WELCOME INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!

St. Mary's Ryken High School has had a long standing tradition of welcoming students from all over the world to its 87-acre campus in Leonardtown, Maryland. Today, we proudly support this tradition with the continued enrollment of students from countries such as China, South Korea, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, England, Serbia, Turkey and more! Many of our international graduates have gone on to enjoy great success at American colleges and universities. We enjoy the cultural diversity the international students bring to our community and we look forward to hosting other students from countries around the globe.

International Students coming from China should work through the Cambridge Institute to apply to St. Mary's Ryken High School. Through an exclusive agency arrangement, we have partnered with the Institute to help Chinese students work through the admissions process and be properly placed. All applicants from China should direct their inquiries to the Cambridge Institute’s Admissions Department at admissions@thecambridgeinstitute.org

We are not able to provide housing in the form of "homestays" (with the exception of students enrolling from China through the Cambridge Institute in Boston Massachusetts).

How to Apply

St. Mary's Ryken High School is registered with SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, and is authorized to issue I-20’s to international students so that they may acquire a F-1 visa.

In addition to the regular application for admission, international students must conduct a Skype interview with our Director of Admission and submit a bank verified financial statement as per the procedure below.

Step 1- The Application

The application is the gateway to our Admissions Process. When we have received your application you will receive a letter acknowledging our receipt of your application. A $100 application fee is also required with the submission of your application. You may pay this wire by check or wire or you may pay online by going to our Admissions homepage and clicking on ‘How to Apply.’

A current photograph of your child is also requested to help the Admissions Committee put a face with a name!

Step 2- Standardized Testing

A TOEFL score of 60 or above is required. Students must demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of English. Students will be tested on arrival before placement into classes.

Step 3- Request for Transcripts and Teacher Evaluations

We ask that you include the last two years of grade reports, including any testing results with your application. We do not require official transcripts directly from the student’s current school.

Step 4- Birth Certificate and Immunization Records

We must have a copy of the student’s birth certificate and immunization records, translated into English. For your ease, we have provided a copy of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Immunization Certificate.

Step 5- Confidential Financial Statement

In order for St. Mary's Ryken High School to prepare to issue an I-20 form, United States Immigration and Naturalization Services require that all parents of applicants submit proof of their ability to support their child’s studies.

Step 6- Schedule an Admissions Interview

When you have submitted your forms to the Admissions Office and are ready for an interview, please let us know! Admissions interviews generally take about 20 minutes and are an informal, ‘get-to-know-you’ time in which we will also look for English proficiency. This process will take place through a Skype Interview.

Step 7- St. Mary's Ryken High School issues an I-20

Once St. Mary's Ryken High School has received all of the necessary documents and has conducted a Skype Interview, your student will be notified of our decision. If your child has been accepted they will receive an admission packet. Once we have received enrollment paperwork, St. Mary’s Ryken issues an I-20. A signed enrollment agreement with a $2,000 deposit is required from admitted students before the process for the I-20 can begin.

Tuition and Fees

St. Mary's Ryken High School hosts several types of International students and your child’s status directly correlates to the tuition paid to the school. Please read below to gain a better understanding:

Full time international student: An international student with an F-1 Visa who is intending to complete his/her high school degree at St. Mary’s Ryken High School. This fee will include school tuition, room, board and other school fees. Books and Uniforms are not included in this price. The estimated price is around $52,000.

Domestic International Student: An international student living with their parents in the U.S. They are not on an F-1 visa and their tuition is the domestic rate.

Cultural Exchange Student: An international student who is at St. Mary's Ryken High School for a cultural exchange. They have an F-1 visa but do not plan on graduating from SMR. Tuition will vary depending on the length of stay; please contact the school directly for more information.