International Students

Welcome to La Salle College Preparatory’s International Student Program!

At La Salle, we offer a unique high school experience that focuses on developing the whole person through rigorous academics, meaningful service, and personal growth. Our inclusive and student-centered approach celebrates each individual’s strengths and interests, helping every student reach their full potential. Through a wide range of on- and off-campus opportunities, we prepare students to become compassionate, confident, and globally minded leaders.

The Office of International Programs is dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding and embracing the diversity that strengthens our community. We strive to create an environment where students from all backgrounds learn from one another, share their perspectives, and build lifelong connections. Our goal is to provide an education that helps students see beyond their own culture and worldview, preparing them to thrive in a connected and dynamic world.

For our international students, La Salle offers personalized support and mentorship through our International Programs Office, caring faculty, and a dedicated counseling team. We aim to make La Salle not just a place to study, but a second home where students are known, supported, and inspired.

Our concierge-style support for international students includes:

• Application Assistance: Personalized guidance through every step of the admissions and enrollment process.
• Academic Counseling: One-on-one support in course planning, academic success strategies, and classroom integration.
• Campus Involvement: Encouragement and guidance for participation in student clubs, athletics, and co-curricular activities to foster community engagement.
• College Preparation: Individualized college counseling, including essay support, interview preparation, testing strategies, and application review.
• Experiential Learning: Opportunities for job shadowing, career exploration, and community service to connect classroom learning with real-world experience.
• Enrichment Opportunities: Access to pathway centers, on-campus summer programs, academic camps, and study abroad opportunities that allow students to pursue their passions during school breaks.

At La Salle College Preparatory, we take pride in providing a welcoming and supportive environment where international students thrive academically, socially, and personally. Through our comprehensive resources and caring community, we ensure that every student’s journey at La Salle is fulfilling, transformative, and memorable.

Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community at La Salle College Preparatory.

At La Salle College Preparatory, the classification of students as international or domestic depends on their citizenship, residency status, and educational background. The following outlines the criteria for student classification and status adjustments:

Classification as international Students

The following students are classified as international students under school policy:

1. Non-U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents:
   Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, including those on F-1 student visas or other non-immigrant visas, are classified as international students and will be issued a international student enrollment contract.
2. Green Card Holders with Recent Education Experience Overseas:
   Students with permanent residency status who have attended schools outside of the United States are classified as international students and will be issued a international student enrollment contract.
3. Any Students with Homestay Service Requests:
   Students with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status who request to use the school’s homestay service are classified as international students and will be issued a international student enrollment contract.
4. Students Identified During Admissions as Requiring International Student Support: Any student, regardless of citizenship or residency status, who is determined during the admissions process to require international student services to ensure academic success at La Salle shall be classified as a international student and issued a international student enrollment contract. This designation includes but is not limited to students with prior educational experience outside of the United States who do not meet the required language proficiency test benchmarks.  

Exemptions and Status Changes for Permanent Residents

• Permanent residents who have already completed three consecutive years of U.S. education are exempt from the international student classification and will be considered domestic students at the time of enrollment. 
• Permanent residents with less than three consecutive years of U.S. education (immediately prior to La Salle enrollment) are classified as international students. They may request a status adjustment to domestic status after completing three consecutive years of education in the U.S. (inclusive of enrollment at La Salle) and submitting the necessary documentation for approval. Approved changes will take effect in the following school year’s contract.

Obtaining Permanent Residency During Enrollment

• Students who obtain U.S. citizenship during enrollment may request a status change by providing proof of their citizenship.
• Students whose status changes from a visa to permanent residency must still complete the three consecutive years of U.S. education requirement to be considered for a La Salle classification change from international student to domestic student.

Enrollment Contract

Once the enrollment contract is signed, the student’s status and tuition amount will remain unchanged until the conclusion of the current school year, regardless of any changes to their legal status.

Step 1: Submit an Online Application

Prospective International students must complete the Admissions application online. There is a $150.00 USD non-refundable application fee to apply.

