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Living in The Bahamas comes with heaps of opportunities and educational experiences. But before choosing your future home, one question often pervades: will this move benefit my family? The Island School is one of the best schools in The Bahamas, and today, we’re going to tell you why.
So many factors go into finding your perfect home, whether that’s location, safety, community, or access to education. When trying to find the perfect home to fit your family’s needs, education and your home’s proximity to the best schools on the island are often at the top of your priority list.
Thankfully, The Bahamas is known for its excellent schools and access to education. Unlike education in the United States, island schools offer experiential and educational experiences, allowing children to go outside of their comfort zones and experience the island in its natural state, rather than being stuck inside a classroom all day.
MCR Bahamas understands how important education is for many of our clients and their families. That’s why our team has carefully sifted through all of the amazing schools and is offering you a full guide to one of the best schools on the island.
If you’re thinking about calling The Bahamas your home, but you’re concerned about your children’s education, we’ve got you covered! Today, we’re doing an in-depth review of The Island School in The Bahamas. From the school’s staff to their application process to their transformative education, this is everything you need to know about The Island School.
Table of Contents
What is The Island School in The Bahamas?
The Island School is one of the top-rated schools in The Bahamas. The Island School’s education spans from Pre-K to PH.D. programs, allowing your child to grow and learn throughout their entire life.
Where is Island School Located in the Bahamas?
Located on Cape Eleuthera, the school is surrounded by glittering blue water, allowing students to explore the Exuma Sound or see where it drops into the Atlantic Ocean. With The Island School’s perfect location, it’s no wonder the school is one of the best for ocean and coastal exploration opportunities.
Review of The Island School in The Bahamas
About Island School in The Bahamas
One of The Island School’s core educational goals is expanding its students’ comfort zones and encouraging them to explore the natural world. Students have access to experiential and educational opportunities, learning from real scientists about their Island’s ecosystems and environmental sustainability through hands-on research. A typical school day is not spent inside a stuffy classroom.
The students explore the stunning surrounding islands and water, visiting labs and creating connections with experts in their proposed fields of study. The staff at The Island School believes in place-based experiences, of which The Bahamas has many.
Island School Academics
The Island School provides a host of academic programs on and off campus. Because the school believes in an immersive education, one of its core values is giving back to the community, individuals, and organizations that allow The Island School in the Bahamas to be what it is.
The Island School is not only limited to helping Eleuthera locals. The school’s academic programs also create opportunities for students to create and foster global connections as well.
Here are a few programs The Island School has instituted.
Visiting Programs
The Island School has several Visiting Programs, allowing people from all over the world to engage in experiential learning through short courses. These Visiting Programs instill a passion in students to give back to their communities. Throughout the program, international students will research and work with sustainable systems, while also learning about The Bahama’s natural habitats in real time.
Local Programs
Building and fostering a community is an essential part of The Island School’s educational program. The Island School seeks to give back to Cape Eleuthera locals, teaching students to create meaningful and lasting relationships while applying their knowledge and skills to better the community. Because the School is focused on education, conservation, and sustainability, students create avenues for these throughout South Eleuthera.
Educators Conference
The Island School will never stop growing, and neither will its staff. Every summer, the Island School hosts a weeklong Educators Conference, allowing the top international administrators and educators to explore the School’s labs, community, and place-based learning.
Virtual Programs
The Island School is available online. While virtual students will not gain the hands-on experience those based in Cape Eleuthera will, elementary through Ph.D. students can gain access to The Island School’s work with sustainability, marine conservation, and community.
Cape Eleuthera Institute
To back and include the South Eleuthera community, The Island School of the Bahamas created a center for research and discovery at The Cape Eleuthera Institute. The goal of this institution is to become a hub of environmental research and sustainable solutions. This is where scientists, researchers, engineers, educators, and students can work together to create a better Eleuthera and world.
Elementary Learning Center
The Island School’s Elementary Learning Center (ELC) allows its youngest students, aged 3 to 10, to test their creativity and curiosity with hands-on experiential opportunities. Research has shown that children learn both inside and outside the classroom, so the ELC provides both options.
Deep Creek Middle School
Deep Creek Middle School creates learning opportunities for students in seventh through ninth grade. The Island School understands that middle school is the perfect time to hone in on your children’s education and interests, so their students are provided with well-rounded educational opportunities, as well as applied scientific research opportunities around Cape Eleuthera.
High School Semester and Summer Term
The Island School is dedicated to educating as many people from all around the world. That’s why they designed a 100-day Semester or a 6-week Summer term for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
During this transformative summer, young adults will be immersed in Bahamian culture through place-based and experiential learning opportunities.
Admission and Registration
The Island School is dedicated to creating a well-rounded classroom, as well as providing as many children as possible with a transformative education. Because of this, The Island School’s application process for the Elementary Learning Center and Deep Creek Middle School begins in February.
