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Unidad Educativa Santana

Ecuador, Cuenca

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 700
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, French
Typical class size 10
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Unidad Educativa Santana in Cuenca, Ecuador, offers an IB continuum that includes the Diploma Programme (DP) and a preparatory path toward the Middle Years Programme (MYP) as a candidate from October 2024, alongside a Bespoke Curriculum. The Diploma Programme has been authorized since 2011 for the final three years of Bachillerato. The school delivers a trilingual program with English at a city-leading level (Cambridge English Language Assessment) and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française de Cuenca. Santana operates two campuses about 2 km apart: Ciudad de los Niños (nursery through seventh grade) and Matriz Campus (eighth grade to Bachillerato), with a Main Campus for secondary students. The program emphasizes Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and includes extensive Visual Arts, Music and Choir, Theater and Dance. It runs from early years to high school with sports facilities, Integration and Sports Days, international exchanges, and holistic student development.

4XG7+W2P, 010150 Cuenca, Ecuador

The Essentials

Unidad Educativa Santana has 700 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in Spanish.

Location
The school is located in Cuenca, Ecuador, with two campuses. La Ciudad de los Niños Campus serves students aged 3 to 11 and is described as a child-centered campus surrounded by mountains. Main Campus serves high school students aged 12 to 17 and is located in the northwest of Cuenca. Contáctanos: Av. Los Cerezos s/n y Camino a San Pedro del Cebollar, Parroquia San Sebastián, Cuenca - Ecuador.

Stages
Ciudad de los Niños Campus houses nursery (3 years) to Seventh Grade; Matriz Campus provides secondary education from Eighth Grade to Twelfth Grade (Bachillerato). The campus network supports an international curriculum across both campuses.

Additional learning support
The Department of Guidance and Student Counseling provides personalized assistance and psychological follow-up. The admission process includes a semi-inclusive approach for students with learning difficulties, with in-person tutoring or semi-face-to-face support as needed.

Country affiliation
Ecuador
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has an institutional uniform consisting of two institutional T-shirts, a polo shirt, a two-piece sports uniform, a sports T-shirt, a uniform jacket, and dark blue jeans. Prices vary by size and are provided as reference for the uniform components.

Food Options
The canteen provides a snack service and lunch. Lunch costs about $2.80 per day, and a snack service is priced around $55 per month.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a private, secular, coeducational institution. It has no affiliation with or dependence on any political, philosophical, or religious organization and does not receive subsidies from public or private entities. It is funded by tuition and parental contributions.
Fees
Application / Registration fee (Matrícula)
- Nivel Inicial (maternal y prekínder): one-time registration fee USD 227.29.
- EGB (1.º a 7.º): one-time registration fee USD 263.22.
- EBS (8.º a 10.º): one-time registration fee USD 263.14.
- Bachillerato (1.º a 3.º): one-time registration fee USD 301.95.

Tuition — monthly and annual, by level
- Nivel Inicial (maternal y prekínder): USD 363.67 per month — USD 3,636.70 per academic year (10 monthly payments).
- EGB (1.º a 7.º): USD 421.16 per month — USD 4,211.60 per academic year (10 monthly payments).
- EBS (8.º a 10.º): USD 421.02 per month — USD 4,210.20 per academic year (10 monthly payments).
- Bachillerato (1.º a 3.º): USD 483.12 per month — USD 4,831.20 per academic year (10 monthly payments).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed as a monthly value; complementary monthly services are charged on a 10-month basis (academic months). The registration fee (matrícula) is charged once at enrollment.

Boarding fees
- Boarding: not applicable. No boarding/residential fees are listed; the school operates through its campuses for day students.

