Find school in Pennsylvania
Today, about 60,000 international students are studying in Pennsylvania. Indeed, it is one of the most popular study destinations in the US due to its rich history and high-ranked educational institutions. Often, international students are overwhelmed by the study opportunities in the state. Hence, they should know how to find school in Pennsylvania. But before discussing this topic, it is worth discovering the state itself.
State Overview
Pennsylvania is situated in the northeastern region of the US. Due to its location, international students can enjoy all four seasons and experience a humid continental climate. The total area of the state is 119,283 km2, and the total population is 13 million people. Pennsylvania’s most populated cities are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Eerie, Allentown, and its capital, Harrisburg. The biggest ancestry groups living in the state are German, Irish, Italian, African Americans, English, Polish, and French. Except for English, the most common languages are Spanish, German, Chinese, and Italian.
Much of Pennsylvania is rural, which affects its economy. Now, the main industries are banking, agriculture, gambling, and film production. Moreover, the state is home to fifty Fortune 500 companies, such as US Steel, PPG Industries, the Hershey Company, and GE Transportation, to name a few.
International students who decide to find school in Pennsylvania have a chance to explore the state’s rich historical significance by visiting over 150 historic landmarks. One of the main tourist destinations is Philadelphia, where American political leaders created the Declaration of Independence. Students who want to discover more quiet and peaceful regions within the state can travel to the 48-acres Cherry Springs State Park. By the way, it is one of the best places in the world to view the stars and galaxies in the night sky.
K-12 Education System in Pennsylvania
Now it is time to discuss the US education system, known as K-12. It consists of 12 years of elementary and secondary education. School attendance in Pennsylvania is mandatory for students from 8 years old until the age of 17. To find school in Pennsylvania for minor international students, parents need to know about the three levels of the K-12 system.
The first level is elementary school. It starts in kindergarten and ends in Grade 5. The second level is middle school. It starts in Grade 6 and ends in Grade 8. The last level is high school, which begins in Grade 9 and ends in Grade 12. Once students graduate from secondary school, they get a high school diploma and can find school in Pennsylvania at the post-secondary level.
Types of K-12 Schools in Pennsylvania
Parents who want to find school in Pennsylvania for minor international students ought to know they have four options: traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, and private schools.
Traditional public schools are the most popular among Pennsylvania families. There are above 500 school districts administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Parents of minor international students who want to find school in Pennsylvania can consider the best public schools, such as Conestoga Senior High School, Radnor High School, Ithan Elementary School, Lower Merion High School, and Radnor Middle School.
Pennsylvania has more than 180 public charter schools, which have innovative learning methods and curricula. To find a school in Pennsylvania that meets the needs of the students, parents should read the schools’ charters which explain their missions. The high-quality charter schools in Pennsylvania are Souderton Charter School Collaborative, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for Arts, Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School, Franklin Towne Charter School, and Renaissance Academy Charter School.
Parents can also consider magnet schools, which allow international students to study subjects through a specific learning track. Pennsylvania’s magnet choices range from pre-engineering to performing arts programs. International students can find school in Pennsylvania among the top magnet schools, such as Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, Downtown STEM Academy, Central High School, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, and Science Leadership Academy.
Across Pennsylvania, there are above 1,800 private schools. They offer a unique learning environment, smaller class sizes, or focus on religious tradition. Parents can find schools in Pennsylvania among the high-quality private schools, including Germantown Friends School, Mercersburg Academy, Episcopal Academy, Baldwin School, and Hill School.
Higher Education System in Pennsylvania
Now, it is time to discover the peculiarities of higher education in the state. International students have a chance to find school in Pennsylvania and study at some of the country’s oldest and most prestigious colleges and universities. For instance, students interested in medical education studies often choose the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, home to the best academic programs in this field. Additionally, Pittsburgh is home to the high-ranked Carnegie Mellon University, a central hub for students interested in engineering and science-related studies. All in all, Pennsylvania is a state with programs designed to tailor just about every academic interest of international students.
Speaking about public post-secondary schools, the state of Pennsylvania provides funding to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, and 15 community colleges. With support from the government, students are provided with an affordable post-secondary education. Also, they have a wide range of degree programs available.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education manages ten state-owned schools. To find school in Pennsylvania, international students can choose from the top-ranking PASSHE schools, such as West Chester University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and the Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
The Commonwealth System of Higher Education includes four independent research universities that receive some state funding. International students can find school in Pennsylvania among these institutions: Pennsylvania State University, Lincoln University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University.
Students who want to earn two-year associate degrees can find school in Pennsylvania among 15 publicly funded community colleges and technical schools. The best colleges in the state are Butler County Community College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Bucks County Community College, Montgomery County Community College, Northampton Community College, Community College of Beaver County, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Delaware County Community College.
International students can also find school in Pennsylvania in the list of prestigious private colleges and universities. They have higher tuition rates but offer smaller class sizes and the option to customize their degrees. For instance, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the oldest art school in the US. The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is a private graduate school of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy and the largest medical school in the US. International students who want to find school in Pennsylvania can consider top-ranking private schools, such as the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, Carnegie Mellon University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and Bucknell University.
By the way, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon University are members of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only organization of leading research universities. At the same time, the University of Pennsylvania is the state’s only Ivy League school. The Ivy League is one of the most well-known groups of universities in the world and consists of eight historic universities.
Average Tuition Fees for International Students
When parents and international students want to find school in Pennsylvania, they usually check the tuition fees across the state. The average tuition fee in elementary schools is $10,459, and $16,343 in secondary schools per year. Public community colleges charge about $14,000 per year. International students who want to find school in Pennsylvania and enroll in a public post-secondary university ought to pay, on average, $37,000 per year. Students who want to apply to private colleges and universities in the state must be ready to pay about $62,000 per year.
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