Admissions Criteria

En Español

The International School Nido de Aguilas invites all interested students to apply for admission to our school, regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, or national origin. Nido considers all applications for enrollment carefully to ensure a good fit for our program and the student. Admission is granted based on the student’s demonstrated readiness for our academic program and alignment with our educational project. In order to create an optimal educational experience for all of our students, Nido’s admissions policies strive to achieve a balance in the gender, English language composition, and cultural diversity of our student population.

During the first stage of the application process, the Admissions Committee evaluates in detail multiple aspects, including previous school grades, confidential recommendations and standardized assessment results. In a second stage, the committee also considers student interviews, performance on admissions tests, and any other information. Specific admissions criteria by division is detailed below. Decisions are made by our Admissions Committee.

The purpose of this review is to determine if the applicant meets the academic and personal development criteria. For academic criteria, the committee considers school performance, language skills and mathematical knowledge, among others. Regarding personal development criteria, the committee considers attendance, conduct, social-emotional development, study and organizational skills, as well as any other information gathered during the application stage

In addition, priority is given to applicants who meet the admissions criteria and are children of Nido faculty and staff, children of U.S. citizens or children who are U.S. citizens, siblings of currently enrolled Nido students, or children of Nido alumni. In each category, preference is given also to students who are proficient in English.

Nido currently has limited capacity to support students with learning differences. Nido does not provide academic and curriculum modifications. Click to learn more about our student support services. If your child has learning support needs, we encourage you to schedule a meeting with the Admissions Office.

Age Requirements For the 2023-2024 school year:

Pre-Kinder: three years of age by August 31 of the year they start at Nido
Kinder 1: four years of age by August 31 of the year they start at Nido
Kinder 2: five years of age by August 31 of the year they start at Nido
Grade 1: six years of age by August 31 of the year they start at Nido
Grades 2-12: Students are evaluated according to their age and academic level to determine placement. Applying students need to fall within the age range of the grade they are applying to. The range between the youngest and the oldest cannot exceed two years.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING START DATES:

Nido has a rolling admissions process; it is the School's discretion for EYS-MS students to start classes in the 4th quarter of the school year.
Students applying to High School must have finished the previous semester in their previous school and start at Nido at the beginning of the semester. If your student will not have completed the previous semester, or if your family will be arriving after the first day of classes in the semester, please contact the admissions office to discuss this further.

Early Years School Admissions (Pre-Kinder - K1)

Children are assessed in the following areas expected for a child's chronological and development age: social-emotional development, speech and language development (overall linguistic abilities), and academic and pre-academic concepts and skills in the areas of reading and mathematics.

Applicants who reside in Chile, must participate in an in-person evaluation. Applicants who reside abroad will be required to submit videos and if further information is needed will be required to participate in an in-person evaluation upon arrival to Chile.

Evaluation Tool: Nido uses The Gesell Developmental Observation Assessment System developed by the Gesell Institute at the University of Yale, uses direct observation to describe a child’s cognitive, language, motor or social-emotional responses in five strands (Strand A general development, Strand B letters and numbers, Strand C comprehension, strand D visual-spatial and strand E, socio-emotional). Additional Reports may be requested. The GDO-R is administered by trained evaluators from the Nido staff.

Applicants are evaluated according to the grade they are applying to:

PK: Strand A & E
K1: Strands A, B & E
K2: Strands A, B, C, D & E

Additional information is gathered from parents and teachers through questionnaires to provide a broad perspective on a child’s development.

Each strand of the GDO-R determines if the child is developmentally “age appropriate”, “emerging” or “concern” based on the skills performance during the evaluation:

If an applicant is evaluated as age appropriate in all areas tested, the applicant is considered to meet the admissions criteria in the area of the evaluation tool.
If an applicant is evaluated as emerging in any area, the admissions committee must consider if the student meets the admissions criteria in other sections of the application.
If an applicant is evaluated to be a concern in any area, the applicant does not meet the admissions criteria.
If an applicant is unable to complete the evaluation, the applicant does not meet the admissions criteria.

Elementary School Admissions (Grades K2 - 5)

The Admissions Committee reviews an applicant's previous school records (including standardized test results), confidential recommendations from teachers and counselors and results of an interview with a school counselor, as well as any other previous educational information. Applicants are evaluated through the admissions assessment in the following areas that are expected for a child's chronological and developmental age: language skills, math concepts and application, social-emotional development, organizational and study skills, and overall fit for the Nido curriculum. The Admissions Committee will review the application once it is complete and determine additional evaluations needed. Since schools vary in grade level expectations, this assessment will also determine the appropriate grade placement for a child.

Previous School Records: Applicants must have a minimum of 5.5 in the Chilean scale or the equivalent in the core subjects (English, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science) for two consecutive years.
Confidential Teacher/Counselor Recommendations: The Admissions Committee will review the recommendations from homeroom teacher and a counselor (or principal) taking into consideration their academic work and social personal skills.
Interview: Students applying to Nido will have an interview with the ES counselor to learn more about their previous school experiences and any social emotional aspects that could impact their transition to a new school.
English Language: Applicants who are not proficient in English will be evaluated using the WIDA to determine their level of academic English. Students scoring between 1.0 - 3.0 qualify for supports in the English Academy, at an additional fee.
Language - Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Reading Assessment (in English or Spanish) and/or NWEA Reading: Applicants with 98% accuracy and satisfactory comprehension at level expected for the grade, are considered to meet the admissions criteria for this evaluation. If the applicant reads below grade level or at a lower accuracy or lower comprehension, the applicant does not meet the criteria in this evaluation. If students are evaluated with the NWEA Map Reading, they must score above the 30th percentile to meet the admissions criteria. Applicants who do not have a proficient level of English, are evaluated using the WIDA to determine their level of academic English.
End-of-Year Math Assessment or NWEA Map Math: The applicant is evaluated using the EOY evaluation or the NWEA Map Test. In the EOY evaluation, applicants must score above a 75% to meet the admission criteria. If students are evaluated with the NWEA Map Math, they must score above the 30th percentile to meet the admissions criteria.

