Kehillah International Student Program

Life at Kehillah

Tuition & Fees

Application Process

I-20 & Visa Information

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Kehillah successfully interweaves a strong college preparatory program, a commitment to the Just Community Model, and experiential education.

At Kehillah:

  • all students count,
  • everyone has equal access to great learning,
  • everyone’s unique talents are valued equally, and
  • everyone takes responsibility for themselves, their learning, and their community.
David Weiner

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

dweiner@kehillah.org

Hope Tsai, Ph.D.

International Student Program Advisor, Mandarin Teacher

htsai@kehillah.org

Academics

Campus Life

College Counseling & Outcomes

Host Families

  • Small classes – the average size is 12 students – with hands-on support from teachers and learning specialists
  • 16 Advanced Placement (AP) courses
  • Focus on the latest in mind, brain, and education research that informs teaching and learning– Kehillah is a western professional development site of the Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning (CTTL)
  • State-of-the-art Maker Space with cutting edge 3D printers, CNC machines, and other equipment
  • Comprehensive arts program that emphasizes studio art, graphic design, drama, and music production 
  • English language immersion
  • Focus on Jewish values centered on social justice and questioning
  • The Jewish Community Center (JCC) across the street is part of our campus and allows students access to their gymnasium, athletic facilities, and café, where most of our students eat lunch. 
  • Educational travel is part of the Kehilllah experience and includes one trip each year of high school. Learn more on our Educational Travel page. 
  • Two full-time college counselors, one of whom speaks Mandarin Chinese, for a senior class of approximately 50 students each year.
  • Expert guidance throughout the international student admissions process, including the personal statement, supplemental essays, interviews, campus visits, and more. 
  • Our graduates attend the world's most prestigious colleges and universities, including Stanford University -- which is located 10 minutes from Kehillah -- Princeton University, and others. Learn about our Class of 2023 college acceptances. 
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Kehillah is the Hebrew word for community.

As such, we believe that international students should be hosted by families who are members of the Kehillah community, whether it’s the family of an American student or the family of a faculty member. We strive to make each international student’s experience authentic and immersive, which includes home-cooked meals, day trips to local restaurants and attractions, and direct interaction with American families. To further this goal, Kehillah has partnered with Student Room Stay to ensure we match each student with the right family.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition, room, board, and the international fee are approximately $95,000 per year.

  • Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year: $57,475
  • Room and board: $36,000
  • International fee: $5,000
    • Includes trips, ESL support (if applicable), and international coordinator

Application Process

  1. Complete and submit the Application Form and US $150 Application Fee. The fee can be paid online with a credit card. If wiring the deposit, please include a $15 wire transfer fee. Please contact Sofya Osipov if you have questions.

  2. Collect and submit these required materials:

    Current and one previous year’s School Transcripts

    Fully translated Teacher Recommendation Letters completed by the  student’s current language and math teachers.

  3. Complete one of these required English Assessment tests:

    TOEFL minimum score of 100 required

    IELTS minimum score 7.0

  4. Complete an interview with Admission Officers (Zoom).

  5. Send all documents through Ravenna. Create an account, add Kehillah to your dashboard, and complete the application steps. 

Email to admission@kehillah.org

Fax to 301-576-2803 

US Postal Service to:

Kehillah Jewish High School Admission Office
Attention: David Weiner
3900 Fabian Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303 

Once all steps are completed, the application will be evaluated by the Admission Committee and an admission decision will be made. Applicants will receive notification via email. 

I-20 & Visa Information

Please read on for important information on the documents required for international students to attend Kehillah.

F-1 Visa:  The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows non-US citizens to pursue an education in the United States at an approved school. 

I-20: The I-20 is a document issued by the school to a newly enrolled family to support a F-1 visa. It is issued by a SEVP approved school that certifies the student is enrolled in a full-time program and the dates of attendance.  The I-20 is valid as long as the student is enrolled and attending an academic program.

International students attend Kehillah on a F-1 visa that is issued through the US State Department. Kehillah will issue the I-20 to the student once the student has been accepted by our Admissions committee, has signed the enrollment agreement, and paid the deposit. I-20’s can ONLY be sent to the student or the students’ parents. I-20’s CANNOT be sent directly to third party agents. International students will need to provide the I-20, signed contract, and financial evidence that the family can pay the required tuition and fees when interviewing for the visa in the home country.

How to apply for a F-1 Visa:

Once the I-20 is received,  the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee must be paid before entering the United States. Next, application for the F-1 visa can be made at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the home country.  Once the visa is approved, the student can enter the United States up to 30 days before the start of school.  

For more information please visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov.