International Education

At Chief Sealth, we actively promote international and intercultural understanding and strive to enrich the academic and cultural environment of our school by facilitating the exchange of people and ideas. The Sealth community (students, faculty and staff) has a broader world view, a richer understanding of other cultures, and is more tolerant of differences as a result of the educational experiences offered at the school. Offerings include study abroad programs for students wishing to spend part of their high school academic career abroad, serves as host to foreign students and teachers who come to Chief Sealth, and provides opportunities for international travel and service learning.

International Baccalaureate World School

Chief Sealth High School has been an IB World School since April 2007. It offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. It enables high-school juniors and seniors to earn college credits and a diploma recognized by colleges and universities worldwide. Students learn more than a collection of facts. The Diploma Program prepares students for university and encourages them to ask challenging questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of their own identity, and develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures. This sophisticated two-year curriculum covers a wide range of academic subjects and has stood the test of time for over half a million students in 119 countries since 1968.

Universities recognize the outstanding qualities of IB Diploma Program students. Typically, diploma holders are ready to debate real-world issues from an international perspective and to provide leadership and support in the local and global community. Students demonstrate a capacity for in-depth study while maintaining a broad perspective of the different subject areas. They are able to ask challenging questions but also know how to research a topic and express their opinion. They have a strong sense of their own culture and identity, as well as the ability to communicate in two or more languages with people who have a different perspective of the world.

Chief Sealth has set a long-term goal of 70% of its student body taking at least one IB course. In the words of Principal Boyd, “We aren’t building an elitist program, rather creating an elite education for all.”

Cultural and Student Exchange :: China

This is a two year program. In the first year Chief Sealth students and families host students from the Nankai Middle School in Chongqing, China. In the second year, Sealth students travel to China for 3 weeks and complete an environmental joint service project with our Chinese hosts. This competitive program has been in action for eight consecutive years.

Global Leadership - One World Now!

A two year global leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors that offers four areas of opportunities: Leadership training and activities; after school classes in Arabic; 3-week summer language immersion camps at Seattle University for Mandarin Chinese and Arabic; summer study abroad trips to China, Morocco, and Egypt.

Global Visionaries

A one year leadership program that includes leadership training, a cultural immersion trip to Guatemala (14 days or 17 days), and local and international service projects focused on social and environmental justice. Participants who are 16 or older can receive up to 13 college credits through Seattle Central Community College (SCCC) for their participation in the program.

Chief Sealth Prospective Student Page