International Students
Calvin Chrisitian Student Life
Happy Korean exchange student at Calvin Christian School

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Do you live outside of the United States but desire to go to school in the U.S.? Whether your goal is to improve your English skills or to graduate from a U.S. high school and attend a U.S. university, the International Student Exchange Program at Calvin Christian School may be the right U.S. education opportunity for you.

Located just 30 miles north of beautiful San Diego, California, Calvin Christian School of Escondido has offered a high-quality, college-preparatory education for its students for over 50 years. Through our International Student Exchange Program, students from Christian homes located in countries around the globe receive this same excellent education with a Christian worldview, while experiencing family life in a Christian home here in the United States.

With students from a wide variety of nationalities and cultures, all Calvin Christian School students enjoy a better understanding of other cultures, a broader global perspective, and a heightened awareness of our Christian calling to serve others.  Introducing international students into the academic life of Calvin Christian provides excellent opportunities for our international students who want to experience a quality education in the United States and for all students to develop better cross-cultural understanding.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

The expectation is that students will already have acquired adequate English language skills in reading, writing, and speaking. There are many English proficiency tests that help identify a student's English language skills. These tests are not always accurate predictors of future success but we do require a minimum proficiency test score on at least one of these tests in order to attend Calvin Christian.  For a list of the minimum proficiency test scores needed to enroll click here.  There are no specific English Language Development (ELD) classes offered, however, all international students new to Calvin Christian are required to have at least one hour a week of ELD tutoring.

 

COSTS

Calvin Christian is committed to providing an excellent education at an affordable price. However, there are many added costs involved in an international student program and therefore the costs are higher than for local students.  For the tuition, fees, and home-stay costs click here.

Team building at high school retreat

INFORMATION

Most information and admissions documents can be downloaded from the links at the bottom of this page  Or, you may request they be sent to you by contacting us by telephone, email, or mail.  We would love to speak with you and answer any questions you might have. The contact information for the Director of Enrollment is:

by email: admissions@calvinchristianescondido.org 
by phone: 1-760-489-6430
by fax:  1-760-489-7055

by writing to:
Attention: Director of Enrollment
Calvin Christian School
2000 North Broadway
Escondido,  CA     92026     USA

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

The admissions process is the same for both international students and those who reside in the U.S. This includes an interview after the application documents are received. The interview for international families is usually done over the phone and an interpreter will be provided if requested. Since an F-1 visa must be obtained through the U.S. Embassy, families should plan on the process taking 1-2 months to be completed. Therefore, applications for the fall semester will receive priority consideration if received by June 1 but should be received no later than June 30. 

The first step is to click on this document Admissions Process for International Students which outlines the entire admissions process, step-by-step.  Please read through it and email or call if you have any questions. 

Visa information - An interview at the U.S. Embssy is required to apply for an F-1 student visa. Families should check wih the nearest U.S. Embassy for scheduling this interview. The F-1 visa allows a student to attend Calvin Christian School for as many years as necessary to graduate from the high school.   After a student is interviewed by Calvin Christian and accepted, an I-20 document will be sent by regular mail to the international family. This document cannot be sent by email, only by regular mail, and usually takes 3 - 7 days to arrive. Once a family has received the I-20 it must be taken to the U.S. Embassy to apply for an F-1 student visa. The visa will allow a student to enter the U.S. 30 days prior to the start of school.

The following documents will be needed at various steps during the admission process.