Private Schools

Chris

Gold
Oct 21, 2002
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www.caribbetech.com
Can we put our heads together to draw up a list private schools in the major centers to have available for Newby's on the forum?

Something like this....

City : Sosua
School : Garden Kids
Languages : English Teaching but Spanish spoken widely
Cost : Affordable at around RD$ 3000 with options for the mid-day meal and after school care
Grades : Pre-School to before high school
Reputation : Good
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Here are some basics about the school system:

Public Schools in the Dominican Republic
The primary language of instruction in public schools in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. There are generally not enough teachers, facilities or funding to meet the demands of an unusually large Dominican schools - age population. Many private and religious schools supplement the state-financed schools. Children aged 7 to 14 years are required to attend, and almost every large community has elementary and secondary schools.
The University of Santo Domingo is the oldest university in the Americas; it was founded in 1538.


Going to school in English
Instruction in foreign languages is available in Dominican schools for children of all ages. Curriculum is available in Spanish and other languages. Some schools will offer education in one language whilst others may be bilingual. While there are students enrolled from all over the world, the majority are Dominican. This means that much of the school’s informal social life will take place in Spanish, regardless of the educational facility’s policies.

Private schools in the Dominican Republic normally have the medium of instruction in English and usually take children from many nationalities. Students must meet a certain level of English fluency for entrance. The school year is usually divided into two semesters which begin in mid-late August and finish early-mid June.

Tuition fees for students vary from school to school, the maximum being $7,000US per academic year. As a general rule the older the child, the higher the fees. There may be additional charges for school lunches, uniforms and school books and materials.


Will their qualifications be valid once we leave the Dominican Republic?
Schools which are accredited by the Dominican Ministry of Education offer certificates which are valid for entrance to Dominican, European and U.S. universities. However, those planning to undertake higher education in the U.S. may wish to attend a school which has been accredited by the U.S. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Those interested in studying in Europe, should consider a school where the International Baccaulaureate curriculum is used.

Are there English or bilingual schools outside of Santo Domingo?
Education in English is available outside of Santo Domingo in most regions; La Romana, Santiago, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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The International School of Sosua (Puerto Plata), ISS is accredited by SACS, located in Sosua, and serves the communities of Sosua, Cabarete, and Puerto Plata. It has Grades Pre-K through Grade 12 and offers diploma programmes from both the US and Dominican Republic. Courses are taught in English and teachers are certified in their field.
Website: www.issosua.com
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Alic New World School, Puerto Plata.
It has Grades Pre-K through Grade 12.
Billingual school, not all teachers are educated, certified teachers though ( usually the foreigners are not, and the local teachers are )
French lessons offered.
Cost around 2.500 RDS /month, excl. books, uniforms, meals, inscription.
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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The Carol Morgan School (Santo Domingo), founded in 1933, has around 850 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. All teachers are certified in their field, and many of the faculty are from the U.S. The school is accredited by SACS, sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Website: www.cms.edu.do
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Collegio San Jos?, Puerto Plata.
Most respected school in the city, Pre-K through Grade 12.
Only Spanish speaking.
English and French lessons though.
Alots of experiments, outdoor education in combination with the classroom education.
Cost appr. 2.500 RDS /month. Excl. meals, uniforms, books, inscriptions.
Non religious.
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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The American School of Santo Domingo, founded in 1981, offers U.S.-style instruction to a total of around 700 students, from pre-kindergarten to the 12th grade. The school is SACS accredited.
Website: www.assd.edu.do
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
4
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Collegio Aventista, Puerto Plata.
Offers Pre-K through Grade 12, located downtown.
Spanish speaking, with about 10 % foreigners attending school.
English and French lessons.
Good reputation.
Cost about 1200 RDS/month, excl. books, uniforms, meals, inscriptions.
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Santa Rosa, Puerto Plata.
Offers Pre-K through Grade 12, located downtown, close to Malecon.
Oldest, and respected school, religious (catholic ) influences.
Spanish Speaking, many foreigners attend this school anyway.
Cost about 2000 RDS/ month, excl. books, uniforms, meals, inscriptions.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Collegio Carlos Maria Hernandez, Puerto Plata.
Offers Pre-K through Grade 12, small children in a separate building.
Located on Avenida 27 de Febrero, close to supermarket Tropical.
Spanish Speaking. Several foreigners attending this school.
Non religious.
Good reputation.
Cost around 1500 RDS/month, excl. books, uniforms, meals, inscriptions.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Torre Alta Montessori School, Puerto Plata.
Preschool located in Torre Alta region of Puerto Plata.
1/2 days, billingual.
Cost around 5000 RDS/month excl. meals, diapers etc etc.
Good reputation.
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
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Bautista, Puerto Plata
Small school, close to supermercado Jose Luis.
Only half day, religious ( Evangelico ) and Spanish Speaking.
Quite alots of foreigners put their children here, if they live close by, to allow them to come in to the language and social life.
Cost around 400 RDS/month, excl. books, uniforms (shirts only here ) and inscriptions.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Collegio Isabel, Puerto Plata.
Located close to the firestation.
For children with learning difficulties.
Spanish speaking.
Good reputation.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Pre-school Hermanas Pierret, Puerto Plata.
Located by Parque Luperon downtown.
Solid school with good reputation.
Spanish speaking.
 
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carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Johns English School, Puerto Plata.
Afternoon/Evening school for the English language.
Located close to the cemetery.
Foreigners and Dominican children, grade 1-9.
Many foreigners have this as a supplement, to keep the English alive and correct.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
4
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Collegio Mary Lithgow, Puerto Plata.
Large school on Calle Kennedy downtown.
Offers pre-K through grade 12.
Spanish speaking.
English lessons.
Good reputation, and a few foreigners attending.
Religious influences ( evangelico ).
Cost around 2000 RDS/month excl. books, uniforms, meals, inscriptions.
 

carina

Silver
Mar 13, 2005
2,691
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Escuela De Educaci?n Especial, Puerto Plata
Located by Parque Luperon, in the Victorian building where Arthur Roderick ( architect of Central Park and most Victorian buildings in Puerto Plata ).
School for children with special needs.
Good reputation.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Some up-to-date info about several Santo Domingo schools

Prices are approximate, based on 2005/6 or 2006/7 school years.

These are all schools I have looked at/visited or have direct experience.

Send me a PM if you have any specific questions.


ABC (Americas Bi-cultural Academy)
Bilingual, pre-school to bachillerato, traditional style
Calle Fernando Valeria, Ens. La Julia, Santo Domingo
DR Education Ministry, internationally recognised
Tels (809) 535 3371/535 3376/535 3354/533 0056
Fax (809) 535 3342
www.abcschool.org
info@abcschool.org
Cost: RD$92,000 (2005-6) varies according to grade.

New Horizons
Bilingual, pre-school to bachillerato
US curriculum, accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Ave. Sarasota 51, Santo Domingo
Tel. (809) 533 4915
www.gcnewhorizons.net
Cost: US$4000 per annum (2006-7) varies according to grade.

St Patrick School
Bilingual, US curriculum, pre-school to bachillerato
Calle Jose Andres Aybar Castellanos 163
La Esperilla, Santo Domingo
Tel. (809) 567 5995
Cost RD$80-100,000 per annum, depending on grade and payment plan (2006-7)

St Michael’s School
Primary and secondary
Bilingual, US curriculum
SACS accredited
H Inch?ustegui 8, Piantini
Santo Domingo
(809) 616-2252
Cost: US$ 4,000 – 5,500 per annum, depending on grade and payment plan (2006-7)

St Joseph School
Pre-school to bachillerato
Bilingual, US curriculum
Roberto Pastoriza 701 (Primary) Rafael F Bonelli 6 (Pre-School)
Evaristo Morales
Santo Domingo
Tels: (809) 540 8992, 732 3270
Fax: (809) 540 8267
E-mail: saintjosephschool@gmail.com
Cost: no details available (under RD$100,000 per annum).

Centro Pedagogico Infantil Maria Montessori
Pre-school and primary
Montessori education in Spanish with bilingual option
Calle Francisco Prats Ramirez esq Olegario Tenares
Los Restauradores
Santo Domingo
Tels: (809) 530 1837,8
Fax: (809) 530 1978
E-mail: cpimm@verizon.net.do
Cost: RD$33,000 to 82,000 per annum depending on grade, payment plan and Spanish/bilingual option (2005-6).

Colegio Dominico-Americano
Pre-school to bachillerato
Bilingual, US curriculum, accredited by recognised US educational body
(Instituto Cultural Dom?nico-Americano)
Ave. Abraham Lincoln 21
Santo Domingo
Tel: (809) 535 0665
Website: www.icda.edu.do/english/colegio/index.asp

The Community for Learning
Bilingual, pre-school to bachillerato
Carretera La Isabela #101
La Meseta de Arroyo Hondo
Santo Domingo
Tel: (809) 563 2708
E-mail: office@tcforlearning.edu.do
Website: www.tcforlearning.edu.do
Cost: over RD$100,000 per annum (approx).
 

GringoCArlos

Retired Ussername
Jan 9, 2002
1,416
40
0
One good resource that I found on the internet was through the government's Department of Education, where they have ratings and information on most of the schools in the DR. They also rank each school on a number of factors and arrive at a total score and grade for each school.
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FOUND IT, the ultimate guide to Dominican schools (at least what the Secretary of Education cranks out, but very informative, and looks like it includes most of the civilized D.R. districts - but information is from 2002-2003):

go to:
http://www.see.gov.do/sitesee.net/consultas/ConsScopFormularios.aspx

and then click on the bottom selection on the left side "Resultados categorazac?on Por distritos" and you will get an Acrobat document with all criteria.
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Correction to Chiri's post above:
The rates at the St. Patrick School are RD$53,000 for nursery - kindergarten, RD$73,000 for grades 1 thru 6, and RD$93,000 for grades 7 thru 12. The instruction is in English, but I believe there is also a bilingual option. The school is very international, with many students having a foreign-born parent.


Also:

St George School (Some would say it is the best school in the DR now)
Calle Porfirio Herrera #6 casi
Ave. Abraham Lincoln
Ensanche Piantini
Santo Domingo
tel: 809-562-5262
website: www.stgeorge.edu.do
preschool through high school, and 2 years pre-university studies
Bilingual, and accredited in the US
Cost is about RD$12,000 mensual

I have also heard that the St. Thomas School in Arroyo Hondo is very good, and very expensive.
 
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