Forest City International School

• Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia,
• Year of foundation: 2018,
• Number of students: about 200,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Forest City International School (FCIS) is a boarding school, offering programs for children of all ages, from kindergarten to high school. The FCIS academic system complies with state Common Core standards and includes the Advanced Placement (AP) system, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded education and skills that will help them gain entry into top universities around the world.

Having a short history, which began in the fall of 2018, the institution has already gained trust among students from different countries - about 200 pupils of 16 nationalities study on campus, creating a friendly community. Due to its small size, the school implies individual attention to each student, setting the main goal of his comprehensive development, the disclosure of talents and the identification of strengths. The teaching staff includes 80 highly qualified subject teachers and specialists, each of whom uses modern methods in teaching children. Whether it's integrating new technologies into the learning process, playing a game format in research, or a lesson in the open air, classes are always effective and with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, so that students can easily apply what they have learned in real life.

Students can choose the most suitable program for completing their studies: American High School Diploma, A-Level or University Foundation Program. Each track is focused on achieving specific goals: admission to a particular university, applying to U.S. universities, or obtaining a universal qualification that will open the doors of many higher education institutions around the world.

The academic system of Forest City International School covers all stages of school education:

• Early Childhood – preschool department,
• Lower School — elementary grades 1-6,
• Upper School is a high school that includes classes 7-12.

The school also has a professional golf academy and seasonal programs.

Forest City International School accepts students from other schools on the basis of exchange programs, sending its students for short-term studies to partner educational institutions both in the country and abroad.

The residence, located on the FCIS campus, accommodates students from 10 to 18 years old. They live in fully furnished one-bedroom apartments, equipped with double bedrooms, a shared living area, two bathrooms. The building has laundries, self-study and group work classes, recreation areas.

At the boarding school, students are supervised by qualified staff who live on site and are available around the clock to help with any issues.

Students visit the dining room, which serves hot and cold meals, healthy snacks and drinks three times a day. Between classes, students can use the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat.

In leisure time, Forest City International School holds classes in various elective areas focused on the development of individual abilities, the disclosure of students' talents. With a diverse campus infrastructure, students can focus on gaining skills in areas such as:

• Art Club,
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Publication of the Yearbook,
• Golf
• Music Club,
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Volleyball.

Throughout the year, teachers organize a lot of events: theme parties, art exhibitions, culinary evenings, Christmas celebrations and many others. Students help employees by performing at concerts, creating scenery, supervising rehearsals, and gaining important social and leadership skills. Students participate in meaningful projects such as volunteering at local shelters, cleaning up beaches and forests, or helping with community events: this is a chance to make a positive impact on the local community, build strong bonds with fellow students.

Students have a great opportunity to explore the architecture, history and sights of Johor Bahru, Singapore and more remote regions. Teachers accompany pupils during a variety of excursions: from visiting entertainment centers on weekends to trips to neighboring countries on vacation.

• NEASC accreditation,
• Forest City International School is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS),
• 100% of graduates go on to selected universities,
• Curricula specialize in STEM, Visual Arts, Humanities, and Sports,
• The ratio of students to teachers is 4:1,
• Several high school programs to choose from,
• Professional Golf Academy at the school,
• A wide range of extracurricular circles and sections.

Forest City International School is located on a sprawling campus of 23 acres, located 50 km from Singapore. The green area, warm climate and many entertainment, cultural places nearby make the school attractive not only for local, but also international students. The FCIS infrastructure meets modern standards in education:

• Classrooms with interactive equipment,
• Scientific laboratories,
• STEAM Innovation Center,
• Theater with 850 seats, rehearsal and make-up rooms,
• Studios of fine and performing arts, music, needlework,
• Culinary studio,
• Dining room, cafeteria,
• Libraries for all school departments, reading rooms with self-study areas, individual lessons with a teacher.

Since sports is one of the main areas of extracurricular life, the school is equipped with:

• Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool,
• Indoor golf training hall with AI equipment,
• Golf course,
• Professional fitness center,
• Several sports grounds.

There is also a comfortable residence on campus, which is home to middle and high school students.

The school year lasts from late August to mid-June, includes several trimesters:

• Autumn: August-October,
• Winter: November-January,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-June.

Classes are held on weekdays from 8:30 to 15:4-17:00, rest is provided on weekends, days of national and international holidays, during the vacations between trimesters. Extracurricular activities are organized after the main lessons, sometimes on weekends, during vacations.

Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fees, deposit,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Some extracurricular activities, trips,
• Individual academic support,
• Use of technology,
• Language support,
• School uniform,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants will have to fill out an online application, provide the required documents and pay the application fee. The Admissions Committee reviews applications and invites prospective students for an informal interview, entrance exams in core subjects and English. Based on the results of the previous stage, candidates receive an official invitation to study, after which they need to make a deposit, arrive at the campus and start classes.

High scores received by high school students when passing final exams allow graduates to continue their academic path at leading universities in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Malaysia and other countries. The list of institutions that have accepted FCIS pupils includes:

• Australia National University,
• University of Sydney,
• Concordia University,
• Ontario Tech University,
• University of British Columbia,
• University of Toronto,
• York University,
• Boston University,
• Duke University (China Campus),
• New York University,
• Pennsylvania State University,
• Purdue University,
• Suffolk University,
• University of San Francisco,
• University of Washington.

All applicants applying to FCIS from abroad must have a passport, health insurance, visa, or residence permit for long-term study in Malaysia. Admission criteria differ depending on the level of education to which the candidate is enrolled, but the general ones are:

• Academic reports from the previous place of study, exam results if any,
• Individual achievements (if any).

An important aspect is the level of English proficiency. Applicants in grades 6-12 must have a minimum of average language ability to begin their studies and attend additional courses at the same time, and younger candidates can enter the school with any level of language knowledge.

FCIS offers a discount program for several students from the same family: 10% for the second child, 15% for the third and subsequent children.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision