Now, let’s move on to looking at the different levels and school types in Costa Rica. First, there are different classifications of schools in Costa Rica: escuelas públic (public schools), escuelas privadas (private schools), and escuelas técnicas (technical schools). Escuelas públicas are government funded schools that are generally more affordable, though the quality of education can vary significantly depending on the region/city. Escuelas privadas are privately funded schools with smaller class sizes, more resources, and excellent foreign language programs. However, escuelas privadas have much higher tuition costs, making them virtually inaccessible to lower-income families. Finally, escuelas técnicas offer vocational and technical training to prepare students for their future jobs. These schools cost the same as public schools, but to be accepted into them, students must have exceptional grades and demonstrate commitment to their vocational field of choice.
As for level-breakdowns of the Costa Rican education system, lets first begin with educación preescolar (preschool education). Children typically attend preschool from the ages of 3-5. Next, students enter educación primaria (primary education) which lasts from ages 6-12, or roughly equivalent to 1st-6th grade in the U.S.
