International Program

Welcoming students from around the world

Wheaton Academy is characterized by high academic standards, a mature student culture, opportunities for leadership, a beautiful 50-acre college-style campus, consistently positive parent and student feedback, and expansive facilities. We offer a traditional college preparatory curriculum, an innovative January term, and comprehensive co-curricular programs. Wheaton Academy is uniquely located in the beautiful safe, western suburbs of Chicago while conveniently accessible to a wide range of metropolitan cultural experiences.

# of Years since Wheaton Academy's Founding

165

International Students

AP Classes

20 +

Student Body

660

of students scored a 3 or higher on AP exams in 2019

86 %

Student Teacher Ratio

1 :1

Countries Represented by international students

A National Blue Ribbon School

Live with an American Family

One of the unique features of Wheaton Academy boarding is the HomeStay program. Instead of an impersonal dorm setting, we believe international students living with American families constantly provides a much better learning environment and provides more focused social and emotional support. Host families are chosen after background checks, reference checks, and personal interviews. Orientation and ongoing support is provided to host families as well.

Play Video about Wheaton Academy Homestay program for international students

Excel at University

Wheaton Academy provides premium university application counseling services to help you achieve your university admissions goals. These services include:

University Admissions Seminars with our university counselors and admission representatives from top-ranked universities
Standardized Test Preparation including TOEFL, PSAT, ACT/SAT
Letters of Recommendation from our highly equipped faculty
1-on-1 consultations with university counselors during junior and senior year
Student Profile Assessments to help students identify passion and intended majors
Progress evaluations to track academic and extra-curricular involvements and achievements
University Visits across the country

Find Community at Kairos

The name Kairos comes from the Greek word for “time”. At Kairos, we set aside time each week to come together as an international community to learn what it means to live in community. We emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting cultural differences, being self-aware, being an encouragement to others, and being thankful in all things. During Kairos we share a meal together, study together, go on regular outings, and enjoy activities. We also put on an annual show to showcase our gifts and talents. Being a part of Kairos is special because it allows us to celebrate all the things that make us unique.

Hear from International Student Families

Watch this video to hear from Kate’s dad, Tan, about his family’s experience at Wheaton Academy. Tan shares, “The teachers and host parents in the Wheaton Academy community love my daughter Kate and help her to overcome the difficulties of living far from home!”

Wheaton Academy's Premier Summer Experience

WA Global Network’s Summer English Institute is an exciting, innovative, nearly month-long experience for international students ages 11-18 held each July-August on a beautiful university campus near Los Angeles, California. Over the past 9 years, over 1,100 students from 20 countries have graduated from the program.

SEI is a required orientation for students coming to Wheaton Academy or other WA Global Network schools.

SEI allows international students to:

Improve their English
Build their Character and Confidence
Grow in Leadership Skills
Build Friendships with Americans and students from around the world
Travel to famous American cities, universities, and attractions
Lay a strong foundation for a bright future

Wheaton Academy’s college readiness helped me to thrive at UCSD academically, culturally, and spiritually… Living with a host family during my three-year stay at WA helped me adjust quickly to American culture. Compared to other international students at my university, I am able to adapt to the culture and make friends more easily. Wheaton Academy also equipped me to face spiritual challenges in a secular university through its four-year Bible classes.

My teachers, my host family and the academic environment at Wheaton Academy all had a huge impact on my academic life and pushed me to pursue excellence. I discovered my potential through involvement in the community abd interactions with teachers and friends.

Now that I am at UC Berkeley, I realize how important all my AP classes were and the advising that I received from my counselors. They didn’t just give out the same plan for everyone; instead each student was individually guided with specific plans based on their talents, personalities, and backgrounds. They saw my passion to challenge myself and gave me constant encouragement and many wise words, which led me to a University that I love.

The encouragement I received from my teachers and friends when I failed, and the praises I received from them when I succeeded pushed me to pursue excellence.

Wheaton Academy has a wonderful university preparation program for international students. For me, the process of getting my desired test scores went very smoothly because of the help Wheaton Academy provided. I also I had an amazing counselor for university preparation!

Questions?

Rochelle Yang

International Program Director

Contact Rochelle

Julie Grant

Host Family and Student Coordinator

Contact Julie

Charity Moon

Wheaton Academy Institute Marketing and Business Manager

Contact Charity

Start your application today

A student is considered an international student if an I-20 is required for residency AND the student will require housing with an approved Wheaton Academy family during the school year.

There are several steps to the admission process, and families are required to complete all of the steps before they can be considered for admission.

Wheaton Academy will be happy to provide a tour to any international student AFTER the family has completed the application process. Upon completion of the application process, our Admission Office will offer a tour date that works with your schedule.