Admissions Policy

Admissions criteria

1.1 Competitive admissions. As admission will be competitive, preference will be given to the most academically capable students.

1.2 PRC regulations. In compliance with Chinese government regulations, ZIS can only accept applications from foreign passport holders or residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Applications can also be received by any Chinese passport holder who has one or both parents holding a foreign passport, green card or being resident from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

1.3 Guardianship. Local government requirements in regard to proper guardianship of students mean that ZIS may accept students who are: a) resident with at least one parent, b) resident with an approved guardian (with power of attorney), or c) resident in the ZIS boarding facility. Students are not permitted, under local regulations, to be under the supervision of non-resident guardians. Students who are not living with at least one parent or authorized guardian cannot be enrolled at ZIS.

1.4 School capacity and class size. Admissions will be granted according to enrollment limits which ensure that standards of excellence will be maintained.

1.5 English fluency. Students applying to ZIS will be evaluated for English speaking, reading, and writing ability. As the school wishes to maintain an environment where English is the primary language of academic instruction, preference is given to those students who are most functional or have the greatest potential to be functional at their year level in English. All entering Middle and High School students not having English as their native language must, as a minimum, be at a level from which they can work to complete the IB Subsidiary English B program by graduation, along with self-taught study of their mother tongue literature.

1.6 Special learning needs. Parents of students who have special learning needs will need to consult with ZIS to ensure the school has resources available to serve their child before applying for admission or arriving in Zhuhai. Students admitted to ZIS must be able to function within the regular classroom setting and be able to work towards the successful completion of ZIS academic requirements. It is important to note that we do not have a specialist unit to deal with more serious learning difficulties and if your child has such needs, this could result in the withdrawal of the offer of a place. ZIS does not have the facilities or faculty required to educate children with severe learning problems, such as:
Autism
Emotional/behavioral disorders
Mental retardation.
Communicative disorders/aphasia

1.7 Age. A child must be three years old by September 1 st of the year entering the Nursery school program; four years old by September 1 st of the year entering Reception; five years old by September 1 st of the year entering Year 1; and six years old by September 1 st of the year entering Year 2. ZIS, in the admission process will always take into account the country of origin, the educational system from which the student comes, and the student’s past performance in that system.

1.8 Part-time students. Part-time students may be enrolled in ZIS when their attendance is mutually beneficial to both student and ZIS. All conditions for entrance for full-time students apply. (Tuition will be charged on a pro-rata basis; all other fees are as for full-time students.)
 
Admissions requirements

2.1 Academic Records . Each applicant must present a transcript of courses with grades for at least the previous two years of schooling (three years for students above Year 11); at least two letters of recommendation and a counselor recommendation; any standardized test results. If in another language, these original documents must be accompanied by a certified translation.

2.2 Interview. When possible, the student, with parent(s) or guardian(s) must be available for an interview before admission is granted. Students may be asked to participate in a phone or on-line interview.

2.3 Verification of age. A passport and birth certificate will be required.

2.4 Medical records. Students will not be permitted to start school without a completed copy of the medical history and physical (medical) form. This includes a record of immunizations, illness history, and current physical examination by a physician. Exceptions will be at the discretion of the school Director in collaboration with the school Nurse.
 

Application Conditions

* Admissions and placement tests may be required as part of the admission process.

* Students who have not completed a full year in the previous year by the starting entrance date will be required to repeat the previous year’s year.

* Parents will be notified by phone, fax, or email when admission testing is required. For parents in other countries it will be their responsibility to find a secure test site, such as current school.

* It will be the responsibility of applying families to see that reference forms are returned to the school in a timely and confidential manner. The application cannot be processed until all forms and documents are rendered and application fees paid.

* Admission decisions are made by the ZIS administration. The ZIS admission staff will not give feedback on applications until instructed to do so by the principal. Any judgments of the applicant inadvertently or conversationally rendered by the admission staff are not binding.

* Any misreported or unreported information in this application may result in the student’s being rejected or, if already accepted, being asked to withdraw. Documents submitted with this application will not be returned.

* Photos of students may appear in school publications, newspaper and other advertisements, brochures, and on the website. Parents who do not want their child to appear in such media must notify the admission office in writing.