See the World. Learn From It. Grow Through It.
What if part of your high school education could take you beyond Atlanta and into another country?
At Academe of the Oaks, international exchange gives students the opportunity to do exactly that. Our international exchange program allows eligible students to spend an extended period studying in another country, living with a host family, attending a Waldorf school, and experiencing another culture as part of their education. For students, it can be one of the most meaningful experiences of high school.
More Than a Trip
Studying abroad is different from taking a vacation. Students don’t simply visit another country and come home with photographs; they become part of a community.
Sophomores and juniors may apply to participate in Academe’s international exchange program. Accepted students typically spend two or three months living with a host family and attending a partner Waldorf school abroad. They also have the opportunity to host their exchange partner in Atlanta.
Current exchange destinations include countries such as Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Israel, and Japan. This allows students to experience education in a completely different setting while remaining connected to a learning community.
Learning Through Experience
One of the hallmarks of an Academe education is learning through experience, and international exchange takes that idea even further.
A student studying another language can hear it spoken every day. A student interested in history can experience another country’s culture and historical sites firsthand. A student who has only read about another part of the world can suddenly be living there.
Even everyday experiences become opportunities to learn: navigating a new city, meeting people from another culture, trying unfamiliar foods, adapting to different routines, and communicating when you don’t have exactly the right words. These experiences encourage students to become more adaptable, independent, and confident.
Building Independence and Confidence
Leaving home and spending an extended period in another country can be challenging. That’s part of the value.
Students learn how to navigate unfamiliar situations, communicate across cultural differences, and become comfortable outside of what they already know. Academe describes its exchange program as an opportunity for students to build resilience, self-reliance, independence, and confidence while expanding their worldview.
Those qualities don’t disappear when students return to Atlanta. They come back with new experiences, new friendships, new perspectives, and a better understanding of what they’re capable of doing on their own.
A Global Perspective Starts in High School
The world students will enter after graduation is increasingly connected. College classrooms, workplaces, communities, and careers bring people together across languages and cultures.
An international experience during high school can help students develop the curiosity and flexibility needed to participate in that world. At Academe, global learning isn’t limited to a textbook. The school’s curriculum takes a global perspective, with projects involving regions including Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia. International exchange gives students another way to experience that global perspective firsthand.
A Small High School With a Bigger World
Academe of the Oaks is located in Decatur, Georgia, serving students and families throughout the Atlanta area. Our community is intentionally small, allowing students to be known by their teachers and actively involved in school life.
But being part of a small school doesn’t mean having a small educational experience. Students can explore rigorous academics, hands-on learning, music, athletics, extracurricular activities, travel, and international exchange.
Through the international exchange program, the classroom can become another country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Academe of the Oaks offer study abroad?
Yes. Academe offers an international exchange program in partnership with Waldorf schools around the world.
What countries can Academe students study in?
Current listed exchange destinations include Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Israel, and Japan.
How long does the exchange program last?
International exchanges typically last approximately two or three months.
Who can participate in the international exchange program?
Sophomores and juniors may apply to participate in the program.
What do students gain from studying abroad?
Beyond academic and cultural learning, international exchange can help students develop independence, resilience, adaptability, confidence, and a broader understanding of the world.
Give Your Student a Bigger World to Explore
Choosing a high school is about more than deciding where your student will take classes for four years. It’s about choosing the experiences that will shape how they see themselves and the world around them.
At Academe of the Oaks, students have the opportunity to learn in the classroom, learn through hands-on experiences, and, through international exchange, learn from the world itself.
If you’re exploring private high schools in Atlanta or Decatur, come visit Academe of the Oaks. Meet our teachers, talk with our students, and discover what an education that reaches beyond the classroom can look like.
The world is out there. We believe students should have opportunities to experience it.
Interested in learning more about Academe of the Oaks? Contact us today.