Cheshire Academy
One of the oldest boarding schools in the US, Cheshire Academy, was founded in 1794 and began to accept international students in the 1850s. Today, the school is home to about 350 students from the US and other countries in grades 9 to 12 and a postgraduate year. The school’s mission is to develop citizens of strong character under the eight Pillars of Bowden: citizenship, civility, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, morality, and trustworthiness.
International students choose to study at Cheshire Academy due to its reputation as the high-ranked and internationally-minded co-educational college preparatory school in the US. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive learning environment and support for students that includes the following programs: ESL (English as a Second Language), a private TOEFL testing site, International Student Office, student visa support, a peer counselor program for new students, and monthly orientation meetings for new students.
State Overview
Cheshire Academy is located in Connecticut. Thus, it is worth learning more about the state. It is nicknamed the Constitution State since a popular historian from Connecticut, John Fiske, claimed that the Fundamental Orders of 1638 were the first written constitution in history. The document describes the government’s structure, powers, and limits.
Connecticut is the northeastern state of the US. It borders Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. It is the third smallest state by area. The state spans 14,357 km2, where about 3,605,944 people live. The largest ancestry groups in the state are Italian, Irish, English, German, Polish, and French. The capital of Connecticut is Hartford, but the most populous city is Bridgeport.
The Thames River, Connecticut River, and ports along Long Island Sound have given the state a strong maritime tradition that continues today. Additionally, Connecticut has a long history of hosting the financial services industry, such as insurance companies in Hartford County and hedge funds in Fairfield County.
Location of the School
The 0.42 km2 campus of Cheshire Academy is in the center of quiet and beautiful Cheshire. The town is in New Haven County, which is a two-hour drive from Boston and New York. Its total area is 86.4 km2, and the total population is 28,628 people.
During their study at the Cheshire Academy, international students can visit Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum, The Hitchcock-Phillips House, Roaring Brook Falls, and Farmington Canal. They can also try various activities in Cheshire Park, Bartlem Recreational Area, Mixville Recreation Area, and Cheshire Community Pool.
School’s Facilities
Now, it is time to discover the facilities of the Cheshire Academy. The oldest schoolhouse in continuous use in Connecticut is Bowden Hall, completed in 1796. The school also has five residential dormitories and facilities, including the Humanities Building and the John J. White ‘38 Science and Technology Center.
Cheshire Academy has 18 competitive sports programs, as well as a range of non-competitive recreational sports. International students can choose from cross country, football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, fencing, skiing, swimming, baseball, golf, lacrosse, track and field, softball, and tennis. At the professional level, graduates compete in the NBA, LPGA, NFL, and the Olympics.
International students can also become members of 24 clubs and organizations in the Cheshire Academy. The most popular among them are Art Club, Chess Club, Digital Photography Club, Eco-Leaders, Model UN, National Honor Society, New England Math League, School Newspaper, and Science Olympiad.
Moreover, Cheshire Academy has the International Student Union (ISU), a group of students who organize events and activities, such as International Education Week and International Festival Weekend. International Education Week is an opportunity to learn more about the different cultures represented in the school community. During the International Festival Weekend, students come together to represent their cultures and celebrate their traditions. These events are full of traditional food, music, and performances.
Overview of the Programs
Cheshire Academy offers more than 143 courses and has an average class size of ten students. The curriculum is personalized specifically to each student through individual meetings with the Academic Office advisors and college counselors.
Cheshire Academy is the only independent school in the state to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. All students take at least one IB course during their time at the school, while many take a mix of IB and non-IB courses. International students interested in the more rigorous, high-level curriculum can take the full IB Diploma Program. They must complete six IB courses and a three-part core requirement. Since international students can choose courses, the IB Program serves many areas of interest and expertise.
Cheshire Academy also offers visual and performing arts experiences, such as courses on drawing, painting, photography, theater, music, and other mediums. Students who want to pursue Art and Design at the university level can take advantage of the year-long Art Major Program. Advanced students can take private lessons, audition for all-state festivals, and study IB Music, IB Theater, and IB Visual Arts.
For recent high school graduates, Cheshire Academy offers a comprehensive one-year postgraduate program. This program is an opportunity for students to develop their skills, improve their academic portfolio, and prepare for the next step of attending college. For international students, the postgraduate program is an ideal way to mature in the US and apply to the best universities.
The college counseling staff of Cheshire Academy supports every student throughout each step of the college search and application process. The counselors are committed to finding the best fit for each international student. Every fall, they invite about 125 college representatives to meet with students. About 95% of graduates attend the most competitive universities in the US, such as Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, and Yale University, to name a few.
In addition, Cheshire Academy has a Roxbury Academic Support Program. It is an optional, fee-based program for students who need additional academic assistance. The trained faculty members use a robust theoretical framework and research-based practices tailored to the school’s mission and approach to learning. Additional academic resources for international students are the Math Lab, the Center for Writing, the library, the Advisory program, ESL courses, and SAT/ACT preparation courses.
Admission Requirements
International students who want to apply to Cheshire Academy ought to follow several steps.
- They should submit an inquiry form and learn more about the school.
- International students need to apply to the school. To do this, they must fill out SSAT’s Standard Application Online (SAO). The applicants ought to submit a student profile, transcripts for all years completed at the high school level, three recommendations, a parent statement, and a few short essays.
- Cheshire Academy requires prospective students whose first language is not English to take the TOEFL, the IELTS, or Cambridge English Exam.
- International students ought to contact the Admission Office and schedule an interview. During the interview, the admission officer generally asks questions about the student’s interests, goals, and experiences. Moreover, parents have time for their questions after the interview.
International students can apply to the Cheshire Academy from October 1 to February 1. Prospective students are notified about the admission decision after March 10. Rolling admission begins on April 11 and continues until space remains available.
Tuition Fees for International Students
International students who want to study at Cheshire Academy need to pay $57,250 per 7-day boarding per year. In addition, they ought to pay a general fee of $1,000 and an international fee of $10,000 per year. The general fee covers costs associated with the music and art departments, health center, laboratories, and technology-based services.
The international fee covers the cost of a full-time international student coordinator, an international student orientation program, and activities throughout the year. The fee also includes a supervised room, airport transportation, SAT support services, regular meetings with the Head of School, assistance with visa maintenance, and personalized university counseling for each international student and family.
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