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International Student & Homestay Program

We Enroll Qualified International Students Interested in Joining Our Community in the Pursuit of Learning and Personal Growth.

International Student Commencement

During any given year, roughly 15% of our Upper School student body hails from many countries. We value a range of viewpoints, experiences, customs and traditions, and find our international students to be an integral part of our school's global perspective.

The school also offers a Homestay Program for international students. Successful international students participate fully in classes and also in extracurricular activities. Our international students fully embrace the complete CSS experience both in and outside of the classroom and, in turn, share their cultures with the school community.

In previous years, CSS has hosted international students from:

  • Brazil
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • China
  • Vietnam
  • Japan
  • Chile
  • Argentina
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Croatia
  • Spain
The Admissions Process
Host Family Option
College Placement
Adapting to the U.S. and Colorado Springs Area
Information for Agents

The Admissions Process

The admission application for international students is composed of the following steps outlined below. International applicants must apply for the appropriate grade level based on their age at the time of enrollment and educational background:

  • Grade 9: 14/15 years old
  • Grade 10: 15/16 years old
  • Grade 11: 16/17 years old

Step 1

Submit your completed online application, including official translated transcripts and recommendations from current teachers, a school principal, or counselor (in English).

Step 2

Submit your TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores prior to the February 1 priority deadline. Be sure to include The Colorado Springs School's TOEFL Institution Code: 8095. The minimum TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores required by CSS are:

  • Grade 9 applicants: 80 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS
  • Grades 10 and 11 applicants: 85 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS

Step 3

After completing and submitting your admission application, along with all supporting documentation and your corresponding TOEFL iBT or IELTS score, the Admission Staff will arrange – via email – a Skype or in-person interview with qualified applicants.

Once a student has been admitted, the enrollment contract has been submitted and tuition and fees have been paid in full to CSS, the Admission Office will issue an I-20.

Host Family Option

The Colorado Springs School places students with a host family connected to the School. Most host families are parents of students or past students, or can be CSS faculty members. Host parents act as surrogate parents for our students, helping them adjust to a new culture and language and to negotiate the challenges and opportunities of beginning at a new school.

Many students and host families create relationships that evolve into long-lasting friendships. The most successful host/student relationships occur when students participate in family activities, show an interest in their host brothers and sisters, keep their rooms neat, and abide by their host family’s rules. The school completes background checks on all host families.

In addition to Upper School students living with host families, CSS enrolls international students in grades 1–8, who stay with relatives living in the Colorado Springs area. Every host family welcomes our international students into their homes as a member of the family. Their commitments include providing transportation and support for the student’s activities outside of school hours, such as sports, art, music and theatre.

In addition to teachers, advisors, and host families, our Director of Student Programs assists international students with their adjustments to The Colorado Springs School and life in the United States.

College Placement

CSS prepares both U.S. and international students for some of the best colleges in the country. Recent CSS graduates have matriculated to fine institutions such as Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Tufts University, The University of Pennsylvania, and Williams College.

The CSS College Counseling Program begins in a student’s freshman year, helping them to identify and investigate colleges. With each passing year, the college search process intensifies, as students visit with college representatives and work through the application process. Finally, the students use assistance from the Office of College Counseling to apply for colleges, selecting the ones that suit their individual goals.

CSS not only provides the opportunity to graduate from an American high school by fulfilling CSS graduation requirements. It also provides a one-year program for students wishing to return to their home countries to complete their education.

Guaranteed College Admission Agreement

In an unprecedented step, CSS and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) have developed a guaranteed admissions agreement. This innovative agreement allows any student who has successfully completed no less than their last three years at CSS, and graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, to be automatically granted admission as a full-time, degree-seeking freshman at UCCS.

Adapting to the U.S. and Colorado Springs Area

Beyond the rigorous academic educational opportunities offered at CSS, students also have the opportunity to explore Colorado Springs and the inspirational environment of our mountain setting. Learn more about the city of Colorado Springs and surrounding areas.

Most international students staying beyond one semester or school year do go home for the two-week winter break and during summer vacations. Arrangements can, however, be made to stay with a host family over the holidays.

CSS can help secure excellent tutors for English language learner needs.

Information for Agents

CSS has a longstanding history of successfully working with agents to place international students. Our primary goal is to ensure that students are well-matched to the school and to their host family. The staff at CSS understand that agents are responsible to parents and other agents, in addition to students. We at CSS value positive working relationships with our agents and communicate proactively with them to ensure that parents are kept well-informed about students’ needs and progress.

Contact us for more information on attending The Colorado Springs School and participating in the Homestay Program.

See What Our International Students are Saying