ADMISSIONS
START YOUR JOURNEY WITH GIS TODAY
WELCOME TO ADMISSIONS
We invite you to join one of the largest faith-based international schools in the world!
From the start, our mission has been to offer affordable and quality education to children of international Christian workers so that they may stay in the field long term. While staying true to our purpose, GIS also serves other families who desire a rigorous K–12 education through an American curriculum from a biblical worldview for their children. It is our vision that every student will excel both academically and spiritually while being equipped with the right tools to impact the world for Christ.
What makes GIS so special is that all of our highly qualified staff raise their own support to teach here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in order to keep tuition costs low. You can be confident that your child will grow in an inspiring learning environment with loving staff who are examples of what it looks like to live out God’s calling for their lives.
In order to meet the different needs of international workers, we also offer long-distance education as an alternative to full-time enrollment. Please refer to our Home and Distance Education page for more information.
- Applications for the 23/24 academic year have closed. Our deadline for applications was May 1st, 2023.
- Please contact us in August through November 2023 if you’d like to be considered for Semester 2 of the 2023-24 school year.
- Applications for the 24/25 academic year, please contact Admissions in February – May 2024. Please send your inquiries directly to admissions@gisthailand.org.
INQUIRE TODAY
Ready to join the Grace family? Then click below to apply! We know that applying for a new school can be stressful and confusing so we try to make our application process as clear and simple as possible. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
ACCREDITATION
You can have confidence that your children will be getting quality education at GIS. We are accredited by ACSI (Association of Christian School International), WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), and ONESQA (Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment). It is our top priority to make sure that our academic programs and school environment consistently meet requirements for these accreditations.
DIVERSITY
At GIS we value and take pride in our diversity, with students and staff from all around the world. We have 14 different nationalities on staff, 23 nationalities in our student body, and parents serving in over 40 countries across the globe. Everyone in our community comes from different walks of life and many of them have lived in multiple countries because of their calling. Each of them has a unique story to tell. What is yours?
CAMPUS VISIT
Want to see firsthand what GIS is like? Then come take a campus tour! We would love to show you around our campus and experience what a day in the life of a GIS student or staff is like. We ask that you book an appointment with us at least 24 hours in advance so that we can be ready to welcome you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers. We understand you may have questions beyond this. If you don't find your answer below please email us and we'll respond ASAP!
Prospective Students
Class sizes will generally be no more than the following:
- Kindergarten & 1: 16 students per classroom
- Grades 2–3: 18 students per classroom
- Grades 4–5: 20 students per classroom
- Grades 6–8: 24 students per classroom
- Grade 9–12: 24 students per classroom
GIS does have trained specialists who work with ESOL students, but ESOL students spend the majority of their time in the mainstream classroom, expected to perform alongside their native English-speaking peers. For this reason, all ESOL applicants must pass an English proficiency test before applying and GIS limits the number of ESOL students to a proportion not greater than 15% per grade level.
An applicant for Kindergarten must be 5 years old by September 1.
1. Developmental Readiness Scale (KRA)
The KRA is used for all students applying for Kindergarten at Grace International School (GIS). The KRA is used to help understand whether a student is ready for the school setting at GIS. It evaluates 8 different areas:
- Visual Motor – How the eyes and hands work together
- Numbers – Counting and using numbers with objects
- Concepts – Knowledge of facts and how things relate
- Body Image – Awareness of oneself and positions in space
- Language – Understanding and using words
- Personal – Ability to think and act independently
- Fine Motor – How the muscles in the hands and fingers work together
- Gross Motor – How the large muscles in the body work together
2. English Proficiency Tests
Grace International School uses a variety of tests for students who speak English as an additional language and are applying for Kindergarten–Grade 12. Students applying for Kindergarten will be required to take both the English Proficiency Tests and portions of the KRA assessment to determine their language ability. Grace International School assesses English language proficiency in these four categories: speaking, listening, writing, and reading.
Each of these four tests incorporate age-appropriate social and instructional language, the language of language arts, the language of mathematics, the language of science, and the language of social studies. At Grace International School, we only have English language development support and not an intensive ESOL Program that offers first language support. This is available for a limited number of students.
All applications for new students must be submitted by May 1st.
Yes. High school and Middle school students may enroll at the beginning of each semester; elementary students can enroll at the beginning of each quarter.
