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International St. Jude School

Costa Rica, San Jose

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 0 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge (Secondary), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French
Strengths STEM, Languages, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

International St. Jude School is a private day school in San José, Costa Rica, offering international education for ages 0 to 18. The curriculum blends the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) in early years, Cambridge Primary and Cambridge IGCSE in the middle years, Cambridge Secondary, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, plus a Bespoke Curriculum to tailor learning. English and Spanish are the languages of instruction, with French introduced from Preschool onward, resulting in a bilingual IB diploma for graduates. The campus sits in a forested setting with green spaces, and modern facilities support hands-on learning: a robotics lab, a computing lab, a science lab, a gym and a 25-metre heated pool, plus a chapel. Students access a wide range of ISP-led programs (Artists, Changemakers, Chess Masters, Cultural Exchange, Scientists, Filmmakers, MUN) and diverse clubs. The school emphasizes community service, leadership development, and global perspectives through multilingual education and exchanges.

XQ2W+5QM, San José, Pozos, Valle del Sol, Costa Rica

The Essentials

International St. Jude School has instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
San José, Pozos, Valle del Sol, Costa Rica. The school is located in the Valle del Sol area of Pozos in the San José province. The address and contact details indicate it serves the local community in this part of Costa Rica.

Stages
Preschool Ages 6 months - 6 years; Primary School Ages 6 - 11; Secondary School Ages 11 - 18; IB Diploma Programme Ages 16 - 18. The curriculum includes the Cambridge international pathways and the IB Diploma Programme, with bilingual instruction in English and Spanish and French taught from Preschool to Secondary.

Type
Private international day school

Additional learning support
CASE-V for high-performance athletes; LEAP for gifted learners; small classes for tailored support.

Country affiliation
Affiliated with International Schools Partnership (ISP).

Religious affiliation
Rooted in faith.

Bus service
School transport is provided through partnered providers. Routes cover Santa Ana, Escazú, San José, Heredia, Ciudad Colón and Lindora. Pick-up times are between 5:30 and 7:00 am, drop-off is at 2:50 pm; monthly fees range from $95 to $170. Buses meet safety standards and schedules are coordinated with families.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
St. Jude School has a uniform. Preschool wear white institution shirt, red shorts, white or red socks, closed shoes, and a red sweatshirt with a hat; Primary wear a beige polo shirt with blue pants, and Secondary wear a beige polo shirt with marine-blue pants, with a red sweatshirt and hat for all levels. The PE uniform uses the official house shirt, and the complete uniform can be purchased at the school store.

Food Options
Dining service: Students enjoy a cafeteria service organised by sections and staggered schedules, with nutritious, well-balanced menus every day of the week.

House System
The school uses a house system for physical education; students wear the official shirt of the house to which they belong.

Governance and Ownership
St. Jude School is part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) network.
Fees
Fees overview (2025–26 academic year)

Application & enrolment fees
- An application fee is charged as part of the admissions process. The school also charges an enrolment/registration charge at acceptance. Specific application and registration line-item amounts are included in the school's online fee calculator and billing breakdown.

Tuition / enrolment fees by school stage (amounts shown as the enrolment/tuition figure for the 2025–26 academic year)
- Preschool (6 months–6 years):
- Toddler — USD 982.51.
- Nursery — USD 982.51.
- Pre-Kinder — USD 984.66.
- Kinder 1 — USD 984.66.
- Kinder 2 — USD 999.18.
- Preschool (general) — USD 999.18.
- Primary School (ages 6–11) — USD 1,479.94 (enrolment/tuition figure).
- Secondary School (ages 11–18) — USD 1,550.78 (enrolment/tuition figure).
- IB Diploma — USD 1,550.78 (enrolment/tuition figure).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school publishes a fee calculator and an online billing arrangement for families; fees may be billed in instalments or monthly payment plans as managed through the school's billing system.
- Re-enrolment and invoicing deadlines include advance payments for the coming year; the school has used advance-payment requirements (for example, requesting 50% of tuition by a re-enrolment deadline in prior communications).

