Are you an international student? Fairmont Has A Place For You!
For nearly two decades, Fairmont Schools has actively welcomed international students to our campuses – making our international student program one of the longest-standing and most experienced in California. Our world-renowned program is available to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.Â
Fairmont Schools is a place of possibilities where students from abroad can learn without limits. Our program produces extraordinary academic results for kindergarten – 12th grade international students who are looking for challenging and rewarding study in the U.S. Students benefit from Fairmont’s seven decades of educational excellence, along with an individualized curriculum, the support of an exceptional faculty and staff, and many opportunities for social growth and cultural exchange.Â
From elementary through high school, our students work, on average, at least one year ahead of their grade level. An International Baccalaureate World School, Fairmont is one of the very few schools in the U.S. to offer all three IB Programmes. Fairmont’s graduates go on to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.Â
Fairmont also serves students who wish to study in their home country, yet have the rich benefit of Fairmont’s renowned curriculum, as they prepare to become bilingual and bi-literate, and head to the top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Fairmont has campuses throughout Orange County and has been voted “Best Private School” for 9 consecutive years.
Each year, students from over 21 countries begin their American educational journeys at Fairmont. They come to us from a variety of ages (kindergarten through high school), backgrounds, and English language proficiency levels. Those who graduate from one of our two high schools are prepared for success at the most elite institutes of learning, routinely going on to continue their studies at the top 100 colleges and universities across the United States.
We offer two housing options that provide a safe, supportive home environment so students can succeed on a personal and academic level. Our Homestay offering is a welcoming, warm home experience with a local host family. Our Boarding program provides students with a supervised community of diverse peers within comfortable campus housing.
Elementary (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Specifically designed to help ELLs succeed with an advanced curriculum.
The Fairmont elementary school program blends innovation and time-tested classroom culture with a superior curriculum that inspires young learners to think critically and solve problems. Each student follows a well-rounded personalized learning path and benefits from a variety of enrichment resources to develop their character and intellect.
Language support is a cornerstone of the K-5 experience, providing the personal attention and resources English language learners need to thrive in Fairmont’s advanced mainstream classes. Specially-trained classroom teachers utilize innovative teaching strategies to instruct ELL students in the same content that their mainstreamed peers receive. Each student’s progress is measured throughout the year to ensure the steady development of English language skills that reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (6th – 8th Grade)
Fairmont’s middle school program offers international students a nurturing environment and a close-knit community in which to thrive.
Through academic challenge and support, social activities, leadership opportunities, and involvement in music, the arts, and athletics, studying at Fairmont opens the door to America’s top high schools and beyond. Our goal is to create powerful learning opportunities for our 6th – 8th grade students – both in the classroom and through a variety of exciting extracurricular activities. In the classroom, students tackle real-world problems that inspire them to think critically and creatively, learn to work collaboratively, and develop English language proficiency through authentic experiences and rich instruction. Outside of school, a multitude of opportunities awaits them in extracurricular activities such as athletics, debate, and student government.
Middle school language support is provided through Adapted Classes which focus on vocabulary and the four skills of language learning. Adapted Classes are UC-approved and credit-bearing, and give students the additional support they need to take full advantage of Fairmont’s advanced curriculum.
HIGH SCHOOL (9th – 12th Grade)
Paving a personalized path to a world of possibilities.
Fairmont’s comprehensive and rigorous curriculum, coupled with advanced cutting-edge programs including International Business, Advanced Science & Engineering, Robotics, and Advanced Mathematics, allows high school students to pursue a course of study that is tailored to their unique educational goals. We have actively redefined the college prep experience for the 21st century, empowering our students to become confident leaders and lifelong learners who will be ready to take on the challenges of the future. Students benefit from our exceptional group of educators who ensure that whatever a student’s interests, passions, or challenges, they receive the resources and support they need. This includes highly personalized college counseling which is made possible only because of our exceptionally low student-to-counselor ratio – just 76:1 compared to the California average of 527:1.
High school students receive language support through Adapted Classes which help build competencies in vocabulary and the four skills of language learning. These classes are UC-approved and credit-bearing, and provide a streamlined approach to giving students the additional support they need, all while allowing them full access to Fairmont’s advanced curriculum.
Average SAT of Top 10% of Graduates
% of Students Who Applied to a Top 100 College that Were Admitted
Average Weighted GPA
“Teachers and staff are friendly and informative. Fairmont also provides strong academic programs such as the International Business Program and the Advanced Science and Engineering Program.”
– Atsada Mithpasong, Class of 2019
(currently attending Northeastern University)
Year after year, Fairmont’s students are accepted to the nation’s top colleges and universities, preparing them to go out and make a difference in their world. Here is just a small sampling of the institutions our graduates have attended:
