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

CEDEI School

Ecuador, Cuenca

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 English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1992
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, Spanish
Typical class size 10
Strengths Languages, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Founded in 1992, CEDEI School is a renowned center for intercultural understanding located in the heart of Cuenca, Ecuador. Unlike traditional K-12 institutions, CEDEI offers highly flexible, cycle-based programs specializing in language proficiency and cultural immersion for primary, secondary, and adult learners. The school follows a communicative methodology taught exclusively by international educators, ensuring students develop practical skills from day one. For those unfamiliar with the region, CEDEI is an ideal entry point into South American culture, offering supportive homestays, language certification through Cambridge, and extensive community engagement opportunities. Its heritage-based campus and commitment to quality education make it a cornerstone of Cuenca's international educational community.

Gran Colombia 11-02 y, General Torres esquina, Cuenca, Ecuador

The Essentials

CEDEI School has typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Homestay with an Ecuadorian host family, providing a culturally immersive living arrangement; meals are included as part of the homestay.

Food Options
Home-cooked meals are provided through the host family during the homestay.

Governance and Ownership
CEDEI is a non-profit foundation and operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to education.
Fees
Application fees

- No published application or separate enrolment fee is listed for CEDEI's academic or course programmes on the organisation's public programme pages.

Tuition fees by programme / year group

- CEDEI operates as a foundation offering language instruction and multilingual education programmes rather than publishing a standard K–12 tuition schedule with year-group charges. Public programme pages describe course offerings (children, adolescents, adults) but do not show per-year or per-term tuition amounts for K–12 or continuous school-year enrolment.

- Course-based English programmes are described by the organisation; student tuition amounts for those courses are not published on the course pages. A widely cited third-party employment summary shows amounts that relate to instructor/course payment levels (not student tuition). That source lists per-course instructor payments (for context only) as approximately USD 325 for an adult/teen course, USD 260 for a children's course, and USD 300 for a Saturday class; these are payments to instructors, not published student tuition rates. Do not interpret those figures as student fees.

- A historical local market study mentioned CEDEI in comparison to similar early-education providers and recorded a monthly cost of USD 130 for CEDEI at the time of that study; this appears as a historical reference and is not presented as a current, official tuition schedule for 2026/27 or 2025/26.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- No public billing schedule, term-by-term fee breakdown, number of instalments, or standard payment terms (due dates, late-payment penalties) are published on the organisation's publicly available programme pages. Parents should assume that specific billing schedules and payment terms are handled directly through the administration at enrolment.

Boarding fees

- There is no indication that CEDEI operates boarding (residential) facilities for students; no boarding programme or boarding fees are published.

Other costs or fees (uniforms, transport, activities, materials)

- Uniform fees: no published information on compulsory uniform costs or uniform suppliers is available on public programme pages.

- Transport: CEDEI has been identified historically as offering or being associated with transport services in local market descriptions; specific transport fees or route pricing are not published in the current programme pages.

- Extracurriculars and activities: descriptive pages reference programmes and partnerships (for example, arrangements for swimming or extracurricular instruction in some local descriptions), but current, itemised fees for extracurricular activities, books, materials, or examination charges are not published.

Refund information

- No publicly posted tuition-refund or cancellation/refund policy is available on the organisation's public programme pages. Refund, withdrawal, and cancellation conditions are not published and appear to be handled administratively.

Fee payment options (credit card, bank transfer, cash, etc.)

- Public programme pages do not present a published list of accepted payment methods (no explicit statement of credit-card processing, online payment portal, or bank-transfer details on the course pages). Contact details are provided for administrative enquiries; payment methods are typically confirmed directly with administration at enrolment.

Summary of findings and gaps

- Current, itemised tuition schedules for the 2026/27 academic year (and for 2025/26 when 2026/27 is not available) are not published on the organisation's public programme pages; the publicly available pages describe programme types, levels and contacts but do not state application fees, per-term or per-year tuition by age or grade, boarding charges, uniform pricing, refund policy, or accepted payment methods.

