Admissions Policies

Parents of students hoping to attend Rio International School should familiarize themselves with the admission requirements and procedures.

General

Students must meet the following admission requirements: 

• Demonstrate adequacy in the English language
• Have a basic level of educational aptitude and skills as determined by interview, examination and educational records

All new students and returning students in grades 5 and 9 must complete a physical exam in order to attend the first day of school. 

Foundation Class

Students must be three years old by September 30 of the enrollment year. Students under 3 years old are admitted with approval from the Director and can attend either half-day or full-day classes. No testing is required; however, students must be evaluated by the Early Childhood Center lead teacher and/or teacher to determine school readiness.

Junior Kindergarten

Students must be four years old by September 30 of the enrollment year. No testing is required; however, students must be evaluated by the Early Childhood Center lead teacher and/or teacher to determine school readiness.

Senior Kindergarten

Students must be five years old by September 30 of the enrollment year and demonstrate that they are ready to attend school. A child may be denied admittance if an evaluation determines they are not ready.

Grade 1

Students must be six years old by September 30 of the enrollment year and have been promoted from Kindergarten. If the student has not been promoted from Kindergarten, they must complete a RIS teacher evaluation and receive approval from the principal.

Grades 2 - 5

Students must demonstrate grade level English fluency determined by a school administered exam, as well as interview with a grade level teacher.  Transcripts from the students' prior attended schools will be reviewed. Final approval will be determined by the principal.

Grade 6 and above

Students must demonstrate grade level English fluency determined by a school administered exam, as well as interview with a grade level teacher. Transcripts from the students' prior attended schools will be reviewed. Final approval will be determined by the principal.

Learning Disabilities

RIS is currently not able to meet the needs of students with severe learning disabilities. Parents should inform the school if their child has a known learning disability. RIS will make every effort to meet the needs of each child it admits.

Parents' Presence

We believe that parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. Cooperation between the school and the home is necessary to ensure that students reach their fullest potential. As a result, and in the best interest of the student, RIS has established the following guidelines concerning residency of parents:

At least one parent or guardian must have full-time residency in Rio de Janeiro or a nearby community.  Guardians are only permitted to function in lieu of parents in unusual circumstances with the permission of the school administration.

Enrollment Priority

Rio International School adheres to the following enrollment priority policy:

• Children of international staff and associates
• Brothers and sisters of students already attending RIS
• Children who speak English fluently
• Children who do not speak English fluently

Waiting Lists

If a student meets the necessary requirements, but there is no space available, he/she may be placed on a waiting list.  Students will be added to this list according to the enrollment criteria. This waiting list is dissolved at the end of the school year and parents need to re-apply if they wish to be considered for enrollment for the following school year. RIS encourages parents to look for other educational options while their child is on the waiting list.

 Admissions Application

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