Colegio Bilingüe de Palmares

The school is dedicated to academic and human excellence, aiming to foster values and the foundations necessary for the individual and social development of its students. It encourages students to dream, set goals, and fulfill them, viewing education as a path toward personal reinvention and national progress. The programme emphasizes the IB learner profile, promoting attributes such as being balanced and caring, while encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones.

The school offers the two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for students in their final years of secondary education. The curriculum includes core subjects such as Biology, Mathematics, Literature, History, English, and Digital Society. Additionally, students must complete the IB core components: Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the Extended Essay.

The school has achieved significant academic success, including a 97% success rate in obtaining the IB Diploma and a 100% success rate in the National Baccalaureate. Graduates have consistently achieved top scores in admission exams for major public universities in Costa Rica, including the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC). The school has also produced the largest graduating class of the IB Diploma Programme in the history of Costa Rica.

The school provides guidance to students through the transition into the IB Diploma Programme, offering workshops on stress management and academic motivation. Teachers and coordinators support students in developing work tactics, university preparation, and goal-setting strategies. The institution emphasizes a commitment to both academic and human excellence, fostering values and the necessary foundations for individual and social development from the seventh grade onwards.

The school manages an admissions process for students entering the tenth grade to join the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. This process includes induction activities, such as a traditional hike and workshops focused on stress management, motivation, and academic preparation. Prospective students are encouraged to participate in open house events to gain a clearer understanding of the programme's requirements and benefits.

The school maintains a schedule of academic and extracurricular events throughout the year. Recent activities have included induction hikes for new IB students, open house demonstrations, and various educational excursions, such as trips to the National Theatre, museums, and biology field studies. Additionally, the school organizes community service initiatives like beach cleanups and hosts international student exchanges.

The campus includes classrooms that are transformed by students for academic demonstrations and presentations. The school also utilizes external environments, such as local farms and natural areas in the mountains of Palmares, as extended learning spaces for induction activities and educational workshops. These settings are described as places to recreate the spirit and facilitate learning outside of traditional classroom boundaries.

Students engage in a variety of co-curricular activities designed to foster personal growth and community involvement. These include field trips to cultural and scientific sites, such as the National Theatre and biology-focused excursions, as well as social responsibility projects like beach cleanups. The programme also emphasizes creative expression through drama, drawing, and debate, which are used to explore and present the attributes of the IB learner profile.