The Village School

Village School is currently the most international student-friendly school in Texas. According to feedback from enrolled students, the academics are rigorous, teachers care a lot about students, especially those who have just arrived in the US; the IB curriculum is very rich, and the college matriculation results are also excellent.

Wilson, the Chinese admissions teacher at Weili School, is a very nice person! The school's pros and cons are both very obvious; whether it's suitable for a child still depends on the child's specific circumstances.

My child started in 9th grade and is now attending UT-Austin, paying in-state tuition. Five Chinese students from the same cohort at Village went to UT-Austin together; they are all good friends. It's simply like a "group purchase," a bulk package deal to UT-Austin. We didn't hire an external college application advisor, we used the school's free counselor.

My friend's child studies at Wylie and gave very good feedback about the school, so we decisively applied. In the future, we plan for our child to stay in Texas for undergraduate studies and even employment. Many Chinese students graduating from Wylie go to the University of Texas at Austin.

Our child started junior high school, and initially, they had a bit of trouble adjusting. Their math was a little weak. The teacher actively recommended an on-campus club where senior students provided free tutoring. Now, they have successfully transitioned.

We have friends who have lived in Houston for many years and strongly recommended studying there. They said Houston's current cost of living is relatively low, yet it's very modern and home to many Fortune 500 companies. This was completely different from my long-held impression of Texas as having a rugged populace. We first visited the school, and during our visit, there happened to be a student basketball game. The school invited us to watch the game together, which was very welcoming. This strengthened our resolve to send our child there, and it has proven to be the right decision; our child is currently adapting very well.

The teachers at Willie School highly value parents' feelings. They come to China every year to hold parent-teacher conferences and answer parents' questions. My child's father and I have attended twice already. Each time, the teachers provide feedback on the child's recent studies and life, and they also inform us how to check the child's grades, as well as the contact information for the teachers responsible for various school departments. The most recent time, they brought a small handwritten card from our child. Seeing our child's mature and thoughtful greetings, as parents, we feel that everything is worth it. The teachers at Willie are truly dedicated!

Our child started 9th grade last year. Initially, they hadn't shaken off some bad study habits from back home, couldn't control the time spent playing games, and were unfamiliar with the school's assignment submission procedures, which led to some late submissions and affected their overall grades. At that time, the school teachers specifically emailed me to discuss this matter. They talked with my son, encouraged him to participate in school extracurricular activities, and fully integrate into the new environment. Over half a year has passed, and our child's grades in all subjects are now consistently around 90. We are very happy and proud of our unwavering decision to choose Willie School.

My child entered Wylie School in 2020 as a 10th grader. Last year, they successfully got into the University of Texas at Austin and also secured in-state tuition. Many thanks to the school.

The dormitory supervisor is very responsible; there's a teacher on night duty every evening, and they respond to emails quite quickly. I hope the school can assign a Chinese-speaking teacher next year.

My child particularly likes math and football, so we chose Village. They adapted very quickly, and as a parent, I'm quite satisfied.

Willy School offers a rich curriculum, especially in STEM fields, business, and computer science. There are also many accompanying activities, such as clubs and numerous opportunities for various competitions. The competition among students is also quite fierce.

We place a high value on schools that can provide students with an international perspective while also maintaining high academic standards. We hope our child can acquire a STEM background and accumulate some business knowledge, which would be very helpful if they decide to start their own company in the future.

Every day, I receive many emails from the school. All the teachers are very responsible, and the relationship between students and teachers is excellent.

A very famous school in the local area. The school is not large, but its facilities are quite modern, and its safety measures are also very well implemented.

The school is relatively strong in science and engineering, and its resources are quite abundant, which perfectly aligns with my child's interests, so we chose this school.

Willy School's management is quite strict; students are not allowed to leave campus on weekdays. Weekend activities are very diverse, with school teachers leading them, which is very reassuring.

We chose this school because of its rich after-school activities, hoping our child can participate more in sports and make friends from different countries.

