Private school comparison · 2026–2027 cycle

Saint Francis vs Palermo

A side-by-side look at two private K–12 schools serving the eastern San Juan metro area — built specifically around a 9-year-old entering 4th grade, with cost data drawn from each school's official 2026–2027 enrollment documents.

Student 9 years old · 4th grade

Schools compared 2 private · PK–12

Data vintage Official 2026–27 fee sheets

Last updated May 2026

The verdict

An honest recommendation, given the developmental research on 4th grade.

Best fit for a 9-year-old entering 4th grade

For most 4th graders, Palermo Private School is the stronger educational fit — with a meaningful caveat.

Fourth grade is the year students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Math gets abstract (fractions, multi-step problems), social comparison intensifies, and the kids who quietly fall behind here often stay behind for years. The single biggest educational variable at this age is how much individual attention a teacher can give each child.

Palermo's published 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio, small-group classrooms, and inquiry-based, hands-on pedagogy are well-matched to this developmental window. Saint Francis is a much larger school (~1,650 students) with more programs, more sports, and more accreditation muscle — advantages that become more decisive in middle and high school.

The caveat: if your son is highly social, thrives in big peer groups, needs on-site occupational or speech therapy, would benefit from continued bilingual (Spanish–English) instruction rather than English-immersion, or if free meals materially affect your budget — Saint Francis becomes the better answer. Read the rest of this dashboard before deciding.

At a glance

The two schools in one screen.

Saint Francis School

400 Ave. Roberto Clemente · Carolina

Est. 1973

Enrollment

~1,650

Grades

PK–12

Language

Bilingual

Accreditation

Middle States

Non-sectarian; college-preparatory; "Blended Learning" curriculum
Middle States Association & CADIE accredited; PR Dept. of State licensed
AP, Pre-AP and Honors tracks in Math, Science, English, Spanish, History
Free breakfast & lunch daily via federal NSLP program
French, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese and Sign Language electives
Robotics, forensics, theater, band, choir, scouts, large athletic dept. ("Pumas")

Palermo Private School

Calle Laurel 2310 · Punta Las Marías, San Juan

Independent

Enrollment

Small groups

Grades

PK–12

Student-teacher

12 : 1

Curriculum

Common Core

Independent English-language school; non-traditional teaching approach
Curriculum aligned with U.S. Common Core State Standards
Inquiry-based, hands-on projects, dynamic digital techniques
AP (PNA): Spanish, English, Math, Pre-Calculus at $60/exam
Standardized testing built in: SEPA, PIENSE I & II, CEPA, College Board
Basketball (Blue Dolphins & Pink Dolphins); summer camp; after-school

Cost — deep dive

Figures from each school's published 2026–2027 fee sheets.

Annual tuition · 4th grade

$3,900SF

Saint Francis · flat across all grades (10 monthly payments of $390)

Annual tuition · 4th grade

$3,750PL

Palermo · K–8 tier (10 monthly payments of $375)

Year 1 all-in (1 student)

$5,062

Saint Francis 4th grade: registration + tuition + mandatory fees

Year 1 all-in (1 student)

$4,685

Palermo 4th grade: registration + tuition + mandatory fees — $377 less

Annual base tuition by grade tier

10-payment monthly plan, before discounts. Saint Francis charges a flat rate; Palermo scales by grade.

Saint Francis Palermo

A 4th grader pays $3,900 at Saint Francis and $3,750 at Palermo — a $150 tuition difference per year.

Year 1 total cost · one 4th grader

Early registration, monthly tuition plan, mandatory fees only (no books, uniforms, lunch, sports, or extended hours).

Tuition Registration Mandatory fees

Palermo runs $377 cheaper than Saint Francis in Year 1 for a 4th grader, driven entirely by Saint Francis's longer list of itemized mandatory fees — tuition itself is nearly tied.

Fee-by-fee breakdown · 4th grader, Year 1

Mandatory items only. Excludes optional books, uniforms, lunch, sports, extended hours, and graduation fees.

