Best Practices for Secondary School Recruitment

In recent years, an increasing number of secondary schools in the United States have turned to international student recruitment to meet enrollment targets, boost bottom lines, attain student diversity goals, and advance global education initiatives. Between 2004 and 2016, the number of international students studying at U.S. secondary schools more than tripled, reaching nearly 82,000, according to the Institute of International Education.

While the rate of growth of international students coming to the United States has slowed down since, it remains a dynamic and active market for many secondary schools. International educators at higher education institutions should take note: “The number one reason international students come to our schools is to access higher education opportunities afterward,” says Michael Shaver, director of international market growth at The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS).

Context and Market Drivers

The drive for international student secondary school enrollment has begun to grow at a time when both secondary and postsecondary schools are forced to prepare for a shrinking domestic student pool. Nathan Grawe, author of the 2018 book Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education, projects an impending decline in college enrollment of up to 15 percent beginning in 2026.

Grawe attributes this downturn to a number of correlating factors, including a declining population. U.S. Census Bureau data report a 0.7 percent decline in the school-aged population between 2010 and 2018. Elementary schools across the country are experiencing a decrease in student enrollment, and secondary schools will soon face similar challenges stemming from this