Welcome Prospective International Students!
Rockford Lutheran School has been working with international students seeking a Christian education in the United States for over 10 years. We are open to enrolling students for limited exchange studies for a semester or a year, or for students seeking a High School Diploma through our school.
We will work directly with a family or through an intermediary recruiter or foreign exchange placement company.
The following companies currently work in tandem with Rockford Lutheran School to secure international students, host families and the success of the overall program. We are open to partnerships with other agencies and gladly partner with independent recruiters.
- DMD/PHP
- ASSE
- PSE – Private School Exchange
- IE – International Experience
- USA Program
This school is authorized under Federal law through the SEVIS system to issue F1 visas to the US and to enroll non-immigrant students.
Program Highlights
Prepared for success in American Universities
• Holistic college counseling through dedicated Guidance Office staff, understanding and addressing the specific needs of the international student
• Wide range of opportunities to engage in activities of interest and to develop leadership skills, sought after in the college admissions process
• Students participate in service opportunities that many top colleges look for in college admissions process
• College essay review and guidance processes
• Access to SAT/ACT preparation and on-site testing options
• Access to college admissions experts and direct school connections to leading US colleges and universities
• Top school profile with over 98% college enrollment for each graduating class
• College visit tours offered throughout the school year by the Guidance Office
• Diverse student body reflects the student community found at most top American universities
• Adjustment to American life through safe cosmopolitan city of Rockford with access to museums, restaurants, parks, shopping and theaters and easy access to Chicago metro region and O’Hare International Airport
Challenged with College-Preparatory Academics
• All coursework is geared toward a college preparatory track
• Courses designed to prepare students for college level research papers
• Honors classes available in all subjects offering advanced college-prep rigor and workload
• Advanced mathematics courses selected to meet each student's needs, goals and abilities
• Comprehensive English language program including:
o English composition
o Rigorous literature curriculum including many American literary works referenced in college level classes
o Instruction in speech and presentations
• Experienced teaching faculty with over 60% holding a master's degree
• Opportunities to earn college credit through Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with credit accepted based on test score at most universities
• Opportunities to earn direct college credit through select dual-credit courses offered on-campus by Concordia University Nebraska; transferrable to many top universities
Supported by caring school service
• Library, media center, school nurse, fitness center, athletic facilities and more
• Over 16 different sports offered to boys and girls with multiple teams competing at different levels in each sport
• Premium lab-based science programs in biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, engineering/robotics
• Opportunities for additional enrichment experiences through wide range of clubs and activities
• Family access to the FACTS system to provide real time updates on academic progress and news
• Tutoring assistance
• School Resource Room for students with additional academic needs
• General mental health counseling services to assist students
• Caring teachers who are available to regularly meet with individual students outside class
• All classes use associated CANVAS on-line learning support platform for course downloads, instructions, additional resources and on-line gradebook
• Access to on-line real time gradebooks and grade progress reports through FACTS system
Application for Admission Requirements
Thank you for your interest in the International Student program offered at Rockford Lutheran School. The following will be required* for consideration:
- School Transcripts (translated into English and evaluated for US equivalency)
- Read and write English at least at a US grade 8 level
- Communicate verbally in English at a conversational level
- Submit a personally written essay entitled, “My Favorite School Subject”
- Standardized test results from TOFEL or SLEP
- Immunization History
- Birth Certificate, translated in English
- Health physical within one year of entry
- Foreign exchange health insurance
- Video Interview via the internet prior to acceptance.
* Requirements may change.
Please submit our Inquiry Form to begin your process. We look forward to hearing from you!
International Tuition & Fees
2024-2025 Full International Student Tuition is $17,500 USD (annual)
(This rate includes all general enrollment and registration fees. It also includes the International Student Program fee and covers the commission fees for recruiters and SEVIS fees. Other course, sports and activity fees may apply depending upon registration/participation.)
Homestay placements coordinated through a recruiter may involve additional fees paid directly to the recruiter. Rockford Lutheran School will provide a Homestay with a host family for a fee of $10,000 per school year.