most popular US expat schools, do we have this right?

I don't think it's as simple as schools pushing students towards the US. There's a huge amount of appetite among a certain group of parents for the US, way before they hit sixth form or even secondary school - it's not unusual now to find parents of primary aged kids talking about how they'd like to send them to the Ivy League. It's not just about a lower chance of getting into Oxbridge if you went to private school - I think there's also an element of Oxbridge inadvertently reducing its cachet through widening access. Which is awful - but I think there's an increasing societal perception among wealthy parents (which independent schools are no doubt happy to nurture, as they're far better placed than state schools to facilitate it) that the US is the 'elite' choice.

The top couple of dozen British private schools are starting to push their top students towards US unis. This is partly because Oxford/Cambridge have in the last 5 years reduced the numbers they're taking from the private sector so the schools are being less successful at getting large numbers in (and must somehow find another way to justify their exorbitant fees). So places like Sevenoaks, Highgate etc. are starting to appoint advisors on US college admissions.
Pre-16, the main options are the UK national curriculum leading to GCSE qualification, the IB middle-years programme (which some of the international schools including Dwight do, but not all) or, in a small number of schools, something bespoke. Latymer Upper (which has quite a few Americans) has just ditched GCSEs to go bespoke.
Post 16, The A level system promotes early specialization from age 16 (equivalent of grade 11). From the point of view of (US) college admission either IB, A levels or AP exams are all good currency. But very few places in the UK offer APs whereas IB is much more common.

US and UK college application systems are very different. US colleges want breadth/extra-curricular. UK unis want depth/height/super-curricular (i.e. degree subject-focused)
5 GCSEs with good grades is roughly equivalent to a (poor) US high school diploma but won't under any circumstances get you into a top tier uni in the US, though low-ranking community colleges will probably take them. An A level is worth around 2 AP's while an AS level (the first half of an A level) is worth around the same as one AP.

I'd like to correct the comment that students can gain admission to US universities with GCSEs.

There is a widespread shibboleth in the UK that British schooling is far superior to anything America offers, and that British students are streets ahead of their American counterparts in terms of university readiness. I think the GCSE comment reflects that.

No university of any calibre in the US would admit a student based on GCSE results alone. A university will look over an applicant's entire secondary transcript, including GCSE results, and assess the rigor of the coursework. But that's as far as it goes where relevance of GCSEs is concerned.

Private universities in the US are often a far better value than state schools because a lot of the really good ones admit students on a need blind basis and cover up to 100% of the cost of attendance (tuition plus room and board plus incidentals like books) depending on family finances. Another tier of private universities covers up to 95% of cost of attendance. A highly qualified student from a family making up to $150k per year can expect to receive university financial aid ranging from the full whack to a few thousand off.

Or just turned 9! Born December 2014.

This is probably veering off course, but from a British perspective, the students choose their universities and courses, and most of them (irritatingly) don't get round to thinking about it until (L6/Y12/Junior Year). The attitude to parents is 'mouth shut/wallets open'.

Two of my five DCs (all Americans) enrolled on international courses at Russell Groups. When it came to making decisions about a year in the USA in their third years, they simply weren't interested. One of the options DS had was a year, I think, at Notre Dame in Indiana. I was keen for him to do that as it would be close to grandparents and cousins in Ohio, and also other close relatives in Ontario. His attitude was, why would I give up all the riches of London to live in a cornfield with campus police? DD might have said nice things to make us happy but was rescued by lockdown. She did, however, do summer camp in Michigan in 2019, which she loved.

We had a look at prestigious universities with good financial aid. It's a while ago now, but one of the centralized financial aid programs, used a line on the US tax return called Adjusted Gross Income to determine eligibility. Once we took off foreign exclusions and tax credit (and child deductions), our AGI was miniscule. Still none of the DCs were interested.

I know a couple of people who attended Harvard after U.K. schooling. They did GCSEs and A levels. A levels tend to be more difficult than the US equivalent. Both people I know attended St Paul’s Girls School in London, which is private and very highly regarded.

17:37: suitable schooling situation for our current 3rd (10 yrs old)
17:55: For a 10 year old, I thought she would be in year 5 next year?
18:18: She turned 10 last week. Dec 2014.

