The British International School of Houston
Description of The British International School of Houston
- Location: Katie, Texas, USA,
- Established: 2000,
- Language of instruction: English,
- Type: mixed.
The British International School of Houston (BIS Houston) is an international school with a 23-year history, offering quality education to children from 3 to 18 years old. The English National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from primary to final grades are used in education.
Thanks to academically rigorous curricula and the qualifications of the teaching staff, children receive competitive, up-to-date knowledge and skills. BIS Houston students remain motivated to learn, many of them continuing their educational path at the best colleges and universities in the world.
Another feature of BIS Houston is the multinationality among students - representatives of about 80 countries study on campus. The welcoming school community strives to give every student the opportunity to reach their potential and achieve more than they could ever imagine.
BIS Houston offers not only internationally oriented knowledge, but also the development of individual skills in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UNICEF and the Juilliard School of the Arts.
Educational process
With the iPad 1:1 program, every student from elementary school to middle school uses an iPad, improving their skills on projects and assignments. Students find ways to enhance digital learning through collaborative interactions with peers, teachers, and sharing knowledge and resources.
Starting in Grade 10, students can choose the device that best suits their goals (such as a MacBook), and teachers will introduce them to cutting-edge technology suitable for their intended university studies. As students become more technologically advanced, they discover innovative ways to use technology in research and creativity, which will prepare them well for university and future careers.
Faculties and colleges
BIS Houston provides quality programs at all academic stages:
- Early years,
- Primary classes,
- Middle classes,
- High school.
Things to know about
The staff of the institution offers care for children who come to classes earlier or stay after them until the evening. BIS Houston Kids organizes exciting activities from 6:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. in the morning and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the afternoon.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in The British International School of Houston
Early Years
- Age - from three years,
- The term of study is two years.
The early years program is equivalent to preschool/kindergarten education in the U.S. system. In a comfortable and inspiring environment, children from 3 to 5 years old will receive valuable knowledge and skills that create the basis for further education according to the school plan.
The structured program allows young learners to enjoy playful activities that encourage a love of learning. The approach is based on research and concepts based on the methods of Reggio Emilia, Anji Play and Montessori, which in turn are appreciated all over the world. The curriculum stimulates knowledge and communication skills, language proficiency , physical, personal, social and emotional development with a particular focus on literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world, and expressive art and design. Students take special lessons in performing arts, swimming, physical education and languages: French or Spanish.
All lessons are held in a playful way and in a relaxed atmosphere, which allows you to keep the interest of children and gently adapt them to the subsequent academic stages.
Primary School, Primary School
- Age - from 5 to 11 years,
- The term of study is six years.
Primary School is the second stage of the International Baccalaureate program, equivalent to grades 1-5 of the American system. Training allows students to create a strong foundation of academic knowledge, develop personal qualities and hobbies for further success in school life.
Teachers take a holistic approach based on student requests and focusing on developing each student's curiosity, independence, and freedom of action. Individual attention in and out of the classroom will help the student learn at a pace that is comfortable for him and gain confidence in his abilities, and receive support in a timely manner.
The main subjects for studying in grades 1-6 are mathematics, English and science. Areas such as geography, history, social studies and international studies, art and design will be explored interdisciplinarily. The curriculum is diverse, which allows children to understand the areas of study that are interesting to them already at this stage.
In addition to a strong academic program, there are Juilliard School's advanced courses in music and dance, physical education, performing arts, and visual arts classes.
Middle School, Middle School
- Age - from 11 to 14 years,
- The term of study is three years.
Learning from grades 7 to 9 is very important, as it is at this point that students begin to understand what they like and who they would like to become.
The high school curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate program and consists of academically challenging, rigorous subject classes, additional courses, and seminars. Thanks to the sensitive attitude of teachers to each pupil, students receive assistance at all stages of training and feel comfortable without being overloaded and without losing interest in learning.
There are nine distinct areas to study in the curriculum:
- Language and Literature,
- World languages,
- Humanities
- Science
- Mathematics
- Design thinking,
- Performing Arts: Music, Drama and Dance,
- Basic Physical Education,
- Creative and academic enrichment.
Such a structure will help students to gradually and in-depth study a variety of disciplines, choosing some of them for further research and preparation for exams.
