Sayre welcomes international students to apply for admission, whether they will be staying for one year through a recognized student exchange program, or living with relatives or a host family and planning to enroll for multiple years. In the last few years, we have had wonderful experiences with international students who have earned Sayre diplomas in the Upper School and now attend excellent American colleges and universities.
Application Process
International students who wish to apply for admission as a part of a recognized student exchange program, or as an independent international student inquiring directly to Sayre, must complete the following steps to begin the process:
- Submit the
Preliminary I-20 Form, the application for admission, and the $125 application fee
- Submit transcripts for all current and previous high school grades, or grades for the last two years if applying for 9th Grade
- Submit a recent Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL or TOEFL Junior) or other commonly accepted test of English proficiency.
- Schedule a Skype interview with the Admission Office
* Families moving together to Lexington from outside the U.S. should contact the Admission Office to discuss the standard admission process.
Once an international student has been accepted for admission:
- Sign and return the enrollment contract along with the non-refundable $1,000 tuition deposit
- Make an appointment for an interview with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to present the SEVIS I-20 form prepared by Sayre School. The visa can only be granted 120 days or less in advance of the beginning date of Sayre School for the upcoming school year.
- Make living arrangements and accommodations for the student’s 10-month course of study. Sayre does not provide accommodations for international students but can assist students in making local connections with possible host families.
- Arrive in Lexington no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of school, and report to the Admission Office prior to the first day of school with your passport and visa
SEVP & SEVIS
Sayre School is granted the authority to admit and host international students through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student Exchange and Visitors Program (SEVP). Once the student arrives and begins school, the Admission Office will monitor the student’s progress and his/her travel to and from the U.S. through the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System (SEVIS).