High School Immersion in the USA – 1 semester or 1 academic year

This programme is open to motivated participants aged 14 to 18 who wish to spend a school year or semester in a high school and experience a real immersion in the American language and culture, sharing the daily life of a host family and attending an American secondary school.

This programme offers students the opportunity to choose from several school districts, and therefore to choose their host region.

The strengths of the programme

  • It is open to students from the age of 14 up to and including the age of 18 (you must be under 19 on the 1st day of the course)
  • Late registration deadlines
  • It allows you to indicate 3 school district preferences
  • It offers the possibility of obtaining a High School Diploma for students in ‘Grade 12’
  • The minimum level of English required is lower than for the Classic and Classic Plus programmes
  • All schools are non-religious

The United States is so vast that it’s very difficult to cover it all, even in one lifetime! Immersing yourself in American culture for a semester or a school year with our high school programme will give you an insight into different facets of this immense country: a multi-cultural society, unforgettable landscapes, but above all warm-hearted people who are always willing to share their values. By immersing yourself in a different education system, you’ll be able to discover a different form of teaching, choose subjects that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to study here and get involved in various extra-curricular activities to enrich your stay and create lasting memories.

The United States and Canada are vast countries with huge geographical distances. The car is the main means of transport and public transport networks are generally underdeveloped, with the exception of certain major cities. European exchange students, who are used to using public transport to get around, will have to adapt to this cultural difference and learn to plan their journeys according to the transport options available.

What do students think? Read what :

You attend a local state secondary school (High School). In the United States, we don’t work by class but by year and by level. The course is therefore individualised. The level at which you study may differ from one subject to another, depending on your level in the chosen subject and your level of English. For example, you could take maths in 11th grade and history in 10th grade.

Some subjects may be compulsory, such as English, maths, science and history. If you choose to take the school-leaving diploma (for Grade 12 students only and who have not already obtained their diploma in their home country), you will also have to take other compulsory subjects.

In most American schools, the choice of subjects is vast and varied: Calculus, Science, Physics, Biology, Foreign Language, Psychology, Sociology, Literature, Drama, Pottery, Journalism, Speech, Media, Computing…

This is a unique opportunity to discover new fields or improve your skills in a subject you love. Some courses run for a semester, so you can change options in the middle of the year if you wish.

There is just as much choice in extra-curricular activities: Football, Baseball, Tennis, Field & Track, Basketball, Charity club, Student council, School band, Debate club, Speech club, Year book, etc.

When you register, you can indicate 3 preferences (not guaranteed) from among the school districts below. The sooner you register, the better your chances of being placed in the district of your choice.

Notes :

  • Please contact us to obtain the school brochures.
  • Some schools do not accept students who have already obtained their diploma in their country of origin. Please contact us for more information.
  • *Up to the age of 17 only.
  • **These districts also offer stays lasting one trimester. Please contact us for more information.

Schooling in the United States lasts 12 years, as it does in Europe: the High School covers the last 4 years of secondary school, from 9th grade to 12th grade. However, the school system and the way it works are very different from ours. We don’t operate by class, but by year and by level. The curriculum is therefore individualised. Students take each course at the level that corresponds to their level in that subject and their level of English.

There is no government-imposed syllabus, which is defined locally. Students take 4/5 subjects per semester. The choice of subjects is generally wide and varied: US history, English, Math, Sciences, Debating, Speech, Pottery, Cooking, etc.

Classes start early in the morning (7.30am/8.00pm) and finish around 3pm, with the rest of the afternoon devoted to extra-curricular activities. The school year starts between early August and mid-September, depending on the school.

AgeBelgiumFranceUnited States
13-14secondary 2QuatrièmeGrade 8
14-15secondary 3TroisièmeGrade 9
15-16secondary 4SecondeGrade 10
16-17secondary 5PremièreGrade 11
17-18secondary 6TerminaleGrade 12

They are selected by the local correspondent for their genuine desire to welcome a young foreigner and share their culture with him or her through daily life. The local correspondent visits the families’ homes and ensures that they can offer the participant a balanced and warm environment.

There is no typical family profile. Each one is unique and reflects the society and way of life of the country you have chosen. Your host family may or may not have children; it may be a blended family or a single-parent family, a single person whose children no longer live at home, retired people or younger people. They may live in a large conurbation or a smaller town. It’s not the composition of the family or where they live that matters, but their willingness and motivation to share their culture with you.

Families receive a small financial compensation to cover daily expenses. A supplement may be charged if the student needs to be driven regularly by the host family (for example, if he or she is enrolled in an extra-curricular activity and cannot get there on his or her own). In this case, the price will be calculated for the duration of the activity and a new invoice will be sent to the participant.

Religion is an important part of American culture. Many families are used to going to church. As part of this cultural exchange programme, students are asked to accompany their families to church once a week.

In practical terms, you will havea single room and half board during the week and full board at weekends and during the school holidays.

