Foxcroft School has served international students well for decades. Current international students often hear about Foxcroft from their relatives and friends and from educational professionals in their countries. At Foxcroft, international students receive an excellent college preparatory education along with the support they may need in improving their academic English. Foxcroft expects international students to participate in all areas of this boarding school community. The program serves students from the advanced level of English proficiency to those who are bilingual equally well. Foxcroft does not offer an ESOL program.

There are many ways to measure the success of the International Program. In terms of school involvement, more than half of Foxcroft's international students hold leadership positions, and 100% participate in school clubs and sports. All of Foxcroft's international students do well in terms of college acceptances, and all have found that they are well prepared for college.

Admission
When an international student applies to Foxcroft, she completes the same steps as other applicants. She also completes some extra steps so the Admission Committee can evaluate her English proficiency for course level and grade year placement. If she is accepted and enrolls at Foxcroft, she also takes additional placement tests once she arrives at Foxcroft in the fall, along with all other new students.

Interview/Oral Evaluation. When an international student interviews at Foxcroft, she speaks with an Admission Officer so that we may learn more about her and evaluate her proficiency in listening and speaking English. If an on-campus interview is not possible, she and her parents will be called by an Admission Officer.

SLEP (Secondary Level of English Proficiency) Examination. Most international students take a different test for admission than the SSAT (designed for English-speaking applicants). The test is designed for students entering secondary schools. The goal is the same -- to evaluate English proficiency. Students do not pass or fail this examination. The results are used to evaluate their level of English proficiency for admission to our program (Foxcroft accepts students at an advanced level of English proficiency), and for placement in appropriate classes and/or grade levels. The test includes a reading comprehension section (45 minutes) and a listening comprehension section with an audio tape (45 minutes). The test can be given at Foxcroft during an interview. If an on-campus interview is not possible, the Admission Office helps to arrange for alternate testing at an applicant's request. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results may also be used for evaluation.

Extracurricular Activities
Outside the classroom, international students are involved in all areas of school life. While some of our programs are designed for international students, most programs are designed to appreciate the many cultures and backgrounds of our diverse community. International students get involved.

The most important parts of this program are:

• New Student Orientation. International students arrive at Foxcroft early. They meet their teachers and advisor, their "Old Girl," a senior who will show them around the campus, and they meet returning international student leaders who have arrived early to help them feel comfortable in their new school. Workshops, programs and trips give them time to adjust to their new surroundings, to get over "jet lag" if necessary, and to feel ready to participate in the community at the beginning of school.
• Leadership Training. Most international students participate as student leaders, in school government, the dormitories, and in clubs and activities. All leaders are trained in late spring after their election and before any students arrive the next fall. Leaders may be selected for their personal or cultural attitudes and are encouraged to develop their own style of leadership. The opportunity to grow as an effective leader is open to any student.
• Dormitory Programs. At Foxcroft, a typical dormitory includes students from across the country and around the world. All learn to live together in this small community and within the greater community with the help of involved and caring adults and student dormitory leaders. International students room with American students during their stay at Foxcroft.
• International Club. This club gathers students from around the world (including Americans) who are interested in sharing their food, their movies, and their cultures with the rest of the Foxcroft community. Students from a country or region host several dinners over the course of the year. An International Gala pulls all international students together to prepare food and share their culture with the entire Foxcroft community.
• Advisor Network. The advisor program at Foxcroft is very important. Each advisor has no more than six advisees and is responsible for all areas of those students' Foxcroft life. Parents have the work and home phone numbers and the email addresses of their daughter's advisors. The advisor will often contact them about their daughter's happiness and well-being and about her academic, extracurricular, and dormitory life. Each international student has an advisor who has requested international students as advisees and who has experience working with international students.