All evaluations are administered by Nido staff.

Applicants that qualify for both EAL and Learning Support, do not meet Nido's admissions criteria.

Middle School Admissions (Grades 6 - 8)

The Admissions Committee evaluates an applicant's previous school records (including standardized test results), confidential recommendations from teachers and counselors, the interview with the school counselors, as well as previous educational information. Applicants are evaluated through the admissions assessment in the following areas expected for their chronological and developmental age: language skills, math concepts and application, social-emotional development, organizational and study skills, and overall fit for the Nido curriculum. In addition to the above, students are assessed in the areas of: attendance, conduct and other records.

Previous School Records: Applicants must have a minimum of 5.5 in the Chilean grading scale or the equivalent in the core subjects (English, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science) for three consecutive years.
Confidential Teacher/Counselor Recommendations: The Admissions Committee will review the recommendations from English and math teachers and a counselor (or head teacher in the lack thereof) taking into consideration their academic work and social personal skills.
Interview: Students applying to Nido will have an interview with the MS counselor to learn more about their previous school experiences and social emotional aspects that could impact their transition to a new school.
Language: MS applicants are evaluated with the NWEA Map Reading screener and must score above the 30th percentile to meet the admissions criteria. Applicants who are not proficient in English will be evaluated using the WIDA to determine their level of academic English. Students scoring below a 1 do not meet admissions criteria. Students scoring between 1.0 - 5.0 qualify for supports in the English as an Additional Language Program (EAL Academy or English for Academic Purposes, EAP).
G6 1.0 - 3.0 AEA 3.1 - 5.0 EAP

G7 1.0 - 3.0 AEA 3.1 - 5.0 EAP

G8 1.0 - 3.5 AEA 3.6 - 5.0 EAP
Math: MS applicants are evaluated with the NWEA MAP Math screener and must score above the 30th percentile to meet the admissions criteria.

Applicants that qualify for both EAL and Learning Support, do not meet Nido's admissions criteria.

All evaluations are administered by Nido staff.

High School Admissions (Grades 9-12)

Previous School Records: Applicants must have a minimum of 5.5 on the Chilean grading scale or the equivalent in the core subjects (English, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science) for the last 3 years. Applicants are evaluated through the admissions assessment and the review of documents provided in the following areas: English-language skills, math concepts and application, social-emotional development, organizational and study skills, and overall fit for the Nido curriculum.
Confidential Teacher/Counselor Recommendations: The Admissions Committee will review the recommendations from English and math teachers and a counselor (or head teacher in the lack thereof) taking into consideration their academic work and social personal skills.
Interview: Students applying to Nido have an interview with the HS counselor to learn more about their previous school experiences and social emotional aspects that could impact their transition to a new school.
Language: HS applicants are evaluated with the NWEA Map Reading screener and must score above the 30th percentile to meet the admissions criteria. Applicants who are not proficient in English will be evaluated to determine their level of academic English. Students scoring below a 3.0 do not meet admissions criteria. Applicants to G9 & 10 scoring between 3.0 - 5.0 qualify for supports in the English as an Additional Language Program.

G9	3.0 - 3.5 EAL I	4.0 - 4.5 EAL II	4.5 - 5.0 EAP
G10	3.0 - 3.5 EAL I	4.0 - 4.5 EAL II	4.5 - 5.0 EAP
G11			4.5 - 5.0 EAP
G12			4.5 - 5.0 EAP

Math Assessment: Applicants are evaluated using the NWEA Map Math test or Nido grade level assessment. Applicants must score above the 30th percentile in the NWEA Map Math or above a 70% in the grade level assessment to meet the admissions criteria.
Learning Support: Nido provides limited learning support service. Applicants that qualify for both language support and Math lab, do not meet Nido's admissions criteria.

Students applying to Grade 12 need to be available to start at the beginning of the school year, as it is a graduation requirement to have completed at least one full academic year at Nido.

All evaluations are administered by Nido staff.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program (Grades 11 & 12)

Nido offers the full IB Diploma Program (IBDP) or the IB Partial Plan. Direct admission to the IBDP is based on a student’s academic record, a history of academic integrity and teacher recommendations. Specifically, candidates are expected to have a minimum GPA of 3.1 on the US scale or 6.4 on the Chilean scale and should not have received Ds or Fs (or their equivalent) in their high school records. Teacher recommendations are based on the student’s coursework in each subject area and specifically state which IB course and level (SL or HL) students are prepared to pursue in Grade 11. Once all of the information is gathered, the students, parents, counselors and the IB Coordinator work together to determine the most appropriate academic pathway for each student that will foster growth and is based on their academic strengths, interests and university aspirations.

Students transferring from IB Diploma Programs with good standing may be able to continue in the IB Diploma Program at Nido if the courses are available at Nido and the student’s specific hexagon of IB courses is compatible with the Nido schedule at the time of transfer. This transfer policy would be appropriate for Grade 11 applicants entering second semester or Grade 12 applicants.

Students placed in EAP, EAL Academy or Math Lab, based on the assessment at the time of admissions, are not eligible for the full IB Diploma based on English language and/or math proficiency requirements. Students that do not meet the above requirements can pursue the IB Partial Plan where students take select IB courses to support their interests and academic pathway.