How the Academic Year in America High School Exchange Program Works

Updated

Academic Year in America (AYA) is a high school exchange program run by the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation. It brings students from over 60 countries to the United States, where they live with an American host family and attend a U.S. high school for either an academic year or a single semester. It is designed for international high school students who want to experience American school and family life rather than simply tour the country.

Who the program is for

AYA is built around international secondary school students, not U.S. students going abroad. According to AIFS, participants come from more than 60 countries and enter the U.S. as exchange students. The core experience has two parts:

  • Host family living — students stay with a U.S. family for the duration of their placement.
  • U.S. high school enrollment — students attend an American high school as exchange students.

The program is organized by the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, which is the nonprofit side of the AIFS organization. That distinction matters if you are comparing it with AIFS's other offerings: AIFS Abroad serves U.S. college students and recent graduates, while AYA is the inbound high school exchange track.

How the exchange is structured

Element What it involves
Duration One academic year or one semester
Where students live With a U.S. host family
Where students study A U.S. high school, as exchange students
Who it serves High school students from over 60 countries
Organizing body American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation

The two duration options are the main structural choice. A full academic year gives a longer, more immersive stay; a semester is a shorter commitment that still places the student in a host family and a U.S. school.

How it fits into the wider AIFS picture

AYA is one of several programs under the AIFS umbrella, and knowing where it sits helps you avoid mixing up eligibility rules:

  • Academic Year in America (AYA) — high school students from other countries coming to the U.S.
  • AIFS Abroad — U.S. college students and recent grads going abroad for study or internships.
  • Au Pair in America — young women from other countries providing live-in child care for U.S. families on a J-1 visa.
  • Camp America — international young adults age 18+ working at U.S. summer camps on a J-1 visa.
  • ACIS — educational group travel for teachers and high school students.

If you are a U.S. high school student looking to study abroad, AYA is not the right fit — that would fall under programs like AIFS's gap year or study abroad options. AYA is specifically the inbound exchange route for international students.

What to check before applying

The AIFS materials describe the program's shape but do not list fees, application deadlines, or specific eligibility requirements such as age ranges or language scores. Those details are handled at the program level, so the practical next step is to go to the AYA program page directly rather than assume terms from the general AIFS description.

When you do, confirm:

  • Exact eligibility rules — age, grade level, and any language or academic requirements.
  • Duration and start dates — whether the semester or year option fits your school calendar at home.
  • Host family and school placement process — how matching works and what you can expect.
  • Costs and what is included — the AIFS overview does not state pricing, so treat any figure as something to verify on the program page.

The key takeaway: AYA is an inbound U.S. high school exchange program for international students, run by the AIFS Foundation, offering a year or a semester living with an American family and attending a U.S. high school. Confirm the specifics on the AYA page before committing.