My child just started last year. I feel the school has a good academic level, and children grow in a challenging and encouraging environment. The teachers are very inspiring and supportive of the children, and the atmosphere is very harmonious.

Due to work reasons, we had to move to Houston. When choosing a school for our child, we consulted professional agencies around us and local friends in Houston. We found that Willey Middle School has an excellent local reputation and its academic standards are top-notch, which made us feel confident sending our child there. Our child has received ample attention from the teachers at the school, and their personality has become much more outgoing than when we were back in China. Our child has been attending for 1 year now, and their English is becoming increasingly native-like. My wife and I are truly relieved and pleased.

The Village School data: student population 1487, student-teacher ratio 1:8, international students 12%, boarding students 12%, teachers with advanced degrees 65%. The Village School, founded in 1966, is a boarding school located in Houston, Texas. The school ranks 47th among boarding high schools nationwide and admits international students from grades 7 to 12. The Village School is the only boarding school in the Greater Houston area and is also a renowned IB school, offering 51 IB courses to provide students with more choices and competitiveness. To help students select the most suitable courses, the school provides dedicated academic advisors to guide them, considering their English proficiency, academic level, interests, and future plans. Students are also allowed to change courses within the specified period at the beginning of the semester. The Village School campus spans over 28 acres. Campus facilities are very advanced, equipped with "smart" classroom technology and wireless internet. The school includes 2 fitness centers, a dining hall, a multi-purpose natural science lab, a computer lab, a library, a black box theater, music and art classrooms, a dance studio, a yoga studio, a fully equipped gym, and a multi-purpose outdoor playground.

Data for Baylor Middle School: student population 1070, student-teacher ratio 1:8, international student ratio 29%, boarding student ratio 30%, 84% of teachers hold advanced degrees. As a high-quality middle school, Baylor Middle School's campus facilities are very advanced and comprehensive. Firstly, the school's teaching buildings are neat and bright, with each classroom equipped with advanced devices such as projectors, computers, and high-definition televisions. Secondly, the student dormitory conditions are also excellent, with each dorm room featuring an independent bathroom and shower facilities, fully equipped, clean, and tidy. In addition, Baylor Middle School has well-equipped laboratories, libraries, sports fields, and other facilities, providing students with rich resources for their studies and exercise. The faculty strength of Baylor Middle School is another major characteristic of the school. The school boasts a highly qualified teaching staff, with most teachers holding master's degrees or higher and possessing many years of teaching experience, providing high-quality educational services to students. At the same time, the school regularly organizes training sessions on teaching ethics and educational technology, enabling teachers to continuously improve themselves and enhance teaching quality. Extracurricular activities are an important way to enrich students' campus life and one of the key indicators for evaluating a school's quality. Baylor Middle School places great emphasis on students' extracurricular activities, offering various options in areas such as student council, art clubs, and sports clubs, and focusing on developing students' individual strengths and potential. Furthermore, the school also periodically organizes activities such as social practice, cultural exchange, and career experience, allowing students to receive comprehensive training and improvement through diverse activities.

What touched me the most was that after my child started school at Willy, she learned gratitude: she calls her grandparents (paternal and maternal) on every holiday or important festival to greet them and proactively care for others. This deeply moved my husband and me; our child has grown up and learned to be grateful and care for those around her.

For middle and high school students studying abroad, what we parents worry about most is their safety, and also that they might feel lonely and homesick during holidays. But what's especially gratifying is that Wiley School arranges holiday activities, with children going on excursions (during non-pandemic periods). My daughter recalled: "The trip to Florida organized by the school was super luxurious. In the night sky, the shining stars were so close to me. I thought about so many things, and I want to take you all to see the stars with me someday." At this moment, I knew this excursion deeply touched her heart, and she has grown up.

I've noticed another very distinct difference between domestic education (referring to Chinese education) and American high school education: domestic teachers typically only teach one subject, whereas many American teachers hold multiple roles. At Weili High School, my favorite is Mr. Adams; he can teach all three science subjects: biology, physics, and chemistry. Moreover, students who have taken his classes all know he's a fantastic teacher, and he's considered a core faculty member of Weili's science department. This makes me deeply feel that people educated in the American system tend to have stronger and more comprehensive abilities.