High School Diploma, High School
- Age - from 14 to 18 years,
- The term of study is four years.
A high school diploma offers students the flexibility of a curriculum so that they can focus on their strengths. Students can choose a combination of exams to achieve their desired results and receive offers of admission from the best universities.
Most courses are at the Honours level, and students earn graduation credits in their chosen electives, English, Science, Math, Humanities, Foreign Languages, and Art/Design.
In grades 12 and 13, all students begin their studies in the IB program. As part of the high school diploma option, students will have access to the following set of compulsory subjects:
- Six IB subjects at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL): Mathematics, Humanities and Science, Foreign Languages, English, Art/Design and electives to choose from,
- Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
Each graduate of the diploma program must complete 22 credits to graduate from high school.
The International Baccalaureate Career-Related Diploma (IBCP)
- Age - from 16 to 18 years,
- The term of study is two years.
The International Baccalaureate Career Development Program (IBCP) allows students to choose a combination of rigorous IB courses and the best preparation for their intended career.
Students choose one of three key areas:
- IB subjects: 3-5 at standard or higher level,
- The core group of classes, which includes personal and professional skills, ministry training, reflective project, and language development,
- Pre-professional training.
IBCP enhances students' educational experience and encourages them to apply their knowledge and skills in the real world.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
- Age - from 16 to 18 years,
- The term of study is two years.
The British International School of Houston offers an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). Universities around the world consider the IB diploma to be a very difficult and respected qualification.
This rigorous program, considered the gold standard in world education, allows school graduates to continue their studies anywhere in the world. It is available to students in the last two years of secondary school (grades 12 and 13) and includes six core subjects and a number of tasks that must be completed.
The IBDP requires students to choose a course in each of the following six subject groups:
- Study of language and literature,
- Language acquisition,
- Individuals and society,
- Science
- Mathematics
- Art.
High school students will study up to four subjects at the higher level (HL) and the rest at the standard level (SL). Standard-level subjects occupy 150 teaching hours during the two-year program, while higher-level subjects occupy 240 teaching hours.
Students will also have to complete three main elements aimed at expanding the educational experience and gaining practical knowledge and skills:
- Extended Essay (EE): independent independent research, ending with a 4000-word article,
- Theory of Knowledge (ToK), where students reflect on the nature of knowledge,
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students complete a project related to three concepts.
At the end of the program, students take subject exams and submit projects to the commission.
Accommodation, meals, prices
High school students have the opportunity to be accommodated in a residence that offers easy access to study facilities and an atmosphere of serious preparation for final exams. The four-storey residential building is a 20-minute drive from the study area and is shared with the Nord Anglia partner school. Students are offered several forms of accommodation:
- A seven-day boarding house with a permanent stay in the residence,
- Five-day boarding with the opportunity to go home for the weekend.
Students are accommodated in modern suites with four bedrooms and two bathrooms; On each floor there is a shared kitchen, living room, laundry room with washing machines and dryers. Students also have access to a fitness room, music and art studios, game rooms, sports courts, and other facilities of the school, and in the courtyard of the building there is an outdoor grill area and a small kitchen where students can relax and socialize.
Not only students live in the residence, but also experienced staff: employees provide support and monitor the well-being of the pupils' lives.
All students are offered a balanced menu that includes nutritious and delicious meals. Children can choose the format that suits them:
- General meal plans: daily meals,
- Individual plan: lunches on certain days.
Activities The British International School of Houston
On campus there are a variety of places created for recreation, development of sports, creative and personal, suitable for each age group. For example, preschoolers have access to a discovery garden, a composting center, sandboxes, playgrounds, winding bike paths, hills and tunnels, green spaces. Academic and extracurricular activities, gatherings of Houses are held in open areas.
All students at the British International School of Houston are assigned to one of four Houses. Each of these communities has distinctive signs based on the elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Competitions are regularly held between the participants of the Houses, children participate in intellectual games, project work and charity events, which maintains a healthy competitive spirit and develops leadership and organizational qualities in children.
The school supports many areas of extracurricular activities and encourages the sports, creative interests of students. The campus has high-quality equipment for sports activities in the following areas:
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Athletics
- Tennis,
- Golf
- Esports.