... Must have had a brain lapse earlier in the thread.

Yup. Quite persistent that.

2025 entry to Sevenoaks has now closed for y9. 2025 entry for y7 entry is still open.

I came on to say the same. Lots of the advantages of an international school but still a British school. Great facilities, coed, lots going to the US. The downside for your eldest, at many British schools, is that you've probably missed the main entry process, so you'd be looking for an occasional vacancy. But you might have to look at separate schools anyway. I know you say you don't want that, but if you're looking at strong academic schools with great US college support then there's no guarantee that all your children would get in to the same school anyway, even without the issue of an occasional place for your eldest - these kinds of schools are not easy to get into, and siblings don't necessarily get places.

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Sevenoaks - IB, very international intake, significant number to US colleges every year, close to London.

Our school year runs from September, so depending on when her birthday is will depend on the year she enters. If she was 10 before September she would be in year 6 now. And move to secondary school next September. If she was 10 after September, she would be in year 5 now.

Here is a list of some areas to consider: Barnet, Hampstead, Finchley, St. Albans, Herne Hill, Dulwich, Chislehurst, Beckenham, Hayes, Orpington, Sutton, Bromley, Petts Wood, Tunbridge Wells, Guilford etc..

If you do choose the UK route, wherever you chose to live you should talk to the Local Authority Admissions team of that area to determine if there are spaces in their year. Many schools are oversubscribed so they might not immediately get a place at the school you want, and they may have to go on the waiting list.

Keeping your DC in one system or the other is definitely the way to do it. Just wanted to say if you do choose the UK route, there are some really great state schools out there, you just have to research the area.

I'm an American married to a Brit with 2 DC in the state system. We moved from London to the suburbs (South East) for the schools. We are quite happy with the primary school. It has great wraparound care and offers breakfast club (starts at 7:30am) and an afterschool club which ends at 6pm. The school also offers extracurricular enrichment clubs (which take place after school and on the premises) including martial arts, football, hockey, theatre, lacrosse etc.. We use holiday clubs if we need to, during the times when they break up for school: Easter break, May half term, October half term etc..

The secondary schools near us are great too and we are also in the catchment for grammar schools. The secondary schools' offer plenty of extracurricular clubs as well school trips across countries Europe and more. Some also organise trips to visit UK universities, offer networking events with alumni etc... Our 2 DC are young but we are doing our research on secondary schools now and noting things we need to be mindful of when applying to UK and US universities. It's definitely a learning curve for us. Compared to the UK, prepping for university in the US is definitely more tedious.

Locrating.com is a good site to use so you can get basic info/ratings about the schools in the area you live in. An educational consultant might be helpful for you to help guide you through all the processes as they help navigate the UK and US schooling system and universities. If you do the UK state route, here is a site to compare schools: https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables

We are very lucky to live near a good catchment. I was raised in the US and I find the British school system impressive. For example, my daughter is learning multiplication now in year 1 which is the equivalent of kindergarten. She thrived in reception where she learned addition, subtraction etc.. She was already reading when she started reception, which is equivalent to pre school and the school has supported her with that. I went to an Ivy League university and my husband went to Oxbridge so we definitely hold education in a high regard. Good luck with your search!

My DD went to ACS Cobham. The ACS schools are all quite different. Egham is more European, Cobham definitely American in feel. The population wasn’t transient and she had the same cohort of friends all through from G9, including local Brits, Americans and Canadians with parents on long term work contracts in U.K., Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. She did the IB and did OK, went to a Russell Group uni. Lots of her friends went to uni in the US, and the school is well set up for sending kids there.

The ACS schools are eyewateringly expensive, although they do offer discreet bursaries. The teaching was quite mixed, but most of it was excellent.

