Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions relating to admissions eligibility, document requirements, tuition and fees, and student life.
Academics and Programs
Is YISS an accredited educational institution?
Yes. YISS is fully accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is recognized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE). Students who attend YISS are easily able to transfer to schools and universities in other countries.
What type of curriculum program does YISS offer?
YISS offers an academic course of study based on the U.S. educational model. At the high school level, YISS has an enriched college preparatory curriculum offering a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Which grade should I apply for?
The online platform is set to auto-default the applying grade based on the applicant's birthday for the applying school year (22-23 and 23-24). Students applying from schools with different calendar school years (i.e. January or February until November or December, as in Australia and Singapore) will be considered for admission to the grade that extends their current school year.
If your child needs to apply for a different grade, please send a message via the application system. Changes to the applying grade will be made after review.
How do you hire teachers and what are their backgrounds?
YISS faculty are hired after completing a rigorous interview and evaluation process. Each applicant is interviewed by the principal to whom the teacher is responsible and the headmaster. Eighty-seven percent of YISS faculty are from North America. All teachers possess the minimum of a bachelor’s degree, 62% hold master’s degrees or higher, and they average 11 years of teaching experience. Teachers at YISS are certified in their content area and receive two weeks of special training to help prepare them for teaching in an international context.
Is YISS a Christian school?
Yes. YISS a part of the Network of International Christian Schools. While YISS recruits Christian educators, our student body is comprised of students from many varying faith backgrounds and more than 50 countries.
Are all students required to take Bible class and attend chapel?
No. YISS offers two programs for students. Students in the NICS program attend Bible class and weekly chapel, while students in the Oasis program attend character education and/or philosophy class and weekly assembly. Our Oasis program is reserved for students who are actively practicing a faith other than Christianity. Within the application, you will have the opportunity to select which program you prefer for your child.
What are your average class sizes?
Elementary School: Kindergarten classes have 14-15 students and 1st-5th grade classes have 20-22 students.
Middle School: The average class size is 20 students.
High School: The average class size is 14 students.
What foreign languages do you offer?
Elementary School: Korean or Mandarin
Middle School: Korean, Mandarin, or Spanish
High School: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, or Spanish
What standardized tests do you administer?
YISS administers the following standardized tests:
- NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Test: 2nd-8th Grades
- AP Tests: 10th-12th Grades
- PSAT: 10th-11th Grades
- SAT I & II: 9th-12th Grades
Where do YISS graduates attend university?
YISS graduates gain admission to many of the world’s most prestigious universities including Columbia, MIT, Princeton, Seoul National University, and Stanford. Review our complete list of colleges & universities.
Are there any services available for English language learners (ELLs)?
English language learners (ELLs) can participate in an instructional program for non-native speakers of English. The program helps students attain a certain level of English proficiency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, bringing them to the appropriate academic level. YISS offers the program to a limited number of students each year. Students' English language abilities will be assessed during the admissions process.
Are there any services available for special needs students?
Learning support services are offered to meet the diverse learning needs of our student population, specifically those students who require additional services in order to be successful in the mainstream classroom. This includes specialized class instruction from our learning support teachers in the areas of mathematics and reading.
Admissions Testing
Do students in kindergarten through 2nd grade have to provide standardized test scores?
Selected applicants applying for kindergarten or 1st grade will be invited for an initial screening. Students entering 2nd grade should provide standardized test results if available. If not provided, but deemed necessary, you will be contacted after your application has been submitted.
What standardized test scores do you accept for 3rd-12th graders?
Please provide standardized test scores from within the last 12 months.
The following are examples of test results that are accepted:
- MAP
- ERB/ISEE
- Stanford (SAT)
- TerraNova
- US State Standardized Tests
Where can the applicant take a standardized test for 3rd-12th grades?
If an applicant in 3rd-12th grade does not have a recent test result YISS recommends students take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) for 3rd-12th grade.
Open test sites are offered at many locations throughout the year. In Korea, the ISEE is only available for 5th-12th grade. You may register online to take the test at a domestic or international Prometric Testing office. Fees range from $100 – $180, depending on the type of testing center. An option is now available to take the ISEE at home or remotely if you are unable to visit a Prometric Testing Office.
If an applicant cannot provide testing results, he/she will be required to complete testing onsite. Please note that submitting an application without test results will delay the review process and the admissions decision.
YISS ISEE School Code: 682450 - ISEE Registration
Do students who need English support need to take an admissions test?
Students whose native language is not English may be required to take an English language proficiency test if school records indicate that English language support may be needed.
Teacher Recommendations
Do I need to ask my child’s current school for a recommendation?
Yes. When completing the online application, you will provide the email addresses for the applicant's current teacher(s), and YISS will send an electronic recommendation form directly to the teacher(s).
Does it matter which teachers’ information we provide?
Yes. For students applying to kindergarten-5th grade, please provide the email address of his or her homeroom teacher. For students applying to 6th-12th grade, please provide an email address for the applicant’s current Math and English teachers.
Wait Pool
Why was my application placed in the wait pool?
Qualified applicants who are not accepted due to space availability are placed in our wait pool and will be considered if spaces become available. YISS strives to maintain a balance in gender and diversity and to ensure academic success and availability of needed programs or classes.
