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Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares

Costa Rica, Palmares

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 16 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1958
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP)
Taught languages Spanish, English, French
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares is a Costa Rican public bilingual secondary school in Palmares, Alajuela, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to students aged 16 to 18. The campus supports Spanish and English instruction, preparing learners for local or international university study. The IB curriculum combines core elements with a broad range of subjects, including Biology, Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, Literature, History, English, Global Politics, and Geography, along with the Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS. Established in 1958 and adopting bilingual modality in 2004, the school has offered the Diploma Programme since 2008. It maintains laboratories; a Language Laboratory; two Informatics Laboratories with 20 computers each; and a 12,000-title library cataloged in SIABUC. Facilities include a dining service, an on-site auditorium, and access to the Polideportivo de Palmares. The program promotes international-mindedness through exchanges, field trips, and environmental initiatives for students worldwide.

Liceo Experimental Bilingüe (Colegio Experimental Bilingüe) de Palmares, Palmares, Cantón de Palmares, Province of Alajuela, Costa Rica; 50 meters south of Banco Popular

The Essentials

Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares has instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
Palmares, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica. It is located in the province of Alajuela, canton seven, in Palmares. The school is a public educational community in Palmares.

Stages
Secondary education; the school has joined the International Baccalaureate program. Spanish is the native-language of instruction; English and French are taught as additional languages. The curriculum provides five Spanish lessons across secondary, fourteen English lessons across secondary, and three French lessons until ninth year.

Type
Public bilingual secondary school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Most students are Costa Rican; some come from Spanish-speaking countries, and there are exchange students. Very few have native languages other than Spanish or are bilingual.

Country affiliation
Costa Rica
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required. Uniform measurements are taken, and 50% of the uniform payment is due on specified dates. Students must come with the uniform for events.

Food Options
Food is provided at school events, including a welcome lunch for visiting students with Costa Rican foods.

Governance and Ownership
The school is the Colegio Bilingüe Palmares, located in Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica. The Diploma IB program is overseen by the Asociación Bachillerato Internacional Palmares, a non-profit organization supporting the program at the Colegio Experimental Bilingüe Palmares. The director is MSc Greivin Chacf3n Rodredguez.
Fees
Application fees
- No separate application fee is charged for admission to the school's programs. The admissions process for the IB Programme is handled through required forms, evaluations and a selection committee rather than by payment of an application fee.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- Regular tuition: There is no regular tuition charged for attending the Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares because the institution operates under the Ministry of Public Education (Ministerio de Educación Pública) as a public bilingual school. No per-term or per-year tuition amounts are published for grade levels.
- IB Programme (external assessment / certification): The school handles matriculation and standardized-test registration through the institutional platforms required by the IB and the Ministry; any external examination or certification fees administered through those platforms are handled as separate administrative charges, but no fixed per-student IB fee amounts are published in the school's admission materials.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Uniform payments: Uniform procurement is scheduled with a two-stage payment: a 50% payment at uniform measurement and the remaining 50% at uniform delivery. Specific dates for those two payments are published in the school's admission cronograma (measurement and 50% payment; delivery and final 50% payment). The school issues an invoice at the time of uniform delivery.
- Matriculation events: Matriculation for new IB entrants and other registration events are held on scheduled dates (the cronograma lists the matriculation day and times for new entrants). These events are referenced as the institutional moments for completing enrollment and any related payments or paperwork.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding: Not applicable. The Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares is presented as a public day school operating under the national education authority; no boarding facilities or boarding fee schedules are published.

Other costs and fees
- Uniforms: Parents are required to purchase the school uniform; payments follow the 50%/50% schedule at measurement and delivery as noted above. An invoice is provided at delivery.
- Field trips and extracurricular activities: The school runs curricular trips and extracurricular activities; these activities may require additional payments (trip fees, transport, entrance fees, materials). No fixed prices are published for these items in the school's publicly available admission or calendar materials.
- Study materials / technology: The admissions documentation references requirements such as providing documentation and indicates whether a student has a laptop and internet access; additional material or technology contributions may be expected but no standard per-student material fees are published.
- Examination / registration platform charges: The school references matriculation in institutional platforms (PAI) and the administration of standardized or IB-related registrations; such registrations can carry administrative or exam fees, but no specific fee amounts are published by the school.

Refund information
- No published refund policy for uniforms, enrolment payments or other charges appears in the school's admission policy or the admission cronograma. If a payment-specific refund policy applies, it is handled through the school's administrative procedures but no standardized refund amounts or terms are published in the publicly available admission materials.

