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Samana International Academy

Dominican Republic, Samana

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Independently researched by doris.
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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 4 - 14 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2023
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Spanish, French
Typical class size 12
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

Samana International Academy is an independent private school in Juana Vincenta, Samana, established in 2023 by Jason and Emily Ryan. Located on a 16,000 m2 farm, it offers an English‑medium program that blends a United States–based curriculum with Charlotte Mason, Waldorf Steiner, and Montessori philosophies. The school serves ages 4 to 14 and organizes classes in multi‑age groups for ages 5–14, with teacher‑to‑student ratios under 12:1. Most instructors are bilingual, and Spanish and French are offered, with ESL tutoring available. The campus features open‑air classrooms, an outdoor learning environment, and a farm with fruits, vegetables, coffee and cacao trees, two natural springs, animals, and 180‑degree views of Samana Bay and nearby islands. Curriculum emphasizes hands‑on, project‑based learning across science, technology, engineering, art, music, history, geography, and entrepreneurship, supported by field trips and independent research. Samana International Academy welcomes world‑schooling families and operates independently, not affiliated with the Dominican Ministry of Education.

www.samanainternationalacademy.org

Juana Vicenta, Samana Highway, 32000, Dominican Republic

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Samana International Academy has typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English.

Location
Samana International Academy is located on a 16,000+ m2 (4+ acres) property in Juana Vicenta, Samana, Dominican Republic, on the main road between Samana city and Las Terrenas. The grounds are gated and include more than 30 fruit and vegetable trees, coffee and cacao plants, two natural springs, horses, goats, chickens, cats, and dogs, with 180-degree views of the Samana Bay, the Los Haitises mountains, and nearby Cayo Levantado and Cayo La Farola. Classes are held in open-air classrooms and outdoor settings to support outdoor, nature-based learning.

Stages
Kiwis - 5K & 1st Grade; Mangos - 2nd & 3rd Grade; Coconuts - 4th & 5th Grade; Dragon fruits - 6th thru 8th Grade. The school serves students ages 5–14 and uses multi-age groupings (ages 5–6, 7–9, 9–11, 12–14).

Type
Independent private school. Owned and independently operated. Uses a United States-based curriculum blending Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, and Montessori philosophies; Most instructors are bilingual and all classes are taught in English, with Spanish and French offered.

Additional learning support
Small class sizes (less than 12:1) and one-on-one tutoring for students needing extra support. Academic support hours run August 14 through June 4, and schedules can be customized.

Country affiliation
Not affiliated with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education.

School day structure
Academic year runs August 14 through June 4; daily hours are Monday–Thursday from 8:30 to 3:45. A typical day includes morning and afternoon instructional blocks, language instruction, nature studies, art, music, and project-based learning, with classes held in open-air classrooms and outdoor settings.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Academic year covered
These fees apply to the 2025–2026 academic year (school year beginning August 13, 2025 and ending May 28, 2026).

Application / Registration fees
- Kindergarten: USD 300.
- Grades 1–2: USD 400.
- Grades 3–6: USD 450.
- Grades 7–8: USD 550.

Tuition — annual, semester (50%) and monthly breakdown by year group
- Kindergarten:
- Annual tuition: USD 3,000 (DOP 189,000).
- Per semester (50%): USD 1,500.
- Monthly: USD 300 (DOP 18,900).

- Grades 1–2:
- Annual tuition: USD 4,000 (DOP 253,000).
- Per semester (50%): USD 2,000.
- Monthly: USD 400 (DOP 25,300).

- Grades 3–6:
- Annual tuition: USD 4,500 (DOP 284,000).
- Per semester (50%): USD 2,250.
- Monthly: USD 450 (DOP 28,400).

- Grades 7–8:
- Annual tuition: USD 5,500 (DOP 347,000).
- Per semester (50%): USD 2,750.
- Monthly: USD 550 (DOP 34,700).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Registration fees are due by July 1 to secure a student's seat. The first month's tuition is due by August 13.
- Payment timing and discounts:
- 15% discount on tuition when the full annual tuition is paid in full by July 15.
- 10% discount when a full semester's tuition is paid in full by July 15 (for the first semester) and by December 13 (for the second semester).
- Otherwise tuition may be paid monthly; monthly payments are due by the 1st of each month. A late fee of USD 50 per child is applied if payment is not received by the 1st.
- Sibling discounts (applied to monthly tuition):
- First sibling: USD 50/month discount.
- Second and third siblings: USD 75/month discount each.
- Any additional siblings: USD 100/month discount each.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not listed as an offered service; there are no boarding fees published for the school. Students are expected to be day students.