Willie's boarding life offers a rich variety of activities, with archery, boxing, movie trips, and bank trips being the most consistent and popular. From Friday after school until Sunday evening, boarding students can choose from weekend activities such as: Chinatown, Memorial City Mall, 50 km bike riding, roller skating, Natural Science Museum, Walmart & Target trip, Altitude Trampoline, Top Golf, Urban Chef, tennis, Open Win, Katy Asian Town, cat cafe, Ranch 99, Six Flags... Our Ms. Tina racks her brain every week to find us all sorts of activities.

At Weili Middle School, each class lasts 1 hour and 25 minutes. Although I was very unaccustomed when I first arrived and could only focus for half the time, after trying to take notes while listening to lectures, I found my efficiency seemed to increase significantly. My confidence improved both in asking questions during class and seeking help from teachers after class.

My child attends Wiley Middle School and often receives academic progress reports (Tier) from the school. The Tier grading system is a great way to motivate students. If the average score reaches 90, they can study independently. Those with an 80 score have 2 hours of fixed self-study. The remaining levels will be subject to stricter rules and supervision. As parents, we are reassured by this management model.

I am a Weili student in 11th grade this year. This is my third year studying and living here. I quite like the city of Houston; it has many engineering resources, making it suitable for students like me who enjoy STEAM fields. I will likely choose to stay in Houston for university and hope to get into UT Austin to study engineering.

At Willie School, what I look forward to most every year is the school trip! We have the opportunity to go to Tanzania for international volunteer work, as well as trips during Spring Break and Thanksgiving holidays every year. Last Thanksgiving, we went to Florida, and this Spring Break, we went to Chicago. Both were excellent experiences and feelings.

The Village School is a vibrant campus that focuses on STEM development, collaborates with MIT on research and development courses and activities, and offers entrepreneurial courses co-developed with Wharton Business School. The school partners with many local renowned enterprises, research institutes, and other organizations to provide students with various visit and internship opportunities. The school has a strong sports program, boasting advanced sports centers such as gymnasiums, main stadiums, and cross-country fields. Art activities and other extracurricular activities are also very rich, providing students with a first-class experience.

I previously studied for a year in a public school, and it's very different from my current private school in the US. For example, at our school, we are required to wear a uniform with the school logo every day when we come to school. We also have to strictly follow classroom discipline; we cannot use our phones in class unless permitted by the teacher, and when the teacher is speaking, we must respect them and listen attentively. However, public schools don't place much emphasis on these aspects and largely rely on students' self-discipline.

Our school teachers strongly encourage students to express their opinions in class, and they always give us encouragement regardless of whether the opinions are right or wrong. After a period of adaptation, I gradually integrated into the group and became more willing to interact with others and express my thoughts.

In my more than a year at school, I learned a lot and experienced a lot. In the US, we need to learn how to manage ourselves, because in class, teachers won't remind you to pay attention or chase you to do homework; everything depends on your own planning. American classrooms are also very dynamic, and teachers often organize students to do various group activities and games.

The school teachers I've interacted with are mostly very easygoing and nice outside of class. If I have questions after class, they patiently help me answer them.

Houston's weather is good, except for a cold snap either last year or the year before. Even in winter, it's generally around 20 degrees Celsius here, quite mild compared to what winter often brings in China. It's not very dry either. As someone from the south, I find it quite easy to adapt to.

As a parent, one very satisfying aspect is that Wiley School offers various platforms to help parents understand all aspects of their child's school life more comprehensively and promptly. This includes checking student grades, assignments, receiving school notifications, and direct, quick communication with teachers for each subject.

In addition to a rich variety of courses for everyone to choose from, the school also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities that allow us to explore our potential and step out of our comfort zones. During my 3 years at the school, I participated in many different club activities and made many friends from various countries.

In these two years at school, the most noteworthy thing is that I participated in a one-week volunteer trip to Tanzania, Africa, organized by the school. The experience was quite rewarding, and I'm glad I chose to participate; it was a rare life experience.

