Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Hello, my name is Trinh Gia Hung, I am 16 years old and a high school student from Hanoi, Vietnam. At Rabun Gap Nacoochee, I have seen myself mature every day, from every time I talked and hung out with friends to long study hours and essays and math problems that had to be revised repeatedly. I feel that my communication skills, independent living skills, and self-confidence have far surpassed what they were when I first set foot in the land of the Stars and Stripes. My American dream begins here, at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee school.

Rabun Gap, founded in 1903, is located in Northern Georgia. It boasts a huge 1400-acre campus surrounded by lush forests and green spaces, offering a beautiful environment. It's a 2-hour drive from Atlanta. The school has three divisions for grades PK-12 (accepting international student applications for grades 7-12). Rabun Gap is an international school, with hundreds of international students from over 50 countries worldwide studying here. Children from China can actively and happily integrate into the Rabun Gap family.

In the summer of 2018, our child entered 8th grade. Before going, we had various worries: about the child's daily life, independence, self-reliance... Upon arriving at the school, we discovered its environment was so beautiful; the entire campus was a vibrant, unique school that immediately captivated us. Initially, we were concerned that our child was young and wouldn't manage screen time well, but the school collected electronic devices uniformly in the middle school section every night, which reassured us as parents. The school offered many activities; students could participate in various clubs, events, and competitions. Prior to his time at Ranben, my child's spare time was almost entirely consumed by exam preparation. During three years at Ranben, he joined school clubs like long-distance running, tennis, and photography, and became more confident and outgoing! The enhancement of his learning interest led him to set higher academic standards for himself and achieve excellent academic results. The school's teachers are highly responsible, promptly answering students' questions or replying via email. Outside of class, teachers organized various parties for international students, allowing those far from home to experience the warmth of a large family. The school also specifically established an Asian Family Liaison Officer for Chinese students and parents, ensuring that students and parents could resolve any questions or needs there. In a blink of an eye, three years of studying at Ranben have transformed my child into a new self, not only in academics, interests, and art but also in independence, self-reliance, and critical thinking. I am very grateful for my child's acquaintance with, encounter with, and integration into Ranben. I share my genuine experience to review Ranben, hoping more prospective students can learn about it!

In the summer of 2018, our family went for my child to attend 8th grade. Before going, we had various worries: the child's daily life (food, drink, accommodation, travel), independence, self-reliance, etc. After arriving at the school, we found the environment to be so beautiful. The entire campus was a vibrant, unique school that immediately captivated us. We initially worried about our child being too young to manage phone usage time, but the school collected electronic devices uniformly in the junior high section at night, which reassured us as parents. The school offers many activities; students can participate in various clubs, events, and competitions. Before studying abroad, my child's free time was almost entirely occupied by endless practice questions. During three years at Ranben, he joined school clubs like long-distance running, tennis, and photography, and became more confident and outgoing! The enhanced interest in learning further motivated the child to raise his academic standards and achieve excellent results. The school teachers are highly responsible, promptly answering student questions or replying via email. During after-school hours, teachers organized various parties for international students, allowing those far from home to experience the warmth of a big family. The school also specifically established an Asian Family Liaison Officer for Chinese students and parents, where students and parents can resolve any questions or needs. In the blink of an eye, three years of studying abroad at Ranben have given my child a completely new self, not only in academics, interests, and art, but also in independence, self-reliance, and critical thinking. I am very grateful for my child's acquaintance, encounter, and integration with Ranben. I share my genuine experience to review Ranben, hoping that more prospective international students can learn about it!

As a student parent, my impressions are:
The school staff are warm and nice, creating a family-like atmosphere for the children; if a child experiences any psychological discomfort, they can seek help from the school's psychological counselors and receive particularly effective care!
The environment is beautiful, which can offset the inconvenience of shopping in a large rural area, and the natural environment must be very beneficial for studying!
The course schedule is not too tight, suitable for children who are organized, self-controlled, and proactive!
In short, it's a good school that puts parents at ease!

Rabun Gap is located in Rabun, Atlanta, Georgia. The campus is perfect for adventure, with miles of hiking trails and a private lake for kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. The 1,400-acre campus is a 2-hour drive from Atlanta and accessible by direct flights from China.

1. Circus Program: Established in 2001 and nationally accredited, the Cirque program is one of the oldest and longest-running high school circus programs in the United States. The school utilizes trainers from Asheville, Atlanta, Athens, and surrounding areas to teach students circus skills, including Spanish web, aerial silks, German wheel, aerial lyra, acrobatics, and more.

2. Arts: There's the Gap Dancer Dance Company, offering numerous performance opportunities, as well as the 600-seat Reardon Theater, galleries, and a black box theater. An Apple Lab allows arts programs to teach a wide range of technical skills using the latest industry-standard software. The Dance Department hosts an annual Spring Dance Concert and has won multiple Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards.

3. Signature Courses: Featuring a research and project-based core curriculum, with a focus on humanities, global travel learning, STEAM programs, sustainable energy research, and more. Courses emphasize personal discovery and foster critical thinking through theoretical study and hands-on learning opportunities.

4. Sports Programs: Multiple state and championship titles have been won, with students receiving athletic scholarships to top universities.

5. SAT and ACT Test Center: Students can take the SAT or ACT exams without leaving campus.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is located in Atlanta, Georgia, Rabun County, 8 miles north of Clayton, Georgia, 19 miles south of Franklin, North Carolina, in the southern Appalachian Mountains, centrally located between Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina. The school is within driving distance of major surrounding cities, conveniently located two hours' drive from Asheville, Atlanta, and Greenville. This allows students to experience both urban and rural environments. Rabun County has a population of 16,276 and is known for its rich natural beauty, with over 60% national forest land, three lakes, three state parks, and numerous waterfalls. Students enjoy spending time in the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. There are also many opportunities to participate in local activities and explore the quaint downtown area. On weekends, the school often organizes trips to museums, art venues, shopping malls, amusement parks, and other major attractions in these cities. The campus environment has distinct seasons, fresh air, allowing students to quietly enjoy the natural oxygen bar of the vast mountains.

The school has a super-large campus of 1400 acres, located in a valley, surrounded by forests and green spaces, with modern buildings featuring red bricks, gray roofs, and white windows, creating a beautiful environment. It's 2 hours from Atlanta, with direct flight access. The school can admit international students from grades 7-12.

Its academic ability is very strong, offering 16 AP courses. Over 80% of students who take AP exams achieve excellent scores of 3 or higher. It is an authorized testing center for ESL, SAT, and ACT.
The school is a traditional boarding school with strict management. 85% of its teachers live on campus, and many hold advanced degrees. It is suitable for students who seek academic challenges.