Competitions are held according to the seasons: in autumn - cross-country and volleyball, in winter - swimming, basketball and football, in spring - tennis, golf, athletics. National teams are divided by gender - boys and girls perform separately.
Creativity occupies a special place in the extracurricular development of students, as BIS Houston collaborates with the Juilliard School and provides high-quality equipment, qualified teachers and unlimited space for the development of skills in the following areas:
- Choirs
- Brass bands,
- Jazz band,
- Wind ensemble,
- Instrument lessons: strings, woodwinds, piano, winds and percussion.
Student artists participate in many school activities: their talent is often demonstrated in theatrical productions, solo performances and concerts.
One of the most memorable experiences of living in a residence is the opportunity to explore the world around you with excursions lasting from one day to a week. By participating in them, students will visit museums, state parks, cinemas and other attractions. Previous trips have included:
- Houston Museum of Natural Sciences,
- A trip to the TradeWinds Grand Resort in Florida,
- Skiing in Taos, New Mexico,
- Travel to Washington, D.C. and New York,
- Visit to Disneyland.
Advantages
- More than 80 nationalities among students,
- The approximate ratio of students to teachers in the class is 9: 1, the maximum number of students in a group is up to 18,
- The school is accredited to provide the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP),
- Accreditation as the Centre for International Examinations of the University of Cambridge (CIE) with the ability to offer Cambridge exam courses for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE),
- Accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC),
- BIS Houston is a leader in the provision of ed-tech technologies and has an "Outstanding Apple School" certification,
- 100% admission to universities and colleges around the world.
Facilities and equipment at The British International School of Houston
The British International School's 33-acre campus is located in Katy, Texas. The modern architecture of educational buildings offers large, bright rooms thanks to large-scale glazing of the walls. The building is equipped with:
- Classrooms with video and audio equipment, interactive whiteboards,
- Spaces for modeling, prototyping and creating creative projects,
- The Center for the Performing Arts, built in conjunction with the Juilliard School: a theater with 600 seats, a black box hall, choral and dance studios, visual and performing arts classes,
- A university-style library with a common reading space and natural light,
- Two NCAA-sized gyms: basketball areas,
- Water Sports Center – a swimming pool with six lanes for group and individual lessons,
- Multifunctional outdoor areas with grass cover,
- Three tennis courts,
- Eight-lane treadmill with portable barriers, pit and jumping mats,
- A football field that meets FIFA requirements, has artificial turf and stands for spectators.
- Fitness center with gym, yoga studios,
- Canteen, parent café,
- Administrative Student Aid Offices.
Admission dates and extra charges
The academic year consists of two semesters. Classes are organized in the morning from Monday to Friday. Students rest during the autumn, winter, spring and summer holidays, on national and international holidays.
List of expenses for applicants:
- Registration fee,
- New Student Fee,
- Deposit paid annually.
Annual expenses:
- Accommodation and meal plan,
- Transport
- School uniform,
- Individual and additional lessons,
- Language support,
- Some excursions and activities.
The cost of the programs includes the following services:
- Digital books,
- IGCSE and IB exams,
- School iPad,
- Technical fees,
- All modern amenities and use of school infrastructure,
- Professional development programs and selected extracurricular activities.
Enrolment process
The procedure for admission to BIS Houston consists of several registration stages:
- Filling out an online form requesting information,
- Visiting the campus or communicating with employees in an online format,
- Submission of documents and payment of registration fees,
- Receiving an invitation for entrance examinations and interviews,
- Filling out the latest registration forms, making a deposit and starting your studies.
Perspectives
At the end of the program, 100% of high school students enter selected colleges and universities, including Rice University, the University of Pennsylvania, Oxford, Cambridge and Stanford.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
Applicants to BIS Houston school programs arriving from other countries must provide:
- Personal documents: passport, health insurance, student visa or residence permit,
- School reports and transcripts for current and previous years of study,
- Evaluation form completed by the teacher,
- Completed drawing or writing assignment for children entering primary school.
Scholarships The British International School of Houston
BIS Houston offers scholarships and financial aid based on the needs of the student's family. Scholarships are paid to students who are particularly successful in their studies and extracurricular life. Awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year, the largest being the Hailey Byrne Memorial Award, $20,000 paid over two years (Hayley Byrne was an inspirational teacher and leader of the school).
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about The British International School of Houston
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
