FAQ

Classes begin at 8:00 am and end at 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday, for all students Pre-K~12.

The school’s enrollment is 800 students.

Pre-K to Senior Kindergarten has one class each. These classes have a maximum capacity of 20 students. There are two sections for grade 1, two sections for grade 2, three sections for grade 3, three sections for grade 4, three sections for grade 5, four sections for grade 6, four sections for grade 7 and four sections for grade 8.  

The maximum class size in grades 1~8 is 23 students per class. High school classes range from 8 to 25 students, depending on the nature of the course. Core courses in High School tend to be large and some have two or more sections in order to accommodate all students. Elective courses in the later high school years are smaller.

All of our teachers who hold foreign passports are primarily hired at overseas job fairs. They are certified, experienced professionals who are our greatest resource at S.I.S. Over 67% of our teachers hold advanced degree and their average teaching experience is 8.5 years. The majority of our teachers come from the United States and Canada, but we also have teachers from Australia, England, The Philippines, China, Korea, Spain,  Serbia, New Zealand, Bolivia and Taiwan.

SIS does not employ a teacher certified in special education as public schools in the USA are required to do by law. We cannot offer assistance to students who are unable to handle a grade level curriculum because of specific learning disabilities. We do have Language and Math support specialists for elementary and middle school students experiencing mild difficulties in reading, writing and math.

If you have a child who has been experiencing difficulties at school, it is best to speak directly with the Director of Admissions to determine if we can meet his/her specific needs.

Students participate in a number of sports activities at all levels of the school. For elementary, we offer a Saturday Booster program and an After School Enrichment Program. Middle school and high school are involved in a range of athletic competitions in the Korean American Interscholastic Activities Conference (KAIAC) and Association of International School in Asia (AISA).

Learn more about athletics at SIS
Opportunities also exist in both high school and middle School for students to participate in Model United Nations conferences held within Korea and internationally. This, combined with strong and progressive student councils, helps students to further develop their leadership skills.

Our music department provides a variety of large and small ensembles for every grade level. We offer Suzuki violin starting in Junior Kindergarten, intermediate or advanced bands, orchestras, strings ensembles, jazz groups, as well as a number of choirs.

Learn about performing arts at SIS
Other secondary school activities offered for student involvement include a writing center, an online literary magazine, a Science Club, a Math Club, Coding club, National Honor Societies, Student Council, book clubs, community service projects, and other various educational and social opportunities.

Learn more about the clubs

Students at all levels of English may apply for places in grades Pre-K – 4.

Students applying for places in Grades 5 – 8 must demonstrate ability in English at the intermediate level or above.

Students applying for Grades 9 – 11 must have an advanced or proficient level of English.

Our cafeteria serves a hot meal to elementary students each day. Our cafeteria also offers Western and Korean menus to Middle and High school students. If they wish, students can bring a packed lunch from home.

There are a number of ways in which SIS parents can become more involved in the school. First, there are several occasions throughout the school year when parents are invited to visit the school to participate in open house, concerts, drama performances, sports events, or Parent/Teacher Conferences. In addition, many of our parents are experienced educators themselves and offer their services from time to time as substitute teachers.

Parent groups exist at each level of the school. The elementary and middle school parents meet monthly with their level principals. The “room mothers” assist teachers to rally other parents for special class events, costumes and makeup for performances and concerts, as field trip chaperones, and as volunteer coaches on sports days. PAC (Parent Advisory Council) meets with the Head of School and level Principals five times a year to discuss extracurricular needs, fundraising events, and field trips.

Last year we accepted 80% of the students applying for admission. Our exceptional curriculum, modern facilities, and abundant extracurricular opportunities make us a very attractive choice for parents who seek a quality education for their children. For this reason, the number of applicants each year far exceeds the number of spaces available.
In order to maintain our reputation of scholarship and character, high standards are required for applicants to be eligible for admission. Parents and students are advised to read the Application Requirements information carefully as they consider enrollment at Seoul International School.

Admissions office begins making acceptance decisions after determining the number of spaces available for the new school year and after evaluating and testing new applicants. This process occurs between January to June. Families will be informed individually of Admissions decisions via email.

As a U.S. college preparatory school, the majority of our graduates head to the United States to continue their studies. An impressive list of U.S. four-year colleges and universities accept our graduates each year. The list includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, and Cornell University. SIS boasts a 100% graduation rate and 100% of our graduates going on to higher education. During our college fair or private visits to SIS in the fall, our high school students have the opportunity to meet and interview with college representatives, admission officers, and other qualified U.S. college alumni from eighty or more colleges and universities.

Seoul International School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) located in Burlingame, California. WASC accreditation ensures that a school teaches an up-to-date United States college preparatory curriculum, the faculty meets certification requirements for a U.S. school, and all of the school’s personnel, programs, finances, and policies are periodically reviewed by outside educational experts. Finally, accreditation ensures that our students will be able to enter any other United States schools in the U.S. and schools around the world with a valid proof of completion of their studies.

Accreditation at SIS

Seoul International School’s nonsectarian mission acknowledges and welcomes all religious faiths within our community. No Christian or other religious studies are included in our curriculum. A student at SIS has the opportunity to develop an identity that confirms his/her own value and belief as well as recognizing and appreciating the values and beliefs of others in a global community.

Ninety-eight percent of our student body is ethnic Korean, born and raised mostly in English speaking environments. Students from other countries represent the remaining two percent of our enrollment.

Uniforms are not required for regular classes, from Pre-K-12. However, middle school and high school students are required to buy and wear SIS athletic uniforms for P.E. classes.

Maximizing the potential of our students is what we do best.

Kindergarten students are given School Readiness Assessment. Students applying for grade 1~5 are tested on English and Math, an Essay; and Interview. 

The SIS After School Enrichment or ASE offers students opportunities to learn new skills. The skills students learn can range from art and dance to technology, reading and math. Aside from keeping students engaged, ASE also gives them an opportunity to improve their social skills. When students are surrounded by other students who have the same interests, they more likely to talk and make friends.