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Are there any services available for students with special needs?
The school has reading support specialists for elementary and middle school students. In elementary grades JK-5, students with limited English proficiency receive support from an ESL specialist working closely with the traditional classroom teachers. Middle school students grades 6-8 experiencing mild difficulties in reading and writing receive support from an ESL specialist working with classroom teachers .
SIS does not specifically employ teachers certified in special education as required by law for public schools in the USA . As such, we do not offer special assistance for students with learning disabilities who are unable to maintain their curricular grade level standards.If you have a child who has been experiencing difficulties at school, it is best to speak directly with the Director of Admissions to determine if SIS can meet his/her specific needs. -
When does the new school year begin and end? How long is the school day?
The SIS school year begins in early August and ends in early June. The school day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for all students JK~12.
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What is the school’s enrollment? What are the class sizes?
The school’s enrollment is 1,030 students. Junior Kindergarten has one class and Senior Kindergarten has one class. These classes have a maximum capacity of 19 students. There are two classrooms at grade 1, three classrooms for grade 2 and 3, there are four classrooms from grades 4 through 8. The maximum class size in grades 1~8 is 23 students per class. High school classes range from 8 to 25 students, depending on the nature of the course. Core courses in High School tend to be large and some have two or more sections in order to accommodate all students. Elective courses in the later high school years are smaller.
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Where are SIS teachers from?
The majority of SIS teachers come from the United States and Canada, as well as from Australia, England, Pakistan, Philippines, China, Korea, Spain and Serbia. Traditionally, teachers with non-Korean passports are hired at overseas job fairs. Teachers at SIS are certified, experienced professionals, and are the school's greatest resource. Over 67% of our teachers hold advanced degree with an average teaching experience of 8.5 years.
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What kind of extracurricular activities are offered to SIS students?
Students participate in a number of activities at all levels of the school. For Elementary, we offer the Saturday booster program and the After School Enrichment (ASE) program. ASE meets from 3:30 - 4:30, with supervised snack from 3:00-3:25. Examples of ASE offerings include Chinese, Spanish, Chess, Math games and Arts and Crafts. This program requires an additional fee.
Middle school and High school have a range of athletic competitions, Model United Nations conferences and Student Counils to further develop their leadership skills. Other secondary school activities include a writing center, an online literary magazine, a Science Club, a Math Club, Knowledge Master, National Honor Societies, community service projects, and other various educational and social opportunities.
The SIS music department provides a variety of large and small ensembles for every grade level. We offer Suzuki violin starting in Junior Kindergarten, intermediate or advanced bands, orchestras, strings ensembles, jazz groups, as well as a number of choirs.
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Does SIS have a cafeteria and lunch program?
Our cafeteria serves a hot meal to elementary students each day. Our cafeteria also offers western and korean menus to Middle and High school students. Students are also permitted to bring a packed lunch from home if they wish.
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What opportunities are there for parent involvement?
There are a number of ways in which SIS parents can become more involved in the school. First, there are several occasions throughout the school year when parents are invited to visit the school to participate in open house, concerts, drama performances, sports events, or Parent/Teacher Conferences. In addition, many of our parents are experienced educators themselves and offer their services from time to time as substitute teachers or as volunteers in the classrooms.
Parent groups exist at each level of the school. The elementary and middle school meet monthly with their level principals and the high school group meets with their level principal five times a year to discuss extracurricular needs, fundraising events, and field trips. In the elementary school, “room mothers” assist teachers to rally other parents for special class events, costumes and make-up for performances and concerts, as field trip chaperones, and as volunteer coaches on sports days. -
How many applicants do you accept each school year?
For the 2012-2013 school year, SIS was only able to accept 37% of the students applying for admission. Our exceptional curriculum, modern facilities, and abundant extracurricular opportunities make us a very attractive choice for parents who seek a quality education for their children. For this reason, the number of applicants each year far exceeds the number of spaces available.
In order to maintain our reputation of scholarship and character, high standards are required for applicants to be eligible for admission. Parents and students are advised to read the Application Requirements information carefully as they consider enrollment at Seoul International School. -
When will we hear whether or not our child has been accepted to SIS?
Admissions office begins making acceptance decisions after determining the number of spaces available for the new school year and after evaluating and testing new applicants. This process occurs between January and March. Families will be informed individually of Admissions decisions by mid-March.
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Where do SIS students go after graduating from high school?
As a U.S. college preparatory school, the majority of our graduates head to the United States to continue their studies. An impressive list of U.S. four-year colleges and universities accept our graduates each year. SIS boasts a 100% graduation rate and 100% of our graduates going on to higher education. During our college fair or private visits to SIS in the fall, our High School students have the opportunity to meet and interview with college representatives, admission officers, and other qualified U.S. college alumni from eighty or more colleges and universities.
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How is SIS accredited? Why is this important?
Seoul International School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) located in Burlingame, California. WASC accreditation ensures that a school teaches an up-to-date United States college preparatory curriculum, the faculty meets certification requirements for a U.S. school, and all of the school’s personnel, programs, finances, and policies are periodically reviewed by outside educational experts. Finally, accreditation ensures that our students will be able to enter any other United States schools in the U.S. and schools around the world with a valid proof of completion of their studies.
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Is SIS a Christian school?
Seoul International School’s nonsectarian mission acknowledges and welcomes all religious faiths within our community. No Christian or other religious studies are included in our curriculum. A student at SIS has the opportunity to develop an identity that confirms his/her own value and belief as well as recognizing and appreciating the values and beliefs of others in a global community.
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What are the ethnic backgrounds of SIS students?
98% of our student body is ethnic Korean, born and raised mostly in English speaking environments. Students from other countries represent the remaining two percent of our enrollment.
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Are uniforms required?
Uniforms are not required for regular classes, from JK-12. However, Middle School and High School students are required to buy and wear SIS athletic uniforms for P.E. classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
