International Students

International students applying for admission must abide by all national and international rules for VISA requirements, as well as Notre Dame Academy’s admission requirements.

NDA does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) program. All students coming from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a passing language proficiency score in order to be considered for admission.

The proficiency requirement can be satisfied by a TOEFL Jr. score of at least a 745 or an iTEP Slate score of at least 4.0. These exams must be administered by an official US agency or institution in the US or the student’s home country. Exceptions to this proficiency requirement must be approved by the Principal.

All NDA international student applicants must work with an agency in order to apply and be admitted to NDA. NDA is not responsible for locating or monitoring host families for the student. Agencies will assist students in placing and monitoring host families. Students must have a permanent host family confirmed prior to the student’s arrival date in the United States. Prior to admission, the host family must complete the “Host Family Agreement Form” accepting guardianship of the student, and must be willing to communicate with NDA on matters that require parental contact.

Students are accepted for a term no less than one semester and no greater than four years. A certificate of attendance will be given to those who do not qualify for a diploma for their coursework. A certificate of attendance is not a diploma and does not qualify a student for college admission. International students wishing to attend only for their senior year will receive a diploma if their previous coursework qualifies them for admission as a senior and the student has attended a high school in the United States for at least one year.

In order to satisfy the requirements for issuance of the I-20, NDA requires international students to submit the following documentation to the Admissions Office.

1. Notre Dame Academy Application for Admission

2. Copy of the student’s passport.

3. An English-translated copy of the student’s completed transcript beginning with the 8th grade through the most current grading period. (If an international student is applying for admission and does not have the current school year completed, NDA must receive final transcripts at the completion of the current school year in order to register for classes.)

4. The host family must complete the “Host Family Agreement Form” accepting guardianship of the international student. This includes serving as a host home and a contact for all school matters that require parental contact.

5. The proficiency requirement can be satisfied by a TOEFL Jr. score of at least a 745 or an iTEP Slate score of at least 4.0. These exams must be administered by an official US agency or institution in the US or the student’s home country.

6. Statement of financial support (bank statement)

7. Tuition Grants are not available to international students. In order to register as a student and schedule classes for the first semester, NDA must receive (at minimum) payment of half of the total tuition and all fees. The remainder of the tuition must be paid in order to attend second semester classes. Students do have the option of paying the total tuition and fees upfront at the beginning of the school year. The student must provide exact billing and contact information for the person(s) responsible for all financial matters prior to arrival.

The paperwork listed above must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the agency before the review process will begin. Once all registration materials are submitted, reviewed, and acceptance is made, as well as host family confirmed, the I-20 form will be completed and mailed to the student. As with all students, admission is subject to the capacity of the applicant’s intended grade level even when an applicant is otherwise well-qualified.

Those applying for the start of the school year must submit all of the above forms by July 1.

Should an international student withdraw or be dismissed for any reason, the Early Withdrawal Fee will be $1,500. Tuition will be pro-rated for the days the student did attend classes. The remaining balance after the Early Withdrawal Fee and pro-rated days will be refunded to the agency. For more information regarding International Student admission, please contact Mrs. Sarah VanGrunsven at (920) 429-6115 or svan@notredameacademy.com.

If an international student is interested in participating in a fall sport, the student MUST arrive in the United States no later than August 1.

Please note that effective with the 2010-11 school year that the Board of Control has approved the WIAA Medical Advisory Committee recommendation requiring that all foreign students must have a physical conducted in the United States prior to participating in practice or competition at a member school. An updated copy of this Application reflecting this change can be obtained from the WIAA website.