Kunming International Academy welcomes all expatriate (foreign passport holders) children from age 4 through grade 12 for admission. The school does not discriminate in its admissions policy on the basis of national, ethnic or racial origin, or language. The school also respects the religious preferences of parents and students.
Please remember KIA follows the American style school calendar. Therefore, new students who are coming from schools following a calendar-based school year will of necessity either repeat a half-year or skip a half-year. Since the stresses associated with moving to a new school (and many times a new country) are already quite challenging, we strongly recommend that students repeat a half-year, rather than skip a half-year and compound their stress by being in a class where they are “lost” academically and trailing behind their peers. Below is a link that shows the comparison between a student’s age in the American and British Academic systems.
Kunming International Academy also provides an English Language Learner (ELL) program for students in grades 1 – 10 whose mother tongue is not English. Feel free to contact us for more information regarding admission to the school.
To apply for enrollment the following must be submitted to the admissions office:
New students will be placed on a waiting list in order of the reception of their completed application packet. If space is available*, then new students will be given admission testing to determine eligibility and placement.
If space is available, the school will hold the space for 10 school days from the time the space becomes available before offering it to the next person on the waiting list. The student needs to complete the admission process and be ready to start class on the 11th day from the time the seat became available. If the school is unable to contact the family or does not receive a response with the 10 days, the seat will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.
Any student who has withdrawn must complete the application process as a new student.
Based on the student’s application and records, students must pass an entrance screening test, which may include English language proficiency testing and/or a general knowledge or developmental readiness screening test(s).
Admission Criteria – The principal and/or appropriate administrative staff will determine the admission of a student. The decision is based on the following criteria:
Although an American style curriculum is followed, students from many different countries and educational systems are accepted. Before placing a student we consider the factors mentioned above as follows:
First, each grade at the school serves a different age group. For the most part, students are more comfortable if they are with students of their same age. Students must have reached the proper age for a particular grade prior to 1 September of the year they enter KIA. For example, grade one students must be six years of age by 1 September before being enrolled in grade one.
Second, if a student enters during the year, he/she will be placed in the grade he/she was in at the time he/she withdrew from the previous school. If the former school’s system finished the grade halfway through our school year, most students will be placed in the same level they just completed. Experience has shown that most students are not prepared to skip one-half year of school.
Third, placement within a grade depends upon the student’s prior academic record and the results of the placement tests which are given at KIA. Once evaluated, the student will be enrolled in the most suitable grade. The school administration has the authority to make the final decision concerning grade level and the English Speakers of Other Languages program placemen
Special Circumstances