My child studies at this school. Because its sports program is very strong, one good thing is that it provides full-time athletic trainers for student-athletes. They offer students the necessary expertise to help assess, prevent, treat, and rehabilitate orthopedic injuries and general illnesses. I used to worry that intense, confrontational sports might injure my child, but now, as a parent, I feel much more relieved about this aspect.

I enjoy weekend activities, such as visiting museums downtown and occasionally going shopping to relax. My studies are usually quite intense, with many assignments due.

There are bubble tea shops and hotpot restaurants near the school, so for those coming from China, there's no need to worry too much. You'll still be able to enjoy bubble tea and hotpot during your breaks, haha.

The school cafeteria is actually okay; they have American, Chinese, Vietnamese pho, and stuff like that. But compared to Chinese food back home, it definitely can't compete, so don't set your expectations too high. As long as it's clean and hygienic, it's fine. You can order takeout occasionally.

I feel that during these past two years of the pandemic, although opportunities to go home have been fewer, the school has still tried its best to organize quite a few activities for us while ensuring safety. Previously, some classmates in China who went to day schools had it pretty tough, telling me that for safety, they generally stayed at home. So I feel quite lucky, and I hope the pandemic ends soon.

This year, I heard from my teacher that new pre-medical courses have opened, and I'm quite interested! I'd like to try joining.

As international students, our dorm is like a family. Every time I return to my dorm room 220 after school, it feels just like coming home. We can play and chat together, discussing both happy and unhappy things, and we find great comfort during challenging times.

We have many opportunities and plenty of time to spend with classmates, and the dormitories will also take us out for activities on weekends.

The school facilities are good, I particularly like the school's several constant-temperature swimming pools.

When I was in my home country, I was on the school basketball team and I love basketball very much. One of the reasons I chose Willi is that Houston has excellent basketball resources. Our school's basketball team often wins awards in state competitions and is very strong. I'm currently working hard to try and get into the school team, but everyone is too good, and the competition is fierce.

This year, I participated in my school's TED Talk. I chose to do this mainly because TED allows me to greatly practice my public speaking skills, and participating in these activities also helps me make many friends.

School Highlights
1. The only boarding school in the Greater Houston area, recognized by students and parents for its exceptional strength in STEM fields.
2. The school is located in Houston's West Energy Corridor, where the US headquarters of companies like BP, Kuwait Oil, PetroChina, and Sinopec are situated. It has high local recognition.
3. A locally renowned IB school, offering 51 IB courses and specializing in STEAM programs.
4. The boys' basketball team has won the TAPPS 4A State Championship for two consecutive years.

Try to find different joys in various online class environments. For example, I realized that when switching classes between different periods, I no longer have to clumsily climb from the top of a mountain to the bottom to find a classroom; and when speaking in class, I can look more directly at all the listeners, observing their facial expressions and reactions, and so on.

The first step in taking online classes is to overcome one's psychological barriers and face the major changes brought about by the pandemic with a more peaceful mindset. Instead of complaining about the inconveniences of online classes, one should appreciate the efforts and work put in by school teachers behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of online classes.

When class is over, I shut down the computer, and the day ends. There's no library, no reading room, no teaching building, no activity room. Sitting alone at home, a single computer is an entire school. When the computer is on, home becomes school; when the computer is off, school turns back into home.

This year is my second year at Willy. My first year of boarding life had just gotten comfortable when the pandemic hit, and then online classes began. Because my goal has always been a top 30 university, even though some classmates I knew chose to return home and enroll in an international school, I insisted on choosing online classes. The difficulties can only be experienced by myself, but after nearly a year of persistence, everything is developing in a positive direction. I hope to return to school as soon as possible.

Online classes during this year's pandemic are truly a double-edged sword. While I get to eat well at home, it requires much higher self-control compared to being at school. After all, it's really tough for me, having to wake up in the middle of the night for online classes every day. Moreover, the demands of these online classes are not low, so I have to be incredibly focused to keep up with the teacher's pace.