Families will be contacted in April with the results. Children of employees are given priority enrollment, but there are still plenty of spots for your children at The Island School.
The application process for the Semester programs at The Island School is open from September to February. Decisions are emailed out in March. You must be a current freshman or sophomore to apply.
Applications for The Island School’s Summer Term are open from September to January, with decisions emailed in February. Here is a link to the application form.
Tuition and Fees for The Island School
The Elementary Learning Center’s 2024-2025 tuition costs are not listed, but in the past years, tuition has been $2,000. This cost includes:
- A Full School Day: 9 am – 3 pm
- Lunch and Snacks
- Before and After Care: 8 -9 am and 3 – 4:30 pm available for $50/month
- Bus Service: From Rock Sound to The Island School for an additional cost.
Deep Creek Middle School’s 2024-2025 tuition is $2,500. Tuition includes:
- All School Materials: Books, art supplies, and online resources
- Access to Field-Based and Lab Learning: with faculty, scientists, and engineers
- After School Tutoring
- Co-Curricular Activities
- Technology: Printers, iPads, and cameras
- Secondary School Advising
The 2024-2025 tuition rates for the High School Semester and Summer term include room and board. Travel and incidentals are not included.
- Summer 2024: $17,500
- Fall 2024 & Spring 2025: $38,000
To provide as many students as possible transformative and educational opportunities, The Island School provides a tuition assistance program. On average, 25% of students receive tuition assistance.
Island School Campus Accommodations
The Island School provides dormitory options for over 1,000 local and international students every year.
The dorms located on The Island School’s campus hold 24 students, 12 on each wing. Both wings have a private bathroom and are separated by common areas. These dorms are only available for part of the year, as they house the Semester and Summer Students.
The two other dorms The Island School offers are located at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. Each dorm accommodates 16 people with two separate rooms and eight beds in each. These dorms are usually used for Visiting Programs.
Hallig House is located at the Cape Eleuthera Institute’s campus. This dorm was designed for hands-on education and sustainability practices. Everything about the building teaches students about renewable energy, waste management, and local resources.
Anderson-Cabot Hall supports The Island School’s local and international students in The Bahamas. This building is equipped with an observation tower, kitchen, faculty proctor apartment, and space for over 40 beds. The ultra-green building was built with local materials and has an advanced wastewater system in its basement.
More Information About The Island School
If you’re still curious if The Island School in The Bahamas is the right choice for your students, MCR Bahamas has you covered. Here are a few frequently asked questions about the school.
Who owns The Island School in the Bahamas?
Chris and Pam Maxey own The Island School in the Bahamas. The Island School began as a summer camp in 1995, but with the community’s help, construction began on Cape Eleuthera in 1998, allowing buildings, programs, and opportunities to grow into what is now the world-renowned Island School.
What is the mission of The Island School?
The Island School’s mission is leadership affecting change. The school’s vision is to create a global transition based on a sense of place, sustainability, and intentional community.
What is schooling like in The Bahamas?
The Bahamas has some of the highest literacy rates in the world, at 96%. The majority (92%) of Bahamian students attend school, which attests to the island’s wonderful education system. The Bahamas has wonderful schools, both private and public.
Similar to The Island School, Bahamian schools seamlessly blend island culture and place-based learning with classroom settings. No matter what your child wants to learn, there is a space for them on the island.
Is education free in The Bahamas?
The Bahamas offers its citizens free education in any of its 210 public schools. If your child would like to go to a private school, such as Windsor or King’s College, they might receive a more specialized education, but The Education Act grants free education to all Bahamian citizens between 5 and 16 years old. School supplies and additional fees are not free.
Access the Best Education in The Bahamas
We understand that investing in a Bahamian home is not just about finding your perfect paradise. You also want to make sure your children have access to the best education possible. Thankfully, when you live in The Bahamas, educational opportunities are quite literally right outside your front door.
While The Island School in the Bahamas provides one of the best educational opportunities on the Islands, there are many communities you can choose to live in that offer great public and private school opportunities, as well as stunning luxury communities.
No matter where you choose to move, the team at MCR Bahamas is here to answer any questions and help you find your forever home on our favorite island. Thankfully, when it comes to your children’s education, there is no wrong answer when you choose to live in The Bahamas.
MCR Bahamas is different from other real estate companies because we know what it’s like to live on the Island. Our team is made up of Bahamian natives, parents, and families. We know what it’s like to search for quality education on the islands and how to find it.
Whether you’re exploring the safest neighborhoods in The Bahamas, or you’re trying to find the best education for your child, MCR Bahamas has countless resources for all your needs.
No matter what you’re looking for, let MCR Bahamas turn your dream into a reality.