British School of Charlotte
Formerly known as the British American School, the British School of Charlotte is a private co-educational college preparatory day school. It offers education for ages 18 months to 18 years old, from PreK to Grade 12. The school was opened in 2004, and it joined Nord Anglia Education, an education provider with 70 top-ranked schools across 30 countries, in 2013. The British School of Charlotte is accredited by the International Primary Curriculum, Council of British International Schools, and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Combining world-leading international curricula and invaluable collaborations with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Juilliard School, and UNICEF, the British School of Charlotte inspires students to achieve more. With an average of 12 students per class, the UK-trained and experienced academic staff deliver the study programs in a caring and supportive environment. That is why the school hosts about 200 students of above 16 nationalities.
Location of the British School of Charlotte
Before discussing the British School of Charlotte, it may be interesting to learn more about its location. It is situated in Charlotte, the state of North Carolina. The state borders South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. North Carolina also has access to the Atlantic Ocean. Its total area is 139,390 km2, and its total population is 10,551,162 residents.
The state’s capital is Raleigh, but the largest city is Charlotte. With a population of 2,595,027 citizens, the Charlotte metropolitan area is the most populous metropolitan area in North Carolina. Charlotte is the second-biggest banking center in the US after New York City. It is also the most-visited city in the state, attracting above 28 million visitors every year. Among the city’s tourist attractions are the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Mint Museum, the Charlotte Ballet, the Billy Graham Library, Carowinds amusement park, and the Charlotte Museum of History.
Near Charlotte, there are two artificial lakes, Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake. The city is also located near the Catawba River and the largest artificial lake in North Carolina, Lake Norman. During their study at the British School of Charlotte, international students can also sightsee the landscapes of the state. From west to east, North Carolina changes from the Appalachian Mountains to the Piedmont and Atlantic Plains. The scenic Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway are the most visited national parks in the US.
Every year, the Appalachian Mountains draw millions of tourists to the western part of the state, namely the historic Biltmore Estate. It is a historic house museum in Asheville. Still owned by Vanderbilt’s descendants, it is the largest privately owned house in the US. Biltmore Estate is also one of the prominent examples of Gilded Age mansions. Hence, international students can visit many attractions of North Carolina during their study at the British School of Charlotte.
School’s Facilities
The British School of Charlotte offers over 60 extracurricular and after-school activities for its students. For instance, students can join chess, culinary, gardening, and debate clubs. Speaking about athletics, international students can join soccer, fencing, flag football, rugby, basketball, cheerleading, and karate teams.
Students who are interested in Fine Arts and Music can try their skills in Scottish country dancing, theater, acting, dance, singing, and learning an instrument. Moreover, the British School of Charlotte collaborates with the Juilliard School, a private performing arts conservatory in New York, to offer a comprehensive Performing Arts Program for its students. Juilliard professors and artists visit the schools to bring excellence into the classroom and inspire international students.
Overview of the Programs
The British School of Charlotte has the thematic International Primary Curriculum for students from Kindergarten to Elementary School. The International Middle-Years Curriculum addresses the needs of Middle School and High School students in Grades 6-10. The curriculum covers courses in history, science, literacy, geography, art, physical education, and information technologies. It is organized into six-week thematic units, which are structured into discrete subjects. High School students in Grades 11 and 12 follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
The curricula of the British School of Charlotte have an interdisciplinary approach to teaching science and technology. Students explore the leading edge of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) subjects using a university-inspired model of learning. The school collaborates with MIT and introduces students to this innovative way of learning STEAM subjects which encourages their creativity and experimentation.
It is worth discussing the High School programs of the British School of Charlotte in more detail since they are the most popular among international students. The study program for Grades 9 and 10 allows students to complete the internationally recognized IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) qualifications. It is recognized by high-ranked colleges, universities, and employers worldwide.
At the British School of Charlotte, students typically study nine subjects of their choice over six terms. At the end of Grade 10, international students take exams by examining boards based in the UK. Then, students are externally awarded an individual subject IGCSE certificate. At least eight IGCSEs at C grade or above is worth the equivalent of a standard US High School Diploma by the end of Grade 10.
This accelerated study program is followed in Grades 11 and 12 by the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students at the British School of Charlotte take six courses, three of higher level and three of standard level. These subjects include social science, a literature-based language course, a math course, a conversational-based second language course, a physical/biological science, and an elective course.
Also, international students need to complete three additional core components, namely an extended essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service) to become intelligent individuals, who will thrive throughout the rest of their lives. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme encourages students to ask challenging questions, develop a strong sense of their own identity, and develop communication skills to understand people from other countries and cultures.
The British School of Charlotte partners with its sister school in Houston to offer college counseling for students in Grades 11 and 12. College counselors have extensive knowledge of the entry requirements and procedures for public and private universities in the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. After graduation, students are accepted to Davidson College, Elon University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, to name a few.
Admission Requirements
International students who want to study at the British School of Charlotte ought to follow several steps.
- Parents who are ready to begin the process of enrollment must submit the online application form and pay the one-time non-refundable fee of $150.
- International students need to submit school transcripts as well as evaluation forms from Math and English teachers.
- Parents and students should schedule a virtual assessment if they do not currently live in the Charlotte area and cannot visit the school campus.
- When international students receive an acceptance letter, their parents must sign and submit the enrollment contract along with a non-refundable tuition deposit of $2,000 per student.
Tuition Fees for International Students
At the British School of Charlotte, tuition fees depend on the year of study. From Kindergarten to Grade 5, parents ought to pay from $12,850 to $25,500 per year. Grades 6 to 8 cost $27,500 per year. Parents need to pay $28,500 per year for Grades 9 to 10. Grades 11 and 12 cost $29,200 per year.
The mentioned tuition fees cover the full cost of providing a world-class education at the British School of Charlotte. Still, the tuition fees do not include lunches, school uniforms, school trips, residential trips, textbooks, and tests. To take the IGCSE exam after Grade 10 and the International Baccalaureate exam after Grade 12, students should pay $1,500 per exam.
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