doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
S

Saint Francis College

Costa Rica, San Vicente de Moravia

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees CRC 6,406,800
Ages Not listed
Opened 1950
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Saint Francis College operates on Costa Rican campuses, Moravia and Alajuela, serving preschool through secondary education with the International Baccalaureate Diploma program and bilingual pathways. Instruction begins with English immersion from preschool; in primary grades students develop bilingual proficiency across Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Oral Expression, with French introduced in Fifth Grade. In secondary, advanced English and French are offered, and families may pursue the IB Diploma in the 10th and 11th years to earn a bilingual diploma. The IB pathway sits alongside the national MEP curriculum, and both prepare students for university study. The Diploma is recognized by universities in Costa Rica and abroad, with partnerships with Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional, Alliance Française, and the University of Cambridge. Pastoral Educativa, inspired by Franciscan values, lies at the heart of the school, weaving faith, values, and academics through experiential learning, service, and social projects. A Virtual Library supports study and research.

Saint Francis Moravia — San Vicente, Moravia, Costa Rica; Saint Francis Alajuela — Barrio San José, Alajuela, Costa Rica

The Essentials

Saint Francis College has instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
Two campuses in Costa Rica: Sede Moravia in San Vicente, Moravia, and Sede Alajuela in Barrio San José, Alajuela. Moravia is located in Moravia, serving the San José metropolitan area; Alajuela is located in Barrio San José, Alajuela. Contact: Moravia +506 2297 1704; sfc@stfrancis.ed.cr; Alajuela +506 2430 7639; sfca@stfrancis.ed.cr.

Stages
Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

Additional learning support
Curricular adaptations and identification of high-ability students.

Country affiliation
Costa Rica

Religious affiliation
Catholic, with Franciscan charism
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Private Catholic school governed by Franciscan friars (Frailes Menores Conventuales). Founded in 1950 by Franciscans who arrived from the United States at the request of the Costa Rican Catholic Church; established as a Catholic college. The school operates across Moravia and Alajuela campuses and holds accreditations including Bachillerato Internacional (IB) and a Blue Flag Ecological program.
Fees

Annual tuition at Saint Francis College ranges from CRC 6,406,800 for 2026/27.

*Application fees*
- No separate, itemized application fee is published in the school's public admissions materials for the 2026/27 academic year.

*Tuition fees (registration and monthly tuition)*
- A complete, year-by-year public fee schedule for 2026/27 is not published in the school's publicly available admissions content; the latest publicly reported general fee figures are: CRC 375,900 for matrícula (registration) and CRC 533,900 for the mensualidad (monthly tuition). These figures reflect the commonly cited registration and monthly tuition amounts reported for the school.
- No itemized breakdown by specific year group (e.g., Pre‑k, Kindergarten, Primary year 1, Primary year 2, each Secondary year) with per‑term amounts and per‑year totals is publicly posted.

*Billing schedule and payment terms*
- A detailed, published billing schedule (for example: whether tuition is billed monthly, by term, or annually; due dates; or penalties for late payment) is not provided in the school's publicly available admissions materials.
- Common practice at many Costa Rican private schools is to charge a matrícula (one‑time registration fee, often equal to one month's tuition) and to bill mensualidades on a monthly basis, but a school‑specific schedule and any discounts, installment options, or late‑payment penalties for Saint Francis College are not published.

*Boarding fees (if applicable)*
- Saint Francis College operates as a day school with two campuses (Moravia and Alajuela); no boarding program or boarding fees are published or described in the school's admissions materials. No boarding charges apply.

*Other costs and fees*
- Uniforms: Families are required to purchase school uniforms; no public, itemized uniform price list or uniform package fee is published.
- Textbooks, workbooks and school supplies: These are additional to tuition; no public, itemized price list is published.
- Student insurance: The school provides student insurance with a coverage amount of CRC 2,000,000. This insurance is listed among the school's included/available services.
- Meals / cafeteria: The Moravia campus has a cafeteria and the Alajuela campus operates meal service through external providers; costs for cafeteria meals or meal plans are not published.
- Transportation: The school offers school‑transport services through authorized providers; transport fees are not published in the public admissions materials.
- Extracurriculars and special programs: Participation in some clubs, teams, competitions or external programs may carry separate fees; specific prices are not published.

*Refund information*
- A formal, public refund or cancellation policy (for example: refund of matrícula if family withdraws before the school year, prorated refunds for mid‑year withdrawals, or deadlines for cancelling tuition payments) is not published in the school's public admissions materials.

*Fee payment options*
- The school is listed among institutions with formal payment agreements in the national banking payment channels, indicating that families can pay matrícula and mensualidades via bank payment channels. Specific accepted payment methods (credit card, debit card, online bank transfer, direct debit, cash payments at campus or bank counters) are not itemized in the school's public admissions materials; however, bank‑based payment channels are available for the school in national banking systems.

*Summary note on publicly available information*
- The school's public admissions materials describe services, campuses and general admission availability but do not publish a full, itemized fee schedule for each year group or a detailed billing calendar for the 2026/27 academic year; the only clearly reported numeric fee figures located in public reporting are the registration (matrícula) and monthly tuition (mensualidad) amounts cited above.
Academics

Saint Francis College teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
International curriculum aligned with International Baccalaureate (IB) standards. The Diploma is recognized by national and international universities, and the program emphasizes research, critical thinking, and leadership. It includes an international curriculum and opportunities for exchanges to broaden students' horizons. Pastoral Educativa, inspired by Franciscan values, sits at the heart of Saint Francis College and weaves faith, values, and academics into the learning experience. From preschool, instruction begins with English immersion; in primary, students develop bilingual proficiency across Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Oral Expression, with French introduced from Fifth Grade. In secondary, advanced English and French are offered, and families may opt to pursue the IB Diploma in the 10th and 11th years to earn a bilingual diploma with international recognition; both the national MEP curriculum and the IB pathway prepare students for university study. The school also maintains partnerships and recognitions with Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), Universidad Nacional (UNA), Alliance Française, and the University of Cambridge.

