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Compulsory Attendance Age

Preschool, primary and secondary school is mandatory.

Number of Homeschoolers

Unknown

Legal Status

Homeschooling is not recognized in Costa Rica. All minors, national or foreign, must attend an educational institution authorized by the Ministry of Public Education, which includes public or private schools.

In the Circular- DM-036-09-2017, the Ministry of Public Education defines the guidelines and procedures for the recognition of degrees of primary and secondary education obtained in the United States of America. To obtain such recognition, the interested party must, among other requirements, provide the certification from the Asesoria Educacional del Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano (The Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center for Educational Consulting). This certification will indicate the accreditation by the authorities of the educational center where the student completed his studies.

 It is not possible to obtain an equivalent to a high school degree if the degree awarded by foreign sources was acquired by the student completing them in Costa Rica under the methods of online, correspondence or homeschool or similar terms, offered by educational institutions in foreign lands, not accredited by the Costa Rican ministry of public education.