CHOOSING AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD

Have you or your spouse recently accepted a job that requires your family to relocate to a new country? Not sure where to begin with applying to international schools for your child or what factors to consider? Here are a few tips to help you get started!

Budget

Whether a company is paying for your child’s education or not will be a large factor in your school of choice as fees can cost upwards of $20,000 USD per year, and this may not even include lunches, uniforms, after school activities, etc. If you will be covering the costs out of pocket, best to set your budget before beginning your search.

Hidden Fees

When applying for an international school, be mindful that schools typically charge application and enrollment fees on top of their quoted yearly school tuition fees. If you are applying to multiple schools to ensure that your child is accepted into one of them, keep this in mind as these fees could get costly.

Interview and/or Entrance Exam

Just because you’ve paid the application fees doesn’t mean your child has gotten in, be aware that they will most likely still need to go through an interview process and/or take an entrance exam before being accepted.

Apply Early

As soon as you find out you will be moving, start applying. Many of the top schools fill up fast and you may still end up having to pay application/enrollment fees to have your child waitlisted.

Curriculum

When researching schools, keep in mind that curriculums can differ from your home country; therefore, it is best to find an international school whose curriculum closely aligns to the one your child is currently following to make the transition easier.

Electives

Compare electives offered at different schools – from learning foreign languages to exploring the arts, international schools provide students a variety of options outside of the required core classes. Take the time to learn what programs are being offered by each school to see what might be the best fit for your child.

Facility

Check school websites for photos of their facility or book a tour to see what the school offers. Many international schools boast large classrooms, quaint spaces for students to hang out, swimming pools, state-of-the-art auditoriums, etc. When comparing schools, it’s good to know what each one offers and which best suits your child’s learning style and interests.

Bussing

If you are moving to a big city, check into the school’s bussing options, their fees and route timings. When looking on a map, it may seem like the school is close to where you plan on living, but with traffic and all the stops factored in, your child may end up commuting over an hour each way.

Parent Committee

Most international schools will have a parent committee you can get in touch with to ask questions before you apply. They can tell you about the school’s ins and outs and what kind of learning experience you can expect for your child.

After-School Activities

Find out what types of after-school programs are offered. If moving to a big city, it’s always nice if your child can join a swim team or take dance lessons or art classes right on campus to avoid the after-school commute elsewhere to do so.

Medical

Check to see what the school’s requirements are insofar as medical checks before applying as some will require proof of updated immunizations, a health check from a doctor, an up-to- date eye exam, hearing test, etc. Before you start on the paperwork, make sure you are able to meet all of their requirements.

These are a few considerations to think about when applying to international schools. Have you recently gone through the process? Any other advice you’d like to share?

Other Tips for Parents

A Parent's Guide to Lesson Planning
Parents' Guide to Selecting Educational Resources
Helping Your Child Maintain Their Mother Tongue
Helping Your Child Learn a Foreign Language