Inquire now for the 2024-2025 school year!

Host an International Student

Apply to host a Grace Academy international student! This ministry can be rewarding for both your family and the student(s) you take in.

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Why You Should Apply

As International students enter the United States, they may experience new and difficult adjustments.  Adapting to a new culture takes time, patience, perseverance, and often a sense of humor.  With the support of a loving and nurturing family environment, students are more likely to be successful and gain the greatest benefit from their cross-cultural adventure.  Grace Academy aims to have all international students attending the school live with an American host family during the time they are enrolled.  Grace Academy families do receive compensation to cover the costs of providing a home for our international students.

It is Grace Academy’s earnest desire that both the host family and the international student will develop a strong relationship that encourages lasting friendships and ongoing growth for both parties. 

Host Family Preparations

Host Families provide:

  • A safe and comfortable physical environment that meets the basic needs of food, shelter, and safety.
  • An emotionally secure environment in which the student receives encouragement, support, guidance, and love.
  • An opportunity for the student to participate as a valuable member of the host family. 
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Student Expectations

The International student is expected to participate as a family member would in daily life.  This includes:

  • Sharing in family activities and outings such as daily mealtime.
  • Joining in family outings such as museum visits and recreational activities such as trips to the park as the student’s schedule allows.
  • Sharing in weekly worship services with the host family and possibly attending church youth activities.
  • Participating in household jobs in the same way that other family members participate.  This might include cleaning the house, helping with yard work, doing laundry, assisting in meal preparation, etc. 
  • Showing respect and cooperating with the family rules.  These may relate to curfew and other activities.  Host parents serve as a substitute for the international student’s biological parents and therefore will expect to know the student’s whereabouts and schedule of activities at all times.
  • Learning to practice politeness, good manners, and thoughtfulness in the context of their new culture.
  • Communicating emotional, academic, and physical needs.

Become Involved

Grace Academy is seeking host families who are genuinely interested  in providing a nurturing home environment for an international student.  The host family must be willing to work at overcoming difficult barriers and challenges that language and cultural barriers present as the relationships develop.  All involved should be willing to be stretched and open to new ways of doing things and with patience, flexibility, perseverance, and creativity. 

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Parent Testimonial

“Our family has been profoundly blessed by the nurturing and faith-driven environment at Grace Academy! As an alumnus, I am deeply grateful to see my son now thriving in the same enriching setting, where dedicated teachers instill not only academic excellence but also a strong foundation of faith in Jesus. This school truly is a beacon of Christian education, guiding our children towards a path of lifelong learning and spiritual growth.”

Chris Coerber
Current Parent and Alumni

“Grace Academy provides a unique and valuable educational experience for students, emphasizing a personalized and rigorous curriculum, a strong sense of community and a focus on character development. The commitment and dedication of the tenured teachers and staff to their students creates a learning environment that fosters growth, achievement and academic success”

Melissa George
Current Parent

“Grace Academy has been a HUGE blessing for our family!! The quality of academic education coupled with a full complement of extracurricular activities has given us an incredible experience. While these 2 things have contributed to the success of our kids, what has been the most impactful is the relationship they have developed with Jesus and how the teachers genuinely love and care for each student. Grace Academy’s motto is ‘Educating for Life / Impacting for Eternity’ and as a family that has been here for 13 years – we have seen this, felt this, and most importantly, lived this. We could not imagine our kids anywhere else and thank God every day for allowing us to be a part of the Grace Academy family!!”

Duaine Birkhofer
Current Parent

“Our son’s life is forever changed. God has used the team at Grace Academy to shelter our son from the storms of life raging all around. Combining highest levels of academic excellence, Godly instruction, and a family atmosphere, we are forever grateful for Grace Academy. We highly recommend, and we are beyond blessed to know our second son will be starting Kindergarten in the fall!”

Rev. Shawn and Elizabeth Roberts
Current Parent

“I appreciate Grace's high academic standards while seeing my child as a whole and meeting him where he is academically and socially. The care and intent the staff gives to help every student reach their potential is impressive. I am truly grateful that we have found our way to the Grace family.”

Jamie Jefferson
Current Parent

"Grace Academy has blessed our family with the strength and courage to hold true to our family values. Grace Academy instills the importance of both faith and education while creating healthy relationships with peers and God."

JNicole Abroguena

"Grace Academy has been a great place for my kids to grow both academically and spiritually this year! It has been a special joy for me to see my kids’ appetite for God’s Word grow; I know this is in part from their engagement in classes and chapels at Grace. Thank you to the administrators and teachers at Grace Academy for being intentional in sharing God’s truth in all aspects of their education!"

Andrea Dauber