Click here to get started on your admissions application today!

Step 2: Submit Supplementary Application Material

We require all international applicants to submit the following documents that are required for your admissions application via the online application portal:

1. Original Transcripts
   Original transcripts for the last three years are required.
   Transcripts in languages other than English must be translated into English.
2. Recommendations

• • Applying for 10th, 11th, or 12th Grade Transfer: Two recommendations are required — one from either a Math or English teacher, and one from the Principal, Dean of Students, or Academic Counselor.
  • Applying for 9th Grade: Two recommendations are required — one from a Math teacher and one from an English teacher.

3. English Proficiency Test Results
   The TOEFL iBT and Duolingo English Test are accepted to fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
   Target Scores:
   

• • Duolingo: 105
  • TOEFL iBT: 75

4. Personal Statement
   Details and requirements are available through the application portal.

Step 3: Admissions Interview

Once your application is received and all Supplementary Application Materials are submitted, our Admissions Officer will contact you via email to schedule your Admissions Interview. Both students and their parents are required to attend the interview. This process provides our Admissions Review Committee with the opportunity to meet and chat with the prospective student, as well as their parents.

Students and parents also have the option to schedule an interview via the online application portal.

Step 4: Receive your Admissions Decision via email

If you are accepted by La Salle College Preparatory, Mr. M.J. Mao will assist you in completing your registration process and Form I-20 Application. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must have a Form I-20 to apply for a student visa to enter the United States, and apply for benefits.

Click here to view detailed Form I-20 Information

Students must provide all the following material for Form I-20 Application purposes. Please email the following information to Mr. M.J. Mao at mjmao@lasallehs.org to process the I-20 application.

1. Application for Form I-20

Please ONLY complete the Personal Information section of the form. The School is responsible for completing the Program of Study Section.

2. Form I-20 Application Cover Sheet

Please ONLY complete the Form I-20 Pick Up/Mailing Form on the bottom half of the cover sheet.

3. Copy of Passport Biography Page

4. Proof of financial responsibility

• Documentation should only be provided for the person who is paying the student’s tuition.

• Please provide a copy of the most recent bank statement or a bank-certified letter stating the account balance. Do not submit tax documents.

5. Form I-20 Application Fee

Click here to view Payment Options and Fee Details

The estimated Form I-20 processing time is ten business days upon receipt of the application fee.

For questions about International Students Admissions, please contact Mr. M.J. Mao at mjmao@lasallehs.org.

1. Health Insurance

Medical health insurance/coverage is required before international students can begin classes. After receiving an acceptance letter and arriving in the U.S., health insurance must be purchased. Proof of health insurance must be provided to Mr. M.J. Mao prior to the first day of school.

We recommend students use ISO Insurance. ISO offers a BASIC PLAN and a PLUS PLAN, both at affordable costs.

Students who choose to purchase other health insurance plans must have a minimum coverage that matches the ISO basic plan.

2. Medical Requirements

Students will not be allowed to attend classes unless their medical paperwork is complete. All medical records need to be clearly identified in English. The options for providing immunization records are listed below:

• California School Immunization Record and Requirements Form
  The California School Immunization Record must be filled out and signed by your doctor.

• Submit ALL pages of your vaccination history, with your name and date of birth clearly listed. Please note that hand-written records are not acceptable. For students who have hand-written immunization records, please complete a translation at your local custom, and provide the school with a digital copy.

3. Identification

Students are required to provide the following documents to the registrar prior to the first day of school.

• Copy of form I-20 signed by both student and parents/guardians

• Copy of student’s passport identification page

• Copy of student’s passport F-1 student visa page, with entrance stamp

4. English Proficiency Requirement

The below students will be *required to submit an English proficiency exam when applying for admission to La Salle:

• International students who do not speak English as their first language

• Domestic students who have fewer than two years of English as the primary language of instruction

• Students who are or were enrolled in an English-language support program within the last two years

The TOEFL IBT and Duolingo English exams will be accepted to fulfill the English proficiency exam application requirement. Below, you will find our minimum score requirements for each exam:

• TOEFL IBT = 75 Score

• Duolingo English Test = 105

If you are unable to submit a score that meets our minimum requirements, please reach out to the Admissions Team at admissions@lasallehs.org or Mr. MJ Mao, Director of Global Programs, at mjmao@lasallehs.org.

