Nationality Cap

AES believes that a culturally diverse student body enriches the life of the School and in an effort to support this diversity, the total percentage of any nationality other than American should not exceed twenty percent (20%) in any grade level.

When any one nationality other than American meets or exceeds the 20% limit, no additional admissions will be allowed from that nationality group. All applicants from this nationality group will be placed in the wait pool. Once the nationality cap percentage falls below 20%, the Admissions Office will allocate seats to eligible applicants according to AES School Board policy. Nationality cap status will be updated in the News and Noteworthy section to the right of the page.  

Eligibility Criteria for Admission

For any student to obtain Admission to AES the Administration must be satisfied that:

1. The student has a successful history of academic performance and appropriate personal conduct.

2. Any exceptional needs of the student, including physical and/or learning disabilities, and development of English-language skills can be met by AES.

3. The student would be eligible to graduate before his or her twentieth birthday.

4. The student resides in India with a parent or legal guardian.

5. In the case where neither the student nor either of the parents holds U.S. citizenship, the parents are residing temporarily in Delhi.  Parents or legal guardians of applicants must provide evidence of this status in the form of documentation from their employer stipulating the nature of their assignment in India. Persons who are self-employed must present compelling evidence of temporary residence before AES will consider their children for admission.

Admissions Policy for Early Childhood (EC4)

Admission to EC4 is on a first come, first served basis according to the date of completed application. AES shall keep a ranked waiting list, by completed date of application, for applicants not allocated a place and who will be offered admission on a first come, first served basis when space becomes available. However, students holding U.S. passports and who meet the admissions criteria will be placed on the top of the waitlist in priority position by date of completed application and ahead of all other nationalities.

The Wait Pool

Once the application process (K-12) is completed, the applicant’s file is reviewed for admissibility.  If admissible and at times of full capacity, all non-US passport holders are placed in the wait pool according to their date of completed application and in accordance with the Priority Categories for admission outlined below.

An applicant’s position in the wait pool is fluid and has the potential to change on a daily basis. As a result, the Admissions Office does not systematically contact families to provide an update on an applicant’s wait pool position.  However, the Admissions Office does welcome occasional email inquiries from parents to request an update. 

The nature of our priority categories and other factors make it impossible to predict if and when a seat will become available.  Therefore your child’s stay in the wait pool is indefinite. The Admissions Office operates the wait pool and allocates seats in accordance with AES School Board policy. The Admissions Office is not responsible for the amount of time an applicant spends in the wait pool.

While your child is in the wait pool, please continue to keep your child’s application current by submitting new school reports to the Admissions Office as they become available.

Citizenship: A valid passport must be submitted as proof of citizenship.  Birth certificates and expired passports will not be accepted.

Priority Categories for Admission (Kindergarten-Grade 12)

In keeping with its Mission statement, AES will ensure that a seat is available for all Priority Category 1 applicants that satisfy the general eligibility criteria for admissions.   As space becomes available, AES will release seats for other eligible students in the order specified by the priority categories listed below, by completed date of application within each category:

1. All U.S. citizens, children of U.S. citizens, children of eligible faculty and administrators.

2.Non-US and non-Indian passport holders that are native English speakers or have  mainstream level proficiency, as demonstrated through academic records and the AES English language proficiency assessment; Seats for native or mainstream level English applicants will be released according to the following priority:

a. Applicants whose parent or guardian is entitled to diplomatic, consular or official privileges;

b. All other eligible applicants.

3. Siblings of students currently attending AES

a. Applicants whose parent or guardian are entitled to diplomatic, consular or official privileges

b. All other eligible applicants

NOTE: If a sibling requires EAL services and the appropriate services are at capacity the seat will be offered to next eligible applicant. The sibling will maintain his or her position in the wait pool until both a grade level seat and EAL seat are available. 

4. Non-US and non-Indian passport holders that require English as an Additional Language services(EAL); Seats will be released according to the following priority:

a. Applicants whose parent or guardian is entitled to diplomatic, consular or official   privileges;

b. All other eligible applicants

NOTE: If the appropriate EAL services are at capacity the seat will be offered to next eligible applicant. The sibling will maintain his or her position in the wait pool until both a grade level seat and appropriate EAL seat are available.

5. Eligible citizens of India. (See Indian Applicants page for eligibility criteria)

Age and Grade Placement

The age-cut off at the American Embassy School-New Delhi is October 1. 

EC4: Students must turn 4 on or before October 1 of the year of attendance.

Kindergarten: Students must turn 5 on or before October 1 of the year of attendance.

Students come to the American Embassy School from many different countries, differing school calendars and age-cut off dates.  After careful consideration of an applicant’s age, school records, and academic history, students are placed with consideration given to the AES curriculum, standards, and expectations, as well as performance on any test the Administration may wish to administer.

Applicants from countries whose school year calendar finishes during December-March (ie. Southern Hemisphere, Japan and Korea) will continue for an additional semester in the grade most recently completed.  The Admissions Office wants to ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate learning environment. Therefore as new information becomes available (ie. school, conduct, and/or academic achievement records), an initial grade placement may be changed.

The School recognizes that there may be differences in opinion of parents or students regarding grade placement as a result of a transfer from a different educational system, different program of studies, or a system based on a different calendar year. However, the American Embassy School reserves the right to make all final determinations regarding grade placement.