Over the last ten years, educational opportunities for children and the level of education available on Roatan have greatly increased. Every child is different and a visit to each school will help your child find just the right place. You’ll find that most of the schools have a variety of nationalities represented. A recent holiday show included children who had parents from Canada, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, the USA, Austria, England, Scotland and of course Roatan and the Honduran mainland. The level of cultural diversity on Roatan is one of the aspects that attracts those with school age children. Some parents home school their children or do a combination of formal schooling and home schooling.

Roatan’s location and diverse flora, fauna and tropical environment, along with the close-knit community, lends itself well to being an outdoor learning center. Visits to the iguana preserve or one of the butterfly parks among other activities, let kids get up close explore a unique environment. Volunteer activities like marine park cleanup days, a food drive or creating a marked snorkeling trail, make Roatan an easy place for kids to be involved in the community.

Day Care Centers and Services

-Roatan Day Care Center, located in Coxen Hole is a non-profit establishment. Their program combines bilingual early education and nurturing childcare, with play, social skills, and a dedication to community. For more information visit their website at www.roatan-daycare.com

-Little Bugs learning club, located in the Siblings Building, French Harbour on top of the Lafise Bank, is a place that encourages kids to play and learn in a fun and safe environment. The main goals are to prepare your child for the school system in an enjoyable way and for them to be confident in knowing they understand the basic fundamentals of learning. Kids will participate in a variety of activities that aid in the learning of numbers, letters, shapes, colors, positional concepts, fine motor skills and writing their name. Activities consist of different centers in the classroom, group song and dance, arts and crafts, and fun with games and also offers music lessons. For more information please contact Mrs. Sarah at 504-9565-2604, or e-mail littleblc@live.com

Preschools

-Discovery Bay is located just East of Coral Stone Center in Sandy Bay. This small school offers classes for children starting at 18 months up to 1st grade, with expansion to higher grades planned. Starting with the pre-K class, primarily English instruction includes arts and crafts, music, reading, writing, computers and Spanish, along with outdoor play. Classes follow an approximate North American schedule, with optional, month long camp sessions offered in the summers.

-Hilltop Spirit Academy, located at the French Cay entrance is a low cost establishment offering classes from pre-K to 6th grade. They are a Christian based academy teaching community kids how to read, write and speak the English language in a loving Christian atmosphere. Visit their Facebook page “Honduran Donations” or contact them at HilltopCA@gmail.com and Tel: (504) 9838-3258.

K-12 Schools

-The Sandy Bay Alternative School is located in Sandy Bay just East of Anthony’s Key Resort. This small school is dedicated to developing a permanent spirit of inquiry through emphasis on creative thinking and problem-solving skills in children. The school curriculum is closely based on the internationally recognized Calvert system and is enhanced with music, art, science projects, field trips and various interactions with the local marine environment. Classes follow an approximate North American schedule.

-Roatan Bilingual School (or ESBIR), was founded in 1983 and is the oldest bilingual school on Roatan. The school, located across the street from the Mango Tree Center in Coxen Hole, possesses a nice campus and facility. It offers a disciplined, bilingual curriculum. Classes follow an approximate North American schedule.

-Children’s Palace Bilingual School, located in French Harbour West of Pineapple Villas, offers bilingual education and is a closer alternative for those living mid-island. Classes follow an approximate North American schedule.

Universities

-The Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras (UTH) in Coxen Hole is offering Business Administration and Tourism Management courses on the weekend on a trimester schedule, along with other classes. UTH is a satellite of their larger universities on the mainland.