International Students

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School (STE) is proud to nurture the minds of students from across the globe. As a college preparatory school, our program is selective, admission standards are high, and only fully qualified students are accepted.

STE defines an international student as someone requiring I-20 paperwork to obtain an F1 visa. If this applies to you or your student, please review the steps below. If an I-20 form is not required for a student's attendance, please follow the steps at https://www.stes.org/admissions/process-application.

Very Important: STE does not provide or facilitate housing/homestays/boarding options, transportation, medical insurance, or English as a second language classes for international students. Proficiency in reading and writing in English is required.

STEP 1: COMPLETION OF THE APPLICATION

A complete application includes the following:

A completed Application for Admission and application fee of $105. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by February 1. Applications received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Teacher Reference Forms — two for students applying to grades 9-11. Visit our Process and Application page to print our downloadable forms.
Complete immunization record. The record must include all vaccinations from the student's birth until the current year. STE requires that students have a complete health examination before coming to the United States, including the results of a TB test or chest x-ray. All vaccinations must be up-to-date, as required by The City of Houston Houston Health and Human Services Department, www.houstontx.gov/health.
Current photo of the student.
A copy of the student’s birth certificate or passport.
Submission of the following records in English. If the student is not attending an American or predominantly English-speaking school, we encourage them to use SpanTran to process and translate their transcript:
- Official transcripts from the last two years, signed and sealed
- First semester grades from the current school year, signed and sealed
- Letter from a reputable bank (signed by a bank officer) stating that parents, guardian, or student has an account of at least $20,000. (Proof of financial support is required on the I-20 form.)

Test Results

International students requiring I-20 paperwork for an F1 visa may take the Duolingo English proficiency testing or the TOEFL to satisfy their admissions testing requirement. Make sure to list Saint Thomas' Episcopal School in Houston, Texas, as a recipient of your test scores.

Duolingo English Test

International applicants may submit the Duolingo English Test, which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place with internet access and a computer's webcam and microphone.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL requires pre-registration for available testing dates.

Please note: An application will only be processed once STE has received all required documents.

STEP 2: FAMILY INTERVIEW

After we have received your child’s completed application form and fee, contact the Admissions Office at 713. 666. 3111 or admissions@stes.org to schedule an interview and specify if you prefer it to be online or in-person. Appointments are made during school hours and must be completed by our Application Materials Deadline for priority admission consideration. The student, and one or both parents, should be present for the interview.

*Decision letters will be sent during the middle of March to each candidate who has a complete file and has met published deadlines. If your file is incomplete, or you apply after the published deadlines, the Admissions Committee will make decisions as it can.

STEP 3: ADMISSION DECISION

Following the decision for admission by the Admissions Committee, the acceptance letter and enrollment information are sent to the student. Annual tuition and student fees must be paid in full, with a cashier’s check or money order, by June 1. Tuition and fees are non-refundable unless the Visa is denied. I-20 students are not eligible to apply for financial assistance.

For the first year of enrollment, $10,000 is assessed in addition to domestic tuition. Each year thereafter, $3,000 is assessed in addition to domestic tuition. Please refer to our tuition and fee schedule for details regarding fees and other payments.

Sometimes, when the student arrives in the United States, additional testing may be required to help with placing in the correct classes or grade level. STE reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from school who is not making satisfactory progress in English and other subjects during the first semester.

Grade Level

International students can only enter STE in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11. Exceptions to admit grade 12 international students may be made if the student has attended multiple years of U.S. schooling.

Issuing the I-20

Upon acceptance to STE and return of the Enrollment Contract, payment of tuition and fees, and completed I-134 Affidavit of Support, the I-20 will be issued to the student. This document is the basis for receiving an F-1 Visa status from the United States Department of Homeland Security. The I-134 Affidavit of Support is required upon arrival at the school. Within two weeks before starting school, the student is required to secure medical insurance in the United States. STE does not provide medical insurance.

Payment of I-901 Fee

All applicants applying for an F-1 Visa must also pay the I-901 Fee. This fee is paid to the U.S. Government. It can be paid online at www.fmjfee.com. The family must have the receipt for payment of the I-901 fee before going to the U.S. Consulate/Embassy for an appointment. The student must also have a SEVIS identification number (found in the upper right area on the I-20) before paying the fee. Go to the SEVIS website for more information.

Athletic Eligibility

There are specific Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) rules that apply to sports participation for international students that STE is required to meet. International student applicants should request an athletic eligibility determination before a final decision to seek admission to STE if school sports team participation is desired.

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