Kwangju Foreign School

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kwangju Foreign School" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Kwangju Foreign School" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2024) This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Kwangju Foreign School" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Kwangju Foreign School
Location
106 Samso-ro Oryong-dong, Buk-gu Gwangju South Korea
Coordinates	35°13′59″N 126°50′51″E / 35.232976°N 126.847500°E / 35.232976; 126.847500
Information
Type	Private
Motto	Character and Knowledge
Established	1999[1]
President	Robert Holley
Principal	Marcus Kotze
Staff	7
Faculty	15
Grades	Pre-kindergarten to grade 12
Number of students	50
Color(s)	Gray, Blue, White
Athletics conference	South Korea Activities Conference
Mascot	Cougar
Website	www.kwangjufs.org

Kwangju Foreign School is an international school in the city of Gwangju, South Korea. It was opened in response to city officials needing an international school to attract foreign business.

Students attend international schools because the classes are taught in English, and to gain acceptance into colleges and universities in the U.S. The course curriculum is therefore identical to that of U.S high schools, and counseling services in the schools provide the students with direction as to the appropriate activities to be involved in and the preparation necessary for the special entrance exams for non-native English speakers. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school has an ESL teacher to support students with limited English skills.

The teaching staff at Korean International private schools are on what are called E-7 visas as opposed to the E-2 visas (visas issued to English teachers at educational institutes (hagwon) or public schools). The issuance of E-7 visas now requires that applicants have 2 years of relevant experience. There are 3 elementary school teachers, 4 middle school teachers, 4 high school teachers, 1 art teacher, 1 Chinese teacher, 1 music teacher, and 1 ESL teacher. Chinese is the foreign language currently offered.

In August 2012, KFS moved to a newly built campus in Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, on the outskirts of the city of Gwangju just north of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology.

Facilities include a gymnasium that includes a half basketball court, music room for orchestra, library, computer lab, multipurpose room, and cafeteria. Outdoor facilities include a full basketball court, playground, and soccer field.

KFS is one of the founding members of the South Korean Athletic Conference (SKAC), which includes international schools in Busan, Daejeon, Sacheon, Pohang, and Jeonju. KFS student-athletes compete with other SKAC schools in volleyball, basketball, soccer, and cross-country at tournaments scheduled throughout the school year. In addition, KFS participates in academic SKAC events like the Spelling Bee, Model United Nations, and the Fine Arts Festival.

Teachers are very active in involving the students in cultural extracurricular activities. Organized extracurricular clubs have included dance, drama club, and orchestra. The performing arts groups are regular fixtures in the school's concerts, and talent shows. Students in grades 11 and 12 who demonstrate excellent scholarship, leadership, service, and character may be admitted to the KFS chapter of the National Honor Society.