- Available third-party materials that reference CEDEI include (a) a historical local-market study that recorded a USD 130 per-month figure for early-education services associated with CEDEI at the time of that study and (b) an employment/TEFL summary that reports instructor per-course payments (not student tuition). These references are historical or context-related and do not substitute for a current, official fee schedule for academic-year billing.

If you require precise, itemised tuition figures, billing dates, refund terms, or the list of accepted payment methods for inclusion in an external database, those items are not present on the public programme pages and must be obtained directly from the administration to ensure accurate, current 2026/27 (or 2025/26) values.
Academics

CEDEI School teaches Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
Classes are taught by teachers certified from different parts of the world, developing the four language skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening. A communicative and interactive methodology with total immersion in English from day one; classes are taught 100% in English. In-person classes are offered for Cuenca and surrounding areas, including classes for children from 8 years old, adolescents, and adults, with virtual courses for students in Ecuador and around the world. There are levels from A1 to C1, with progression toward B2-C1 according to the CEFR. CEDEI offers Cambridge B2-C1 certification through a partnership with Cambridge English Qualifications.
Wellbeing

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
CEDEI offers an English program for both children and adults. Children (ages 8 to 11) learn through interactive activities, connect classroom learning with the real world, and work with books and the academic platform in class and at home, including presentations and dynamic projects. The adult/adolescent program (12 years and up) uses dynamic, communicative methods focused on developing the four language skills: speaking, writing, listening, and reading, under the guidance of a teacher. CEDEI provides in-person and online formats, including Saturday classes and a hybrid option for adults. CEDEI offers the Cambridge English Qualifications international certification at B2 and C1 levels, and placement exams can be taken online to enroll.
Parent Experience

History
The CEDEI Foundation (Center for Inter-American Studies) was founded in 1992 by a group of university professors from the United States, Peru, and Ecuador to promote mutual understanding among the peoples and countries of the Americas through academic and cultural exchange, as well as community service. It is a nonprofit organization that fosters quality education and intercultural understanding through collaboration among people with diverse experiences and abilities, to build a better world. CEDEI's mission focuses on education and intercultural understanding, with a vision to continually strengthen educational standards and adapt to change in order to provide the best national, international, and multicultural education that is current and practical. The CEDEI Center is located in Cuenca at Gran Colombia 11-02 and General Torres, with a second location opened in December 2023 at Isabel La Católica and Carlos V streets, corner building.

Community
CEDEI's English program serves over 1,000 students every 10-week cycle and employs about 45 to 50 teachers, with courses for children, teens, and adults and both in-person and online options. English classes are taught by certified teachers from different parts of the world, creating immersion from day one and exposing students to their teachers' cultures. CEDEI also runs International Programs that provide academic and cultural experiences for groups from various countries, including partnerships with universities and Spanish language classes for foreigners. CEDEI is a nonprofit foundation committed to community service and maintains a physical presence in Cuenca through its central Cuenca campus and a second location for English programs.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The main CEDEI center is housed in a Republican-style heritage building in downtown Cuenca, three blocks from Parque Calderón, Cuenca's central plaza. It shares space with CEDEI's International Programs and administrative offices. As of December 2023, there is a new location at Isabel La Católica and Carlos V streets, in a corner building. CEDEI Centro is located at Gran Colombia 11-02 and General Torres, and CEDEI Sucursal 3 Puentes is at Carlos V and Av. 1 de mayo.

Academic Facilities
CEDEI's English program serves over 1,000 students per 10-week cycle and employs about 45–50 teachers. There are classes for all ages and levels, including a Young Learners program for ages 8–11. The Teen/Adult track includes four beginner levels (A1–A2), four intermediate levels (B1–B2), a speaking course (B1–B2), four advanced levels (B2–C1), and a Cambridge B2 First exam preparation course. The program aims for students to reach C1 on the CEFR. Classes follow a clear curriculum and are delivered face-to-face or online, supported by textbooks and a virtual learning platform. CEDEI teachers come from different parts of the world and hold TEFL, CELTA or TESOL certificates.