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not part of the school offering; St. Jude operates as a day school with scheduled school-day hours and dedicated transport (bus) services.

Other costs and recurring extras
- School uniform: Students obtain uniforms from the school's official uniform store; uniform costs are charged separately.
- Dining / cafeteria service: Daily cafeteria service is available and billed separately from tuition.
- Transport / bus service: School bus services covering several areas are offered; transport is an additional cost.
- Extracurricular activities and after‑school care: Extracurricular programmes and after‑school care are billed separately; a previously published fee schedule recorded an after‑school fee example of CRC 57,000 for an after‑school offering.
- Admission bond / family deposit: A family admission bond (noted in published fee materials) is charged from Elementary 1 onwards (example amount previously published: CRC 600,000 per family).
- Referral / promotional allowances: The school has run referral programmes that give a discount equivalent to one monthly fee for a successful referral; programme details and eligibility are applied at enrolment.

Refunds and cancellations
- The school's enrolment and admissions process requires payment to secure place and these enrolment/application charges are processed at acceptance or via the school's billing system. Parents should note enrolment and application payments are applied at the time of registration; specific refund or cancellation terms for application, enrolment, or tuition payments are defined in the school's admissions/enrolment policies and billing terms.

Fee-payment methods and administration
- Fees and invoicing are managed through the school's online billing and parent‑portal tools (fee calculator and parent portal are the published payment/administration routes). For detailed payment methods accepted (bank transfer, card, online payment, instalment options) families use the school's billing system and admissions / accounts contact channels to complete payments and to review plan options.

Key notes for parents (concise)
- The amounts above are the published enrolment/tuition figures shown for the 2025–26 academic year.
- Additional mandatory and optional charges (uniforms, transport, dining, extracurriculars, after‑school care and family admission bond) apply on top of tuition; these are billed separately.
Academics

International St. Jude School teaches IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge (Secondary), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 0 to 18.

Curriculum
Comprehensive academic programme through the Cambridge Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Diploma; Preschool uses the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC); Primary and Secondary follow Cambridge pathways, culminating in the IB Diploma Programme for ages 16–18; English and Spanish are used as languages of instruction, with French taught from Preschool through Secondary; graduates earn a bilingual IB diploma.

Exam Results
MAP (NWEA) scores exceed global benchmarks, and 98% of graduates are admitted to universities in Costa Rica, the US, and Europe.

Higher Education Progression
Future Pathways provides personalised guidance for university and career planning, helping students move toward higher education or careers.

Gifted and Talented
CASE V supports high-performance athletes and LEAP supports gifted learners, within a framework of small classes.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
A nurturing learning environment with balanced, joyful classrooms that cultivate empathy, collaboration, and resilience, while growing students' confidence to lead with kindness.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Develop multilingual skills in English and Spanish, study French from Preschool to Secondary, and graduate from the IB Diploma Programme with a bilingual diploma and global opportunities.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported by a nurturing environment that emphasises empathy, collaboration, resilience, and confidence to lead with kindness.

Safeguarding
Learn in a secure, caring environment upheld by international safeguarding standards with trained staff, clear procedures, and open communication, so students feel safe, supported, and focused.
Parent Experience

History
St. Jude School is a private school located in San José, Costa Rica. It is a member of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) network. The school offers a Cambridge Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It provides bilingual learning in English and Spanish and offers French from Preschool through Secondary. It features a forest campus.

Community
100th Day of School Celebration occurred February 13, 2026. Students participate in Model UN and international opportunities such as Street Child United service projects. The school is part of ISP's global learning community. The campus includes sports facilities, a botanical garden and an orchard.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
International St. Jude School has modern spaces designed for hands-on learning. Robotics lab helps students learn programming and build robots, while the computing lab supports collaborative critical thinking and teamwork. A science lab provides a dedicated area for experiments that spark curiosity and discovery. Green spaces offer open areas for relaxation and connection with nature. The campus includes a gym and a 25-metre heated swimming pool with six lanes, plus a chapel. The school maintains safeguarding measures to ensure a safe environment.

