| Welcome to VIA | |
| Welcome | Congratulations on discovering VIA — a school truly suited to your child's journey through the early years of studying abroad. We are honored to share what sets us apart: the people, the environment, and the programs that make VIA the right American school for young international students. |
| Campus Visit | Once you have learned the basics online, we warmly invite you to bring your child for a campus visit. You can tour the campus, sit in on classes, and meet our teachers and students to understand what makes VIA different. |
| Start Your Application | Email apply@usvia.org to begin. |
| Admission Process | |
| Step 1 | Parents email apply@usvia.org with the child's name, gender, age, current grade, and intended program. VIA sends an application form. |
| Step 2 | Parents and student complete the form together, scan it as a PDF, and return it to apply@usvia.org (do not send photos of the pages). |
| Step 3 | Pay the application fee. |
| Step 4 | After receiving the form and fee, VIA contacts you to schedule the student's WeChat video interview and written examination. |
| Step 5 | Interview and test results are reviewed by the admissions committee. If accepted, VIA sends an enrollment agreement to sign, scan, and return; the contract takes effect once the principal countersigns. |
| Step 6 | Pay the non-refundable tuition deposit of $5,000. |
| Step 7 | VIA issues the I-20 and acceptance letter and pays the SEVIS I-901 fee. The three documents are sent to you so the student can apply for a student visa. |
| Step 8 | If you would like help with the visa interview, VIA can recommend a travel agency (paid directly). Parents may also apply on their own. |
| Step 9 | Within 10 business days of the visa being approved, parents pay the remaining tuition and personal activity account funds. |
| Step 10 | Parents purchase flights for the designated arrival date and notify VIA to arrange airport pickup. |
| Tuition (2025–26 Academic Year) | |
| Boarding, Grades 7–9 | $82,000 / year |
| Boarding, Grades 9–12 | $75,000 / year |
| Domestic Day, Grades 7–9 | $25,000 / year |
| Domestic Day, Grades 9–12 | $22,000 / year |
| Boarding Tuition Includes |
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| Personal Escrow Account | A minimum of $6,000 must be deposited before the school year begins. VIA manages the account and provides statements. It covers personal expenses such as health insurance (approx. $1,800/year), uniform (approx. $500), textbooks (approx. $300–400), weekly allowance ($20/week), TOEFL/SAT exam fees, Thanksgiving boarding fee ($500), and other personal costs. |
| Prepared Separately | Airfare; if VIA assists with the visa process, agency application and service fees are paid to the travel agency directly. |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
| Is VIA a school or a training center? | VIA is a U.S. school accredited by a regional accreditation body designated by the U.S. Department of Education, offering middle and high school diploma education. It is not a language school, training center, or agency. |
| When should my child study abroad? | From our years of experience, if the family's finances allow and the student is willing and reasonably self-disciplined, a child can study abroad after completing Grade 6. The younger the student, the more easily they learn and adapt — and exposure to a new culture while their worldview is forming is a lasting benefit. |
| Can my child attend on a tourist visa? | No. Except for U.S. citizens or green card holders, students must obtain an F-1 student visa; a tourist visa cannot be used to attend VIA. |
| What are the school breaks? | The year typically runs from late August/early September to late May/early June, with three main breaks: Thanksgiving (three days), Christmas & New Year (about two weeks; students must leave campus), and Spring Break (about one week; students must leave campus). |
| What should we prepare before arrival? | Ensure the passport is valid; bring home-country vaccination records; treat any cavities or vision issues in advance (U.S. insurance does not cover dental or vision). Optionally, practice English typing and build reading and vocabulary before departure. |
| What if a student gets sick or injured? | VIA arranges health insurance for every student, effective from their first day in the U.S. A nurse visits weekly, and residential staff are trained in CPR and epinephrine administration. For anything more serious, the school arranges medical care and helps obtain medication. |
| How large are classes? | Students are grouped by ability. Class sizes never exceed 17 students, and some courses may have just one student depending on enrollment. |
| How does college counseling work? | VIA treats the U.S. college application as a full course, guiding students through the process: understanding the application, self-analysis, researching schools through official websites, and identifying colleges that fit them — building skills they can reuse for graduate school and beyond. |