Compared to online classes, I certainly prefer in-person classes. I miss the classroom discussions with teachers and classmates from before. However, online classes during the pandemic are a necessary measure to ensure everyone's health and safety.

Being back in my home country this year, I can't attend online classes. I can only follow this year's Innovation Day on the school's official website and YouTube. The humble life of someone dealing with time zone differences...

Last year in Willie, when the US pandemic just started, it wasn't that serious, especially since our school's prevention measures were very good. So, compared to other classmates, I was relatively late in returning home. Later, I actually regretted returning because the 14-day quarantine was truly difficult to endure. Now, I've gotten used to attending online classes on US time.

This year I chose electronic music as an elective. This class involves using Max8 programming to create our own instruments and music. I chose this class at the time because I wanted to develop a programming mindset. In middle school, I would basically get dizzy just hearing the word 'programming,' but I never completely gave up on this path. I still wanted to try this field. Although this class isn't particularly difficult, I did learn some knowledge from it and increased my interest in programming. I hope to be able to enroll in the always-full 'Intro to ComSci' in 10th grade.

Online classes during the pandemic might be one of the biggest challenges of my student life abroad. Previously, all classes were attended in person with everyone, and after class, the school would arrange many rich extracurricular activities, with various events also held on weekends. Online classes require me to calm down, endure the time difference to participate, and even group discussions have moved online. Fairly speaking, the difficulties everyone faces are the same, and everyone is persevering.

Online classes during this year's pandemic are truly a double-edged sword. While I do eat well at home, it still requires much higher self-control compared to being at school. After all, it's really tough for me to wake up in the middle of the night for online classes every day. Moreover, the demands of online classes aren't low, so I have to be incredibly focused to keep up with the teacher's pace.

Last year, some classmates and I managed to return to our home country just before the pandemic outbreak, and since then, we've been attending online classes. To be honest, it was quite difficult to adapt at first, mainly due to the time difference and the different feeling compared to traditional in-person teaching. However, our school is quite considerate; they provide recorded lectures, and apart from that, assignments, class discussions, and other aspects haven't been much different from before.

Starting last semester, I signed up for the school's Viking Peer Tutoring Club and got the opportunity to tutor elementary school students. Every year, each student is required to complete 10 hours of volunteer work. Last semester, I was able to tutor at least one session per week via Zoom. I would help elementary students with their homework (basic math and science). I feel good that I could help others fulfill their volunteer requirements, and I also improved myself in the process.

No particularly special experience; time is more flexible, but course difficulty and workload haven't decreased one bit.

Online classes have given me more time to reflect on myself compared to going to campus.

What I want to say is that besides myself and my classmates, many older students who graduated from Wiley and are now first-year university students have also been taking online classes this year due to the pandemic. So I feel this is the general situation, and there's no need to be overly anxious. Online classes also allow you to communicate with teachers and classmates online, and if you don't understand something, you can email the teacher. They usually reply quite quickly.

Taking online classes makes me feel like I'm constantly shifting between two sides of the Earth. It's been over half a year, and I still find it quite novel.

The Village School was founded in 1966. Located in Houston, Texas's West Energy Corridor, the school began as a small private nursery and is now a vibrant campus with approximately 1,750 students, ranging from early childhood to high school. The school goes beyond traditional education, fostering motivated students who take ownership of their learning. Both inside and outside the classroom, we strive to unlock potential and support each student's ambitions. Through diverse curricula and programs, personalized guidance, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, students are able to discover their interests and create their unique educational pathways.

School Advantages:

1. Strong STEM program, collaborating with MIT to develop curricula and activities, and partnering with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) to provide students with visit and internship opportunities.

2. The school partners with the Wharton School to offer an Entrepreneurship program.

3. The school provides students with opportunities to collaborate with numerous local well-known enterprises, research institutes, hospitals, and non-profit organizations.

