There are more than 8,800 Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools in the United States. Students have many program options for whatever they are interested in studying. School options also include programs from grades kindergarten through 12 (K-12), also known as elementary or secondary programs. If you are a parent, remember that your students may only attend an SEVP-certified school.

If your child is an F student and interested in these programs, here are the rules they need to follow:

• Public schools: They may attend a public high school (grades nine through 12) for one academic year, a maximum period of 12 months. They also must pay the full, unsubsidized cost of attendance to the school before applying for a visa.They cannot attend public schools from kindergarten through grade eight because these schools cannot be SEVP-certified.
• Private schools: They can attend a private school for grades K-12, as long as it is SEVP-certified. There is no limit to the length of time they may attend as long as they are maintaining their status.

If your student finishes their secondary education and wants to continue studying in the United States, they need to apply to a SEVP-certified college or university. You can help them find one on the School Search page. If you student is accepted, they need to work with their designated school official (DSO) to transfer their student record to the new school. Learn more at our page about transferring as an F-1 student.

If you have questions, visit our K-12 resource page or talk to your student's DSO.