F-1 Public High School Program – United States
the F-1 program, a school immersion with choice of location
The F-1 program allows an international student to study in an American public high school while benefiting from greater control over their academic project.
Key Information – F-1 Public High School Program (United States)
- •Age: 15 to 18.5 years old in August of the departure year
- •Academic level: middle school or high school in France
- •Duration: 1 semester (5 months) or 1 school year (10 months)
- •English level: intermediate to good
- •Conditions: good physical and mental health, motivation, maturity
- •Location: possible choice of region and school district
- •Accommodation: selected and paid host family, full board
- •Diploma: possibility of obtaining the High School Diploma (depending on profile and institution)
Unlike the J-1 program, the F-1 offers the possibility to choose:
- ▸A specific geographic area
- ▸A school district
- ▸A high school offering specific academic, sports or artistic options
This program is aimed at families who want complete immersion, in a more structured and customizable framework.
How the program works
The operation of the F-1 program differs from the J-1 program.
The student chooses school districts from those offered
Depending on their profile, interests and availability, IMMERSION enrolls the student in one of these districts
A paid host family, located near the high school, is then selected
The student integrates into an American public high school and attends classes with local students
This model allows for a more targeted and secure environment, while maintaining complete school and linguistic immersion.
Schooling in an American high school (F-1 program)
Under the F-1 program, the student is enrolled as a full student in an American high school, public or private depending on the chosen program.
Institutions welcoming international students have a limited number of places, varying according to their popularity and welcome policy. Enrollment is therefore limited to available places, which requires anticipating the project.
Schooling is built according to:
- ▸The student's age
- ▸Their academic level
- ▸Their academic background in France
Beyond classes, participation in high school life is strongly encouraged. The student can:
- ▸Join extracurricular clubs
- ▸Join sports teams (depending on level and availability)
- ▸Participate in school events and activities
This involvement is a key element of integration, English progression and personal development.
High School Diploma
In some cases, and subject to good academic results and the institution's agreement, a student enrolled in Senior year (equivalent to Terminale) can obtain the High School Diploma.
This diploma may, depending on universities and applications, allow direct entry into higher education in the United States.
The host family
In the F-1 program:
- ▸Host families are not volunteers
- ▸They are selected and paid to host an international student
- ▸They reside near the chosen high school
This operation facilitates family recruitment, strengthens placement stability and allows for better alignment between the student's profile and that of the family.
Supervision and support
Throughout the stay, the student benefits from:
- ✓A local coordinator in the United States
- ✓Regular monitoring of their schooling and integration
- ✓A 24/7 emergency number
- ✓Continuous support from the IMMERSION team
Before departure, IMMERSION accompanies the student and their family in:
- ✓Application file preparation
- ✓Administrative and consular procedures
- ✓Cultural and academic preparation for departure
What is included in the program
- ✓Enrollment in an American public high school
- ✓Host family accommodation
- ✓Full board
- ✓Host family selection and follow-up
- ✓Local coordinator throughout the stay
- ✓Assistance with file and F-1 visa application
- ✓24/7 assistance and emergency number
What is not included
- •Airline tickets
- •Fees related to visas or travel authorizations
- •Outings and activities during the stay (museums, cinema, restaurants, cafeteria, etc.)
- •Personal and school expenses (supplies, uniforms if required)
- •Health insurance
- •Pocket money
A formative and structuring program
The F-1 Public High School Program is particularly suitable for students who wish to:
- ▸Build a coherent and personalized academic project
- ▸Benefit from a more structured framework than the J-1 program
- ▸Progress sustainably in English
- ▸Live an enriching school and human experience in the United States
At IMMERSION, each project is studied individually in order to propose a program aligned with the student's objectives and profile.
The F-1 Program Through the Lens
Discover the daily life of our F-1 students through this gallery of authentic photos. Host family, school life, and activities that make this immersion an unforgettable adventure.
Discover our other programs in the United States
Explore our other program options to find the one that best suits your needs.
They lived the adventure
Discover the authentic experiences of our students who dared to immerse themselves and came back transformed.
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