About Country Day School Guanacaste
CDSG believes in a classroom based approach to education, enhanced through experiential learning whenever possible.
Given the incredible geographic location of Costa Rica, unique opportunities exist to take learning outside the classroom. Experiential learning allows students to explore and become inspired by their surrounding natural environment and to awaken their creative expression.
Location
Located in the northwestern region of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, CDSG has a beautiful 15 acre campus set in the dry tropical forest just steps away from the Pacific coast. Not far away are lush tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, raging rapids, sandy beaches and an abundance of wildlife which offer endless educational opportunities. There are two distinct seasons: a warm rainy season with lush green forests and a very dry, warm season. The area around the school is rural with sparsely populated stretches of open land peppered with higher-density towns of diverse international and local populations.
The School
Founded in 1963 near San Jose, the Guanacaste campus of Country Day School was developed as an extension of the school to serve Costa Rica’s growing international community. Today there are over 150 students from around the world attending Central America’s only boarding school based on an American curriculum. CDSG is a private, independent, college-prep boarding and day school. The school facilities include a new high school with large classrooms, a library, multimedia center, science lab, a theatre, and athletic facilities including pool, gymnasium, and athletic fields. A modern hydroponic greenhouse and organic farm help produce fruit and vegetables for the school.
Students and Faculty
Multiple nationalities are represented on campus and a diversity of languages are spoken by students and faculty. Classes are small, ranging in size from 8 to 20 students with an average student to teacher ratio of 7:1. Teachers here have developed a passion for teaching and living overseas, and are guided by a teaching philosophy that challenges and supports students to be independent learners and thoughtful citizens.
High School
CDSG has a diverse student population with approximately 80 students in the high school coming from North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Due to its unique location, environmental sciences form an academic focus, with AP courses offered in Environmental Science and Marine Biology. Students have regular opportunities to go on field trips and weekend outings as part of their course of study. Generally these are planned to extend the curriculum and to take advantage of the natural setting in Costa Rica. Community service is a regular feature of life at CDSG as well.
Activities
CDSG offers a wide variety of co-curricular activities such as yearbook, Habitat for Humanity, student government, National Honor Society, chess club, yoga, ceramics, choir, drama, cheerleading, dance, and community service. Sports include soccer, volleyball, golf, tennis, flag football, beach volleyball, surfing, and basketball. CDSG sends students to regional athletic tournaments, community service, academic, and leadership conferences. During the weekends, students participate in adventurous outdoor activities as well as language and cultural immersion opportunities. Typical excursions range from volcano trekking, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, camping, and sea turtle rescue, to spending a weekend at a remote beach enjoying the surf, sand, and sunshine.
Program Dates
END OF AUGUST TO MID-DECEMBER
MID JANUARY TO EARLY JUNE
OPTIONAL 4-WEEK WINTER TOUR
Application Deadline
ROLLING ADMISSIONS
Tuition and Fees
$16,500/ SEMESTER
$30,000/ FULL YEAR