Grade by Age Appropriate – 2023–2024
Kindergarten
Age 5–6
Sept 2017–Aug 2018
Grade 1
Age 6–7
Sept 2016–Aug 2017
Grade 2
Age 7–8
Sept 2015–Aug 2016
Grade 3
Age 8–9
Sept 2014–Aug 2015
Grade 4
Age 9–10
Sept 2013–Aug 2014
Grade 5
Age 10–11
Sept 2012–Aug 2013
Grade 6
Age 11–12
Sept 2011–Aug 2012
Grade 7
Age 12–13
Sept 2010–Aug 2011
Grade 8
Age 13–14
Sept 2009–Aug 2010
Grade 9
Age 14–15
Sept 2008–Aug 2009
Grade 10
Age 15–16
Sept 2007–Aug 2008
Grade 11
Age 16–17
Sept 2006–Aug 2007
Grade 12
Age 17–18
Sept 2005–Aug 2006
New Students
Please contact one of our admissions coordinators at admissions@gisthailand.org with any questions you may have.
Arranging transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the parent. Many families contract with song-taew and tuk-tuk drivers to provide transportation. Students transported by these means are expected to comply with any rules the drivers establish. Students may not stand on the step/tailgate of a moving vehicle under any circumstances. GIS provides transportation to and from field trips and athletic events for the participants. Volunteer drivers must hold a current, valid Thai driver’s license, have lived in Thailand for at least six months, and be at least 25 years of age.
Elementary students don’t need to bring supplies, but they do need a bookbag or backpack. The school provides pencils, paper, and other supplies in grades K-6.
High school and Middle school teachers will communicate on the first day what supplies are required. It is good to bring the usual lined paper, pen, pencil, bookbag or backpack.
Each High school and Middle school student is assigned a locker. Students are responsible for the locker key and the general care and cleanliness of their lockers.
To obtain a locker:
Come to see your homeroom teacher on the first day of school or ask in the main office if you come later than the first day of school.
- You will be assigned a locker and given a key. The locker number matches the number on the key.
- The key is to be returned at the end of the year or upon withdrawal from the school. If keys are not returned at the end of the year or on the withdrawal date, student will be fined 500 baht.
- If a student loses a key during the school year and needs a replacement the cost is 500 baht.
- If a student forgets their key, they may “borrow” (have the locker opened for them) at a cost of 10 baht per time.
GIS is happy to offer a quality hot lunch program. A variety of Thai and western-style foods are offered, as well as a daily salad bar. The school lunch plan can be purchased by the semester but not by the day. Students miss several meals per semester due to school sponsored trips, sending organization activities, medical needs, or other valid reasons and this has been factored into the price. If a child misses more than 25 school days of the semester, the finance office may be able to discount the price. Menus for each quarter and additional information can be found under Food Services. New students are invited to try the lunch program the first week without obligation. If the students would like to sign up, parents are responsible for bringing payment to the finance office. Parents may join their children for lunch by notifying the office two (2) days in advance and pay an adult guest fee.
Students can also pack a lunch from home and eat with their friends in the cafeteria. The school provides non-refrigerated, ant-free storage space for lunches brought from home. However, the school does not provide assistance in preparation (microwave, hot water, etc.) for these lunches.
All students enrolled at GIS are able to check out books from the library. No card is needed for check out. Elementary students visit the library once a week as a class and may also come in during 1st and 3rd recess with a pass. High school and Middle school students may visit the library throughout the day with a paper pass or a library pass. For more details please visit our library page.
GIS will issue student ID cards at the beginning of the school year. Students may show this card at many places in Thailand to obtain discounts. Students are not obligated to return this card at the end of the school year; however, cards will expire at the end of the school term. Students who withdraw from GIS must return the student ID card to the Registrar’s office. The cost of replacing a lost student ID card is 100 baht.
What are the GIS school hours?
Kindergarten Half-day program
Hours: 8:25 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (Wednesdays start time 9:45 a.m.–pickup time 1:30 p.m.)
Kindergarten Full day program–Grade 6
Hours: 8:25 a.m.–3:15 p.m. (Wednesdays start time 9:45 a.m.)
Grade 7–12
Hours: 8:10 a.m.–3:15 p.m. (Wednesdays start time 9:40 a.m.)
GIS uses a school information system called FACTS. Both students and families can access student grades, attendance, report cards, transcripts, and much more any time. Once students are fully enrolled at the beginning of the school year (or later if enrolling mid-year), they and parents will get information on how to register and login to the system. All students in grades 7–12 will also be issued a GIS email address, to use for all school-related communications.
All GIS High school and Middle school students are issued a school-owned Chromebook to use during school hours and at home. Other devices, including mobile phones, may only be used at home or outside school hours. For more detailed information, please read the information at this link: GIS 1:1 Chromebook Program. Parents are responsible to pay 1,000 baht Chromebook insurance only. High school and Middle school students should turn in their Student Responsibility Form and Parent Agreement Form on the 1st day in the IT Office.
GIS does not provide dormitories. Parents who will not be living in Chiang Mai are responsible to find suitable housing for their students. Parent release of information to guardian form will need to be signed by parents and guardian before turning it into the registrar at the beginning of each school year.
