Big Student Survey

How do you really feel about life as a student in America? We asked our students.

In the Amerigo Fall 2026 Student Survey, 412 students from 23 countries, at 8 U.S. partner high schools, shared how they feel about their home, their school and their life in America. Students in the survey lived in International Residences (153 students), Amerigo homestays (151) and other homestays (108). Here are the key results:

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Do international students feel safe at U.S. high schools?‍

Feeling safe is the first step to feeling at home. Here is what our students say about their school.

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Do international students feel safe in their homestay families?

For many students, the host family is the first welcome to America. Here is how safe and cared for they feel:

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Do students make friends and feel welcome?

97% of students say they have a good group of friends. We also asked who first made them feel welcome. Friends and fellow students were named most often, in about 27% of answers. Next came Amerigo and international office staff (about 16%), teachers (11%) and host families (9%).

In other words, students are rarely alone for long. A friend, a staff member, a teacher or a host parent is usually there from day one. One Grade 10 student wrote about the ESL teacher who checked in with her regularly:

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‍How happy are international students overall?

Students rate Amerigo 4.39 out of 5 on average. 237 of the 412 students gave 5 stars, and 355 gave 4 or 5 stars. That is 86% who would recommend Amerigo to a friend. Students who return rate us even higher: 4.42 for returning students, compared with 4.33 for new students.

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‍What does this mean for families choosing a U.S. high school with Amerigo?

The idea behind Amerigo 360° is to offer comprehensive support around every student, online or on-campus. Other programs have a contact nearby. Amerigo has a team inside the building. Academic, pastoral and personal support work as one connected system, so students know where to go.

If you are weighing homestay against residence, read our guide to homestay vs. residence for international students.

To see what the first months can look like, read what to expect in your first semester at a U.S. high school.

Every Amerigo partner school is different. You can compare them on our high school diploma programs page, and ask your Amerigo representative for school-specific information.

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Frequently asked questions about international students in U.S. high schools

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‍Is it safe foran international student to attend a U.S. high school?

In our Fall 2026 survey, 96% of students said they feel safe at school, and 98% of homestay students said they feel safe in their host home. These results come from students at Amerigo’s partner high schools, and they are self-reported.

Are homestays safe for international students?

98% of homestay students said they feel safe in their host home, and 89% said they always do. 96% said their host family cares about them. Students in homestays arranged by Amerigo reported feeling just as safe as students in other homestays (99% compared with 97%).

Will my child have friends and an adult to talk to?

97% of students said they have a good group of friends. 94% said they can always or often find an adult to help them. Students also named friends, Amerigo and international office staff, teachers and host families as the people who first made them feel welcome.

Do students recommend studying at a U.S. high school with Amerigo?

86% of students would recommend Amerigo to a friend, and the average rating was 4.39 out of 5. 92% said they are happy with their overall experience in the U.S.

Who took part in the survey?

412 students at 8 U.S. partner high schools took part in fall 2026. They came from 23 countries, and both returning students and students new this fall answered. Students in Grades 10 to 12 made up 87% of responses.

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