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- International Schools in Santiago
29/07/2019, updated 21/10/2023
Santiago has many international schools, representing a large number of nationalities and languages. Each school has more or less its own rhythm, but the school year generally starts in March, and ends in December. If you relocate from the northern hemisphere, your children will probably have to spend a few months in the level they already were in their home country. For more information, you can read our article about the Chilean education system.
Choosing a school for your children is an important decision. It can be difficult to take, in particular if you have not yet moved to Chile, because it is hard to picture the working atmosphere and the school ethos without visiting it. to help you choose the best school for your children, we describe below 15 private international schools of Santiago.
The schools offer a broad range of services rather similar (school transport, after-school activities...) that we do not detail above. Instead, we want to highlight the particularities of each school, to help you make a choice. All pre-registration forms can be found on the schools' websites. The prices mentioned in the article may have changed. We recommend that you contact the admissions department of the school you are interested in to obtain updated prices.
To better understand grade levels according to ages, here is a comparative table:
| Age | Chile | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 3 yo | Play Group | Preschool |
| 4 yo | Pre Kinder | Pre Kinder |
| 5 yo | Kinder | Kindergarten |
| 6 yo | 1 básico | 1st Grade |
| 7 o | 2 básico | 2nd Grade |
| 8 yo | 3 básico | 3rd Grade |
| 9 yo | 4 básico 4th Grade | |
| 10 yo | 5 básico | 5th Grade |
| 11 yo | 6 básico | 6th rade |
| 12 yo | 7 básico | 7th Grade |
| 13 yo | 8 básico | 8th grade |
| 14 yo | 1 medio | 9th Grade (freshman year) |
| 15 yo | 2 medio | 10th Grade (sophmore year) |
| 16 yo | 3 medio | 11th Grade (junior year) |
| 17 yo | 4 medio | 12th Grade (senior year) |
In addition, some Spanish-speaking countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Venezuela) signed an agreement in 1970, the Convenio Andrés Bello. This agreement resulted in an intergovernmental organization aimed at the educational, scientific, technological and cultural integration of the Spanish-speaking countries of the American continent. As far as education is concerned, the Convenio Andrés Bello has led to the creation of equivalences between grade levels in different countries, as shown in the table below.
Nido de Aguilas
Av. El Rodeo 14200, Lo Barnechea
Nido de Aguilas is an American school, welcoming around 1800 students, from kindergarten to senior year. All teaching is done in English. However, the school allows students to take the International Baccalaureate (IB), the High School Diploma or the PSU, which is the Chilean university entrance test.
For students admitted to the Nido but not fluent in English, the school has set up an Accelerated English Academy: the student follows 2 to 4 hours of English lessons per day, depending on the base level. Class size is small (about twenty students per class), which creates an environment conducive to learning.
It is the only international school that follows the northern hemisphere school calendar. Although the school is American, it welcomes students of around fifty nationalities (43% from Chile, 17% from the United States, 7% from Spain, 4% from Korea, 3% from Argentina, 3% from Brazil, and 23% from other countries in 2017).
As a result of their studies in Nido de Aguilas, 1/3 of students continue their higher education in Chile, 1/3 in the United States, and the last third in the rest of the world.
The Nido is a very digital school: up to 13 years old, students must bring their own iPad to work in class. Older students need to have their own MacBook.
Like most American schools, the Nido offers many extracurricular, artistic and sports activities. There is also a parents' association, organizing social and educational events (hiking, sewing...). Wearing the uniform is mandatory.
In summary, the Nido is characterized by its strong American influence and its impressive infrastructure (library, gym...), a perfect environment for students!
Admission to Nido de Aguilas
To start school in September, according to the northern hemisphere school calendar, you must apply before March 1st. Results will be available on April 25th. If there is room, you can apply for late admission, during the first week of July. In this case, results will be given during the second week of July.
Around 700 students apply each year. The turnover is quite high, so there is a waiting list. Students who are on the waiting list have some advantages (access to the library...). To start school in March, following the Chilean calendar, you can apply throughout the year. It is also possible to enter the Nido outside these periods, depending on availability.
Concerning the admission process, you must complete the online application form. The student will then pass admission exams, in different subjects depending on the level at which the student is applying. A visit of the school can also be planned, during which you will be able to meet and exchange with the teachers and students. Due to the high number of requests, school tours only take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in groups, but you can ask for a personal interview afterwards.
Priority is given to the children of Nido teachers and workers, American children or those whose parents are Americans, brothers and sisters of former or current students and to students who speak English.
Nido de Aguilas has a Nido Guaranteed Placement Program, which puts your child at the top of the waiting list, ensuring a place for the next semester. This program only offers a limited number of seats and entails additional. The child must anyways pass the entrance exam to be accepted through this program.
