If you have a big opportunity waiting for you abroad, you might have several questions regarding whether it's worth it to move. If you have children, one of your biggest worries will likely befriending a way to provide quality education for them. Deciding to send your kids to an American International School can be a tough decision if you don’t have any prior experience. You’ll need to understand the systems behind American International Schools and what you can expect from them.
International schools are becoming more popularity for their ability to prepare the students for higher education opportunities in the English Language across the globe. Here, we will learn about a few important aspects of international schools that every expatriate needs to know:
A decade back, the scope of finding an international school in a foreign country was periodical. This made it complex for an expatriate family to choose between a local school and an international school in the country. However, currently, all big cities have at least one international school if few. Generally, an international school comprises both local students as well as international students.
Chronicle of international schools
- Initially, the international schools were established for the students of missionaries or of business families, who frequently had to move from one country to another with their parents.
- The IB (International Baccalaureate) was first established as a model for all international schools to adopt.
- IB is a standardized program through which the students will learn the same things, irrespective of the country in which they are located.
- Many international schools will provide their students with an IB diploma which will be recognized worldwide.
Here is a list of a few organizations that will provide accreditation to schools:
- Cambridge IGCSE
- Advanced Placement
- International Primary Curriculum
- Council of International Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Here are a few important things you must keep in mind, while you choose an international school for your children:
Size of the school
The number of students in an international school may range from hundred students to many thousand students. Many students prefer to study in a small-scale environment where it is easy to know each other as well as get one-to-one attention from the teachers. However, other students like greater diversity, a huge range of activities as well as a curriculum that can only be provided in large-scale schools.
Size of the class
If a child can fetch a better result, when given extra attention, we suggest you choose a school, where the class size is small. In short, in a small size class, more personalized instructions can be given to the students.
Also, you need to consider the learning environment, motivation as well as the qualification of the teachers, while choosing a good school. Selecting a school with a small class size itself won’t assure you good quality education, you need to consider other factors, which influence the learning and development of the students.
Grades and age group
Some schools start from the kindergarten section and range up to the high school. While there are other schools, that only offer primary education, for children between the five to 12 age group. Every parent will have a specific reason for choosing their preferred option.
For instance, if you have kids of different age groups and you want to put them in the same school, we suggest you go to a school starting from kindergarten and is up to the high school. However, if you have a young kid, you may prefer to put him or her in a school with the only primary section as it would have a more conducive and have a more intimidating environment as compared to that of a high school.
Also, you need to consider the duration of your stay in the new country if you know it already. For example, if you have plans to stay for many years, we suggest you choose an international school where you can study throughout your tenure while staying abroad.
Place
- You need to choose a school based on your priorities which will either be near to your new home or new workplace.
- Alternatively, you can choose your school first and then rent a house near to it.
The school doesn't need to be located near your house; however, you must ensure the distance is reasonable and it shouldn’t happen that the child is spending a major part of the day on the road.
Wide curriculum
International schools offer a wide range of curricula, which can be divided into the following categories:
- State or National curriculum- This curriculum is created by a particular state or a country.
- Non-country-oriented curriculum- This curriculum is recognized across the world, and it’s not meant for any specific state or country.
Regardless of the curriculum type you choose, math, social studies, and science subjects would be offered to you. There will be a considerable difference in terms of their teaching methods, examination techniques as well as the topics covered in the respective curriculum.
We recommend you check what a curriculum confines to the students and how is it suitable for your child. For instance, you will need to check the influence of the curriculum on textbook learning vs. experiential learning. Also, you must check the connection of the curriculum with the syllabus of your native country and if it includes religious elements or not.
Languages available
- Learning a new language is a vital part of education for most students.
- Learning a new language is a beneficial skill that motivates the students to learn the culture of a foreign country. Moreover, it will create big opportunities for the students in the latter part of their life.
- Apart from the key medium of instruction in the school, the students will be offered two other languages to learn. In some cases, learning the other two languages will also be compulsory.
- If you have any specific language in mind that you want your child to learn, we suggest you choose a school offering that language.
If the medium of instruction offered in the school isn’t the child’s vernacular language, they will additional assistance to improve their proficiency and help them attain success. Since an international school supports students from various cultures, most of them will offer language assistance.
Language support services:
- A school will either offer the student's language support classes in the classroom itself or they will offer separate classes catering to the individual requirements of the students.
- Some schools have set a minimum standard of language skills as criteria for enrolling the students.
If your child requires language assistance, you can check the nature of such programs offered by the schools you will shortlist for enrollment.
School facilities
Both the physical environment and the amenities offered in a school create a considerable influence on the education of the children.
- You must choose a school providing a comfortable and conducive environment for the children to learn. Alternatively, if you choose a school with classrooms that are doesn’t have sufficient lighting or have poor ventilation, both the students and teachers would feel annoyed most of the time.
- We suggest you choose a school with proper canteen facilities, sports, arts, and other amenities. This will give them an environment where they can search for different opportunities and grow both emotionally as well as socially.
Check the extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities authorize the students to discover their social, physical, and creative interests with their classmates. This contributes to the overall development of the students
- International schools provide countless extracurricular activities options to the children ranging from sports, arts, and community services.
- While you are evaluating the schools, make sure you find the schools which offer the extracurricular activities you prefer for your child.
Student assistance facilities
- There are many schools where the class teachers offer informal assistance to the students. While others have dedicated staff in a separate department providing career, educational and personal counseling to the students.
- Considering the age of your child and their specific need, we suggest you try finding schools that offer related student assistance. For example, if your child has a learning disability, and he needs extra attention in the classroom, you must choose a school that offers such assistance. Besides, if your child needs career assistance while passing out of high school, you need to find a school that offers career counseling for the students.
International school fees
An international school may sound expensive, especially when you are moving from a country where the schools are free.
- The yearly tuition fees will differ with the city to which you are relocating, the age group of your child, and the school in which you are seeking admission. The school fees will range from a nominal amount to approximately ten thousand dollars.
- Many schools will charge a separate application fee, activity fee as well as enrollment fee. This will increase the overall school fees.
If your company is paying for your child's education, the expensive fee structure shouldn’t be a challenge for you. However, if you need to pay from your pocket, it will be a good idea to calculate the overall cost beforehand.
Academic year schedule
The academic calendar of a school will vary based on the place, national affiliation, and local norms. Don’t forget to check the school calendar if you want to ensure a smooth transition between the schools of different countries. Unfortunately, if there’s a misalignment, your child will either miss half of the academic or will have to wait for a few months to join at the beginning of the new academic year.
Tip: If you have children belonging to different age groups, make sure the school you choose for them follows the same academic calendar. So, if the schools are different, at least their holidays would be on the same days.
Transportation services
The transportation services offered by international schools may vary from place to place. For instance, there may be cities, where families stay close to the school, so they opt for cycling or walking to the school. In the bigger cities, traveling by school bus may be the norm.
Plan ahead
Before you plan your move, it will be good to check the education system of the country where you are thinking of relocating. You must know your budget and how much you can spend on your child’s education. We recommend you read this guide before you choose an international school with a quality education for your child.
After you have planned everything, it’s time to hire an affordable international moving company, that will help you move abroad smoothly. If you hire professional movers, perhaps you can reduce your stress and be able to focus on other important aspects of your move.