Fee payment options
- Payment method details (credit card, bank transfer, online portal) are not specified in the school's public admission materials. The cronograma indicates in-person collection and that an invoice (factura) is issued at the time of uniform delivery, which indicates payments are processed through the school's administrative office at enrollment or delivery events. Parents should expect in-person payment and invoicing procedures at scheduled events.

Availability note
- The school's published admission policy, cronogramas and IB matriculation materials specify schedules, required documentation, uniform payment timing and the institutional enrollment process, but do not publish numeric amounts for application fees, tuition by year/term, boarding fees, uniform pricing or standardized exam fees for the 2026/27 (or 2025/26) academic cycle. The content above lists the fee categories and payment schedules that are published; specific monetary amounts are not provided in the school's publicly available admission documents.
Academics

Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares teaches IB (DP) for students aged 16 to 18.

Curriculum
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is offered. The curriculum includes the following subjects: Digital Society, Biology, Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, Literature, History, English, Global Politics, Geography. Core components are CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service), Theory of Knowledge, and the Extended Essay (Monografía).

Gifted and Talented
A Creative Personal Portfolio (Portafolio Personal Creativo) is required for admission to the Diploma Programme. The portfolio is guided by a document that aims to: (1) identify your creative talent and potential for admission to the Diploma Programme, (2) demonstrate your creative capacity and aptitude, (3) communicate your experience in courses and competitions inside and outside the institution, and (4) project your aspirations and expectations for personal development.
Parent Experience

History
The Palmares Bilingual College is located in Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica. In 1956 a group of Palmares students traveling to study at the Instituto Superior de San Ramón initiated plans to create a local school, with parental involvement and the support of the director of the Instituto Superior. In 1958 Executive Decree 3-3-1958 established the Palmares School after meetings of parents to advocate for the project. In 2004 the school adopted a bilingual modality, and in 2008 the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was implemented, providing a pre-university qualification. The Diploma Programme has been taught at Palmares Bilingual College since 2008 and aims to form youth who, in addition to knowledge, commit to the global community to be more humane and integral.

Community
Community events include Talent Night and a trip to the National Theater and Museums. Biology-related trips and activities are part of the program. The community also participates in beach clean-ups. A welcome is extended to our Mexican brothers.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
AbiP is a nonprofit organization whose objective is to support the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at the Palmares Bilingual College. It serves as a channel through which parents, alumni, entrepreneurs and supporters can donate and participate in activities such as raffles and sales. Donations can be made by bank transfer to Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, IBAN CR86015101920010468401; Ced. Jurídica: 3-002-769786. SINPE MÓVIL donations are also accepted; Tel: 8928 3136; Asociación Bachillerato Internacional Palmares. To coordinate donations, contact Karla Sancho, Treasurer, at 88775970; Jeannette Chavarría, IB Programme Coordinator, at 8638 8660; Email: asociacionbipalmares@lebpalmares.ed.cr. AbiP Board: President Adriana Bonilla; Vice President Rolando Ramírez Segura; Treasurer Karla Sancho; Secretary Ana Marcela Zúiga Cerdas; Auditor Jessenia Vásquez Quesada; Member Sonia María Vásquez Mora.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Palmares is located in Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica. The campus includes a dining service providing lunch in accordance with Ministry of Education nutritional guidelines, and on-site cafeterias. The Biblioteca Francisco Rodríguez Jiménez offers three study rooms—an individual study room, a group study room, and a research room—with an open collection of about 12,000 titles; the collection and services are automated with SIABUC. The school has a Video Conference Room, a Language Laboratory, and two Informatics Laboratories with 20 computers each, a local network, internet access, a scanner, and Microsoft software (Windows XP/Office 2003). The Biology Laboratory is equipped with ten microscopes, glassware, sensors connected to an interface, gas and water lines, a refrigerator, air conditioning, and first aid; the IB Coordinator's Office is on site.

Sports Facilities
The school uses the Polideportivo de Palmares for IB activities and promotions. The campus also has an auditorium on site for events and presentations.

Academic Facilities
The Biblioteca Francisco Rodríguez Jiménez provides three study rooms: individual, group, and research, with approximately 12,000 titles and an automated SIABUC catalog. The Laboratorio de Idiomas supports English language practice with audio, films, and videos and also serves as a space for research. There are two Laboratorios de Informática, each equipped with twenty computers, a local network, internet access, a scanner, and Microsoft software (Windows XP/Office 2003), with multimedia resources. The Laboratorio de Biología includes ten microscopes, glassware, sensors connected to an interface, gas and water lines, a refrigerator, air conditioning, and first aid. The IB Coordinator has an office on site.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Students have opportunities to undertake exchanges and host international students. The school fosters meetings with other institutions, interinstitutional projects, and outings. Notable activities include IB promotional events at the Polideportivo de Palmares and the school auditorium; biology trips; beach cleanups; and welcoming Mexican exchange students.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school runs the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Biology field trips are integrated into IB learning, including a 2025 trip to La Tigra Rainforest Lodge to study biodiversity and environmental conservation. Students work in groups to research climate and biodiversity topics and present their findings. The day ends with a tree-planting reforestation activity to support conservation.

Arts & Creative
The school offers arts and culture experiences through IB field trips to museums and the Teatro Nacional. First-year BI students visited the JADE Museum, while second-year BI students toured the Museo de Arte Costarricense, ending with a performance of the play A La Luna at the Teatro Nacional. The experience emphasizes experiential learning in art and culture beyond the classroom. The Talent Evening showcases student talents, including a freestyle demonstration by the Costa Rican champion Steven Cr, with IB students participating.

Cultural & Language
The school hosts intercultural exchanges with Mexican partner schools, welcoming Instituto Sanmiguelense students and hosting a welcome lunch and cultural activities. The exchange features performances and student talents showcased during gatherings with our Mexican guests. The program also includes field trips to cultural sites such as the Museo Regional de San Ramón as part of the exchange. Intercambio México Palmares runs 14 to 21 April with visits from Mexican students.

Social & Hobbies
Tarde de Talentos provides a platform for students to showcase talents in front of peers and staff, with IB students participating alongside the national program. The event featured performances such as guitar and singing, and included a freestyle demonstration by the Costa Rican champion Steven Cr. The show fosters self-expression and community engagement. Talent evenings highlight the creative and social talents of the student body.

Community & Service
The CAS program includes environmental volunteering with Fundación Aguas Viven. Volunteers receive an induction on recycling and waste management from SINAC, and then collect and sort waste along La Granja River to protect Palmares water sources. The activity involves collaboration with UNED and the CAS coordinator to promote environmental stewardship. Community service activities are documented and aligned with CAS learning outcomes.

Leadership & Professional
The school runs leadership development activities as part of the IB admissions process, including Conociendo el líder que llevas dentro, which engaged many students and emphasized teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and leadership. The event featured alumni of the IB program and left a lasting impression on participants. Ubicatex provides a vocational talk to connect IB students with Costa Rican universities, and the school also hosts interCAS fairs with other IB schools to foster leadership and professional development. Promoción IB Conociendo el líder que llevas dentro; Ubicatex; Feria interCAS.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Outdoor field experiences are a hallmark of IB learning, including a Biology trip to La Tigra Rainforest Lodge and a Gira de Biología to the Cantón del Río Cloud Forest to study biodiversity. Beach cleanups organized as CAS activities promote environmental stewardship and physical activity. Talent evenings also contribute to well-being by giving students a space for social interaction and self-expression. Outdoor learning and wellness-focused activities are integral to the program.
Languages

Language Provision
English, French, and Spanish are taught; Spanish is the language used by all inhabitants, with strong enthusiasm for English. English instruction is rigorous and conducted with English and French as the classroom languages in respective classes; in the National Bachillerato, English classes are conducted in groups of no more than 15 students. Students may graduate with the International Baccalaureate Diploma; language support includes a Language Laboratory for English practice and a Video Conferencing room for inter-institutional exchanges.

Bilingual Teaching
Spanish is the language used by all inhabitants, with strong emphasis on learning English to become bilingual for regional, national, and international competitiveness. English and French are taught by bilingual teachers certified to teach English and French. The program includes 5 Spanish lessons throughout secondary, 14 English lessons throughout secondary, and 3 French lessons through ninth grade, taught by local teachers. Students may graduate with the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Immersion Programs
Classrooms use the foreign language as the language of communication in both English and French classes. In the English program within the National Bachillerato, classes are conducted in small groups of no more than 15 students. The school provides a Language Laboratory for English practice and a Video Conferencing room for inter-institutional exchanges, with opportunities to host foreign students.
Admissions

Admissions
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School Events
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