School Year Abroad (SYA) is a prestigious study abroad program that places high school students in France, Italy, or Spain for a full academic year of immersive cultural and language learning. Students live with carefully selected host families, attend local schools, and participate in extracurricular activities including sports and community service, gaining a comprehensive understanding of their host country across all seasons. The program features a rigorous academic curriculum and culminates in a capstone project where students design their own experiential learning initiatives. Founded in 1964, SYA is one of the most transformative academic opportunities available to high school students, offering an experience that builds language fluency, global perspective, and personal growth in ways few programs can match.
Communicating and understanding content in a language other than your first.
Understanding and respectfully engaging with people from different backgrounds.
Adjusting quickly and effectively when plans or circumstances change.
Evaluating information carefully before drawing a conclusion or making a decision.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Fully focusing on and understanding what someone else is communicating.
Year-long cultural immersion and language proficiency directly prepare students for international diplomatic work.
Deep foreign language mastery and cross-cultural understanding are essential for teaching language and humanities.
Year abroad builds cultural knowledge and language skills valuable for managing international travel experiences.
Community Experiences
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