The Christian International School of Prague reserves the right to admit students on the basis of academic performance, English language proficiency, religious commitment, lifestyle choices, and personal qualifications, including a willingness to cooperate with administration and to abide by its policies.
Admissions Requirements
Students applying to Grade 1 must be 6 years old by 1 September of the school year they are applying. CISP rarely grants exceptions to this policy, as we believe a child’s social and emotional readiness is critical for success in a structured classroom environment. Even though a student may be academically ready for grade 1, we believe time spent playing before the age of 6 is very important for a child’s development.
English Language Requirements
CISP students are required to meet the following English language proficiency levels, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
- Grades 1-2 students with all levels of English may be accepted.
- Grades 3-5 students must have an A1 (CEFR) English language competency level.
- Grades 6-8 students must have an A2 (CEFR) English language competency level.
- Grades 9-10 students must have a B1 (CEFR) English language competency level.
- Grades 11-12 students must have a B2 (CEFR) English language competency level.
If you would like to test your English language level for free, visit: www.examenglish.com.
All non-native English speakers will be tested in the application process. Students applying for Grades 3-10 who do not meet the minimum language requirement may be accepted at CISP in a lower grade level to allow time for their academic English skills to improve. Students applying for Grades 11-12 who do not meet the minimum language requirement will not be accepted for enrollment at CISP.
The entrance test will determine if the applicant will be required to take English language learning (ELL) classes for an additional fee. Students enrolled in the ELL program are not permitted to take Czech language classes until they have completed the ELL program.
CISP maintains a maximum ratio of ELL students for each class. After the the maximum ELL ratio has been met in a grade level, students who require ELL support will be placed on the waiting list.
Admisssion Process
We encourage families to visit the school before beginning the online application. Please complete the Inquiry form to request additional information about CISP and to arrange a tour of the school. During your tour we will explain the admissions and enrollment processes and answer any questions you may have about life at CISP or Prague in general. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have additional questions.
Step 1: Online Application Phase
The application is online, and parents will be asked to upload school records (report cards/vysvědčení) from previous schools, translated in English or Czech.
- Grades 1-5: 1 full year report
- Grades 6-10: 2 full year reports
- Grades 11-12: 3 full year reports
A non-refundable application fee of 5 000 CZK is due at the time of submission. Applications are considered complete when all requested documents and the application fee have been received.
Step 2: Entrance Exams/Interviews
Once your completed application is received by the Admissions Team, we will contact you to schedule the entrance exams and/or interviews. Students must be present in Prague for the entrance exams; these exams are not available online. Students do not need to prepare, and we don’t want them to feel nervous. This is only one of several pieces of information considered as we determine acceptance and grade placement. Students should get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. They don’t need to bring anything.
The following details will give you and your child an idea of what to expect:
Grade 1 – Readiness Interview: Your child will have an interview* with our Grade 1 teacher. This usually takes about an hour. During the interview the teacher will determine the following:
- If the student is ready physically, socially, and academically to begin Grade 1
- What the student’s English language proficiency level is and if they will need English Language Learner (ELL) classes
*If your student does not speak English, we request that parents arrange for an interpreter (not a relative) to accompany the student to the interview. CISP can arrange an interpreter for Czech or Korean-speaking families.
Grade 2-12 – English Proficiency Exam: All non-native English speaking students are required to take the English language exam first. This exam consists of the following sections:
- Written
- Oral
- Reading Comprehension
- Listening Comprehension
This exam takes about 1 hour for elementary students, and sometimes up to 3 hours for older students.
Grades 2-12 – Entrance Exam: All students are required to take the Wide Range Achievement Test which consists of the following sections:
- Word Reading
- Sentence Comprehension
- Spelling
- Mathematics
This exam takes about 1 hour.
Parent/Guardian Interview with School Director: This informal interview provides our school director with an opportunity to meet new families and share more about our school. Parents are free to ask questions about academics and school life in general at CISP. (The interview may be conducted by the principal or school counselor, when the director is unavailable.)
This interview usually takes about half an hour, and will be scheduled during your child’s entrance exam or first grade readiness interview.
Step 3: Application Review
After the entrance exams, the school leadership will review your student’s application. This team will decide grade placement and whether concurrent enrollment in ELL classes will be required for your student. Acceptance and grade placement is based on the following factors:
- Age of the student
- Academic English language skills
- Entrance exams/interview results
- Grade reports from previous schools
- Requested grade level
- Most recent grade level completed
- Anticipated parent/guardian involvement.
Parents can expect an email with the admissions decision 1-3 days after the entrance exams.
Step 4: Enrollment Phase
A) Online Enrollment: Parents are asked to complete an online enrollment packet in Family Portal. This includes uploading PDF files of the following:
- Student’s Passport
- Student’s Visa or Biometric card (non-EU students only)
- Student’s Medical Insurance card
B) Enrollment fee: Parents pay the 8 000 CZK Enrollment Fee (per student) and make first tuition payment (by August 15, if for the following school year).
C) New family orientation: Parents and students are invited to this meeting to finalize enrollment which typically takes 30-45 minutes. Parents will sign the Enrollment Contract and receive training on the Family Portal where parents can find information about events at CISP and their children’s homework and grades. High school students will complete course selection. The student’s first day of classes will be determined during orientation.
After this, the student will be considered enrolled at CISP, and parents will receive an email confirming enrollment.