Other costs and common extras (amounts shown are unit or monthly as indicated)
- Refrigerio (snack), monthly x10 months: Inicial–3.º básica USD 50; 4.º EGB–3.º Bach USD 60.
- Almuerzo (cost per school-day): Primaria USD 3.20; Secundaria USD 3.45.
- Seguro contra accidentes personales (costo anual): USD 25.
- Transporte escolar (monthly x10 months): standard route USD 65; transporte extra por distancia USD 10 (monthly x10); medio transporte USD 40 (monthly x10); medio transporte fuera del perímetro USD 45 (monthly x10).
- Plataformas y material común / recursos digitales:
- Prebásica (maternal a 4.º EGB): USD 130 annual (or USD 10 monthly over 13 months as referenced).
- Básica (5.º a 10.º): USD 200 annual (or USD 20 monthly x10).
- BGU/BI (1.º a 3.º de bachillerato): USD 200 annual (or USD 20 monthly x10).
- Academias / actividades extracurriculares (costo mensual x9 meses): USD 35.
- Listado de útiles (valores referenciales por nivel, single-season estimates): Preescolar USD 56; 2.º–5.º EGB USD 85; 6.º–7.º EGB USD 102; 8.º EGB USD 75; 9.º–10.º EGB USD 17; Bachillerato (textos/calculadora referencial) USD 110 (varies by level and program). Detailed supply lists per year are provided.
- Libros y calculadora (referencial para el programa internacional): 1.º BGU — calculadora y libro digital referencial USD 203; 2.º–3.º BGU calculadora referencial USD 150 (where required by the international program).

Refund information
- Refunds / reimbursement: no specific refund policy is included in the published cost documents for the 2025–2026 academic cost schedule. Registration and tuition are presented as charged per the terms above.

Fee payment options and administration
- Payments are processed by the school's tuition/collectory office. The school uses the Eduservicios payment platform for administrative services and lists a dedicated tuition/collectory email (colecturia@santana.edu.ec) for fee administration and payment coordination. Parents should direct billing or payment inquiries to the tuition office contact provided.
Academics

Unidad Educativa Santana teaches IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Since April 2011, Santana has been authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the Diploma Programme in its final three years of high school. The Diploma Programme is a rigorous and balanced program for students aged 16 to 19, typically taught over two years and culminating in examinations. It provides excellent preparation for university and is widely recognized by leading universities worldwide. Santana is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, with candidacy started in October 2024. The curriculum is trilingual, with English at the city's highest level—accredited by Cambridge English Language Assessment—and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française de Cuenca. Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is a core IB component, emphasizing experiential learning beyond academics, and since 2017 Santana operates two campuses: Ciudad de los Niños for early years through 7th grade and Campus Matriz for 8th grade through the third year of Bachillerato.

Higher Education Progression
The Diploma Programme provides rigorous preparation for university study and is widely recognized by leading universities worldwide. The program is designed to facilitate admission to universities globally.
Parent Experience

History
The Science High School track has been in operation since 1993 under Ministerial Decree No. 097. Since April 2011, Santana has been authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the Diploma Program in the last three years of high school. In 2017, Santana opened a new campus to operate two campuses about 2 km apart: Campus Ciudad de los Niños for maternal to seventh grade and Campus Matriz for eighth grade to third of Bachillerato. Exchange programs began in September 2014 with Burr and Burton Academy (USA), with the first Santana group visiting Boston and New York; the program continued with additional exchanges. Since October 2024, the school is a candidate to implement the IB Middle Years Programme (Años Intermedios).

Community
The school runs a trilingual language program with English at the highest level in the city (validated by Cambridge English Language Assessment) and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française de Cuenca. Arts, music and choir, theater, and dance are integrated across levels to support artistic development. Sports are central to community life; Santana has a well‑equipped infrastructure including a covered Coliseum and professional football pitches, and has organized Jornadas de Integración y Deporte de los Colegios Particulares Laicos de Cuenca since 2002 to promote teamwork and fair play. The Department of Guidance and Counseling provides personalized support to students and families, and the Entorno y Sociedad framework links social context with learning while exchange programs broaden community ties with partner schools in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Two campuses form the Santana Educational Unit, located about 2 km apart. Since 2017, Santana opened a new campus to improve its educational infrastructure. Ciudad de los Niños Campus houses nursery (3 years) through seventh grade, while Matriz Campus hosts secondary education from eighth grade to Bachillerato. The Main Campus caters to secondary students aged 12 to 17 and offers spacious facilities with inclusive accessibility resources. The language program includes English at the city's highest level, accredited by Cambridge English Language Assessment, and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française of Cuenca.

