San Salvador, El Salvador Report of what it's like to live there - 01/14/25
Personal Experiences from San Salvador, El Salvador
School Name:
La Casa de los Ninos
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
My child was at Casa from ages 4-6 (2023-2025).
3. What years did you live here?
2021-2025
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes -- there are many "kinders" (preschool-kindergarten) available. The most popular ones, in addition to Casa, are Arbol de Dios and the Pre-K programs at the British, American, and French schools. We chose Casa because we were looking for a Montessori program in Spanish.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
No - you can only get this information by reaching out to the director via WhatsApp or from another family that's already at the school.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
I think the school does a pretty good job of this -- it's a preschool, so your child won't have a buddy to help them figure things out like they might as they get older. But the school has a "facebook" of other kids in the class that your child can bring home so they can familiarize them with other kids. Especially for the younger kids, the school might ask you to bring them for an hour on their first day, two hours on their second day, etc, which might be a challenge for working parents (but a temporary one).
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Most communication is via class-specific WhatsApp groups. Twice a year each class has a parents' meeting in the evening, and twice a year there are parent-teacher conferences. The parent-teacher conferences are very in-depth, and may run up to an hour per child, especially as they get older.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
There's an optional "gabacha" (smock) embroidered with the school logo and child's name, which costs $50, and an embroidered placemat, which I don't remember how much it costs. These are one-time expenses. My child has been at the school for two years and has been on one field trip, which was also an extra expense, but minimal (like less than $20).
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
As I said above, this is a small Montessori preschool -- no personal or academic counseling, but each teacher really knows each child. They are responsive when you have questions or concerns.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
One day a week the older class (roughly 3.5-6 years old) has an optional "extended day" that runs until 4 pm. For the 2024-2025 school year it cost $880 (which the State Department declined to cover because they deemed it "extracurricular").
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
There are plenty of books in the classrooms, but it's not a library -- kids can't take books home.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
No technology requirements, no technology at school. For me this is a massive plus through kindergarten but your mileage may vary.
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
This is preschool. There's a yard in the back (the school is just in a house, as many local kinders are). Casa more or less does not have a back wall, so the school is basically open -- lots of fresh air, lots of indoor/outdoor transitions.
6. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Approx 1:7 in the older class. I can't speak to the younger classes; they may have an extra helper.
7. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
Yes. This is Montessori preschool -- progress is driven by and tailored to your child. My kiddo loves school and has absolutely thrived at Casa. She has grown immeasurably, and right now is reaping the benefits of being the oldest in her class and all that entails. We love the indoor/outdoor setup and the variety of materials she has the opportunity to work with. Over the summer her class teacher specifically invested in higher-level math materials because kiddo had mastered everything they had on hand, so they are very willing to grow with your child.
That said, Montessori is not for everyone. (Forget that "Montessori is for every child, but not every parent" quote. Literally nothing is for everybody, and that includes kids.) We have definitely known people who have left this and other Montessori environments and been happier. I would say to know exactly what Montessori means and what it is. If it doesn't feel like the right fit for your child, there are plenty of options out there.
8. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
No homework.
9. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
As mentioned above, the oldest class has an optional extended day where the kids make and eat lunch together, and also have a robotics class and an extra art class. The director of the school also offers piano and violin lessons (totally separate from the school, but taught at the school).
10. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
No -- a couple of teachers at the school speak English, but overall it's Spanish.
11. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
No specific services, but as mentioned above, we have found the school willing to invest resources to meet your child's needs.
12. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I think it would depend on the disability and the child. This may not be the place for a child with anything but mild learning differences. (I hear Arbol de Dios is very good at accommodating differently abled children at the preschool level.)
13. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Again, I would have a conversation with the school. There are 2-3 stairs in the entryway to get to the classrooms.
14. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
A more relevant question is what services are provided for speakers of Spanish as a second language. I think if your kid is three or younger, it's no big deal. If they're older than that, I have seen the school dedicate an English-speaking teacher to help support your child.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
This is a popular school with the U.S. Embassy and general expat community (UN, etc.), but it is still overwhelmingly Salvadoran. I think the kids mix at school just fine.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
Not bullying necessarily, but the standard preschool behavior issues. The school does still use time outs. I'm not sure if they're any different in that respect than other kinders in the area.
3. What is the climate for students who identify as ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious minorities at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Have your children had any experiences in this area?
My kiddo has occasionally come home talking about Bible characters, but it's been 2-3 times in two years. Jewish families have done presentations on Jewish holidays, but I wouldn't say this kind of diversity is integrated into the curriculum in a meaningful way.
4. What can you say about diversity among the faculty and staff at the school and their experience in supporting minority students?
The school is primarily white expats and Salvadorans. I don't envision any issues with minority students, but I'm also not a minority, so definitely can't speak from experience.
Overall Impressions:
1. Please describe some of your child's/children's highlights and challenges during their time at this school.
Highlights -- really mastering Spanish, gaining leadership skills, active and enthusiastic curiosity about a wide range of topics, ROBOTICS (she would definitely say that this is her favorite!), caring and loving teachers
Challenges -- it's a very structured environment, which was a lot for my free-spirited nearly-four-year-old to get used to at first. Now that she's been there for a couple of years, she's completely adjusted.
2. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
A (would be an A+ if the administration was better -- it can be annoying to figure out enrollment, payment, etc.)
3. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
We have *loved* our time at Casa de los Ninos -- we even stayed for kindergarten rather than shifting to one of the large international schools.
