New Families 2025-2026

New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - 01 Tertiary Page Header
We are excited that you are joining Country Day School and we want to make sure you have everything you need to know for your first day at CDS.

2025–2026 School Year

At Country Day School, we are delighted to welcome your family to our wonderful community! We recognize that this is a significant transition, and the Admissions Office is here to support you every step of the way. Below, you’ll find helpful information to assist your family as you prepare for the start of the school year on Wednesday, August 6th.

Orientation Day / First Day of School

Please see below your child's first day of school according to their grade level:  

GRADE LEVEL  
Early Learning First Day August 6th
Pre Kinder 1 First Day August 6th
Pre Kinder 2 First Day August 6th
Kinder First Day August 6th
Prep First Day August 6th
1st Grade First Day August 6th
2nd Grade First Day August 7th
3rd Grade First Day August 7th 
4th Grade First Day August 7th 
5th Grade First Day August 7th 
6th Grade First Day August 6th
7th Grade First Day August 7th 
8th Grade First Day August 7th 
9th Grade First Day August 6th
10th Grade First Day August 7th 
11th Grade First Day August 7th
12th Grade First Day August 6th

 

Agenda for Wednesday, August 6th: First Day of School for Select Grade Levels

Light refreshments will be served in the Pavilion.

Thursday, August 7th: Classes begin for all students.

Important General Information 
Pending Documents 

Any questions please contact the Admissions Office Team: Morin Granados (lorraine.granados@cds.ed.cr) and cds_admissions@cds.ed.cr.

Bus Transportation

If your child will require school bus transportation for the upcoming school year, please contact our Transportation Coordinator at cds_transportation@cds.ed.cr to make the necessary arrangements.

Opening a Cafeteria Account

Cafeteria service at CDS is an optional service that is paid separately from other school fees.  To open an account or add funds to your child's cafeteria account, please follow these steps:


For Secondary Students

Technology

Students in Middle and High School must have their own laptops.  Please see below the minimum specifications: 

PC Computer Apple-Mac OS X
  • Make/Model: N/A 
  • Processor: Intel i5 or above / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or above 
  • Wireless card: ac/b/g/n capabilities 
  • Operating system: Windows 10 Home or above 
  • Headphone jack / Bluetooth headphones 
  • Antivirus / Antimalware - required 
  • Protective case recommended 
  • Make/Model: Apple MacBook Ait / MacBook Pro 13" or above 
  • Processor: Intel i5 or above / Apple M1 or above 
  • RAM: 8 Gb DDR4 or above 
  • Wireless card: ac/b/g/n capabilities 
  • Operating system: MacOS BigSur 11.4 or above 
  • Headphone jack / Bluetooth headphones 
  • Antivirus / Antimalware - recommended but not required 
  • Protective case recommended  

 

For High School (Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12)

For High School schedule, Mr. de Vega will contact students for electives and schedules.  If you have any question, feel free to send Mr. de Vega an email at gerardo.devega@cds.ed.cr.

 

CONNECT WITH STUDENT LIFe

Stay on top of your child’s school day, lunchtime meal, daily dressing in uniform, transport to and from school, health, safety, and more.
CDS_Costa Rica_Jan_2023_Calendar
The School Day
The structure of our school day is tailored to the needs of your child’s age and division, often beginning with morning meetings and advisories to share important messages or instructions. Throughout the day, your child will be stimulated with activities across a breadth of experiences.
New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - 03 Feature Cards
Lunch
At lunchtime, your child may pay for a meal within the school cafeteria or bring a packed one from home. From the cafeteria service, students can choose between two main proteins, two carbohydrate sides, and a vegetable. Each meal also comes with juice and a salad.
CDS_Costa Rica_Jan_2023_Uniforms
Uniforms
CDS uniforms help our students present themselves as modest and well groomed. They discover how maintaining a neat personal appearance shows self-respect and courtesy to others, contributing to our positive learning environment.
New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - 03 Feature Cards
Transportation
CDS has bus routes across Sabana, Escazú, Santa Ana, Pozos, Ciudad Colón, Brasil de Mora, Belén, Ciudad Cariari, Ciudad Los Reyes, and other areas. We have two lunchtime routes for Early Childhood students and eight express routes for students in our after-school program.
New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - 03 Feature Cards
Health, Safety, and Well-being
Our Health and Safety Committee keeps your child safe by regularly updating safety procedures and training our staff members. Our teachers know each student personally and are trained to understand, observe, and intervene in a child's health, safety, and well-being as appropriate.
CDS_Costa Rica_Jan_2023_Parent_Portal
School Policies
Our school guidelines and policies help create the best kind of learning environment at CDS. To strive to safeguard our campus across all areas, we have strong communication between students and staff, and we also uphold effective procedures across sectors.

MOVING TO COSTA RICA

Is your family moving to Costa Rica from abroad? At CDS, we know that moving countries and schools can be a challenging transition for all families. We’ll do our best to ease your process and offer your family assistance.

Costa Rica will become a place your family will love. We’re known for our stunning nature and rank high as one of the world’s happiest countries. With open arms, we welcome families from all around the world.

Learn More
New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - Image-50-50

GET INVOLVED

As a parent of a CDS student, you automatically become a member of our Parents Association. Our association fosters communication, participation, and community among parents to support CDS activities.

We assist student-led community service, the celebration of faculty and staff, and other events that build school spirit. We also give parental feedback to the administration and faculty. Join our next meeting or event to get involved!
CDS_Costa Rica_Dec_2022_College

SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

We combine world-class collaborations and internationally recognized curricula with amazing tech and facilities. Our educators are passionate about inspiring young minds — and through our exceptional training opportunities, they never stop learning.

HOW WE TEACH
New Families | Country Day School, Costa Rica - 08 Promo With Collage