Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons - Santo Domingo & Santiago de los Caballeros

History of Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons

Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons (CBNH) was established in 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with a clear founding purpose: to provide a comprehensive bilingual education in both English and Spanish to students in the Caribbean nation. From its earliest days, the school distinguished itself by offering a dual-language curriculum that prepared students not only for local academic success but also for participation in an increasingly globalized world.

Over the following decades, the school steadily expanded its reach and infrastructure. A landmark moment came with the opening of a second campus in Santiago, extending the school's bilingual educational model to the country's second-largest city. This expansion reflected growing demand for high-quality bilingual private education across the Dominican Republic.

In December 2005, the school's English language program received accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), a prestigious U.S.-based accrediting body. This recognition validated the school's academic standards and placed it among a select group of internationally accredited institutions in the Caribbean region.

A further milestone came in 2014, when the school secured financing from the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to fund a significant expansion of its Santo Domingo campus. This investment enabled the construction of new classrooms, state-of-the-art science laboratories, additional sports courts, and an expanded cafeteria — all aimed at enhancing the student experience and keeping pace with modern educational demands.

Today, CBNH operates two campuses (Santo Domingo and Santiago), serves a community of students from over 35 nationalities, and offers a curriculum that spans from nursery through high school, including a robust suite of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The school's philosophy — rooted in excellence, flexibility, perseverance, innovation, and multiculturalism — has remained consistent throughout its more than four decades of operation, guiding its evolution from a single bilingual school into one of the Dominican Republic's leading private educational institutions.

Community Life at Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons

One of the most distinctive features of Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons is the remarkable diversity of its school community. With students and staff representing more than 35 nationalities, CBNH is genuinely multicultural in composition — a characteristic that is not incidental but central to its educational philosophy and identity.

A Global Community in the Caribbean

Located in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, CBNH attracts families from across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and beyond. This diversity reflects both the school's international reputation and the cosmopolitan nature of Santo Domingo as a regional business and diplomatic hub. The school's bilingual (English-Spanish) model makes it accessible and attractive to both local Dominican families and expatriate families seeking a high-quality international education.

Multicultural as a Core Value

Multiculturalism is explicitly listed as one of the school's five core values, alongside excellence, flexibility, perseverance, and innovation. This means that cultural diversity is not merely tolerated but actively celebrated and integrated into the educational experience. Students are encouraged to learn from one another's backgrounds, perspectives, and traditions — developing the intercultural competence that is increasingly essential in a globalized world.

Extracurricular Community

The school's rich extracurricular program — spanning sports, arts, STEM clubs, debate, Model UN, and community service — provides multiple avenues for students from different backgrounds to connect and collaborate. Activities such as the Grupo Estrellas performance group, the Children's Choir, and the Drama Club bring students together in creative and expressive ways, while competitive sports teams and academic clubs foster teamwork and healthy competition.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

CBNH maintains a formal safeguarding (child protection) policy, reflecting its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all students within this diverse community. The school's inclusive ethos ensures that students of all nationalities and backgrounds feel welcomed and supported throughout their educational journey.

Educational Philosophy at Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons

At the heart of Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons lies a clearly articulated educational philosophy that has guided the school since its founding in 1977. The school's mission is to educate students through a comprehensive, bilingual, and multicultural framework within a highly technical teaching environment — producing graduates who are flexible, independent, self-confident, and equipped with solid moral values and a critical conscience capable of facing real-world challenges.

Core Values

The school's philosophy is anchored in five core values:

1. Excellence — A commitment to the highest academic and personal standards in all endeavors.
2. Flexibility — Adaptability in learning approaches and thinking, preparing students for a rapidly changing world.
3. Perseverance — The determination to overcome obstacles and achieve long-term goals.
4. Innovation — Embracing new ideas, technologies, and methods to enhance learning outcomes.
5. Multiculturalism — Celebrating and learning from the diversity of cultures represented within the school community.

Bilingual Identity

The bilingual (English-Spanish) model is not merely a curricular feature but a foundational identity of the school. Students develop full academic literacy in both languages — reading, writing, and critical thinking — from the earliest years of schooling through to graduation. This dual-language approach is designed to open doors to universities and careers across the Americas and beyond.

Vision

The school's vision is to maintain its position as the national leader in private bilingual education within an open and participatory framework that promotes comprehensive education. This vision reflects both ambition and humility — a desire to lead while remaining open to collaboration and continuous improvement.

Holistic Development

Beyond academics, CBNH emphasizes the intellectual, social, and emotional development of its students. A highly qualified teaching staff works to nurture each student's individual potential, supported by a wide range of extracurricular activities spanning sports, arts, STEM clubs, debate, and community service. The school's safeguarding policy further underscores its commitment to student wellbeing and safety.

Academic Culture at Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons

Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons offers a rigorous academic program that combines a comprehensive bilingual (English-Spanish) curriculum with an extensive suite of Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level. This combination positions graduates for competitive university admissions both in the Dominican Republic and internationally.

Bilingual Curriculum

From nursery through to the final year of high school (Bachillerato), all students study core subjects in both English and Spanish. This includes language arts, mathematics, history, geography, science, and the arts — all delivered bilingually. The school's approach ensures that students develop genuine academic fluency in both languages, not merely conversational proficiency.

Advanced Placement Program

At the Bachillerato (high school) level, CBNH offers an impressive range of AP courses, including:

• Languages & Literature: AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP Spanish Literature & Culture, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition
• History & Social Sciences: AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, AP Microeconomics
• Mathematics: AP Calculus AB
• Sciences: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics
• Technology: AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A

This breadth of AP offerings — spanning 13 courses across multiple disciplines — reflects the school's commitment to preparing students for the demands of higher education. Students who excel in AP courses can earn college credit at many universities, giving them a head start on their university careers.

Teaching Approach

The school employs a highly qualified teaching staff and uses a technically advanced pedagogical framework. Learning environments are designed to be adaptive and functional, encouraging students to think critically, work independently, and collaborate effectively. The school's philosophy of flexibility and innovation is reflected in its willingness to continuously update its curriculum and teaching methods.

Accreditation

The academic program is accredited by both the Dominican Ministry of Education and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), providing external validation of the school's academic standards and ensuring that graduates' qualifications are recognized internationally.

Campus Atmosphere at Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons

Colegio Bilingüe New Horizons operates two campuses — one in Santo Domingo (the main campus) and one in Santiago — both designed to provide a stimulating, well-resourced learning environment for students from nursery through high school.

Santo Domingo Campus

The main campus is located at Ave. Sarasota No. 51, Santo Domingo, in a well-connected area of the capital. Following a significant expansion funded by the Inter-American Investment Corporation in 2014, the campus features:

• Modern Science Laboratories: State-of-the-art facilities for biology, chemistry, and physics, supporting the school's strong AP science program.
• Sports Courts and Fields: Multiple courts for basketball, soccer, badminton, and gymnastics — supporting the school's competitive sports program across seven disciplines.
• Cafeteria and Dining Hall: A large on-site cafeteria providing lunch and dining services for the school community.
• Technology Facilities: Computer rooms equipped with networked PCs for ICT and computer science classes.
• Arts and Performance Spaces: Facilities supporting drama, music, and visual arts activities.

Santiago Campus

The Santiago campus, located at C/ Prof. Manuel García No. 3, Los Jardines Metropolitanos, Santiago, mirrors the educational model of the main campus and offers similarly modern facilities. It serves students from nursery through high school and has benefited from the same infrastructure investment philosophy that has driven improvements across both campuses.

Campus Atmosphere

The atmosphere across both campuses is described as academically focused yet holistically nurturing. The school's philosophy of developing students intellectually, socially, and emotionally is reflected in the balance between rigorous classroom learning and a vibrant extracurricular life. Sports competitions, club meetings, choir rehearsals, and drama productions all contribute to a lively, engaged school community. The presence of students from over 35 nationalities adds a cosmopolitan energy that enriches daily campus life.