If you send your child to an international school
there will be a lot of help to apply to USA university- from the school councellors.
This won’t happen at UK state (non fee paying schools)
You are aware of the cost of out of state tuition? My dc are at an international school and many parents choose to send their children to UK Uni as even with international fees it’s cheaper than out of state USA fees.
Usually the International schools have amazing facilities and trips etc. It’s very much a bubble. but a lovely bubble

The your 9 year old would go into year 5, this is a huge advantage because you could apply to state (free) secondary at the standard time next October assuming you are here then giving your child the best chance of a good localish school, your youngest could also of course go into the state system easily. Your eldest is harder as you can only get a state place based on availability so you might not be offered anything you like. Many change schools for 6th form (aged 16-18) and most better 6th forms will have experienced entry to us universities as it's relatively common, that said your dc will be adults and may choose another pathway. Private schools if you can comfortably afford it obviously are available but only you know if that's a sensible option

I had a US colleague who lived in the UK for 2 years while on a work assignment. (He and his family returned to the US after the 2 years, as planned). His 3 children, then of similar ages to yours, attended ACS and found the transition easy from an academic perspective. They chose to reside in Windsor for easy access to the school, as well as London and Heathrow.

Not recent feedback as this was nearly 10 years ago but certainly at the time they were all happy with the school. According to my colleague, the children truly embraced British culture during their 2 years in the UK, so being at an international school doesn't seem to have been too much of a hindrance in that respect. They did a lot of activities outside of school though. Perhaps this type of international school could be a good option for you for at least your first year in the UK while you get a chance to explore potential state alternatives.

Please note if you want all kids in the same school, please look at the top London coeds. UK have single sex schools, and they are different. We found boys school to be more transparent on areas of strength and improvements, percentage achieved by cohort vs your child. Whilst majority of girls schools are very vague as in all is fine or at expected level or area of concern. Too vague if you prefer data etc which the US university applications prefer.

Cost of schooling, fees: some schools are expensive but all activities are included, others more reasonable but limited clubs and activities. Some may seem good value but the added costs of lunch etc tends to add up so not much savings.

@snapjack543 A point to consider as well is that the U.K. students heading to the USA for college really aren’t doing the in depth prep from an early age that their peers over there are doing and they are still getting places.

UK private schools are very good at finding what your child is good at and then supporting it. My DD does field hockey and she not only trains 4x a week at school but she is also shown and encouraged to apply for county (state) teams. Things like DofE which include self supported expeditions, volunteering and learning a new skill. Bebras computing challenge, maths olympiads etc . Encouragement to audition for national music and drama groups etc. Lots of state schools do to, but private schools love to share the “glory” of these achievements.

Of the four children I know at US university from the U.K., only one is on a scholarship (tennis). The other three are at Ivy leagues and only started prep in the sixth form at the same time as applying to U.K. universities.

One U.K. school that’s worth a look, even if only to cement your decision that a US international school is the right one for you is Highgate. It is known as an academic school but is coed and goes from 4 years through to 18. 11 went to US university this year. A less academic option is Forest School but they still send kids to the US each year. There are others which other people will invariably be able to recommend.

Also, once your children go to secondary school (at 11 or 6th grade equivalent) then the great majority travel to and from school themselves in London. Single sex education might be a step too far for you, but you’ll see a lot of London schools are single sex. GDST schools are fabulous.

I guess what I’m saying is please just don’t write off a U.K. education without doing some homework and visits first. You might conclude that a US education is wholly right still, but you may be swayed the other way!!!

Just to add to your translation matrix...
"College" is frequently used to describe 16-18 education (A level, IB and equivalent) in the UK.

I would consider an IB program just for the possibility that your children don’t want to return to the US.

we are trying to leave the US doors open, but it’s increasingly looking like our eldest might not want to (several years in UK, now in another European country) we still have years yet before any big decisions, but as we haven’t kept them in an expat bubble at all, culturally they are increasingly not very American.

we are also making sure that they have residency in their own right in the EU prior to 18, as in college I had several friends who were raised in the US due to parents jobs but after uni had no right to live and work in the country they grew up in without an employment sponsored visa. I didn’t want this to happen to mine (in reverse).

@snapjack543 At least the vast majority here (even all) look at relevant academic data submitted on each dc. They don’t look at all the extras you’ve paid for! Eg DofE awards and summer camps. Most people think that’s a fairer system and less biased towards who has money snd who doesn’t. Overall it’s not a horrifying system here to get into most of the world ranked unis.

For all the reasons you’ve mentioned above, American School in London is your best bet. It goes from age 4-18 so all your kids could be in the same school at the same campus. Despite not offering the IB, ASL clearly has the best US college destination results of any other American or international school in the London area with many heading to the Ivy League and top 20 universities each year.