How do you transfer school records to the United States in 2026?

Ask the prior school for sealed or official transcripts listing grades, dates, and courses. Add syllabi or course descriptions when US counselors need them to judge high-school credit. Certified English translations help when registrars cannot read the original language.

Gather immunization records and catch up missing shots under the state schedule before the first day if possible: Enrol in public school. Birth certificates and custody papers may need Apostille authentication from the issuing country.

Elementary placement often follows age cutoffs and classroom space. Middle and high schools review credits toward graduation requirements, which differ by state. English learner teams may screen speaking, reading, and writing to assign support services: Children in school without English.

Private and international schools set their own document lists but still ask for the same core transcripts. Start requests weeks before departure; bureaucracies abroad move slowly.