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International Students in U.S. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Schools: What Parents Should Know

U.S. boarding schools have long attracted families from around the globe. In 2025, international students make up nearly 15% of the boarding school population, reflecting the enduring appeal of American education. Families see these schools as gateways to strong academics, cultural immersion, and pathways to top universities.

But enrolling a child thousands of miles away from home is a major decision. Parents need to understand not just the admissions process, but also the support systems, cultural adjustments, and long-term opportunities that U.S. boarding schools provide.

This guide explores what international families should know in 2025 when considering American boarding schools.

Why Families Choose U.S. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Schools

For many families, boarding schools in the United States represent more than academics—they are an investment in global citizenship.

Key Motivations

• Academic Rigor – Small classes, AP and IB courses, and innovative curricula.

• College Pathways – Strong track records for admission into elite U.S. universities.

• Cultural Immersion – Opportunities to live and study in an English-speaking environment.

• Leadership Development – Extracurriculars ranging from robotics to debate and athletics.

The reports that international students are drawn by both academic reputation and a chance to develop independence earlier than peers.

Admissions Process for International Students

Applying as an international student to a U.S. boarding school involves unique steps.

Typical Requirements

• English Language Proficiency – TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, or school-administered assessments.

• Standardized Testing – SSAT or

International Students: Visas and More

If you live overseas and are not an American citizen, and are considering sending your child to a boarding school in the United States, your child will need a student visa to enter the United States.

• Your child will also need to show fluency in the English language as evidenced by passing the .
• The process of applying for a student visa begins with an American boarding school issuing a Form I-20.

The I-20 Form

Not every boarding school is certified by the United States Immigration Service to accept foreign students. Why is that important?

• Always confirm that the school you are interested in is a certified school.
• If the school is not SEVP-certified to accept international students, it cannot issue the , which is the first step in applying for and obtaining a student visa from the U.S. Immigration Service.
• Once you receive the I-20 from the school you chose to attend, you will pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee. As of May 2025 that fee is $350.
• The Immigration Service will not allow your child to enter the United States as a student without the proper documentation.

Pay Attention to The Deadlines

Applying for admission to an American boarding school requires staying organized and on top of deadlines throughout the admissions process.

• Hire a professional

American boarding schools have been popular with families from countries outside the United States for many years. The International Education Specialists website lays out five reasons why this is so. discusses international students in American universities. But the same reasons apply to residential high schools here in the United States.

Canada, the United Kingdom, and several European countries also have residential high schools. They certainly offer families options. So, why then are American boarding schools so popular?

Learning the English Language

There's nothing like a language immersion program to develop a young person's fluency in English. And that's precisely what boarding schools in the United States offer. All classes except foreign language classes such as Spanish and French are taught in English. In addition, English is the language used in most extracurricular activities and sports programs that schools offer. As a result, students for whom English is their second language must speak, read, and understand English, both oral and written, during classes, on stage, and the playing field.

Being immersed in an American boarding school's academic and community life also means that students quickly learn how to speak and think in conversational English. In their daily routines, they pick up the common, everyday casual expressions that you and I take for granted. However, they also learn to switch to more formal phrases when the occasion warrants it.

With all this in mind,

The boarding school choices available to international students are as immense as they are exciting. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø school fairs, like Linden’s Summer & 51³Ô¹ÏÍø School Expositions, are the most comprehensive way to start you on your path to studying at one of these prestigious institutions. This video illustrates what we can do.

Throughout the year, we host events in all corners of the world to meet families, agents, and consultants and introduce them to our network of Premier 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Schools from the United States, Switzerland, Canada, United Kingdom, and other countries. The fairs are free and organized months in advance to ensure you receive the most complete information.

When you come to an event, a team greets you and your family and guides you through the process of gathering information and meeting school representatives with programs suited to your goals and interests. Whether you're looking for a brief summer program, an intensive two-month summer course, a full academic year, or a Post-Graduate year, you have many options. Most schools have boarding programs for students ages 14-18. Some schools offer boarding for children as young as eight, and others often have Post-Graduate programs for students as old as 20.

The fairs are held in central hotel exhibition halls typically in the afternoon to early evening. Families are welcomed in and asked if they are looking for a particular program, for example, summer programs featuring ESL in the United States. Using our expertise, we direct families to the schools with relevant

Recruitment fairs are events held in locations all over the world that are meant to help boarding schools with their Recruitment of International Students. For example, Linden Educational Services holds Recruitment Fairs in both the Fall and Spring from locations such as East Asia, Latin America, Central Asia, Africa, and Europe. It's been doing this for 9 years. Aimed at parents and students who live in locations all around the world, these recruitment fairs put admissions staff from dozens of boarding schools on location in various International cities. You can meet school representatives and ask all the questions you have about American, Canadian, UK, and Swiss boarding schools.

Why would students from overseas consider attending boarding school in the States?

There are many reasons. As a rule, the main one is that parents want their children to have a world-class education. An International boarding school education will strengthen your child's language skills. Not just English, though it is pretty much the lingua franca in the business and professional world today, your child will also be able to learn a host of other languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese, to name a few. International boarding schools generally offer a rich array of courses in many subjects. As you meet with school representatives, have a list of questions handy so that you will remember to ask about matters pertaining to curriculum.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø schools also offer superb preparation for tertiary or college-level studies. While most boarding schools will follow the American