*Exceptions to the English Proficiency Requirements – Students who have three or more consecutive years of English as the primary language of instruction are exempt from the English proficiency requirements, regardless of international or domestic status.

La Salle College Preparatory is committed to providing the best homestay experience for our international students.

In the La Salle Homestay Program, students are accommodated with families of our school’s students, staff, or faculty. These carefully selected host families create a safe, caring environment where students are well-supervised both at school and at home to ensure their safety and well-being. We believe this living arrangement is especially beneficial for international students coming from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.

Living with a host family offers numerous advantages. It allows international students to immerse themselves in a new culture, improve their language skills, forge lasting relationships, and become part of a connected and cooperative global community. Our supportive and caring host families provide exceptional experiences that our international students will cherish for a lifetime.

If you are in need of homestay services, please reach out to Mr. M.J. Mao at mjmao@lasallehs.org, and he will assist you in connecting with our carefully chosen host families. For international students living with parents or other family members, proof of residence with an immediate family member is required.

Our host families offer:

– A warm, secure, and healthy environment
– Guidance on local cultural differences and Western education standards
– Transportation to and from school, events, and social activities
– Three nutritious meals a day, seven days per week
– A private bedroom for the student
– Access to laundry facilities at no extra cost
– Participation in appropriate family activities when feasible within the student’s schedule

All host families undergo a thorough screening and selection process before being accepted into our Homestay Program. This includes an application, Live Scan Background Check, and on-site home visits and interviews conducted by trained school staff.

We are proud to emphasize that La Salle College Preparatory does not discriminate based on ethnicity, race, or income when selecting host families. Our focus is on providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all international students who choose to be a part of our community.

Due to the high demand for host families, we partner with Student Room Stay to offer homestay services when school-associated host families are unavailable. Please click here to learn more about the Student Room Stay options.

La Salle College Preparatory’s Office of Global Programs is currently seeking Host Families for our International students. ALL current student families, alum families, and community friends who live within a 10-mile-radius of the school are welcome to apply. If you and your family are interested in hosting a future Lancer from abroad in your home, please CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO BECOME A HOST FAMILY.

Why should you consider hosting an international student?

• Offer a holistic family cultural experience for the international student and your children.
• Receive immersive real-world cultural experiences and gain new perspectives.
• Support La Salle’s mission through the lens of the American family.

What are some benefits of becoming a host family?

• Experience the joy of learning about different cultures and fostering respect for others.
• Teach your children to understand and respect students from diverse backgrounds.
• Receive a monthly stipend to cover the expenses of hosting a student in your home.

Qualities of a robust host family

• Loving and caring.
• Provide a safe and healthy environment.
• Support our international students with their unique needs.
• Rely on the support systems of the Office of Global Programs.

The Responsibilities of a Host Family

• Foster cross-cultural experiences
• Provide a secure, welcoming environment and engage the student in family activities.
• Respect cultural differences and encourage English language immersion.
• Ensure proper meals, a private room, and access to facilities, including internet and laundry.
• Collaborate with the school, attend orientation, and maintain open communication.
• Provide transportation to and from campus for school and school-related activities.
• Assist with airport pick-up/drop-off and medical attention in emergencies.
• Support the student’s participation in school events and adhere to attendance policies.
• Cooperate with background checks, regular check-ins, and reporting significant changes.
• Maintain access to the student’s records and never engage in inappropriate behavior.
• Hosts are not obligated to provide accommodation for the student’s natural family members.

Mr. MJ Mao

Vice President of Advancement and International Programs
Email: mjmao@lasallehs.org
Office: 626-696-4363
Cell: 626-710-7233