Sports Facilities
Santana's sports infrastructure includes an indoor arena, synthetic and semi-professional grass football fields, and related equipment to support physical activity. The facilities support sports participation within healthy competition and community engagement. As part of its effort to involve the entire educational community in sports participation within the framework of healthy competition, Santana instituted the Integration and Sports Days in 2002. These features underpin a program that promotes healthy habits, cooperation, and fair play among students.

Academic Facilities
The Main Campus serves secondary students aged 12 to 17 and provides spacious facilities aligned with the pedagogical approach and inclusive accessibility resources. Santana opened a second campus in 2017, creating two academic campuses separated by about 2 km. Ciudad de los Niños Campus houses nursery (3 years) through seventh grade, and Matriz Campus hosts secondary education from eighth grade to Bachillerato. Since April 2011, Santana has been authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the Diploma Programme in its last three years of high school. The language program includes English at a high level (Cambridge English Language Assessment) and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française of Cuenca.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Visual Arts, Music, and Theater are integrated into the curriculum, with opportunities in Visual Arts, Music and Choir, Theater, and Dance from Preschool to High School. Sports are promoted to develop healthy habits and solidarity, with full-time Physical Education teachers and activities ranging from body expression in the Preschool section to recreation and competition in higher levels, plus the Integration and Sports Days that bring the community together. Nuestro Hermano (Our Brother) program seeks to raise awareness and create spaces for bringing our children closer to different realities. Caminando con la Naturaleza (Walking with Nature) encourages outdoor activities and environmental learning, emphasizing cooperation, acceptance and tolerance. The Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) program is a fundamental element of the International Baccalaureate, focusing on experiential learning through artistic, athletic, and service activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for the final years of Bachillerato, authorized since April 2011. Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is a core IB element emphasizing life outside academics through artistic, athletic and service activities. The program fosters personal discovery, ethical responsibility, and lifelong learning, with reflection essential to translate experiences into growth. The IB Diploma aims to prepare students for university study and active, globally minded citizenship.

Arts & Creative
Visual Arts, Music and Choir, Theater and Dance are integrated across grades from preschool to Bachillerato. The arts program provides opportunities for students to develop and showcase talents through a cross-curricular approach that emphasizes aesthetic appreciation and creative production. Students engage in multiple artistic disciplines to cultivate creativity and expressive skills.

Cultural & Language
The school operates a trilingual language program with English at the city's highest level, assessed by Cambridge English Language Assessment, and French taught by native speakers in partnership with the Alliance Française de Cuenca. The Language Department pursues linguistic excellence across all levels, developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English, French and the local curriculum. English development is emphasized from the early grades to build strong foreign language foundations. The school also hosts international exchanges to support language immersion and cultural learning.

Social & Hobbies
Sports are central to the student experience, with full-time physical education teachers and a program that promotes healthy habits, teamwork and values such as solidarity, collaboration, dialogue, tolerance, gender equality and fair play. The infrastructure supports recreation and competition, including an indoor coliseum, synthetic football pitches and a semi-professional grass field. Since 2002, the school has organized Jornadas de Integración y Deporte de los Colegios Particulares Laicos de Cuenca to foster community through sport.