Higher Education Progression
The IB Diploma is recognized by national and international universities, and partnerships with UCR, UNA, Alliance Française, and the University of Cambridge indicate pathways to higher education locally and abroad.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has Pastoral Education as the heart of school life, integrating faith, Franciscan values and academic formation into a project that seeks integral, compassionate and joyful individuals. Through experiential experiences, games, art, sport, reflection and service, it accompanies students to discover the deeper meaning of life and their commitment to others.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches English and promotes English mastery with international certification.

Mental Wellbeing
The school provides academic and socio-emotional support through its Orientation Department.
Parent Experience

History
Saint Francis College has provided education for more than 75 years in Costa Rica. It operates two campuses, Moravia and Alajuela, serving students from preschool through secondary levels. Pastoral Educativa is the heart of Saint Francis College, integrating faith, Franciscan values, and academic formation through experiential learning, service, and social projects. Fray Henry Ramírez Vargas OFM Conv. serves as Coordinator of Pastoral Education and Ecónomo. The college offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma program with a bilingual curriculum and English-language instruction from preschool, with French introduced in secondary.

Community
Pastoral Educativa shapes the school community by promoting fraternity, justice, service, and care for the common home; it permeates classroom life, projects, and daily interactions. Intercambios exchange programs allow students to experience international settings, strengthening language skills and broadening worldview. Sports, arts, and music are integral parts of the development, with programs, teams, and coaches supporting discipline, health, and teamwork. Faith formation is part of the curriculum, including First Communion in Year 4 and Confirmation in Year 10, alongside ongoing socio-cultural events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Saint Francis College operates from two Costa Rican campuses in Moravia and Alajuela, offering Preschool through Secondary education and the International Baccalaureate program. The school uses a Franciscan value-based education model anchored in gospel values and the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The facilities are described as ample, providing spaces for learning across early childhood, primary, and secondary education, supported by curricular programs and a gallery of learning experiences. A Virtual Library is provided to support study and research.

Academic Facilities
The school provides Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. The pedagogy is rooted in gospel values and Franciscan charisma, with a model of education oriented toward excellence. Students learn in an environment where they are protagonists guided by teachers, with research and innovation encouraged to provide a personalized learning process to maximize abilities.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities are offered, with guidance to help students balance academics and their passions. The school supports varied experiences beyond the core curriculum to foster holistic development.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with courses taught in English and Spanish. The Diploma Programme includes Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service). The Diploma is recognized by universities in Costa Rica and abroad, expanding admission and scholarship opportunities.

Arts & Creative
Art and music are an integral part of development. Students discover talents, strengthen creativity, and express themselves through workshops, band and artistic projects.

Cultural & Language
The school offers international exchanges that enable students to have international experiences, strengthen language proficiency, and broaden their worldview. In secondary education, English is taught with international certification to bolster language mastery.

Social & Hobbies
Life Skills programs strengthen emotional self-management, teamwork, and Franciscan values. The school emphasizes balance between studies, sports and the arts within the school day.

Community & Service
Pastoral Education is the heart of Saint Francis, promoting fraternity, social justice, service and care for the Common Home. Students participate in social projects and service activities, supported by faith formation such as First Communion catechesis and Confirmation.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership development comes from Life Skills and the IB CAS component, along with bilingual education and collaborative projects that foster communication, responsibility and initiative.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
From early years, sport is promoted as part of formation with programs, representative teams and trained coaches that develop discipline, health and teamwork. Balance between academics, sports and the arts is encouraged within the school schedule.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Schedule a campus visit. By clicking 'Agenda tu visita ahora', the date and time can be selected to fit your schedule. You are welcomed at the Moravia or Alajuela campus to view facilities, learn the educational model, and have questions about the admissions process, services, and scholarships answered. 2. Preschool age and program. Saint Francis Preschool accepts children from 6 months through age 5, who then enter Preparatory. Class sizes are small and there is personalized attention in a safe, welcoming environment. The program strengthens cognitive-linguistic, socio-emotional, and psychomotor skills through play and exploration, fostering autonomy, security, and confidence to face new challenges. 3. IB option and curriculum. The IB Diploma Programme is offered as an optional track, so families decide whether the student will pursue the Diploma during 10th and 11th grades. The program's rigor prepares students for university life, whether in Costa Rica or abroad, and supports development across personal, family, academic, and professional contexts. It complements the National curriculum with an international framework. 4. Services and campus resources. Included services include after-school care until 5:00 p.m.; 24/7 medical emergency care within the Greater Metropolitan Area; student insurance coverage; cafeteria at the Moravia campus and lunch arrangements with external providers in Alajuela; a library; campus-wide Wi‑Fi; and high-level technology classrooms. 5. Catholic identity and accreditations. Catholic faith is not required to enroll; practicing a different faith is not an impediment. Saint Francis holds national and international recognitions, is a member of CIEC and ANADEC, has earned the Blue Ecological Flag, is accredited by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), and collaborates with Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), Universidad Nacional (UNA), the Alliance Française, and Cambridge. 6. Teacher profile and quality. The teaching staff are highly qualified and professionally certified, with ongoing training to maintain high pedagogical standards and respond to students' needs.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Costa Rica View all schools in San Vicente de Moravia View all schools in Costa rica IB curriculum schools in Costa Rica Open days & tours in San Vicente de Moravia What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools