Don't go to the big cities, yes the private schools in Santiago and Santo Domingo have great programs however you will have traffic, noise and neighbors on top of you. There is an International School in Punta Cana .....look into that, it is a sort of village of it's own with school, homes, little shopping malls..that sound more like what you are looking for. On the North Coast there is The International School of Sosua....school is American Curriculum, also learning French and Spanish and is accredited by Advanced Ed which makes college entrance easier. You would not have to live in Sosua proper as you can live in a community such as Perla Marina, Casa Linda, Seahorse Ranch or places in Cabarette and still be within 15 minutes of the school, and they have transportation! There are plenty of extra after school and summer programs...surfing, wind surfing, horse back riding and learning to jump and have the horses compete, taikwando, dance classes, soccer, baseball and basketball. But you have to make up your mind as to how much city life you want. I would certainly visit for several months in each area, or at least one month in each, to get the real feel not the tourist point of view. To enjoy this country you need to fall in love with this beautiful country and see the beauty in it and its people. In order to do this you will not want to be in the cities as it is much like being in Detroit, Chicago, New York...you can live in the suburbs but you usually would not choose to live in the city. Here you must be humble with respect to the fact that this is not your country unless you make it so! I have been here 6 years and traveled here for vacations for 15 years prior...lived in Sosua, Perla Marina, Cabrera, Santiago and now back to a non city life in the mountain area of Maimon/Cotui....it is all about perspective! Good luck with your search and your move...your children will adapt much easier than you will especially if the go to an International School but remember there is so much more here than what the tourist brochures tell you. To truly see the joy and smiles of Dominican people we now call friend and family is why we are here! I teach, have been a principal and continue to teach in the remote areas....I am from the US...teaching in an international or bilingual school will give your children the education they need but remember to most Dominicans that is a world that only exists in a dream! Keep real.