GENERAL INFORMATION

Kunming International Academy admits qualified students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin.  It does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and/or other school-administered programs. 

Qualifications:

A. KIA is designed to serve the international community of Kunming.  Therefore, at least one parent must live in Yunnan province for a minimum of 9 months of the year.

B. To be admitted to KIA each student must hold a passport from a country other than the People’s Republic of China and a valid Chinese residence card and a parent must have a valid passport from a country other than the People’s Republic of China. Students who hold an X or Z visa can be accepted.  If both parents hold an L (tourist) visa, the students can not be accepted. KIA does not provide student visas.  Students who come from the areas of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must gain special permission from the Education Department for admission to KIA. Overseas Chinese with a business here who hold a valid residence permit from another country may apply for admission for their children.

C. KIA does not limit enrollment to a particular ability or intelligence level.  However, a student will not be enrolled if resources are not available to meet the individual’s needs. English Language Development (ELD) students are limited to 50% of the number enrolled up to a maximum of 5 per class.

D. 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. 

E. Application eligibility guidelines include English ability, past schooling, current grade opening, age, and grade requested.  Current school records for previous education, officially translated into English, are required for admittance to KIA.

F. Students must turn four years old by 1 September in order to start Junior Kindergarten or five years old by 1 September in order to start Kindergarten. Minimum age placements are to be followed when determining grade placement.

G. Qualified students will be accepted in order of the reception of their complete application.  Returning students are given preferred enrollment prior to 1 May.  When the limit of the class has been reached, qualified students will be placed on a waiting list. Any student who has withdrawn from KIA must complete the application process for consideration of re-enrollment as a new student.

Although we follow an American style curriculum, as an international school we accept students who come to us from many different countries and educational systems. 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 September 1^st of the year the enter KIA. For example, first graders must be six years of age before entering our first grade.

Second, if a student enters during the year, he/she will be considered for the grade level he/she was in that is most equivalent with our grade level. If their 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 a 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 proper grade.

Part-time students

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