International Student Admissions Office
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rocking Horse Road Center
4910 Macon Road
Rockville, MD 20852
301-230-0686

Our Mission
The mission of the International Student Admissions Office (ISAO) is to facilitate the enrollment of eligible international students, foreign students, and US citizen students coming from foreign schools in Montgomery County Public Schools. ISAO develops and maintains consistent and efficient procedures to ensure that children of new immigrant families relocated in Montgomery County are admitted in MCPS in a timely fashion and assigned to appropriate educational programs to continue their formal schooling.

What We Do
ISAO determines eligibility for school admissions of more than 6,000 students every year in Montgomery County Public Schools.

• U.S. citizens who attended a foreign school and interpretation of documentation, including educational records is needed by the school for placement.
• Foreign students who have a permanent residency abroad but are seeking admissions in MCPS. This group includes holders of J-1 visas (exchange visitors) and applicants of I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Student Visa Status.
• International students, defined as nationals from other countries with bona fide residency in Montgomery County who have not been attending a U.S. system at any time during the prior two years. For those students who may enroll at their home school, the school staff may refer the students to ISAO to start the enrollment process if needed.

The International Students Admissions Office (ISAO) provides the following services to incoming students and their families:

• Verifies students school eligibility
• Interviews parents and students and reviews school records and other appropriate documentation
• Makes grade placement recommendation and evaluates foreign school credentials to grant high school credits toward graduation
• Prepares a student’s folder, including ISAO intake form, and copies of all documentation presented
• Assigns student to the receiving school
• Refers students to other appropriate services including the Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs for assessment of English proficiency; Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services for completion of state health requirements; the Residency Compliance Office, when appropriate, for determination of school eligibility; the Department of Special Education for assessment and early determination of appropriate programs for students with special needs; the Division of the Controller for tuition payment, and the U.S. Office of Immigration and Naturalization Services to facilitate the admission of foreign students.