QCOSTARICA – Country Day, a private K-12, English-speaking school located in Escazú, will be moving to Hacienda Espinal, in San Rafael de Alajuela, in August 2016.
The first stone was cast yesterday, with the participation of board of directors and school staff and executive of Garnier & Garnier, developers of the mixed-use development.
Investment in the new school is more than US$26 million dollars. The idea began to take shape over two years, on the eve of the schools 50th anniversary.
“This is a time to ask ourselves of the future of the school in the coming decades and how to create a new space that promotes what we already do and to serve future generations of students,” said Greg MacGilpin, CEO of Country Day School.
The new campus will provide opportunities for learning for more than 1,000 students, from early childhood through twelfth grade. The aim of the project does not focus on expanding the capacity of the school, but entails a vision, according to MacGilpin.
“We want to improve everything we have and ensure a campus for the new generations of another 50 years,” said Patrick Brown, COO and member of the board.
“It adds an element of family life. Adding the educational part to an environment having it all within the same community,”said Karla Quevedo, commercial manager at Garnier & Garnier.
The Hacienda Espinal development includes apartments, condos, soccer fields, recreational areas, parks, swimming pool, amphitheater and a bicycle path, among other amenities.
Country Day school was founded in 1963 by Marian Baker in order to provide an U.S. American college preparatory education in Costa Rica. It started off as a small school, and has since grown into a large school enrolling more than 1000 students. CDS is a member of the Association of American Schools in Central America (AASCA).
Country Day Escazú is recognized as having one of the highest college acceptance rates in the country, with most students attending schools in the United States.
Soruces: La Republica, Wikipedia, SHW Group, Garnier & Garnier
Interesting move. Most of the kids that I’ve known that have gone there lived in Escazu or Santa Ana – on the South/West end. And with the new airport in the future developing that are big time. And with the Lindora road already being a nightmare. And this is going to add lots more wasted hours to their commute time. But it’s all about the $$ now isn’t it? Interesting.