What are the schools in Puerto Vallarta like?

"We had a very mixed experience. We wanted our daughter to experience another culture and learn Spanish. In this respect, we were very successful. Our daughter speaks Spanish fluently and with a Mexican accent. And, exposure to a new and different culture has left her a more mature person. Further, Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place to live. On the down side, this success did not come without a cost. Mexican children are very class oriented, they are good at treating people (and often teachers) as 2nd class citizens. New students are treated as 2nd class. Our daughter reacted to this with righteous indignation. This brought down a tidal wave of pressure and isolation. Other new students seem to be better at figuring our the power hierarchy and moving with it, instead of against it - and they seem to have a somewhat easier time. But this is not an easy school to be "new" at. Finally, the school is behind the USA academically. The school tests their students against MAP scores. MAP scores seem to use the USA public school students as a base. Our daughter scores in the 90th percentile in MAP. However, when we tested her in ISEE (Independent Schools Entrance Exams) comparing her against U.S.A. private school students, she scored in the 40th percentile. So, the school would count as a very good U.S.A. public school, but significantly below average as a U.S.A. private school. However, in fairness, most of the children in the school are not native English speakers, so you must make some allowances when comparing them against NYC private schools," said one expat in Puerto Vallarta with children at American School of Puerto Vallarta.

"There are several excellent international schools and bilingual schools located in Puerto Vallarta, including: The American School of Puerto Vallarta (ASPV), which offers a bilingual and bicultural educational program for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade; Vista Vallarta, an international school with cutting-edge curriculum and technology; and Lyceum International School Puerto Vallarta, which provides a comprehensive, international and innovative education. Additionally, Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior, a higher education facility with international accreditation, offers its students linguistic, scientific and technological training. All of these institutions are committed to helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in the modern world," remarked one parent with kids at in Puerto Vallarta.