Lincoln School was founded in 1945. The school is registered as a private, nonprofit organization, both in Costa Rica and in the United States. The school year comprises two semesters from August through December and from January through June. Lincoln School is an “Apple Distinguished School,” renowned for its innovation, leadership and educational excellence.
Organization: The school is governed internally by the 11-member board of directors, all of whom are parents of currently enrolled students and are elected by the school association, comprising all parents. On approval of the board, the U.S. Embassy also appoints a representative to the board.
Curriculum: Lincoln School offers three diploma options: U.S. High School Diploma, accredited by Cognia/AdvancED; the International Baccalaureate (IB), accredited by IBO; and the Costa Rica National Diploma, accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education. All instruction is in English, except for Spanish-based electives. Maximum class size is 22 students in elementary school and 23 students in middle and high school. Typically, 100% of Lincoln graduates continue higher education studies in colleges or universities. Approximately 40% attend U.S. colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools; 5% attend universities in other countries; and the other 55% attend Costa Rican universities.
Technology: Every student from grades PS-12 is given his or her own iPad for their research and academic work, which allows them to have access to information, increase collaboration, and develop their IT expertise and skills. The iPad also enables parents to have transparent access to their child’s school progress, posted in real time. Every classroom has an interactive whiteboard, projector, Apple TV and access point. The school has three mobile labs with 20 computers each and three physical technology labs with 24 computers each. The school is in the process of transforming the labs into “Innovation Centers” with state-of-the-art technology including 3D printers and flexible seating spaces to encourage collaboration and project-based learning.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, Lincoln School has 180 total staff including 117 teachers, 25 of whom are U.S. citizens, 87 host-country nationals, and 5 third-country nationals from four different countries. As a nonprofit organization, Lincoln School uses part of its surplus for professional development, providing its faculty with the opportunity to attend conferences, workshops, and other growth opportunities.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 1,418. Of the total, 55 were U.S. citizens, 1,306 were host-country nationals, and 57 were third-country nationals. Lincoln School has a well-developed support system in place for international students and their families.
Facilities: The 17-acre school networked campus, comprises a butterfly farm, an organic vegetable harvesting garden, spacious green areas, an elementary and secondary gym, a covered multipurpose recreational facility, an elementary and secondary library, an infirmary, a cafeteria, two playgrounds, and an outdoor track and field ground. Other facilities include an arts center building with six music sound-proof classrooms, five art classrooms including one with a ceramic kiln, and a theater with capacity for 298 people, professional projection and sound system, and a 320 square meter stage. Preschool, elementary, and upper school are in separate buildings, with a total of 84 classrooms, three computer labs, and five science laboratories. Lincoln started construction of the Lincoln Innovation Center (LINC), a unique place in Central America that promotes changemakers training. This center gives meaning to Lincoln School’s mission to become the leading innovator in 21st century education, empowers students to positively impact local and global communities.
Finances: As a nonprofit entity, surpluses are reinvested for educational purposes and for upgrading campus facilities. In this 2022-2023 school year, 98% of the school’s income emanates from tuition. Annual tuition rates are as follows: K: $7,115; Grades 1-5: $9,294; Grades 6-8: $10,050; Grades 9-12: $11,146. There is a one-time association fee of $2,000 per student and an annual registration fee of $50 per student. Extracurricular activities, iPads, and textbooks are included in the tuition. (Fees are payable in U.S. dollars or Costa Rican colones. All fees quoted in U.S. dollars.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- Costa Rica, San Jose, Lincoln) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and are provided by the school.