Sports Facilities
Gym and swimming pool: Modern sports facilities for active students, teamwork and achievements. A 25-metre heated swimming pool with six lanes is highlighted.

Academic Facilities
Robotics lab: Hands-on space for students to learn programming and build robots. Computing lab: Collaborative space for critical thinking, communication and teamwork. Science lab: A dedicated area for experiments that fuel curiosity and scientific discovery. Green spaces: Open spaces for relaxation, play and connecting with nature.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Students experience a wide range of extracurricular activities - from sports and arts to leadership clubs and community projects. International opportunities: ISP Artists, ISP Changemakers, ISP Chess Masters, ISP Cultural Exchange, ISP Scientists, ISP Filmmakers, ISP Virtual Exchange, ISP Model United Nations. These programs offer opportunities such as design thinking workshops, partnerships across ISP schools, and real-world, international exchanges and competitions.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school follows the Cambridge Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to develop globally aware students. English, Math and Science are taught with personalized teaching and ISP Lab tools to track progress and foster curiosity, confidence and a love of learning. Multilingual learning develops strong English and Spanish skills, French is studied from Preschool to Secondary, and graduates earn a bilingual IB Diploma with global opportunities. CASE V supports high-performance athletes and LEAP supports gifted learners within small classes for tailored progression.

Arts & Creative
ISP Artists offers a personalized visual arts curriculum with workshops, a virtual art exhibitions platform and ongoing opportunities for artistic development. ISP Filmmakers provides real-life movie‑making experiences with digital editing tools and a dedicated showcase. Beyond ISP programs, the school supports broad arts and music activities including art and painting, piano and acoustic guitar, drums, ballet and other performing and visual arts opportunities.

Cultural & Language
Multilingualism is central: students develop English and Spanish and study French from Preschool to Secondary; Portuguese classes are also available. ISP Cultural Exchange fosters cross‑cultural understanding through homestays and exchanges, while international opportunities include Model United Nations and other global learning experiences that broaden language and cultural competencies.

Social & Hobbies
Students engage in a wide range of activities beyond the classroom, including sports, arts, leadership clubs and community projects. The program features athletics, dance and music options (e.g., ballet, acoustic guitar, piano, drums), as well as visual arts, robotics and technology exploration to support varied interests. These activities cultivate leadership, teamwork and creative expression.

Community & Service
Service projects and international outreach are integral to the experience, including initiatives such as Street Child United that build global awareness and social responsibility. Students have opportunities to connect with peers worldwide through ISP's programs and experiential learning activities that emphasize community impact.

Leadership & Professional
Future Pathways provides a personalized programme to help students explore opportunities and move confidently toward university or careers. CASE V supports high‑performance athletes and LEAP supports gifted learners within tailored pathways and small classes. Participation in Model United Nations and ISP networks helps students develop leadership, public speaking, collaboration and global perspectives.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Life competencies underpin daily learning, emphasizing self‑leadership, interpersonal skills, digital literacy and global awareness. A broad range of sports and fitness opportunities supports physical well‑being, including athletics and team activities. International exchanges and cross‑cultural experiences also contribute to social confidence and wellbeing.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Spanish are taught as core languages, with French offered from Preschool through Secondary. Multilingualism is part of the school's DNA, with learners encouraged to explore a range of world languages. They strengthen their home or first language while learning at least one world language. This approach prepares students to communicate, collaborate, and thrive in global environments.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers bilingual education in English and Spanish, with French taught from Preschool to Secondary. Graduates complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with a bilingual diploma.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school offers National Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate (IB) pathways.
Admissions

Admissions
The school serves learners from 6 months to 18 years. The school offers Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School, and an IB Diploma. The school is part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) network. The admissions section includes How to apply, Tuition fees, Inquire now, and Book a tour. How to apply provides a clear admissions guide, details about upcoming open days, and a simple application form. Tuition fees are presented with information for planning costs and guidance from staff. Inquire now invites prospective families to request information and learn how the school can support their journey. Book a tour invites visitors to experience the learning environment. The school is located in San José, Pozos, Valle del Sol, Costa Rica.
School Events
The school has not added events
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