Nido de Aguilas - Fees
Nido de Aguilas is one of the best international schools in Santiago but also one of the most expensive. Registration fees are about USD 800 and tuition fees are about USD 16,000 per year from Kindergarten (USD 8,000 in Preschool and Prekinder). Moreover, in most schools in Chile, you must pay an incorporation fee. It is USD 11,600 in the Nido. In addition to this, Nido de Aguilas, like all other schools, requires an accident insurance and a school insurance, which involve additional costs.
The Grange School
Avenida Príncipe de Gales 6154, La Reina
The Grange School is an elitist English school. It is attended by children from well-off Chilean families and expatriates. The school has about 1800 students, from preschool to senior year. Students can obtain the International Baccalaureate, the A-levels or the PSU.
The school benefits from very good sports facilities.
Admission
Admission is only possible until the seventh grade. Applications are made in October. The school then organizes an interview with the parents and the pupil. He must also pass a knowledge test.
Fees
The registration fee is USD 520, the incorporation fee is USD 8,000 and tuition fees are USD 9,900 per year.
SEK Chile
Av. Los Militares 6640, Las Condes
SEK Chile is an English school. 50% of the teaching is done in English and 50% in Spanish. At the end of their schooling, students pass the PSU or the international baccalaureate. Learning is done via Ipads, lent to students. Classes end at 4:30pm, so that children have time for after-school activities.
SEK Chile has a school transport service for children; as well as a summer program, called Summer SEK, which alternates between classes and activities.
The school tries to promote the involvement of parents and the communication between parents and teachers through committees:
- school collaboration committee (link with teachers to help organize and accompany school trips and excursions),
- family sport committee (organization of sports competitions involving children and parents),
- safety committee (supervising the facilities, good condition and functioning),
- international committee (promoting the international and multicultural aspect of the school by organizing activities to discover the culture and the traditions of other countries),
- professional committee (bringing together parents from different professional backgrounds to give an overview of the world of work to students),
- evaluation committee of new teachers (interviewing candidates for the post of teacher).
The goal of the school is to maintain the balance between demanding learning and students' personal development. Indeed, the particularity of the school lies in the school calendar, punctuated by many days dedicated to activities or field trips.
Admission
Applications are made from October to enter the school in March. The admission process consists of an informative interview with the parents, an individual assessment of the student (language, mathematics, English and psychological assessment) and forms to be completed by the parents after the interview (medical form, registration form).
Fees
For the year 2019, the registration fee is USD 330 and the incorporation fee is USD 2,100. You must also pay for the admission tests (about USD 60). Tuition fees vary depending on the level, between USD 5,100 and USD 5,800.
Anglo American School
Camino los Refugios Nº 16.531 – Lo Barnechea
The Anglo American School is a school that promotes bilingual education (English-Spanish). Students can obtain the A-levels, the High-School Diploma or pass the PSU. Most of the subjects are taught in English.
A class never includes more than 23 students, for learning to be more individualized.
Admission
To start school in March, you can apply from the previous May, by completing the online form available on their website. The selection process includes an interview with the child and one with the parents. In addition, the student spends a morning in the class of his/her grade level and passes a test of knowledge corresponding to his academic level. The results are given a week after applying.
Fees
The application fee is USD 50, the incorporation fee is USD 800 per family and the registration fee is USD 480. As for the tuition fees, they amount to USD 4,350 in kindergarten and USD 4,800 from the first grade.
You can benefit from discounts if you have several children attending the Anglo American School.
Bradford School
Tahiti 6416, Vitacura
Bradford School is an English school. The subjects are all taught in English until the fifth grade, then the teaching is bilingual (Spanish-English) from the sixth grade. Students can take the International Baccalaureate, the UK A-level or the PSU. The teaching staff is very caring and welcoming.
The school is secular but students have the opportunity to attend Catholic education classes.
Admission
Applications are to be made from July if you want your children to start school in March of the following year. You must complete the application form, then the school organizes an interview with the student and one with the parents. In addition, the student passes assessments in language and communication, mathematics and English. Evaluations are often held in October.
Fees
Tuition fees are USD 5,150 in kindergarten, USD 6,150 from the first grade to the sixth grade and USD 6,250 from the seventh grade to senior year. You also need to pay USD 100 to pass the admission tests, USD 2,400 of incorporation fees and USD 460 of registration fees.
Craighouse
Av. Paseo Pie Andino nº 8837 · Lo Barnechea
Craighouse is an English school. It is a very good school, but the level is slightly lower than that of the Nido or The Grange School, in which studies the Chilean elite.
Students can obtain the International Baccalaureate, the A-levels or the PSU.
Admission
Foreign students can apply at any time of the year, while Chilean children must apply in October. The headmaster of the school makes an appointment with the parents to discuss the child and the family situation.