Line item	Saint Francis	Palermo	Notes
Registration (matrícula)	$550	$595	Both reflect early-registration rate; jumps to $580 / $895 if late
Annual tuition (10 monthly)	$3,900	$3,750	Single upfront payment: SF $3,550 / Palermo $3,375 (10% off)
Building / construction fund	$200	$250	Per family at SF; per student at Palermo
Activities fee	$90	—	SF: per family; bundled into "casuals" at Palermo
Electives	$70	—	SF only
Supplementary materials	$70	—	SF only
Achievement testing	$50	$35	SEPA (3rd–5th) at Palermo; SF uses outside vendor
Technology fee (elem)	$75	—	SF only ($90 in grades 7–12)
Agenda / planner	$15	—	SF required for grades 1–12
Student ID	$12	—	SF required annually
School accident insurance	$30	$20	Both schools require it
"Casuals" (Palermo bundle)	—	$35	Palermo's catch-all activity charge
Year 1 total (one 4th grader)	$5,062	$4,685	Palermo runs $377 cheaper at 4th grade

What the headline number doesn't capture

Optional and situational costs that can meaningfully shift the comparison.

Hidden cost	Saint Francis	Palermo	Net difference
Daily lunch (180 school days)	Free · NSLP	~$990/yr ($5.50/day, 4th)	SF saves ~$990/yr — reverses the tuition gap
Daily breakfast	Free · NSLP	Not offered	SF advantage
Extended hours until 5:00 PM	$100/mo	$150/mo	SF $500/yr cheaper
Extended hours until 6:00 PM	$115/mo	$200/mo	SF $850/yr cheaper
Athletics / sports program	Included	$350/yr (Dolphins)	SF advantage if child plays sports
Sibling discount (2 kids)	$25 off registration + $25/mo off tuition	10% off matrícula + tuition	Palermo more generous for 2+ kids

Education — deep dive

Pedagogy, language, and academic structure compared.

Dimension	Saint Francis School	Palermo Private School
Founded	1973 · 52 years operating	Independent · no public founding date
Total enrollment	~1,650 students PK–12	Small · "small groups" philosophy
Student-teacher ratio	Not publicly disclosed	12 : 1 stated
Pedagogical model	Blended Learning — integrates technology, research, project-based learning; emphasizes "idealist" democratic formative experience	Inquiry-based, hands-on — dynamic techniques, digital resources, project-driven; non-traditional approach
Language of instruction	Bilingual Spanish–English throughout	English-immersion (English-language school)
Curriculum standards	Middle States Association & CADIE accredited; meets PR Dept. of Education standards	Aligned with U.S. Common Core State Standards; meets PR Dept. of Education standards
4th-grade grouping	Grouped with 4th–8th grade (school day until 2:55 PM)	Grouped with 4th–8th grade (upper elementary)
Languages offered	French, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Sign Language	English-focused; Spanish per PR curriculum
Advanced coursework	AP, Pre-AP, and Honors in Math, Science, English, Spanish, History (HS)	AP via PNA: Spanish, English, Math, Pre-Calculus (HS, $60/exam)
Standardized testing	Outside agency; College Board prep; National Hispanic Recognition Program participants	SEPA (3rd–5th), PIENSE I (6–8), PIENSE II (9–10), CEPA (9–12), College Board
Support services on-site	Counseling Nursing Speech therapy OT Title I	Not publicly listed
Extracurriculars	Robotics, theater, forensics, band, choir, National Honor Societies (Elem/Jr/Sr), Student Council, Scouts, 4H, large athletic dept.	Basketball (Blue & Pink Dolphins), summer camp, after-school enrichment
Athletics	Comprehensive program; member PR High School Athletic Alliance & LAMEPI	Basketball-focused (boys' & girls' programs)
Technology integration	"Blended Learning" — tech-rich; ISTE & iNACOL member	Digital resources; dedicated learning portal (Grades Garden)
School hours (4th grade)	7:55 AM–2:55 PM	Standard school day; after-school 2:00–6:00 PM

What 4th grade looks like

Specifics for a 9-year-old, side by side.