The local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and stays in regular contact with the students and their American parents throughout the stay. He or she organises regular meetings and ensures that the stay goes well, both with the host family and at the school. As they are able to act quickly in the event of a problem, they remain your first point of contact on site.

The local correspondents work closely with our partner in the United States and have been looking after foreign students for many years, so they know how to react quickly and effectively if the need arises.

A few days after your arrival, the local coordinator will organise an orientation meeting for all the students for whom he or she is responsible.

  • Be aged between 14 and 18 (students must be under 19 on the 1st day of class)
  • Have a language background that enables them to communicate without too many difficulties (minimum 3 years of English studies, or previous language stays): ELTIS test compulsory (minimum result may vary according to district)
  • Have achieved good results at school over the last 3 years, in English as well as in other subjects
  • Postgraduate students are not accepted
  • Be motivated, mature and adaptable
  • Be in good physical and mental health


Do you meet the conditions for participation?

  1. Fill in the pre-registration form as soon as possible.
  2. When we receive it, we’ll send you a provisional confirmation, including the total cost of the stay and a request for payment of €100 (for the language test and the motivation interview). We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports for the last 3 years.
  3. We then invite you to come and take the language test and interview at our offices in Brussels or online. The cost of this interview is payable on receipt of the pre-confirmation and is non-refundable, but can be deducted from the balance of your stay if you are definitively enrolled and accepted on the programme.
  4. We will confirm the result no later than 8 days after our interview.
  5. If the interview is positive, we ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of your stay (with a minimum of €1800) and to complete the online application form, which includes letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information needed for us to study your application on site.
  6. Final acceptance to the programme is granted by our partner.
  7. Once your application has been accepted, our partner will begin the search for and selection of a host family and school. At this point, we will ask you to pay 25% of the balance of your stay.
  8. The process of finding and selecting a family can take a long time, so please be patient.

PAYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Some schools do not have an application deadline and accept students until all places are filled, while others have a specific application deadline. However, if you apply in April for an August departure / in September for a January departure, most schools should still be available.

To ensure that you are well prepared for your stay, we recommend that you apply as early as possible, i.e. between 1 year and 6 months before departure.

An additional fee of €250 will be charged for urgent applications.

Departure is generally scheduled for August (sometimes late July or early September depending on the school and the placement date) for stays of between one semester and one academic year. A departure is also planned in January for stays of one academic semester. Your family or local correspondent will meet you at the airport and drive you back at the end of your stay.

Once your enrolment has been accepted and confirmed by our American partner and your visa application has been approved, we can book your trip to the United States, if you wish.

The ticket booked includes as few stopovers as possible and can be changed.

In the event of a change, the airline’s change fees will apply and will be charged to the participant (these vary depending on the airline, generally around €200 if there is a difference in fare class).

If you prefer to book your trip yourself, we will provide you with all the information you need to make the booking.

A student visa (Student Visa – F1) is required to take part in this programme. It will be issued for the duration of your stay. We will provide you with all the documents you need to obtain it, and will help you with the formalities.

Medical assistance, accident, repatriation and RCI insurance are included in the programme.

Dates 2026-2027

  • Academic year: August* to June (varies by school)
  • Academic semester: August* to December or January to June (varies by school)

*The dates for the start of the school year are set by the schools and can range from the end of July to mid-September. The dates of your stay are therefore fixed once you have received your placement.

Prices 2026-2027

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at the time of booking.

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, accommodation, and meals, registration fees, and transfers included
Program DurationWithout flightsWith flights
School semester€ 17.895€ 19.795
School year€ 25.295€ 27.195

Our prices include :

  • English language test and pre-application interview
  • All documents required to obtain the F1 visa
  • High school registration formalities for a semester or academic year
  • Accommodation with a host family, single room, meals (excluding school canteen fees)
  • Assistance, support and follow-up throughout the stay
  • Travel insurance
  • A SIM card with an American number (fixed rate payable by the participant)
  • Regular contact and evaluation reports
  • Official certificate of attendance, with grades for courses taken, depending on destination
  • American diploma (if the student is eligible and has applied for one)
  • Return transfer from the designated airport to the host family
  • Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris
  • An orientation on arrival conducted by the local coordinator

Not included:

  • Visa fees (approximately USD 535)
  • Lunch at the school (approximately $3-5 per day)
  • Pocket money: approximately $300-$350 per month
  • Local transport costs
  • School fees for the use of books, lockers, labs, uniform, graduation, etc. (depending on the school, allow up to $400)
  • Extra-curricular activities and school trips/activities
  • Optional insurance
  • Return trip to designated airport, depending on option chosen
  • Late registration fees (€250), if applicable

Similar programmes

High School in Canada | Newfoundland

Study for 3 months, 4 months, 1 semester or 1 academic year at a high school in Canada in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Ages 12 to 18. Tuition, homestay accommodation, medical insurance and full board included.

High School in Canada | Ontario | Windsor

One month to a full academic year studying at a Canadian high school in Windsor, Ontario. Homestay or residence accommodation with full board. For students aged 10-18.