Apply

Applications are welcomed anytime of the year.

As an international school, CAISL has students entering and leaving at all points during the school year.

We have “rolling admissions” which means that students can be accepted and can enter at any point in the school year. Ideally, for ease of academic and social transition, entry at the beginning of an academic “quarter” or the “semester” is ideal but not required. Learn all about the application process.

How to apply

Follow the link to the application form:

Application For Admission

Applications will only be reviewed when complete.

CAISL Requires the following information for an application to be considered:

The APPLICATION FORM. (Request a paper form if you cannot use the linked online version.)
Previous SCHOOL RECORDS. Three years are required - the current, and the previous two, unless the child is very young and doesn't have three years of school records yet. If the records are in any other language they need to be translated to English or Portuguese.
OTHER INFORMATION. If such exist, copies of current or most recent educational-psychological testing and/or individual educational plans must also be submitted.

Please note: Early Childhood applicants must be three years old before September 1st to apply to EC3, 4 to apply to EC4, and so forth up to Grade 1, by which students need to be 6 by September 1st. Applicants must also be fully potty trained and be able to feed themselves using a fork and spoon.

What happens after the application?

Decisions on whether or not to admit a child are made by a team consisting of a member of the Admissions Team, the Elementary or Secondary Principal (as appropriate), and the Director. Other specialists (Learning Support/Special Needs, English for Speakers of Other Languages, International Baccalaureate Coordinator, School Nurse, for example) are part of the decision as needed. Communication about applications and the decisions are via the Admissions Team.

In considering the application for admission, the decision is based on two factors:

Academic and Behavioral record of the child
Space in Grade

Academic and Behavioral record of the child

School Academic and Behavior Reports

CAISL looks at the most recent three years of school reports. These should show both the academic results of classes taken but also the comments from teachers/tutors. If the academic record is a “transcript” and does not show teacher comments, then please provide copies of report cards as well.

Standardized Tests

If the child took standardized tests such as MAP or Iowa (USA) or SATS or (I)GCSE (UK), please provide these also.

Letters of Recommendation

While not required, letters of recommendation from the teachers or the previous school can be helpful.

Educational/Psychological Testing

If applicable, this must be sent along with any IEPs/504s. Be aware that CAISL’s Learning Support/Special Needs program is designed to support those with mild learning difficulties and CAISL can only admit students who are able to be successful, with only moderate levels of support, in our program.

Medical Report (if applicable)

For a child with medical conditions requiring the attention of the school nurse, a medical report may be required.

CAISL Admission Testing

CAISL does not normally administer testing to determine admissions eligibility. However, in some cases, such testing may be required. This is likely in the following situations:

Applicants for High School (9th through 12th Grades) who are not native speakers of English or whose records do not give proof that English would be at a high enough level for a High School Program.
Students whose records indicate difficulties with Math.
Students who wish to enter the Portuguese Native Language Program but are not coming from a school whose language of instruction is Portuguese or whose records indicate difficulties with Portuguese.

Space in Grade

Class Size

Most of CAISL’s classes are currently full although, as an international school, there are at times unexpected departures during the school year. To increase the possibility of securing a place, apply as early as possible. Once a class “closes,” it accepts no new enrollment until a student leaves.

Program Size

In addition to the number of students in a grade (often called “class size), students at times need the services of other programs such as Learning Support/Special Needs, English for Speakers of Other Languages (EAL), Nursing/Medical care, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). At times, there may be space in a grade but no space in these specialized programs and, thus, the application will be denied.

Information about the Wait Pool

Children whose complete application package has been reviewed and are “eligible for admission” but with no space in the grade or the program needed, may, at parent’s request, be put in the Wait Pool for the school year they are applying into. Applications are not automatically considered for the school year after and an update will be requested by the admissions team, should the family still be interested in a spot.

It is impossible to predict when or if a place will become available.

When space becomes available in a particular grade and/or program, the applications of every child in the Wait Pool are reconsidered and offers are made based on the academic/behavioral records submitted.

An additional factor in making enrollment offers is the list of priorities below:

PRIORITY LIST

Current CAISL re-enrolling students
Students whose parents are US Government employees.
Students who are coming from American or American International Schools.
Students who are coming from schools whose primary language of instruction is English.
Students who come from bilingual schools or are linguistically unable to attend a school whose instructional language is Portuguese.
Students who are linguistically able to attend a school whose instructional language is Portuguese.

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