Community & Service
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) integrates service to the community as a core IB element, combining artistic and athletic engagement with meaningful service projects. Students participate in diverse community service activities and reflect on learning outcomes to develop social responsibility and empathy. These experiences are designed to turn learning into personal and communal growth.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The sports program promotes healthy lifestyles and a cohesive school climate through unified physical activity and sport-based values. The school provides facilities such as an indoor coliseum, synthetic pitches and grass fields to support physical development and inclusive participation. The Counseling and Guidance Department offers personalized support to students and families, including psychological follow-up when needed, contributing to overall student well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
The school offers a trilingual curriculum design. English is taught at the highest level in the city and is Cambridge English Language Assessment-accredited. French is taught by native speakers in partnership with the Cuenca French Alliance. The Language Department, at all levels of schooling, pursues linguistic excellence, developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing across the first seven grades of general basic education.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has a trilingual curriculum design. English is taught at the highest level in the city and is Cambridge English Language Assessment-accredited. French is taught by native speakers in partnership with the Cuenca French Alliance. The Language Department operates at all levels of schooling to pursue linguistic excellence, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Immersion Programs
Exchange Programs provide English-language proficiency enhancement and immersion opportunities. Burr and Burton Academy in Vermont offers a cultural exchange and English-language proficiency program, with the option of a full-semester immersion as a regular student. Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio, offers a similar program.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Process overview. Unidad Educativa Santana offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and multilingual learning, with English and French as part of the curriculum. Families contact the school by phone, in person, or through campaigns to learn about the educational offer, and campus visits may be arranged with the admissions team. To begin the process, the admission fee is paid and a completed admissions form is submitted; the admissions department then schedules interviews with the Student Guidance Department and conducts level-appropriate diagnostic assessments, with the admissions committee determining acceptance.

2. General aspects of admission. The admission process is accessible and flexible, allowing potential students to join at any time during the school year and tailored to individual family needs. Families can receive assistance by phone or WhatsApp for each step—from submitting the application to integrating the student after approval. The school provides campus tours in conjunction with the admissions process.

3. Initial level (Prekindergarten to 1st grade). Requirements include payment of the admission fee and a complete application form; copies of the guardians' and applicant's IDs; preschool records if applicable; a psychological or psycho-pedagogical report if required; a family interview with the DECE; a pedagogical observation of the applicant; a letter of recommendation from a Santana family; and a sworn statement regarding the family's judicial and credit history. The process also involves a paper review by the admissions committee, a DECE report on the family interview, and an observation report of the applicant.

4. Education Básica General (2nd–7th grade). Requirements include payment of the admission fee and a complete ficha; copies of guardians' and applicant's IDs; report cards from the last two years; a DECE report; an academic report with diagnostic results; a psychological or psycho-pedagogical report if required; a family interview with DECE; an observation report; and the applicant may be tested in language, mathematics and English, plus a letter of recommendation and sworn statement. The admissions process reviews all documents submitted to the Admissions Commission and considers the DECE report and diagnostic/academic information.

5. Educación Básica Media (8th grade to secondary). Requirements include the standard admission steps (fees and forms) plus a psychological/psycho-pedagogical report if required; a family interview with DECE; administration of diagnostic examinations in language, mathematics and English; a letter of recommendation; and a sworn declaration about family information. The committee reviews the documents, the DECE report, and the diagnostic/academic results to determine eligibility.

6. Bachillerato Internacional (IB) applicants). Applicants to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (second or third year) have additional considerations and follow a separate IB admissions timetable. Santana includes the IB Diploma Programme in its curriculum, with English and French taught as part of the program.

7. Criterios de admisión (admission criteria). The policy outlines institutional principles, a flexible admission approach, and criteria aligned with the level applied for; interviews, observations, and DECE reports inform decisions, along with documentation reviewed by the Admissions Commission. Additional sections address inclusion considerations and language policies, while specific criteria for each level guide eligibility.

Scholarships
Política de Becas y Asistencia Financiera 2025-2026 outlines multiple scholarship and discount categories. Automatic discounts exist for families with three or more enrolled children, with the third child receiving 40% off the tuition; a second-child discount of 10% requires a completed application. Families of alumni receive a 5% discount for one child. Students with a disability requiring a tutor may receive a 40% discount, provided a tutor is present. The policy also provides 40% discounts for chronic illness cases with ongoing medical treatment when supported by medical documentation. Families in adverse economic situations may apply for financial assistance with discounts up to 25% in certain cases. Merit-based scholarships include up to 25% for high academic achievement or exceptional athletic merit, and employees' children may receive scholarships beginning in the second year of employment, with a cap and conditions described in the policy. Applications require a formal scholarship request via the specified survey link and supporting documents (income, tax, asset and other financial information, and a detailed explanation of financial need). Scholarship funds are allocated per category and are not cumulative; refunds/suspensions are possible for breaches of school policy or failure to meet conditions. The policy further notes that the document is updated periodically.
School Events
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