Harvard-Westlake students participate in student exchange programs during their junior year. Interested students can apply to semester long programs in the United States or full year programs abroad. Any interested student can find out more information from Jim Patterson, Director of the Kutler Center.
School Year Abroad
Harvard-Westlake is a member of the School Year Abroad (SYA) consortium. Students accepted into the SYA program spend their junior or senior year in Spain, France, or Italy. They live with a host family while earning U.S. high school graduation credits. Founded in 1964 by Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, SYA is supported by a consortium of 44 independent schools across the country, including Harvard-Westlake. The program is recognized internationally and is enthusiastically supported by top universities.
Alzar School
Alzar School is a semester opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Chilean culture for six weeks in Patagonia, live on our scenic Idaho campus, and explore incredible landscapes during four weeks of backpacking and paddling expeditions. Alzar provides motivated 10th and 11th grade students a semester that combines engaging academics, cultural exchange, and outdoor adventure. Students leave their semester as thoughtful leaders, engaged learners, and deeply connected community members.
HMI Semester at The High Mountain Institute
The HMI Semester is a unique opportunity for juniors in high school to spend a semester living, traveling, and studying in the mountains of central Colorado and the canyons of southeastern Utah. In essence, the HMI Semester combines the best qualities of an academic program at a rigorous boarding school with the adventure of a summer backpacking expedition.
Maine Coast Semester
Located on a 400-acre saltwater peninsula, Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki is an academically rigorous, place-based school community, which is made available to a select number of 11th- and 12th-grade students for one semester (fall or spring). Recognized as a highly competitive program, Maine Coast Semester provides intellectually curious juniors and seniors with an engaging, interdisciplinary curriculum delivered through student-centered instruction, as well as field studies and residential learning experiences, which foster creative thinking and independent problem-solving.
The Mountain School
The Mountain School is an independent semester program that provides high school juniors the opportunity to live and work on an organic farm in rural Vermont. Each semester the Mountain School draws forty-five high-achieving students from all over the United States. Courses provide a demanding, integrated learning experience that takes full advantage of the school's small size and mountain campus. While living with teachers in small houses, students help to make important decisions concerning how they live together and manage the farm.
School for Ethics and Global Leadership
The School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) is a semester- or year-long residential study away program for the most motivated 11th and 12th grade students in the United States, with campuses in Johannesburg, London, and Washington, DC. Students earn full academic credit (at an AP/Honors level) at their home schools and take a rigorous slate of college-prep courses, as well as our flagship Ethics and Leadership course. They learn civil discourse, ethical critical thinking, and leadership skills by meeting with some of the world's greatest leaders – our list of past guests include Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Clarence Thomas, Maria Cantwell, and many others.
Financial Aid
These programs offer need-based, financial aid, and families interested should review the policies and procedures on each program’s website.