Admissions

International Students

International Student Program

Vistamar School's International Student Program has been running since 2016. Currently, we have 14 International Students enrolled and they make up about 5% of our student population. Our goal is to enroll a diverse group of international students interested in studying in the United States for high school.
True to our mission, we know that having a diverse global perspective will help all of our students prepare for a global society.  We recognize that English is not a first language for all of our International students, therefore we have developed a English Language Learners (ELL) program for 9th and 10th grade students.
Read more about the ELL program here.
 

International Admissions Process

Vistamar School partners with numerous International placement agencies and consultants as well as individual families with students considering applying to Vistamar School. 
International Students are welcome to apply as new 9th graders or transfer students for the 2020 - 2021 school year. Please note, we have limited spaces for transfer students in grade 10 (class of 2022). 
For more information about applying to Vistamar School, please review the Admissions Process below:
 

Step-by-Step Instructions

List of 5 items.

  • STEP ONE: Submit the Inquiry Form

    Please click here to fill out the online inquiry form. By doing this, you and your family will be added to our admissions database. This step lets us know your interests and ensures you receive important communication from the Admissions Office. 

    If you are working with or are an agency, please submit the inquiry form to help us match the application materials.
     

  • STEP TWO: Submit Your Application

    APPLICANTS APPLYING INDEPENDENTLY WITH A CONSULTANT, OR THROUGH AN AGENCY:
    Vistamar School uses the Standard Application Online (SAO)— to begin your application, click here. Make sure to select "Vistamar School" from the school list. We will accept applications from our partnership agencies. However, applicants MUST, fill out the Inquiry Form. Afterwards, agency coordinators will need to email the application as a PDF to admissions@vistamarschool.org


    SAO Issues: apply@ssat.org or by Phone (Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST) : 609.683.4440
     
     
    * There is a one-time application fee of $125. 

    SAO Issues: apply@ssat.org or by Phone (Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST) : 609.683.4440

  • STEP THREE: Supplemental Forms

    In addition to the application, each applicant is required to submit their transcripts and letters of recommendation from an Administrator, English teacher, and Math teacher.  There is a standard form that all members of the LAIS (Los Angeles Independent Schools) Consortium use and they are available below. 

    We will accept an agency's official forms or on the sending school's letterhead.
     

  • STEP FOUR: Schedule Your Interview

    After your online application has been submitted, we will contact you to set up an interview with a member of the Vistamar Admissions Committee. We realize not every family can travel to the U.S., so we offer each applicant the option to Skype or WeChat. In our outreach, we will confirm that method.

  • STEP FIVE: Submit Your Admissions Testing

    International students who apply to Vistamar School are required to take the TOEFL. Vistamar School's TOEFL code is "C219." The TOEFL is one factor we consider in gaining a clear academic picture of each applicant, the minimum score we typically accept is 50.

    In addition to the TOEFL, students are required to take either the ISEE or SSAT. The school codes for those exams are as follows - ISEE: 054327 & SSAT: 7976. In addition, students that have taken any other standardized exams such as the PSAT, ACT, SAT, or APs can submit those official scores for consideration.


    All test results must come to Vistamar School directly from the testing company. We will not accept scores from an applicant’s family nor consultant.

Additional Information

List of 3 items.

  • Housing Information

    In order to provide an I-20 Visa, we must have proof and confirmation of a student’s local living arrangements. Students must have a local guardian even if they have or will turn 18. Vistamar School does not offer on-campus housing, but partners with host family placement organizations to find family hosts in the area. Students MUST confirm housing prior to the start of each year in order to keep their Visa in good standing. 
     
    Should a student live with extended family or parents, please be aware that Vistamar has the obligation to check on the student’s living arrangements throughout their time at Vistamar as part of the Visa requirement. 

    For additional information, please email the Admissions Team, admissions@vistamarschool.org
     

  • Tuition Information

    Tuition for International Students and those enrolled in the ELL program for the 2019/2020 year is $42,100. 
     
    A deposit of 10% of tuition is due with the contract. Tuition must be paid in full in US dollars for the I-20 to be processed. Tuition insurance is available for international students for an additional charge. Please refer to your contract for more information.
     

  • English Language Learning (ELL) Program

    The English Language Learning (ELL) program is designed to integrate concepts from the content area courses (humanities, math, science, etc.) into its units of study. Cultivating critical thinkers who are empathetic and comfortable in culturally diverse settings is at the heart of learning in the ELL program and across the school. Units of study in the ELL program are based on the California Department of Education Standards for English Language Development. At the end of the program, ELL students will be given a comprehensive assessment that measures their language abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Once students have exited the ELL program, they will continue to have dedicated office hours with an ELL specialist for any academic guidance they may need.

    International students who enter Vistamar will spend their freshman and sophomore years integrated into mainstream courses. However, instead of taking a foreign language course, they will take a course that offers them further foundational support with the building of English skills.

    Click here to read more...

International Admissions Team

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Oscar Cancio

    Oscar Cancio 

    Director of Admissions
  • Photo of Jason Gregory

    Jason Gregory 

    Assistant Head of School

TOEFL Requirement

International students who apply to Vistamar School are required to take the TOEFL. Vistamar School's TOEFL code is "C219." The TOEFL is one factor we consider in gaining a clear academic picture of each applicant, the minimum score we typically accept is 50.

If students have also taken the ISEE, SSAT, PSAT, or AP Testing we will accept and review those official scores as well. Here are our school codes: ISEE: 054327 & SSAT: 7976

All test results must come to Vistamar School directly from the testing company. We will not accept scores from an applicant’s family or consultant.

Supplemental Forms

In addition to the application, each applicant is required to submit their transcripts and letters of recommendation. Recommendations can be returned via:

EMAIL (preferred): As a PDF file ONLY to admissions@vistamarschool.org

MAIL: Vistamar School, "Attention Admissions, " 737 Hawaii Street, El Segundo, CA 90245

FAX: 310-643-7371

Forms

International Partner Organizations

Vistamar School is a private independent high school in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

Vistamar School