Community Choice Awards 2019: High School

At Go Overseas, we encourage travel early in life. Our High School Abroad pages focus on providing parents and teens with all the information they need to make an informed decision about the best high school programs overseas.

This year, we're proud to honor the following high school abroad providers. These providers demonstrate a level of commitment to safety, fun, and participant outcomes that is evident in the reviews they received. Both teens and parents raved about these providers overall, and across the five factors we ask them to review: Growth, Support, Fun, Housing, and Safety. Read on to learn which High School Abroad providers ranked highest in 2019.

Learn more about how we scored programs for this year's awards by clicking here.

Overall Best High School Abroad Providers

In the Overall category, we looked for those providers whose scores across all factors was highest. The following providers offer a variety of programs in destinations around the world – and participants (and parents) are consistently positive in reviewing their experiences:

Rustic Pathways

Review Highlight:

"My Rustic Pathways trip showed me a new way to look at the world." -Natalie, 16

RISH Chinese Learning Center

Review Highlight:

"I wanted to thank RISH counsellor team for making such an amazing experience for my daughter and myself." -Amy, 44

Travel For Teens

Review Highlight:

"The second I got off the plan at LAX everyone was so welcoming and nice to me and immediately all my fears of being homesick or missing my friends went away and I enjoyed myself for the two weeks on my trip wishing it was longer." -Gabriela, 15

Top High School Abroad Providers: Growth

In reviewing High School Abroad programs, we ask reviewers to consider the "Growth" factor of the program. This includes both personal and academic growth, since many programs include a combination of both. The following providers had the top scores in the Growth category:

Cow House Studio

Review Highlight:

"The opportunity to work so closely with other students and instructors allowed me to grow in ways I didn't expect, not just as an artist but as a person, too." -Lilli, 20

ActionQuest

Review Highlight:

"It was such a pleasure to send our son on a trip in which he had experiences we could never give him, and learned things we could never teach him. " -Rachel

The Experiment in International Living

Review Highlight:

"I came back to America as a more confident, independent individual and I highly recommend that anyone and everyone should take part in this program" -Hilda, 17.

Top High School Abroad Providers: Support

When we ask reviews to consider the "Support" factor, we want to know how the program ensures participants have both the structure they need and the freedom to explore and learn from the world. The following providers scored highest in the Support category, demonstrating a commitment to helping High Schoolers experience the world on their own – but with support if they need it.

Oxford Royale Academy

Review Highlight:

"I couldn't have asked for better staff, teachers, program and even food!" -Filipa, 17

Global Routes

Review Highlight:

"I also loved all the people on the trip; everyone was so welcoming and nice and it was really easy to fit right in." -Nolan, 17

Global Works

Review Highlight:

"My Global Works trip was truly inspiring, the leaders were great, and I had an amazing time." -Finn, 15

Top High School Abroad Providers: Fun

Everyone wants to have fun if they go overseas, even if it's for an academic or learning program in high school! We ask reviewers to rate the fun of almost every program on our site, because we know that's an important component of your experience. These providers have the top scores in the Fun category:

Cow House Studios

Review Highlight:

"I can't stress enough how great the three months I spent at Cow House last fall were!" -Lilli, 20

Oxford Royale Academy

Review Highlight:

"The two weeks I spent at Oxford Royale Academy were undoubtedly two of the best weeks of my summer." -Danae, 17

ActionQuest

Review Highlight:

"ActionQuest is an amazing program that allows students to challenge themselves on a daily basis in every aspect from the diving, sailing, and even living in close quarters with others" -Hope

Top High School Abroad Providers: Housing

In asking reviewers to rate the "Housing" of a program, we mean both the housing and living standards, and in the case of those providers who offer classroom time, the academic institutions where students spend their time too. The following providers had the highest scores in the Housing category:

Knovva Academy

Review Highlight:

"I can say with full confidence it was one of the best experiences of my life I grew not only as a leader but as a person." -Josh, 16

Carpe Diem Education

Review Highlight:

"Homestays were my favorite because all of the families were very welcoming and patient with our many questions and difficulties speaking Spanish." -Annika, 19

Abbey Road Programs

Review Highlight:

"My host was just amazing, so sweet and caring and we have kept in touch since my return." -Annemarie

Top High School Abroad Providers: Safety

Safety is one of the most important factors we ask reviewers to rate here on Go Overseas; we ask it almost every program on our site. For High School Abroad programs, we want to know about the overall level of safety participants felt while abroad – or how parents perceived the safety of their child on a trip. The following providers had the highest Safety ratings:

Global Routes

Review Highlight:

"In terms of safety and logistics, I can't recommend Global Routes enough. Even though we were sending our 15 year old halfway across the globe, I never feared she would be put in an unsafe situation." -Kim

Knovva Academy

Review Highlight:

"I can say with full confidence it was one of the best experiences of my life; I grew not only as a leader but as a person." -Josh, 16

The Experiment in International Living

Review Highlight:

"I came back to America as a more confident, independent individual and I highly recommend that anyone and everyone should take part in this program." -Hilda, 17