Does space become available during the school year?
Students may withdraw at various times during the school year. If and when a space becomes available, the admissions office considers all students in the wait pool and selects an applicant that best complements the class.
Is the wait pool chronological? Does it matter when I apply for my child?
No, the wait pool does not have a chronological or predetermined order based on order of receipt of application. Consequently, the admissions office cannot provide numbers for students in the wait pool or predict availability as our numbers can change daily. However, we will try to be realistic with families about their chances of being admitted in a certain grade at a particular time.
How often do I need to update the applicant’s school records while in the wait pool?
If you continue to have a strong interest in your child’s acceptance during the school year, it is important to keep the application current by sending recent school records as they become available. In the event of a mid-year vacancy, immediate decisions can be made only on complete and current files.
Is the wait pool maintained from year-to-year?
No. The wait pool is maintained for the applying year only. All applicants who are interested in any subsequent year must reapply.
Tuition and Fees
Is there an application fee?
Currently, there is no set fee charged to submit an application. The non-refundable Application Processing Fee of ₩500,000 is charged upon acceptance. Applicants required to sit for an admissions interview or test will be charged the Application Processing Fee, whether or not the applicant is accepted.
What are the tuition and fees?
A comprehensive list of tuition, fees, and financial information is available for the 2023-2024 school year. YISS tuition and fees is a combination of refundable and non-refundable charges.
When is payment due upon acceptance?
Once an applicant is accepted, all tuition and fees are due by the designated due date on the invoice (5 business days from the date of the invoice). A student cannot attend YISS until the invoice has been paid.
Why are there separate tuition charges in USD and KRW?
While the Korean Won (KRW) is the primary currency of operations for YISS, substantive expenses related to curriculum, educational supplies, technology, insurance, and other items are paid for in US Dollars (USD). The USD portion of the tuition allows YISS to properly plan for such expenditures.
What is the capital development fee?
YISS takes great pride and care of the facilities in which we operate. The capital development fee allows YISS to offer and maintain the highest quality educational and activity spaces for our students.
What does the technology fee include?
Technology fees supplement the costs of classroom or student-assigned devices, technology labs, software applications, internet and network infrastructure, along with continuous technical service and support.
How does our tuition compare to international schools in the area?
Each year, as part of our annual budgeting process, YISS compares our tuition against that of comparable international schools in Seoul. We continue to be pleased that our tuition and fees are consistently substantially lower than those of other schools.
Does YISS provide scholarships?
Student Life
What are your school start and end dates?
The academic calendar consists of 180 instructional days, made up of two 18-week semesters, each divided into nine-week marking periods. YISS traditionally begins the school year in mid-August and concludes in early-June. Our school observes nearly all official Korean holidays and American Thanksgiving. Most years, there is a Fall Break near Chuseok, a three-week vacation at Christmas, and a week-long Spring Break.
What are your school hours?
Kindergarten to 5th Grade: 7:50 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
6th Grade to 12th Grade: 7:50 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Who makes up the student body?
YISS has an enrollment of 1,000 students representing about 50 different countries. The largest population of the school holds citizenship in the United States (50%) while Korean citizenship belongs to the second largest group of students (16%). About 60% of our students are of Korean heritage with the remaining 40% of non-Korean origin. Parents of YISS students include employees of international and local corporations, foreign embassies, and Korean universities.
Do you have boarding facilities?
YISS does not have any boarding facilities available for students and cannot arrange homestays or studying abroad for international students.
What type of bus transportation services are offered to students?
YISS provides over 20 morning and afternoon routes throughout Seoul for a set annual fee. Learn more at Bus Transportation.
What school lunch options are available for students?
YISS offers two set menu options daily. The meals and menus are carefully planned and prepared by trained and experienced staff and provide a nutritious and healthy option for our students. YISS also offers a variety of à la carte items for purchase by middle and high school students. Learn more at Cafeteria & Food.
Is there a required uniform for students?
The YISS uniform consists of polo shirts with uniform-style bottoms.
View the Elementary Dress Code
View the Middle and High School Dress Code
Are school supply kits or lists published for students?
Student supply kits are available for purchase at the beginning of each year in the YISS Guardian Store. Additional supplies, school uniform polo shirts, and school spirit items are also on sale during the year.
How much homework should my child expect?
The purpose of homework is to reinforce concepts that have been taught in class through practice, review, and remediation. Teachers will ensure that the homework given is at the appropriate level of difficulty and length.
It is impossible to set exact time limits on homework due to varying student ability, understanding, and/or time management skills. If students are regularly spending more than the suggested time limits, they should communicate with their teachers.
- Kindergarten - 5 minutes
- 1st grade - 10 minutes
- 2nd grade - 20 minutes
- 3rd grade - 30 minutes
- 4th grade - 40 minutes
- 5th grade - 50 minutes
- 6th Grade - 60 minutes
- 7th Grade - 80 minutes
- 8th Grade - 100 minutes
- High School - up to 1 hour between class meetings per non-AP class, up to 4 hours between class meetings per AP class
YISS does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, or national origin but does strictly adhere to the laws and regulations governing the operation of international schools in the Republic of Korea and reserves the right to administer selective enrollment when deemed necessary, proper, and in the best interest of the school.