Wang Yuanyuan

    The number of Chinese students studying at private high schools in the United States has multiplied by more than 100 times in the past six years.

    There were about 65 Chinese students at U.S. private high schools in 2005 and the number grew to 6,725 by 2011, according to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. There were 157,588 Chinese students studying in all U.S. schools in 2011, an increase of 23 percent from 2010.

    “More than 30 percent of our students are Chinese. The number of applications from Chinese students increases by at least 20 percent every year,” said an official from the Hotchkiss School, a boarding school in Connecticut.

    A private, four-year high school program costs an average of US$200,000 (1.3 million yuan) in the United States, putting a hefty price tag on a private education. Many American families don’t choose such private schools because of the high costs — public schools are free — but private schools have become ideal choices for a lot of rich Chinese families, because many private schools are viewed as expressways to prestigious Ivy League universities, the U.S. magazine Business Insider reported.

    “It’s a great investment. Students have much easier access to a brand university, with excellent teachers and education facilities,” said Shenzhen businessman Chen Bo, 48. “Meanwhile, they will have a very good circle (of connections), which will be very good for their future career.”

    Many private schools are grabbing the chance to attract Chinese students and make large profits. Famous schools such as Deerfield Academy come to China every year to hold introductory events, and the American Association of Boarding Schools holds garden parties for parents and students every year in Beijing and Shanghai.

    The trend could also lead to changes in the application process and enrollment. A growing number of education agencies are offering one-stop services to help students enter high-end private schools, causing many well-known private schools to consider changing their enrollment policy to accept Chinese students more on their merit than money.

    “Many applications from China are exactly the same and made by agencies. It can be very difficult for a school to see students’ true abilities,” said David Damico, admission director of Wyoming Seminary.

    Wu Lixian, a researcher at the city’s education bureau, said some Chinese education agencies work directly with some American private high schools.

    “When parents want to send students to the United States, they have to think through the plan and do comprehensive research before paying,” Wu advised. “It is more important to find a school that is suitable for the child. Meanwhile, it is better not to rely on agencies too much because many agencies will recommend some less competitive schools which have made agreements with them.”