Find school in California
The United States is one of the key study destinations, with over 1 million enrolling international students each year. Students tend to choose the US for many reasons, such as the top-ranked universities, an international-friendly environment, and employment opportunities. One of the popular places of study is California, which welcomes about 160,000 international students every year. Many students decide to find school in California due to its warm climate, Hollywood neighborhood, beautiful national parks, and hundreds of beaches. Keep reading to learn more about the state, local schools, and tuition fees for international students.
State Overview
Nicknamed the Golden State, California is situated in the Western United States. It borders Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, and the Mexican state of Baja California. The state has an 840-mile coastline along the Pacific Ocean. California’s geography ranges from the Mojave Desert in the southeast to the Douglas fir forests in the northwest, from the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east to the metropolitan areas in the west.
The total population of the state is nearly 39.2 million residents across a total area of 423,970 km2. It is the most populous and the third-biggest US state. Sacramento is California’s capital, while Los Angeles is the most populated city in the state and the second one in the country. According to the latest census, Californians identify themselves as White, Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Whites, Asian, African American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. Except for English, 16 other languages are spoken as the first languages at home, including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.
With a gross state product of $3.3 trillion as of 2021, the economy of the state ranks among the largest in the world. It mainly focuses on finance, real estate, technology, entertainment, tourism, communication, information, and innovation. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the centers of film industries and global technology, respectively.
K-12 Education System in California
To find school in California, you need to know more about the education system in the country. K-12 means ‘from Kindergarten to 12th grade.’ Usually, children start school at the age of five and complete it at the age of 18. The US educational system is divided into three stages: elementary school from Grades K to 5, middle school from Grades 6 to 8, and high school from Grades 9 to 12.
Students in the US leave school with assessment results that demonstrate their readiness for post-secondary education or work. One of them is a Grade Point Average (GPA). It is an average of their results in all four high school grades, which can help them find school in California or get a job.
Still, US colleges and universities require more information about prospective students than the high-school diploma and GPA. Therefore, many high school students opt to take the SAT or ACT. These nationally recognized tests assess students’ general academic aptitude and their ability to complete post-secondary educational institutions. Tests cover four areas: English, reading, math, science, and have an optional writing test. When you wish to find school in California, you need to know that majority of highly ranked US universities require SAT or ACT scores. International students can find test centers outside the US on the College Board and ACT websites.
To find school in California, students also should learn more about Advanced Placement (AP). It is a more rigorous and in-depth program than the standard high-school courses. While the AP is not necessary for entry into US higher-education institutions, its completion can lead to admission to the most competitive of universities.
Types of Schools in California
Parents who want to find school in California for a minor international student can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, and private schools.
Most children in California attend traditional public schools, which are operated by school districts. Parents can consider the list of top five public schools to find school in California: Downtown Business High School, Del Norte High School, La Canada High School, Carmel Valley Middle School, and West Campus High School.
Public charter schools are like the traditional ones, but they have extra freedom to innovate with learning methods. The state has around 1,000 charter schools that are managed by school districts. Each school has a particular focus, such as an AP program or a rigorous literacy program. Parents of international students who aim to find school in California can use the list of top five charter schools in the state: Stockton Unified Early College Academy, Hawthorne Math and Science Academy, Western Center Academy, Pacific Collegiate Charter School, and California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley.
Magnet schools allow children to focus on specific themes, such as science or math. If you want to find a school in California among 400 magnet schools in the state, you can consider these top five institutions: California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Lowell High School, Eunice Sato Academy of Math and Science, Diamond Bar High School, and Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies.
You can find more information about public schools on the official website of the California Department of Education.
To find a school in California, you can also consider 3,675 private schools with unique learning environments. The top five private schools in the state are the College Preparatory School, the Nueva School, Castilleja School, Flintridge Preparatory School, and Polytechnic School.
Higher Education System in California
International students who want to find school in California and pursue public postsecondary education should learn more about the state’s three separate systems.
- The first public research university system is the University of California (UC). It has ten campuses, nine of which offer both undergraduate and graduate programs that culminate in the award of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates. The tenth campus, UC San Francisco, is entirely dedicated to graduate education in health care and is home to the UCSF Medical Center, the highest-ranked hospital in California.
- The California State University (CSU) is authorized to issue bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and several doctoral degrees in specific academic fields.
- The California Community Colleges system provides study programs that culminate in associate degrees, as well as workforce training culminating in various kinds of certificates. If you aim to find school in California and attend community college, you can choose from 115 colleges. The most popular ones are East Los Angeles College, Santa Monica College, American River College, Santa Ana College, and Mount San Antonio College.
International students can also find school in California among private educational institutions. The high-ranking private universities and colleges include Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, the University of Southern California, Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, Scripps College, Santa Clara University, and Pepperdine University.
California also has other private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. If you want to find a school in California that specializes in art and film, you can apply to the California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, Academy of Art University, Otis College of Art and Design, or the California Institute of the Arts.
Average Tuition Fees for International Students
When you consider studying in the US and aim to find a school in California, you should check the tuition fees. On average, K-12 international students need to pay $14,810 to $21,220 per year. Students who want to find a school in California that charges a reasonable price can choose post-secondary community colleges. They offer tuition fees from $6,000 to $12,000 per year. To study at a public post-secondary university, international students ought to pay from $15,000 to $40,000 per year. Students who want to find school in California and are ready to pay from $25,000 to $60,000 per year can apply to private colleges and universities.
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