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School comparison · San José
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026-04-26 · Both schools in San José
Quick answer
Both schools offer IB.
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Build family shortlist (free) →| Metric | Lighthouse International School | The British School of Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | IB, American | IB, British |
| Qualifications | IB Diploma | IGCSE and IB Diploma |
| Ages served | Ages 3 to 18 | Ages 3 to 18 |
|---|
| Language of instruction | English | — |
|---|
| True annual cost? | $11,144 | — |
|---|
| Hidden fee %? | +16% | — |
|---|
| First-year cost? | $12,644 | — |
|---|
| WhereNext Value Score? | 75/100 | — |
|---|
| Cost percentile (city)? | 40th | — |
|---|
| Students | 257 | 910 |
|---|
| Nationalities | 25 | 25 |
|---|
| Avg class size | 15 | 18 |
|---|
| Admissions | Competitive | Open |
|---|
| Accreditations | IBO | IBO, NEASC, CIE |
|---|
Highlighted cells indicate which school holds the more favourable value for arriving expat families on that dimension (e.g. lower tuition, smaller class size, higher Value Score, more open admissions). Some rows are neutral.
Full profile · Lighthouse International School
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Full profile · The British School of Costa Rica
View the full The British School of Costa Rica school profile →
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The School Fit Brief weights every dimension above against your family's specific needs — budget, learning support, curriculum preference, age band, family priorities — and produces a definitive recommendation with a 30-day action plan. $49 one-time.