Extra Curricular Facilities
CEDEI offers a holistic cultural immersion experience that enriches understanding of Ecuadorian life and fosters personal growth. Language proficiency is developed through immersive classes and real-life practice with local speakers, including host families. A homestay experience is available. Local activities include cooking classes, dance lessons, and workshops on traditional crafts, enabling active participation in local traditions. Community engagement opportunities allow students to volunteer and connect with the local community.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
CEDEI's English Program serves over 1,000 students each 10-week cycle with a staff of 45–50 teachers. It offers classes for all ages and levels, including a Young Learners' Program (ages 8–11). The Teen/Adult track provides levels A1–C1 and Cambridge B2 First exam preparation, with a final course to prepare for the Cambridge exam. The program aims for CEFR level C1 and uses a structured curriculum with textbooks and a virtual learning platform for face-to-face or online instruction. The main center is housed in a heritage building in downtown Cuenca, with a new location on Isabel La Católica and Carlos V streets opened in December 2023.

Arts & Creative
CEDEI provides Spanish classes for teachers at three levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—with placement testing and twice-weekly sessions. Dance classes are offered on Fridays. Teachers receive free Spanish and free dance classes as part of CEDEI's staff perks; additional professional development is offered.

Cultural & Language
CEDEI conducts cultural exchanges as part of its professional development workshops each 10-week cycle. The Living in Cuenca resources describe Cuenca's food, markets, and cultural outings, including walking tours in Cajas National Park. These cultural activities support immersion alongside language training.

Social & Hobbies
CEDEI provides social activities for staff, including Friday dance classes and free Spanish lessons, which support social interaction and cultural immersion. The Living in Cuenca resources describe local outings and social information about food and markets. The program also offers professional development workshops that foster collaboration among staff.

Leadership & Professional
CEDEI organizes professional development workshops each 10-week cycle, covering classroom management, educational techniques, and cultural exchanges. The organization supports staff with visa assistance, orientation sessions, and resources for settling in Cuenca, including help finding accommodation.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
CEDEI provides health insurance on request for staff and offers visa assistance and housing support on arrival, including orientation sessions. The Living in Cuenca resources include information about local food, markets, and outdoor activities such as walking tours in Cajas National Park. Staff can take free Spanish and dance classes to support wellbeing and cultural integration.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
null
Admissions

Admissions
1. Placement examination and level determination. The school offers online placement exams to determine the appropriate English level before enrollment. Adolescent/adult placement is for those aged 12 and older; a separate placement option is provided for children under 12. The online exam and enrollment process are accessible through the CEDEI placement system at examens.cedei.org.

2. Prematrícula (pre-enrollment) benefits. Prematrícula provides early enrollment benefits with prices and discounts available each cycle. If you are a CEDEI student, complete the form as part of pre-enrollment and contact an advisor.

3. Preinscríbete (pre-register) option. Preinscríbete allows you to register and have an advisor contact you immediately. Regístrate and an advisor will contact you right away.

4. Enrollment support and local contacts. CEDEI operates from Gran Colombia 11-02 y General Torres, Cuenca, with a second location at Sucursal 3 Puentes (Carlos V and Av. 1 de mayo). Phone numbers for the Cuenca campus include +5937 2839003 and mobile lines such as 098 781 6250, 099 830 2255, 098 723 3225, and 0998817145; location details are provided for both sites.

5. Cambridge Certification. CEDEI offers Cambridge English Qualifications (international certification) as part of its English program. The program includes certification at B2 First and related levels through a Cambridge partnership.

6. Language of instruction. Classes are taught 100% in English.

Scholarships
Financial assistance for low-income students is provided through donations to CEDEI to enable English study.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Ecuador View all schools in Cuenca View all schools in Ecuador Open days & tours in Cuenca View all schools Search all schools