Saint Francis · 4th grade

Part of the 4th–8th grade cohort, in a large bilingual program

Class size Not publicly disclosed; with ~1,650 students PK–12, expect larger sections than a small school
School day 7:55 AM — 2:55 PM
Language Bilingual Spanish–English — core subjects in both
Tech Blended Learning — classroom tech integrated; $75/yr elementary tech fee
Support Educational counseling, nursing, speech & language therapy, OT, Title I services on-site
Enrichment National Elementary Honor Society, Student Council, robotics, theater, band, art, ballet, scouts, 4H
Meals Free breakfast & lunch every day via NSLP
Peer pool Wide — ~125 students per grade level, multiple sections

What this means for your son: More activities to try, more friends to find, more institutional infrastructure if he needs therapy support or special help. The trade-off is less individual teacher attention — a bigger pond.

Palermo · 4th grade

Small-group English-immersion with inquiry-based learning

Class size 12:1 student-teacher ratio stated; "small groups" is the structural commitment
School day Standard day + 2:00–6:00 PM after-school program
Language English-immersion — primary instruction in English
Tech Digital resources, hands-on projects; Grades Garden portal for homework & grades
Curriculum U.S. Common Core State Standards aligned; inquiry-based, "non-traditional" approach
Testing SEPA achievement testing in 3rd–5th grade ($35, $75 with reader)
Enrichment Blue & Pink Dolphins basketball ($350/yr); after-school program; summer camp
Admissions Oral certification required for 4th grade entry; teacher recommendation; 70%+ avg required

What this means for your son: A teacher who knows him by the second week. Direct, individualized feedback. English fluency on a fast track. The trade-off is a narrower peer group, fewer activity options, and weaker on-site therapy infrastructure.

Decision framework

Pick the school that matches your son and your family.

Choose Saint Francis if…

You want the bigger institution, with more programs and broader reach.

Your son is social and extroverted — thrives with a wide peer group.
You want bilingual (Spanish–English) instruction to preserve Spanish fluency.
He has any need for on-site OT, speech therapy, counseling, or Title I services.
You value free breakfast & lunch daily (NSLP) — worth ~$990/yr.
You want maximum extracurricular variety: robotics, theater, multiple languages, scouts.
You're thinking long-term: a clear path to AP, Pre-AP, Honors tracks through high school.
You want a Middle States-accredited diploma when he graduates.
You want competitive athletics — "Puma" school spirit in the PRHSAA & LAMEPI leagues.

Choose Palermo if…

You want maximum individual attention and English fluency — right now.

You want the smallest possible classroom (12:1) for the 4th-grade transition.
You prioritize English fluency and are comfortable with an English-immersion model.
Your son is sensitive, introverted, or thrives with close teacher relationships.
You want an inquiry-based, hands-on approach over a more traditional one.
You have multiple children enrolling — 10% sibling discount stacks up.
You want a school where the director knows every parent's name.
You'd rather skip the larger-school logistics — pickup, traffic, scale.
Your son is academically on track and doesn't need on-site therapy services.

If forced to pick one

For a typical 9-year-old entering 4th grade with no special service needs, Palermo is my recommendation.

The 12:1 ratio is the single most important variable at this age. Research on elementary outcomes is consistent: class size matters more in grades 3–5 than at any other point, because this is when foundational skills harden and gaps either close or widen permanently.

That said — Saint Francis is genuinely the stronger choice for families needing bilingual reinforcement, on-site therapy, free meals, or maximum activity breadth. Free NSLP breakfast & lunch alone is worth about $990/yr, which more than reverses Palermo's $377 sticker-price advantage if your family relies on school meals. Both are credible private options. Visit both before deciding.