The child then passes tests in Spanish, mathematics and English, adapted to his level. To be accepted, he/she must obtain at least 70% of success in each subject. The student also has an interview with the headmaster and a psychological interview. The results are given 3 weeks after the end of the process.
Fees
Craighouse does not communicate about the details of the fees on its site. Yet, tuition fees are about USD 7,500 per year.
Dunalastair
Las Condes, Chicureo, Peñalolén
Dunalastair is a bilingual school (English-Spanish), which has the same level than Craighouse, with good academic standards and a caring atmosphere. The school has fewer students than those previously described. Dunalastair has three establishments in Santiago: one in Las Condes (Av. Las Condes 11931, Las Condes), one in Chicureo (Camino Solar S / N, Colina) and one in Peñalolén (Av. Quilín 8411, Peñalolén).
Admission
In general, applications are made in September to start school in March, but foreign families or those living outside Santiago can apply throughout the year if there are available places. You must complete the form online.
Fees
Dunalastair does not communicate its prices to the public. The application is free.
Redland
Camino el Alba 11.357, Las Condes
Redland is a very good school, and it remains affordable. Students receive both Chilean and British academic and cultural education. Redland prepares its students for the International Baccalaureate.
Admission
If you want your child to start school in March, you must apply before November 30th of the previous year.
In addition to the tests in Spanish, English and mathematics, the student has an interview with the headmaster and one with the school psychologist.
From the moment you apply, you will be notified of the results one month later.
Fees
As we said before, Redland is one of Santiago's more affordable international schools. The application costs USD 60, the registration fee is USD 450, the incorporation fee is USD 3,200 and tuition fees are USD 670 per year.
Santiago College
Camino Los Trapenses 4007, Lo Barnechea
Santiago College offers a mix of Chilean and British education, which can be interesting for your children, at a cultural level. Academically speaking, the school is very demanding. Students can obtain the International Baccalaureate, the A-level or the PSU.
The school is secular but Judeo-Christian values have a strong influence on the education offered.
Admission
You need to apply in August, except for Preschool, for which you apply in March to start school in March of the next year. The admission process includes a visit of the school if you are in Chile, an interview with the parents and the child and tests in language and communication, English, mathematics, social sciences and natural sciences.
Children of alumni or staff, as well as brothers and sisters of current students have priority.
Fees
The application fee is USD 100. The value of the incorporation fee varies according to the number of children enrolled in Santiago College: it represents USD 6,350 for the first child, then USD 5,150 for the second and USD 4,800 from the third. The registration fee is USD 480 and tuition fees are USD 9,600 per year.
Lincoln International Academy
Campus Lo Barnechea (Av. Las Condes 13150) ; Campus Chicureo (Seaquist 100)
The Lincoln International Academy is a school that offers bilingual English-Spanish education. The school is very demanding, suitable for children without difficulties. Students must provide a significant amount of work at home. Students prepare the International Baccalaureate, the A-levels or the PSU.
After classes, the school offers sports and creative workshops for students.
Admission
To start school in March, you must apply in August. In September, the parents and the child have an interview with a psychologist, who assesses the family as a whole. The student then passes exams in mathematics, English and Spanish. Results are available in October.
Fees
The Lincoln International Academy does not communicate its prices to the public.
The International Preparatory School
Pastor Fernández 16001, Lo Barnechea
The International Preparatory School is a well-known international school, part of the Cambridge International School network. The teaching is not bilingual, it is based on the British curriculum and subjects are taught in English. Students prepare the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), then the Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) or the A-level, the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in the UK.
Admission
There is no specific period for applications, you can apply throughout the year. The school accepts new students in March, the usual school start in Chile, or in August, which marks the beginning of the second semester. However, for families coming from abroad, students can join the class at any time of the year, provided there is availability in the level they want to enter.
Concerning the admission process, you must complete the online application form, then the student is assessed in English and mathematics, and passes a personality interview.
Fees
The International Preparatory School does not communicate its prices to the public.
Alliance Française
Av. Luis Pasteur 5418, Vitacura and Av. Chamisero 14397, Chamisero Colina
The Lycée Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is the school of the Alliance Française in Santiago and is part of the network of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). It is a Franco-Chilean school and therefore meets the requirements of the ministries of education of both countries, although the teaching is done "in the French way". The school welcomes more than 3000 students, of about 35 different nationalities, from kindergarten to senior year.
The school has two campuses: one in Vitacura and the second, created in 2013, in Chamisero.
At the end of their studies, students can obtain the French Baccalaureate and prepare for the PSU (Prueba de Selección Universitaria) to enter Chilean universities.
Admission
Applications to start school in March begin in March of the previous year. You must pre-register online and then the school will contact you to conduct an interview with you and your child.
