International Program

St. John develops an individualized curriculum for its international students that enables our teachers to learn your student's strengths and weaknesses and what methods of instruction work best for the education of your child. This curriculum includes the opportunity to take high school-level math courses and music lessons through Shoreland Lutheran High School, St. John's nearby federation partner high school, and online high school-level science courses through Associations of Lutheran High Schools Online.

St. John achieved, and maintains, exemplary accreditation by Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation (WELSSA) and the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). Accreditation means that we meet and exceed the standards that parents and educators expect from a high-quality school. In addition, St. John teachers are also advocates for on-going education and life-long learning. Each year, teachers seek to sharpen and expand their skills and understanding through conferences, workshops, and post-graduate coursework.

St. John's 1:1 technology program in grades 3-8 includes the use of Chromebooks. St. John incorporates the use of multi-media Smartboards in all classrooms.

All students at St. John are encouraged to exercise their brains and express their creativity by participating in after-school programs outside the classroom in cross-cultural activities, music, drama and other arts, and athletics.

An on-staff International Advisor supports all international students with day-to-day needs, communicates with parents, and assists with necessary medical needs and more. Each international student also has a student mentor to help them acclimate to student life at St. John. St. John student mentors are chosen by the administration based on their leadership abilities and willingness to serve.

International students at St. John experience a broad interaction of cultures at school and with their host families. International students also have opportunities to share their own cultural background by presenting to school groups and showing their host families and friends the unique and interesting aspects of life at home.

Parents and families are welcome to visit St. John and their students at any time! Students and families generally arrive through Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is located just 25 minutes from our campus. Libertyville and the surrounding area host a wide variety of hotel accommodations, so please contact Principal David Retzlaff for more information.

St. John is in federation partnership with Shoreland Lutheran High School. This partnership allows for the opportunity for advanced St. John students to take high school-level math courses and music lessons through Shoreland Lutheran High School, St. John’s nearby federation partner high school, and online high school-level science courses through Association of Lutheran High Schools Online (ALHSO). St. John’s International Student Program also partners with and is aided by, Shoreland’s well-known international student program and STEM Academy. Shoreland’s international student program accepts approximately 30 international high school students each year and provides admission preference to St. John International Program Student graduates who desire to continue international study during high school.

For a copy of the application, please send an email request to Principal Jon Woldt. St. John recommends that application be made as early as possible. The early application deadline is January 31, with decisions made by February 15. The standard application deadline is March 31 (April 15 decision). Applications submitted after April 15 will be reviewed on a space-available basis.  

Students must be responsible, honest, cooperative, demonstrate good character and citizenship, and be respectful of others. Before a student is accepted, they must meet a high English proficiency standard by showing a strong academic history of English coursework and participating in a phone interview with St. John admissions staff.

An international student's academic success is dependent on the ability to communicate in the English language. Before a student is accepted into St. John's International Student Program, they must meet a high English proficiency standard. With that said, host families serve an important role in the encouragement of practice in the English language simply by conversing with the students in ordinary family life contexts.

St. John is certified and authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) of the United States government to issue Form I-20 to prospective international students. The Form I-20 is required, in addition to any applicable visa, for international students to enter the United States to attend St. John. St. John will issue a Form I-20 to accepted students who have provided the necessary documentation and seat reservation deposit.

Tuition rates and housing costs for host families are determined annually. A seat reservation deposit (applied towards tuition) will be due upon acceptance, with a final balance due by July 31. Please contact Principal David Retzlaff for up-to-date financial information.

The International Student Program is only possible because of the host families who open their homes to students from all over the world. Our mission is to provide a nurturing "home away from home" that provides growth in the Word of God and a greater opportunity for English mastery. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about other cultures and share their Christian faith. Students are hosted from the middle of August to the end of May. If you have any questions or are interested in more information on how to apply to host an international student for the upcoming school year, please contact Principal David Retzlaff at internationalstudentprogram@stjohnslib.com or call the school office at (847) 362-4424.

Families host for a wide variety of reasons. At the center is the desire for the family to open its home to an individual who might otherwise never have the chance to learn of their Savior. Other reasons for hosting include learning of other cultures or participating in an exciting new experience.

The most important role for the host family is to serve as a helper for growth in the Christian faith. Host parents and families are expected to welcome the international student into your home as a member of the family and provide a loving and caring home environment, along with room, board, and reasonable transportation. Along with providing the students with an experience in a Christian home setting, the host family would also provide the opportunity for these students to attend church on a regular basis.

Host families are compensated with a monthly stipend, which is intended to reimburse for room, board, and transportation. Students have private funds available for expenses for which the family is not responsible (e.g., clothing, lunches at school, entertainment, personal items, etc.).

The International Student Program is only possible because of the host families who open their homes to students from all over the world. Our mission is to provide a nurturing "home away from home" that provides growth in the Word of God and a greater opportunity for English mastery. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about other cultures and share their Christian faith. Students are hosted from the middle of August to the end of May. If you have any questions or are interested in more information on how to apply to host an international student for the upcoming school year, please contact Principal David Retzlaff or call the school office at (847) 362-4424.