Glossary

Aa

Academics

Evaluating a school's academic quality, including course offerings (AP, IB, honors, and advanced), percentage of teachers with master's degrees or higher, AP exam scores of 3/4/5, average standardized test scores (New SAT and ACT), AMC math competition results, FRC robotics achievements, etc.

ACT

The ACT is the abbreviation for the American College Testing exam, primarily used by U.S. colleges for admissions and scholarship decisions. The ACT consists of four sections: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The maximum score is 36, with each section scored from 1 to 36. Unlike the SAT, the ACT's math section includes some advanced math content and also has a science section. Additionally, the ACT writing test is optional, though some universities may require applicants to submit an ACT writing score.

AP Program

The AP Program refers to Advanced Placement courses, organized by the College Board, designed to offer high school students more challenging and in-depth learning experiences to better prepare them for college studies. AP subjects include math, English, physics, chemistry, biology, history, economics, etc., each with a corresponding exam. High school students can take AP courses and exams at the end of the term to earn college credits for scores that meet certain requirements.

Asian Student Management

Evaluates the school’s effectiveness in admitting and managing Chinese students in terms of Chinese student ratio, boarding rate (for boarding schools only), accommodation arrangements/management units (for day schools only), year of first admission of Chinese students, whether there is a dedicated Chinese language teacher for student management, frequency of visits to China per year, international student ratio, etc.

Bb

Boarding Rate

The boarding rate refers to the percentage of boarding students out of the total student population. This can help parents and students understand the boarding environment and cultural atmosphere of the school. Generally, a high boarding rate indicates better boarding facilities and a more professional and stable boarding management system.

Cc

Comments (long/short)

Usually submitted by students, parents, and counselors, these comments analyze and assess the strengths, weaknesses, characteristics, and highlights of a school to help others understand it better. Comments are divided into long and short: long comments typically evaluate aspects such as "academics, student life, application process, and extracurricular activities," while short comments are not restricted in scope.

Community

Reflects an assessment of local resources, the density of high-quality universities nearby, distance to an international airport, convenience of local life and transportation, city crime rates, and the education level of the city’s population.

Ee

Endowment Fund

Also known as the "Alumni Endowment Fund" or "Endowment," this is an asset owned by the school, often funded by donors. The fund provides long-term financial support for the school, such as scholarships, funding research projects, and maintaining facilities. The size of an alumni fund is often a key measure of a school's financial strength.

ESL

ESL refers to English as a Second Language courses, specifically designed for students whose native language is not English. The goal of these courses is to help students adapt to an English-speaking environment, covering skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation, cultural knowledge, etc., so they can succeed academically and in other areas.

Extracurriculars

Reflects the arrangement and statistics of non-academic activities at the school, including alumni donation amounts, the number of clubs and activities, sports team rankings, and evaluations of arts programs.

Gg

GPA

GPA stands for Grade Point Average, a common grading scale used to measure students' academic performance. It is a credit-based average, calculated by multiplying the grade for each course by the course credits, summing all courses, and dividing by the total number of credits. In U.S. schools, GPA is often calculated on a 4- or 5-point scale, with each point corresponding to a specific credit accumulation.

Ii

IB Program

The IB Program, or International Baccalaureate Programme, is a high-quality comprehensive international education program. Unlike AP courses, IB courses emphasize interdisciplinary training and a global perspective, aiming to develop globally aware, creative talents. The IB program is also widely recognized by universities around the world, and students can use IB credits for admission to universities globally.

International Students

International students are those from outside the U.S. who study and live at schools in other countries or regions. These students often come to the U.S. on student visas (schools issue I-20 forms for students to apply for a "student visa") to access better educational opportunities. They must adhere to local visa and study abroad regulations.

ISEE

ISEE stands for Independent School Entrance Exam, a widely used entrance exam for middle and high schools in the U.S. Similar to the SSAT, the ISEE is designed to help private and independent schools admit students from ages 8 to 18. The ISEE exam content includes reading comprehension, math skills, writing, and speaking skills.

Mm

Matriculation

A summary of the school's university admissions results, including acceptance rates to Ivy League schools, top 25 national universities + top 5 liberal arts colleges, top 50 national universities + top 10 liberal arts colleges, top 100 national universities + top 25 liberal arts colleges, previous years' admission data, etc.

Nn

Nearby Area

Lists amenities around the school, including hotels, airports, restaurants, shopping centers, nearby high schools, and universities. It reflects the convenience of the school's location and the level of educational resources in the surrounding area.

Qq

Q&A

Users can ask questions on the platform, and other users or experts provide answers, clarifications, and discussions, helping users obtain information related to schools, resolve issues, and share knowledge and experiences.

Rr

Rankings

Rankings refer to FindingSchool's process of collecting and analyzing tens of thousands of data points from over

Religious Affiliation

Some private high schools in the U.S. have religious affiliations, including Christian and Catholic affiliations. These schools may offer religion-related courses but do not require students to follow that religion. Besides common religious beliefs, many private high schools do not adhere to a specific religious affiliation, providing a more liberal and diverse educational environment to attract students from various backgrounds and beliefs.

Ss

SAT

The SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardized test organized by the College Board, mainly used by U.S. universities for college admissions and scholarship decisions. The SAT exam includes three sections: Reading, Writing, and Math, with a maximum score of 1600. The Reading and Writing section has a maximum score of 800, as does the Math section. SAT scores are an important criterion for college applications in the U.S.

SSAT

The SSAT, or Secondary School Admission Test, is a widely used entrance exam for middle and high schools in the U.S. and Canada. This test is designed to help private and independent schools admit students aged 8 to 18. The SSAT includes reading, math, and writing skills assessments, helping schools evaluate students' abilities and academic potential for better admissions decisions. The test is divided into Elementary (for elementary students), Middle (for middle school students), and Upper levels (for high school students), each with varying difficulty.

Tt

Teachers with Advanced Degrees

Reflects the percentage of teachers holding a master’s degree or higher. A high percentage of qualified teachers indicates a relatively strong teaching staff at the school.

360° Virtual Tour

Experience a panoramic view of the school campus in 360 degrees. Just click on a specific building to view the interior. This allows for a realistic online school tour experience with a true three-dimensional perspective.

TOEFL

TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is mainly used to assess the English listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency of non-native English speakers. The TOEFL exam includes four sections: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, with each section scored from 0 to 30, and a total score of up to 120. TOEFL scores are a key criterion used by many universities and research organizations worldwide to assess students' English proficiency.

Vv

Vericant

Vericant is a trusted service provider for both online and in-person interviews. Candidates are required to complete a 30-minute writing test and a 13-20 minute interview. Many high schools use Vericant interviews for preliminary applicant screening, and Vericant’s proprietary "Spoken English Assessment Score" is widely accepted in North America as a measure of students' communication skills in a classroom environment.