Since 2005, St. Patrick School of Santo Domingo has been preparing students for life, leadership, and success. Founded by Mr. César Villanueva Melo, the school was established as a private, monolingual institution offering an American-style education with the mission to go beyond academics—fostering entrepreneurial leaders ready to make a difference in a global and ever-evolving world.
Located in La Esperilla, Santo Domingo, our campus first opened its doors on March 17, 2005. That same year, we received official recognition from the Dominican Ministry of Education for the Elementary level, and by 2008, our Middle and High School programs were also accredited nationally.

Building a Culture of Excellence and Values

In 2006, our pursuit of high academic standards earned us accreditation by the Accrediting Commission International (ACI) and membership in the International Schools Association (ISA). A year later, we began adopting a Catholic identity, enriching our curriculum with subjects and activities promoting the highest Christian values.

A Defining Step: Building a Leadership Culture at St. Patrick School

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At St. Patrick School, leadership development is at the heart of our educational philosophy. As a pioneering Leader in Me school in Santo Domingo, we took a transformative step in 2015 by adopting The Leader in Me program from FranklinCovey International, inspired by Stephen R. Covey’s renowned 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This powerful, research-based framework was integrated across all academic levels—from Kindergarten through 12th grade—establishing a strong foundation for our K–12 leadership education. Today, our commitment to nurturing student leadership has earned us the prestigious Lighthouse School certification in 2024, recognizing our dedication to empowering students with the life skills they need to lead with confidence and purpose.

That same year, we launched a new preschool campus and began developing our own personalized K–12 curriculum, incorporating innovative methodologies in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. 

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Innovation and Resilience in a Changing World

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Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we remained committed to continuous improvement. In February 2021, we partnered with Spain’s Fundación Maecenas to strengthen our Pedagogical-Technological Strategic Plan (2021–2024). This alliance has equipped our faculty with the tools to lead in a world transformed by technology, hybrid learning, and digital education.

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In June 2021, St. Patrick School proudly earned international accreditation from Cognia, a prestigious recognition of our quality, innovation, and commitment to continuous growth. And in 2024, we became official members of the International Artificial Intelligence Observatory, reaffirming our place at the forefront of educational innovation.