Fees
The registration fee is USD 430 and tuition fees are USD 5100 per year. However, you can benefit from discounts if you have several children attending the school. The incorporation fee is USD 2,870 for the first child and USD 2,250 for other children.
Colegio Aleman de Santiago
Nuestro Señora del Rosario 850, Las Condes
The Colegio Aleman de Santiago offers a trilingual education (English, Spanish, German) with an emphasis on German, which accounts for 70% of teaching up to the fourth grade. The majority of students are German. Education is very strict. The number of pupils per class does not exceed 25, which allows greater proximity between teachers and students. Each class benefits from two bilingual educators (German-Spanish). At the end of their studies, students can obtain the equivalent of the Chilean Baccalaureate or the German Abitur.
Students can go on exchange in Germany during two months between junior and senior year, or on exchange in the United Kingdom for one month in high school. During these exchanges, students alternate between classes, activities and visits.
Admission
Applications are made from March to May for Preschool and in December for other grade levels. However, the school accepts special admissions in February and July, especially for parents who move to Chile at that time. You make the application online, and then the student passes exams during the first two weeks of December (observation and maturity test up to first grade, then tests in German, mathematics, Spanish and English from second grade). Priority is given to pupils of German nationality, pupils coming from German schools in Chile, children of former pupils or students who speak German.
Fees
Tuition fees are USD 6,700 per year up to fifth grade, then USD 6,300 from sixth grade. The registration fee is USD 3,600, and admission tests cost around USD 70. In addition to that, you have to pay the incorporation fee of USD 3,180 for the first child, then USD 2,400 for your other children. Extracurricular activities are also charged (USD 9 per hour).
Colegio Aleman Thomas Morus
Avenida Pedro de Valdivia 320, Providencia
The Colegio Aleman Thomas Morus is a good school, offering a German education. It is a small establishment whose infrastructure is not the best but the teaching is individualized, adapted to each student. Students speak both German and English when they finish their schooling and they can pass the PSU or the Abitur. Yet, the academic level is lower than that of the Colegio Aleman de Santiago.
The school schedule is not too busy, which allows children to have free time. The school offers access to the Club Manquehue, a private sports club, and organizes many workshops (cooking, music...).
Education is more focused on Catholic values (Catholic education is a compulsory subject), but the school is open to other religions.
Admission
The admission process consists of an interview with the parents in May and then the student passes tests in German, English, language and mathematics. The results are announced in June. To enter the fourth grade or a higher level, your child must come from a German school.
Fees
Tuition fees are USD 5,900 per year, while the registration fee is USD 490 and thee incorporation fee is USD 2,400.
Scuola Italiana
Avenida Las Flores 12707, San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
The Scuola Italiana is a good school for Italians. It is more liberal than some of the schools abovementioned.
Admission
Applications are made in March for kindergarten and in August-September from first grade. Students take tests in math, language, English, as well as a psychological assessment. The results are then announced in October.
Children of alumni and staff, brothers and sisters of current pupils of the school and children of Italian origin are prioritized.
Fees
The application fee is USD 70 and the registration fee is USD 480. The incorporation fee increases according to the grade levels, but is lower if you have the Italian nationality: it costs between USD 730 and USD 3,800. As for the tuition fees, they represent USD 5,700 in kindergarten and USD 6,150 from the first grade.
To be noted
In most schools, the admission process includes a face-to-face interview. For expatriates, this means a trip to Chile. Be aware that they may not be accept video interviews. Thus, it may be useful to negotiate with your employer for a discovery trip to Chile. Indeed, the choice of accommodation is often influenced by the proximity to the school, and waiting for schools to give you an answer, which can take a few weeks, slows your installation.
Schools will not commit several months in advance to availabilities in the grade level at which your child applies. This is due to the fact that schools must first check the number of children leaving, to find out how many places will be available.
If you arrive from the northern hemisphere, your children will very often have to repeat a semester corresponding to a grade level they have already started. Regularly, parents insist that their children pass to the next grade. This is often a bad idea. During a change of country and culture, it is often better for a child to dedicate these few months to retake courses already known and thus get acquainted with new teaching methods and a new language. Schools make decisions based on maturity and school level of each child.
Chilean schools require a lot of documents (transcripts, birth certificates, photos...). It is necessary to apostille them in the country where the child has studied, before your departure. It can take several weeks, so make sure to start the process in advance.
The list of some schools detailed above is not exhaustive. There are many other schools that we do not detail as they are not sought after by expatriates: San Gabriel, Colegio Verbo Divino, Mayflower School, The Kent School... If you want more information about these schools, you can check their websites, usually very complete and detailed.
If you want help to choose your school, or to prepare the required documents for the integration of your children, we offer these services. For more information, you can have a look at our School Search service.
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