Other costs and additional fees
- After-school care:
- Daily rate: USD 10 (DOP 500) per day.
- Monthly rate: USD 80 (DOP 5,000) per month.
- Field trips: approximately USD 25 per person (costs for individual trips may vary).
- Lunch, snacks, and drinks: to be provided by parents; these are not included in tuition.
- After-school clubs, private tutoring, private lessons and certain extracurriculars are not included in tuition and are charged separately.
- Uniforms: no uniform fee or uniform purchase requirement is specified in the published tuition and fee information.

Refunds and cancellation policy
- Once a student is enrolled, tuition is non‑refundable regardless of the number of days attended. Continued enrollment for traveling families requires that assignments be submitted and tuition payments remain current; failure to meet these requirements can result in loss of enrollment status and withholding of grades or progress reports.

Fee payment options
- The published tuition and fee document does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, specific bank transfer instructions, credit card acceptance, or other processors). Payment timing, discounts and late‑payment penalties are specified, but specific payment channels are not listed. Parents should use the school's enrollment contacts for payment instructions.
Academics

Samana International Academy teaches American Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 4 to 14.

Curriculum
The curriculum blends Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, and Montessori philosophies. It uses a United States–based, rigor-focused curriculum designed to be college preparatory. Outdoor exploration forms the foundation of learning, with hands-on, project-based instruction across science, technology, engineering, art, music, history, geography, entrepreneurship, and field trips. Classes are taught in English, with Spanish and French lessons and ESL tutoring available; teaching is organized in multi-age groups for ages 5–14, with class sizes under 12 students per teacher.

Student Teacher Ratio
Less than 12:1
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Eligibility and grade structure. Samana International Academy is open to all children ages 4 and up. For the 2025-2026 school year, the school offers grades 5K through 8th. Classes are organized as Kiwis (5K & 1st Grade), Mangos (2nd & 3rd Grade), Coconuts (4th & 5th Grade), and Dragon fruits (6th through 8th Grade).

2. Application submission. Use the 2025-2026 Application Form and fill in all information completely. The form requests family information, student information, and background information. Applications must be approved by the Samana International Administrative Team before the applicant is considered a member of the school. The school reserves the right to deny applications for any reason without explanation.

3. Transcripts and materials.” Transcripts should be provided as part of the application process.

4. Administrative review. All applications must be approved by the Administrative Team before enrollment is confirmed. The school may deny any application for any reason without explanation.

5. Placement testing. Levels are based on English Language Arts and Math placement tests given before admission by the parent. If desired, the instructor can administer the tests upon request; specific links are provided for ELA and Math testing.

6. Registration and initial payment. Registration fees are due by July 1 to secure a seat. The first month's tuition is due by August 13.

7. Tuition structure and payment options. Level-based tuition is listed as follows: Kindergarten $3,000 USD annually, Grades 1–2 $4,000 USD, Grades 3–4 $4,500 USD, Grades 7–8 $5,500 USD. A level-specific Registration Fee is required (e.g., Kindergarten $300). Fifty percent of tuition is due by July 1 and the remaining 50% by July 15. Discounts include 15% off full annual tuition paid by July 15 and 10% off full semester paid by July 15 and December 13. Monthly payments are available, and a late fee of $50 applies if payment is late after the 1st. Sibling discounts apply as well.

8. Availability and class size. The school strives to maintain a maximum of 12 students per level in Levels 2–8; availability should be confirmed before traveling to Samana for enrollment.

9. Enrollment period and policies. The 2025–2026 school year runs from August 13, 2025 to May 28, 2026. Enrollment is non-refundable once a student is enrolled. Continued enrollment requires that assignments be submitted and tuition payments remain current; failure to meet these requirements may result in the loss of enrollment status.
School Events
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