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Liceo HHC Experimental Bilingüe José Figueres Ferrer

Costa Rica, Cartago

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1995
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, French
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Located in Vía 219, Cartago, Costa Rica, Liceo HHC Experimental Bilingüe José Figueres Ferrer is a bilingual experimental high school offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside a Bespoke Curriculum. The Experimental Bilingüe modality provides a flexible program designed to adapt as learning outcomes emerge, with language development prioritizing oral, written, and literary skills and an English certificate awarded in the final year. The curriculum strengthens Mathematics, Business Management, Information Technology, Accounting Technology, Tourism Technology, and Architectural Drawing to support higher education. The school's pedagogy combines Constructivist and Humanist foundations with Rationalist elements, enriched by field trips, seminars, fieldwork, theatre, exchanges, and art and cultural exhibitions. Exploratory Workshops explore vocational interests, including Electricity, Leatherwork, Jewelry, Decorative Painting, and working with recycled materials. The IB Diploma Programme is offered as part of the curriculum. Since 1994, it has been a pioneer in this modality and is celebrating 30 years of leadership.

Vía 219, Provincia Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica

The Essentials

Liceo HHC Experimental Bilingüe José Figueres Ferrer has instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
The school is located in Cartago, Costa Rica. Address: Vía 219, Cartago Province.

Stages
The school offers secondary education (10th–11th grades) with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, in an Experimental Bilingual modality.

Type
The school is a bilingual experimental high school offering the IB Diploma Programme.

Additional learning support
The school provides student support including a scholarship program, quality education and continuous improvement, medical care, psychological support, and an integral development program with an athletics component.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms: Important information regarding the ordering of student uniforms for the 2025 academic year.
Fees
Application fees

- Admission test fee: ₡18,000 (Costa Rican colones). This fee is required to register for and take the admission test and is non‑refundable.

Tuition fees by school year / term

- The institution publishes and refers to a recurring monthly tuition (mensualidad) but does not publish fixed tuition rates by year group or per term in the publicly available admissions and institutional documents. The school's internal regulations and related materials describe the concept of mensualidad and scholarship/exemption categories but do not list numeric tuition amounts by grade or term.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Payment for the admission test must be made during the published payment window for the admissions process; the admission-test payment window and deadlines are set by the institution each admissions cycle. The admission-test payment may be made in person at the school cashier or by bank deposit during the announced dates.

- The institution references a monthly tuition obligation (mensualidad) and calendar items that include deadlines for cancelling the monthly payment without surcharge; however, exact billing dates, due dates and formal invoicing schedules with amounts per term or per month are not published in the available institutional documents.

Boarding fees

- No boarding or residential‑boarding (pensión) fees are published in the institution's public admissions materials, internal regulation documents or calendar notices. There is no published indication that the school operates a boarding programme with separate fees.

Other costs / ancillary fees

- Uniforms: The institution publishes information and notices about student uniforms for the course year but does not publish uniform price lists or itemised uniform costs in the publicly available documents. Parents are directed to the school's uniform information and distribution process.

- Scholarships and fee exonerations: The school maintains institutional scholarship categories and explicitly lists possible exonerations of the mensualidad (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%) and other supports (food, transport, book packages) as part of its welfare and scholarship policy; these are described as categories rather than fixed monetary discounts.

- Other typical school costs (books, materials, extracurricular activity fees, transportation) are referenced as potential services but no fixed amounts or mandatory ancillary fee schedules are published in the available admissions or regulatory documents.

Refund information

- The admission-test fee is explicitly non‑refundable. No detailed, published numeric refund schedules or step‑by‑step monetary refund rules for tuition or ancillary charges are available in the institution's published admissions and internal regulation documents. Institutional regulations address contractual rescission and recovery of sums owed but do not list standard refund amounts or formulas.

Fee payment options

- Accepted payment channels for the admission/test payment and for school cashier operations include: cash payments at the school cashier, debit and credit cards (American Express excepted), and bank deposits to the school's Banco Nacional account. The school provides an IBAN and account information for deposits and requests that deposit receipts include the student's full name and ID number when sent to the school's payments e‑mail address.

- The school also links to an online payment platform and lists an institutional payments contact for receipts and confirmations; parents are instructed to send deposit receipts to the school's payments e‑mail address.

Summary of findings

- Published, specific numeric fee information is limited to the admission/test fee (₡18,000) and to bank/payment instructions and accepted payment methods. The institution's regulatory and informational documents refer to a monthly tuition obligation (mensualidad), scholarship/exoneration categories, uniform requirements and other routine school charges, but specific tuition amounts by grade or per term, boarding fees, uniform item prices, and a full numeric refund policy are not published in the available admissions and regulatory materials.
Academics

Liceo HHC Experimental Bilingüe José Figueres Ferrer teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
The Liceo Experimental Bilingüe José Figueres Ferrer uses an Experimental Bilingüe modality, a flexible curriculum designed to adapt as learning outcomes emerge. Language development focuses on oral, written, and literary skills, with an international certification in the final year. The curriculum strengthens selected subjects to prepare for higher education, including Mathematics, Business Management, Information Technology, Accounting Technology, Tourism Technology, and Architectural Drawing. Its pedagogical foundation rests on Constructivist and Humanist principles with Rationalist elements, and learning is enriched through field trips, seminars, fieldwork, theater, exchanges, and art and cultural exhibitions. Vocational interests are explored through Exploratory Workshops such as Electricity, Leatherwork, Jewelry, Decorative Painting, and working with recycled materials. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered as part of the school's curriculum.

Higher Education Progression
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme prepares students for higher education worldwide and opens doors to prestigious universities around the world. It emphasizes inquiry, reflection, and communication, and includes core components such as Theory of Knowledge (ToK), Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay. Higher Level and Standard Level subjects include Literature, Language B (English), History, Mathematics, Business Management, and Biology. Graduates can earn the IB Diploma and have the option of double accreditation with the Costa Rican high school diploma, supporting global university access.

Gifted and Talented
The school offers English language strengthening and final-year English certification, plus a range of courses and certifications. It provides modern laboratories, robotics, STEAM-focused programs, and technology and entrepreneurship competencies. It also supports students with scholarships, quality education, and ongoing improvement, and offers athletic and health services as well as psychological support.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Psychopedagogical support and student guidance: The institution has a team of professionals in psychology and guidance who provide support to students in their emotional, academic, and vocational development. We offer talks, workshops, and personalized counseling to help each student find their path to success.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Curricular and socio-emotional supports: Curricular accommodations are provided for students who need them; a certification of curricular supports issued by the sending school must be submitted, signed by the school administration, and indicate what type of curricular support the student receives.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Strengthening in English and language skills: The program includes English-focused enhancements with group work to personalize teaching, especially in English. Development of linguistic skills covers oral, written, and literature, with certification via an international exam in the last year.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing support: A team of psychology and guidance professionals provides support for students' emotional health, academic development, and vocational planning. They offer talks, workshops, and personalized counseling to support students' mental wellbeing.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding and student protection: The Discipline Committee may urge guardians to adopt measures directed at modifying personal, family, or social circumstances when they appear as determinants in the student's negative conduct. Guardians are responsible for ensuring these measures are followed and, when possible, preventing recurrence. The student and guardians may seek and receive the guidance of the Institution's Department of Orientation and Psychology if needed. The internal regulations also specify safeguarding procedures and rights to appeal.
Parent Experience

History
In 1994, specialists German Navarro Tossi and Carlos Masis Acosta, advisers to the Hospicio de Huérfanos de Cartago, drafted the theoretical, philosophical, and educational foundations of the bilingual experimental modality, a pioneering project for Costa Rica. The Superior Council of Education approved the proposal, establishing the first Liceo Experimental Bilingüe in Costa Rica with the presented curricular model. The modality is anchored in a Constructivist framework, with a Humanist component and Rationalist concepts, and administration of the Liceo was assumed by the Hospicio de Huérfanos de Cartago after approval. The Minister of Education and the Administrative Board signed an agreement regulating the center's operation, recruitment, and duties. In March 1995, the model was first implemented, with the Liceo José Figueres Ferrer becoming a pioneer in this modality and helping relieve overcrowding in Cartago's central schools.

