are all part of the lesson.
What Makes Primary Different
Four Things You'll Notice.
Classes of 15 or Fewer
With fifteen students or fewer, a teacher can see how each child is thinking, adjust in the moment, and give them work that fits.
Critical Thinking First
Children learn to ask questions, compare what they find, test an idea, and explain the reasoning behind their answer.
Learning Through Projects
Units pull several subjects into one question, and children finish with something to show for it: an experiment, a model, a presentation, a piece of writing.
Globally Minded
Costa Rican and international families learn side by side, so children grow up with more than one way of seeing the world.
Challenge and Support
Support Along the Way.
Our Student Support Services team works alongside teachers to give students what they need to succeed. From learning accommodations to second-language support, the team helps students build confidence, make progress, and participate fully in the classroom.
Sometimes that means more time with a new language. Sometimes it means an extra challenge. And sometimes a student simply needs a little more support for a while. Small classes and a dedicated support team give teachers the flexibility to respond to what each student needs.
What Comes Next
Ready to Take On More.
By the end of Primary, students have the academic foundations Secondary asks for, along with the habits that matter just as much: asking good questions, working independently, collaborating with others, and taking real ownership of their learning.
Come see it for yourself.
Bring your family. Walk the campus. Meet the teachers.