Education and Schools in Chile
Giving a child the opportunity to receive a top-notch education is a chief concern of many parents, and for expats moving abroad, the challenge of settling schooling for your little one seems that much more difficult.
Most expats send their children to international schools in Chile, and though the limited number of these institutions reduces the burden of choice, it's also a point of contention for many families who believe that competition breeds higher standards.
Public schools in Chile are open to expat enrolment, but are rarely used by foreign families due to the below par standards and the complications caused by language barrier.
The teaching language of the local institutions is Spanish, and most students - and teachers to boot - will have a poor grasp of English.
Furthermore, little exists in the way of integrating Spanish as a second-language students into the normal academic environment.
A large disparity exists between the quality of public and private education in Chile, and as a country that prides itself on its recent growth and development, the low standard of state-sponsored education remains a sore point.
The gap between the two sectors is still assumed to be so large in Chile, that even a sizeable percentage of locals choose to send their kids to private schools. It follows that these institutions are a natural choice for foreign families.
International schools in Chile offer an assortment of home-country curricula and primary teaching languages. Many of these schools boast bilingual programs, but others do not. These schools also tend to have a multicultural student body, a broader
selection of extra-curricular activities, and more exceptional facilities.
Most of these schools are located within the capital city of Santiago, but expats can also find a few options scattered outside of this commercial centre.
These institutions tend to be expensive, and it is imperative that expats try their best to negotiate some sort of education allowance into their contract before agreeing to relocation. Fees vary depending on the school and the age of your child; the most expensive bodies costing more than some university tuitions.
Space can be scarce in the more prestigious international schools in Chile (Nido de Aguilas, Santiago College and The Grange School), so the further in advance you can start the admission process, the better. To be admitted to any school, bring your child's grades and a certificate from the home country school, notarised and legalised at the Chilean consulate. In some cases, it may be necessary for expat kids to take admittance tests, usually in language and maths.
Private schools in Chile that adhere to a national curriculum are also plausible options for expat families who anticipate a long-term stay, or who can't afford the hefty price tag attached to international schools.
The majority of these institutions have a Catholic, or some form of religious, foundation, so expats will need to take this into consideration if choosing this type of learning environment for their little one. Furthermore, some of these schools require that students and their families practice the delegated faith to be granted admission.
The standard of these schools varies considerably, but expats can glean some indication of the quality of each by comparing student body scores on the standardised tests in Chile, the PSU test (used for university application) and the Simce test.
These schools may employ any number of teaching languages; but expats should note that the last four years will always be taught in Spanish, in preparation for the PSU test. For this reason, expats who have high-school aged students planning on attending a university in their home country should stick to the international schools.
Average prices for private schools in Chile:
Most expats send their children to international schools in Chile, and though the limited number of these institutions reduces the burden of choice, it's also a point of contention for many families who believe that competition breeds higher standards.
Public schools in Chile
Public schools in Chile are open to expat enrolment, but are rarely used by foreign families due to the below par standards and the complications caused by language barrier.The teaching language of the local institutions is Spanish, and most students - and teachers to boot - will have a poor grasp of English.
Furthermore, little exists in the way of integrating Spanish as a second-language students into the normal academic environment.
Private schools in Chile
A large disparity exists between the quality of public and private education in Chile, and as a country that prides itself on its recent growth and development, the low standard of state-sponsored education remains a sore point.
The gap between the two sectors is still assumed to be so large in Chile, that even a sizeable percentage of locals choose to send their kids to private schools. It follows that these institutions are a natural choice for foreign families.
International schools in Chile
International schools in Chile offer an assortment of home-country curricula and primary teaching languages. Many of these schools boast bilingual programs, but others do not. These schools also tend to have a multicultural student body, a broader
selection of extra-curricular activities, and more exceptional facilities.Most of these schools are located within the capital city of Santiago, but expats can also find a few options scattered outside of this commercial centre.
These institutions tend to be expensive, and it is imperative that expats try their best to negotiate some sort of education allowance into their contract before agreeing to relocation. Fees vary depending on the school and the age of your child; the most expensive bodies costing more than some university tuitions.
Space can be scarce in the more prestigious international schools in Chile (Nido de Aguilas, Santiago College and The Grange School), so the further in advance you can start the admission process, the better. To be admitted to any school, bring your child's grades and a certificate from the home country school, notarised and legalised at the Chilean consulate. In some cases, it may be necessary for expat kids to take admittance tests, usually in language and maths.
Local private schools in Chile
Private schools in Chile that adhere to a national curriculum are also plausible options for expat families who anticipate a long-term stay, or who can't afford the hefty price tag attached to international schools.
The majority of these institutions have a Catholic, or some form of religious, foundation, so expats will need to take this into consideration if choosing this type of learning environment for their little one. Furthermore, some of these schools require that students and their families practice the delegated faith to be granted admission.
The standard of these schools varies considerably, but expats can glean some indication of the quality of each by comparing student body scores on the standardised tests in Chile, the PSU test (used for university application) and the Simce test.
These schools may employ any number of teaching languages; but expats should note that the last four years will always be taught in Spanish, in preparation for the PSU test. For this reason, expats who have high-school aged students planning on attending a university in their home country should stick to the international schools.
Average prices for private schools in Chile:
- Incorporation fee (enrolment): once, between USD 300 to USD 3000.
- Yearly fee: once per year, between USD 400 to USD 2000
- Monthly fee: USD 400 to USD 2000
