Enrolling your children in school on Roatán

Types of Schools • Step-by-Step Enrollment • Documents • Printable Checklist

Bay Islands, Honduras | Updated October 2026

Moving with school-age children requires planning. Roatán offers public, private, bilingual, faith-based and alternative programs. Admission standards, costs, languages and calendars vary by school. This guide helps families understand their options and prepare documents before arrival.

1. Choose a school
2. Prepare records
3. Apply & assess
4. Confirm enrollment

STEP 1 — Understand the Types of Schools

STEP 2 — Know the Education Levels

Age and grade equivalencies are approximate. School placement depends on records, assessments and applicable recognition procedures.

STEP 3 — Check the School Calendar

• February–November: generally used by public schools and some private schools.

• August/September–June: used by some bilingual and international-style schools.

Confirm actual opening and closing dates with each school; midyear transfers may be possible but are not guaranteed.

STEP 4 — Research Schools and Your Commute

Check the location, grade range, language of instruction, academic program, transportation and capacity before choosing a neighborhood.

Examples to contact (not endorsements)

Bay Islands International School (Sandy Bay)

PreK–12, English-language academics; publishes enrollment documents, calendars and fees.

Website: https://roatanschools.org/

Escuela Bilingüe Roatán / ESBIR

Private 50/50 Spanish–English school, preschool through secondary; reports September–June academic year.

Website: https://roatanbilingualschool.com/

Kingdom Bilingual Educational Center (French Harbour)

Christian bilingual education; publishes admissions, uniform and calendar information.

Website: https://www.kingdombilingual.com/homeweb.php

Also contact local public schools, additional private schools and smaller programs close to your anticipated home. Not every school has a complete website.

STEP 5 — Prepare Enrollment Documents

• Birth certificate and child passport or official identification

• Parent/guardian identification and applicable custody documents

• Previous school transcripts and report cards

• Transfer or withdrawal letter, if requested

• Vaccination and medical records, if requested

• Photographs, emergency contacts and address details

• Apostilles/authentication, translations or Honduran equivalency records when required

Foreign academic records can require official recognition through the Honduran education authorities. Ask the intended school which documents must be authenticated or translated and whether attendance can begin while recognition is pending.

STEP 6 — Contact the Admissions Office

Provide your child’s age, last completed grade, primary language, learning-support needs, expected arrival date and prior country of schooling. Ask for space availability, documentation requirements, assessment procedures, deadlines and a written fee schedule.

STEP 7 — Confirm Grade Placement

The school may review report cards, assess academic readiness, interview the child and test English or Spanish proficiency. Ask how the grade offered aligns with future transfer or graduation requirements.

STEP 8 — Calculate Total School Costs

Request a full annual estimate covering application and enrollment fees, tuition, books, uniforms, transport, meals, technology and extracurricular activities. Confirm refund policies and payment dates. Public schooling may still involve supply and transportation costs.

STEP 9 — Visit and Evaluate the School

• Confirm formal authorization and which grades it is approved to teach.

• Ask what diplomas/transcripts graduates receive and how they transfer internationally.

• Review child safety, bullying, emergency and communication policies.

• Ask about language support, disability accommodations and class sizes.

• Check sanitation, facilities, campus security and daily travel time.

STEP 10 — Complete Registration

• Submit application, identity documents and academic records.

• Complete admission interviews and any placement assessment.

• Obtain written grade placement and acceptance.

• Review and sign the parent/guardian agreement.

• Pay documented fees and retain receipts.

• Arrange supplies, uniform, transport and first-day instructions.

STEP 11 — If Considering Homeschooling

Honduras has procedures for educación en casa (education at home). Verify registration requirements with the Secretaría de Educación and whether coursework from a foreign online program will be recognized if the child later enters a Honduran school or transfers abroad.

STEP 12 — Support the Transition

Meet teachers, discuss language and social adjustment, monitor homework and academic progress, and confirm the credits necessary for older students’ graduation. Maintain secure digital copies of all school records.

PRINTABLE PARENT ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST

☐ Compare school types and academic programs

☐ Verify authorization and grades offered

☐ Confirm calendar and available places

☐ Collect birth certificates and identification

☐ Request transcripts, report cards and transfer letter

☐ Confirm apostille, translation and equivalency needs

☐ Discuss grade placement and language support

☐ Ask about learning needs and accommodations

☐ Visit or interview school representatives

☐ Get annual costs and payment terms in writing

☐ Submit enrollment documents and obtain acceptance

☐ Arrange uniforms, supplies and transportation

OFFICIAL RESOURCES & SCHOOL CONTACTS

Honduras Secretaría de Educación: https://www.se.gob.hn/

Bay Islands International School: https://roatanschools.org/

Escuela Bilingüe Roatán: https://roatanbilingualschool.com/

Kingdom Bilingual Educational Center: https://www.kingdombilingual.com/homeweb.php

Photo note: Cover illustration and enrollment process image are illustrative images, not photographs of a particular Roatán school. School descriptions are based on publicly available school information.

Disclaimer: This guide is informational. School requirements, recognized credentials, calendars, enrollment availability and fees can change. Verify with the school and Honduras’s education authorities.