Colegio Santa María de Guadalupe

Founded in 1959, the school is a Catholic institution rooted in Christian principles such as fraternity, equality, subsidiarity, the common good, justice, and love. Its educational philosophy centers on the human person as a creation of God, aiming to develop students across corporal, affective, intellectual, volitional, social, and spiritual dimensions. The school maintains a specific commitment to serving youth from limited economic backgrounds, guided by a pastoral mission that integrates faith with academic life.

The school offers a curriculum that integrates national requirements with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19. The IB curriculum includes six subject groups and core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay. Additionally, students are required to complete the national curriculum in Social Studies and Civic Education. The school's pedagogical approach is interdisciplinary and transversal, with the Pastoral Education program serving as a core element across all subjects.

The school emphasizes a holistic approach to education, integrating academic development with spiritual and pastoral formation. It provides counseling services and religious guidance, including the administration of sacraments such as Confirmation, to support the personal and emotional growth of its students.

The school conducts an annual admissions process for the seventh grade, which includes a formal application, a required entrance examination, and the submission of specific documentation. Prospective families may apply for socio-economic scholarships through a dedicated application process managed by the administration. Admissions information, including official syllabi for entrance exams and registration forms, is made available through the school's website.

The school operates on a standard academic year, with administrative office hours from Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Key dates for the seventh-grade admissions process typically occur in the spring, with registration windows opening in March and entrance examinations held in May.

The campus is located in Santo Domingo de Heredia, 250 meters north of the Basilica. Notable facilities include a gymnasium inaugurated in 1997, named in honor of the school's founder, Pbro. Delio Arguedas Argüello, and a chapel used for pastoral activities.