Education in the Dominican Republic is free compulsory. There is a large selection of schooling options in the Dominican Republic and quality can be found in public, private, and religious schools. Along with the many options for grade school education, the Dominician Republic also offers a large selection for higher education, with curriculums linked to American and European programs.
Instruction in foreign languages is available in Santo Domingo for children of all ages, where curriculums are available in Spanish and other languages. While there are students enrolled from all over the world, the majority are Dominician.
Schools accredited by the Dominician Ministry of Education offer certificates which are valid for entrance to Dominician, European and US universities.
However, students planning to attend college in the US may wish to attend a school which has been accredited by the US Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Those interested in having their education in Europe should consider a school where the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is used. Some schools also offer curriculums that are entirely in English, like the American School of Santo Domingo or The Carol Morgan School. Students are required to take the PSAT exams, followed by the SAT exam. These are examples of schools accredited by the US Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Bilingual education is also offered at St. Thomas School, St. George's School (offers I.B.), New Horizons Bilingual School, Yhe Americans Bicultural School (ABC School). The Colegio Dominico-Americano, and Ashton School of Santo Domingo.
La Escuela Caribe (Caribe-Vista School), founded in 1971, is a school for children with special needs, and is located in Jarabacoa in La Vega province. This boarding school provide education to children from kindergarten to 12th grade.
There is also pre-school education in the Dominican Republic. You can find quality education at the Frowbel Nursery School, Kids, Create, My Little School, and Tiny Ones.
For those looking for education in religious schools there are a variety of choices. Colegio Calasanz, or the Salesiano (i,e ITESA, Don Bosco) parochial schools are good educational alternatives.
Education in English can be found outside Santo Domingo. There are schools in La Romana,Santiago, punta Cana and Puerto Plata.
The International School of Sosua (Iss) is accredited by SACS,and is located in Sosua.It gives education to the commumities of Sosua,Caberete and Puerto plata.It has grades of education from Pre-K through 12,and offers diploma programs from both the US and the Dominican Republic Courses are taught in English,and teachers are certified in their field.
In Santiago there is a Santiago Christian school,and is the only US accreditedAmerican style Christian schoolin the DR.It has about 515 students in Pre KG through 12th grade.There is also Centro Cultural Dominico-Americano in Santiago,and is affiliated with the Instituto Cultural Domonico-Americano(ICDA) in Santa Domingo.
In La Romana there is the Abraham Lincoln School,which provides education services from kindergarten through 12th grade.
For those looking for instruction in French,there is the Lycee Francais,along with other schools that offer primary education in Italian and German.There are also programs offered by the Alianza Francesa,which offers study programs,and the Academia Europea,which offers language study in many European languages.
Public Schools in the Dominican Republic
For education the primary language of instuction in public schools in the Dominican Republic is Spanish.There are generally not enough teachers,facilities or funding to meet the demands of the unusually large Dominican School-age population.Many private and religious schools provide education in state-financed schools.Children aged 7 to 14 years are required to attend,and almost every large community has elementery and secondary schools for students education.
The University of Santo Domingo is the oldest university in the Americas;it was founded in 1538.
Going to school in English for education
For students education instruction in foreign languages is availabe in Dominican schools for children of all ages.Education 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 is 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 their education in English and usually take children from many nationalities.Students must meet a certain level of English fluency for entrance.The school year is normally divided into two semsters which begin in mid-late August and finish early mid-June for a comfortable education.
Tuition fees for students vary from school to school,the maximum being US$7,000 per academic year.As a general rule for students education the older the child,the higher the fees.There may be additional charges for school lunches,uniforms and schoolbooks and materials.
Schools which are accredited by the Ministry of Education offer certificates which are valid for entrance to Dominican,European and US universities.Education in English is available outside of Santo Domingo in most regions;La Romana,Santiago,Punta Cana and Puerto Plata.