Community
Our institution has a rich history dating back to its founding, a visionary project born with the purpose of providing quality education for new generations. From its beginnings it has been a space for formation, values and growth for thousands of students. Over the years the institution has evolved, adapting to changes in education and technology. Facilities have been expanded, programs updated, and teaching approaches strengthened to continue delivering high-quality education. Events and notable achievements reflect our community: generations that have graduated, innovative projects that have made a difference, and recognitions that validate our academic excellence. Each event and achievement forms part of our identity.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has modern, accessible infrastructure designed for learning and safety. Classrooms are spacious, well-ventilated, and equipped with up-to-date technology and ergonomic furniture, with accessibility standards in place. The library offers a wide collection of physical and digital resources to support research and reading. Security is provided around the clock with monitoring systems and trained professionals, and there is a fully equipped infirmary on site. The campus includes green spaces and dedicated areas for sports and recreation to promote student well-being.

Sports Facilities
The school provides multi-purpose courts, a gym, and green spaces for sports and recreational activities. These facilities support school tournaments and extracurricular programs and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Academic Facilities
The school offers state-of-the-art science, computer, and technology labs for hands-on learning. The library provides an extensive collection of physical and digital resources. Classrooms are spacious, well-ventilated, and equipped with current technology and ergonomic furniture. The infrastructure complies with accessibility standards to create an inclusive environment.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular programs are supported by the campus facilities, including spaces for activities and events that complement classroom learning.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), preparing students for global academic and personal challenges and strengthening critical thinking and research skills. It promotes academic excellence and discipline through a holistic approach and a forward-looking vision, celebrating 30 years of educational leadership. English development is supported through English improvement programs, English certification in the final year, and related courses and certifications. The school provides access to prestigious universities and demonstrates strong academic performance.

Cultural & Language
English development is strengthened through English improvement programs, English certification in the final year, and related courses and certifications. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme fosters global learning and the development of critical thinking and research skills. The IB programme emphasizes global learning for the future.

Leadership & Professional
Competencies in technology and entrepreneurship are part of the program, developing professional skills and leadership. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme strengthens critical thinking and research abilities for global contexts and future leadership. The robotics program develops skills in technology and programming, preparing students to lead in a digital world. The school provides pathways to prestigious universities, reflecting strong academic outcomes that support career development.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Comprehensive development includes a Sports Academy, medical care, and psychological support. These offerings support students' physical health, medical needs, and mental well-being. The school's approach integrates wellbeing with academics to promote balanced student growth. Facilities and programs are designed to support a healthy, active and well-supported student life.
Languages

Language Provision
English language support with English certification in the final year.

Bilingual Teaching
The school is bilingual.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admission Process 2027 is presented as agile and transparent. For information on requirements, dates, and documentation, you are invited to contact the school or visit its facilities. The school is committed to academic excellence and the development of value-driven leaders. Become part of the educational community.

2. Start Your Application. Start Your Application is available to begin the enrollment process. The option is labeled Start Your Application for initiating the admissions process. The enrollment process can be initiated through this link. This marks the first step toward joining the institution.

3. Step-by-Step Enrollment Process. A Step-by-Step Enrollment Process is provided to guide applicants. Families can follow the listed steps to complete the enrollment. The process is designed to guide applicants through enrollment.

4. Admission Test. The Admission Test is part of the admissions process. Details about the test and scheduling are provided via the Start Your Application portal or by contacting the school. The test helps determine applicant readiness for the program.

5. Key Dates. Key Dates include references to the Admission Process and Application Period. These items indicate important milestones in the admissions cycle. Prospective families should review these dates to plan accordingly.

6. Are you ready to be part of our institution? Are you ready to be part of our institution? Check all information about the admission process and complete your registration easily and quickly.

Scholarships
The school has a Scholarship Program under Student Support. It is described as 'Scholarship Program' and 'Quality Education and Continuous Improvement.' The program supports students as part of the school\'s education quality and ongoing improvement.
School Events
The school has not added events
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