International Education in Santo Domingo
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The Dominican Republic and its capital, Santo Domingo, is an expat haven for retirees and young families alike. The Caribbean climate and affordable cost of living is just the start; this island nation also boasts a high standard of healthcare, diverse and beautiful landscape, and easy pace of life.
One area where expat life in Santo Domingo may not meet your expectations, though, is education. The public school system in the Dominican Republic does not have the best reputation, with overcrowded classrooms and teachers in short supply. Luckily, the city has a wide choice of international schools to consider as an alternative.
The demand for international schools in Santo Domingo has steadily increased over the past few decades. The city now has international school campuses scattered throughout its neighbourhoods. A handful are located around the Ciudad Universitaria area, with more located towards the north of the city close to Parque Nacional Mirador del Norte. A small number of international schools can be found in Santo Domingo Este too.
Due to the large number of North American expats in Santo Domingo, the majority of the city’s international schools teach the American curriculum through English. However, you’ll also find plenty of schools offering international curricula like the IB, British, or French.
Teaching through Spanish as well as English is also a common offering, especially with international schools who teach a dual American-Dominican curriculum. It’s worth nothing that English is not widely spoken by locals in the Dominican Republic. Learning Spanish at school is a great way for your child to integrate more fully into Carribean life.
International schools are the preferred option for expats in Santo Domingo, so you’ll find the majority of the student population is expat kids. In general international school fees are too expensive for local families, but of course there are exceptions. Some local students also win scholarships to attend private schools.
International schools in Santo Domingo are often smaller than similar schools in other countries. The average number of students is around 600 - 700, and the average class size is around 20 students or less. Everything else however is similar to what you’d expect; extracurricular programs, additional language classes, and so on. Native English-speaking teachers, school bus services are common, but not found in every international school.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Santo Domingo according to our users. However, there are another 11 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Santo Domingo based on your requirements.