4. Excellent sports, especially soccer and basketball. The soccer team has won multiple Texas state championships.

The Village School, located in Houston, Texas, enrolls international students from grades 7-12. With a 28-acre campus, it is a locally renowned IB school. The school offers 51 IB courses, excels in STEAM, and has an exclusive partnership with MIT to develop STEAM curricula. It also collaborates with CERN, the European quantum particle laboratory, providing students with opportunities for visits and experiments. Annually, the school organizes challenging STEAM projects on campus with MIT, where MIT teachers are sent to guide students. It offers an entrepreneurship course in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and provides internships during high school, collaborating with numerous well-known companies, research institutes, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and more. Football and basketball are the school's strong sports programs. For boarding students, the school offers one-on-one teacher tutoring before morning classes and after evening classes, with a fixed 2-hour study period every night from Monday to Friday.

My parents enrolled me in this school because they valued its career prospects after graduation. I understand that STEM fields have good job prospects, but I personally prefer social sciences. I want to balance both, so it's a happy struggle.

Graduating next year. For many, this parting often turns into a permanent farewell. It's heartbreaking.

I'm the only Chinese person in my dorm. It hasn't been particularly inconvenient; surprisingly, everyone is very respectful of each other's private space.

The senior who took good care of me when I first started school was admitted to Stanford last year!!! Not only is he excellent in academics, but he's also a super lively person normally. Seriously, what a study role model! By the way, I haven't really seen many people turn into total bookworms while studying here in the US.

In the US, the culture of rankings is slightly less pronounced than in China, but the evaluation mechanism is very mature, so you can still discern a certain level of ability. An AMC score of 315 is over 100 points above the average, which, compared to most public schools, is certainly excellent.

Willy's curriculum is quite broad, but the sciences, like mathematics, physics, and computer science, have such strong advantages that they consistently overshadow other disciplines. However, it is still advisable to consider your own interests and characteristics when choosing courses, and not to blindly follow the crowd.

My kids have benefited enormously from individualized instruction and an emphasis on interdisciplinary project-based learning – whether it’s a challenge to design a new city park, rethink their classroom space, or learn about the history and science related to Egyptian mummies. They have fantastic teachers who routinely go above and beyond to support them through their challenges and help them to stretch to reach their potential.

Let me elaborate on the transportation conditions (as a homebody at heart, I genuinely value this). First, this is the only boarding school in the Houston area, located in a wealthy neighborhood with good security. Public transportation is also convenient, and it's about a 40-minute drive from the airport. Many cities in China have direct flights, so no transfers are needed. The round-trip experience is excellent, truly! Welcome, friends from our homeland~

No wonder it's the city of the Rockets! The basketball atmosphere is super fiery! The little one is trembling.

Many seniors up front are hyping up science subjects, but art and design here are no less impressive, okay? (said with conviction).

Let me hype up our school's science programs! We have MIT professors leading collaborative challenges, a STEAM building, and I just toured the world's largest quantum physics lab – I'm feeling incredibly energized! Next spring, we even get to go to CERN!!

Parents who are able to send their children abroad are likely discerning and knowledgeable. A word of advice: since you've made this choice, it should yield results. Absolutely do not relax your discipline and supervision of your children just because they are far away. Even with the best conditions, if a child doesn't study diligently, it's all in vain.

I've seen quite a few friends around me who genuinely love math and science, and they effectively utilize school resources. The gap between them and other students who are just coasting by is truly significant. Currently, my own level is still a bit far from fully integrating with them, and I constantly remind myself not to fall behind others. Overall, I am very satisfied with the learning atmosphere at Willy.

I am a 9th-grade freshman. Since both my parents work in the construction industry, I also have similar career plans. After comparing several options, I ultimately chose Willy, primarily because its curriculum package is quite comprehensive. It happens to cover all the fundamental courses related to architecture, such as physics, art, sculpture, and design. My study pace is quite good right now.

Willy is indeed a strong STEM school locally, with certain assurances in both hardware and faculty (better than some universities domestically). If utilized well, one can establish a relatively solid foundation, and the advantages are quite clear if one continues to pursue advanced studies in STEM after graduation (of course, one's subjective initiative still plays the primary role).