As one of just three schools in the United States selected to represent the country, Susan Strong, Assistant Head of School for External Affairs at The Miami Valley School, recently returned from a 12-day trip to China, where she met with faculty and students of various schools looking to expand the mission and student base for the school.

“Exploring a country’s education system is one of the best ways to learn about their culture, vision, and priorities,” Strong said. “We have an intentional international program and this trip allows MVS the opportunity to meet students interested in studying high school in the US. We are forming exchange programs with specific schools and we are sharing ideas on how each country approaches education.”

This is the third time The Miami Valley School has taken such a trip, joining two other schools from New York and Los Angeles. The school works with the organization IPERC (International Partnership for Educational Research and Communication), which selected MVS, recognizing it as the region’s premier independent school, and as a representative of the high level of education in the United States. IPERC organizes the trips and coordinates with Chinese schools to discuss opportunities with Strong, and promotes it as an option against the two other coastal schools for students to attend.

By bringing students to the United States, The Miami Valley School performs a cultural exchange that the school considers very valuable to the development of both the domestic and international students, working to further the overall mission of the school.

“We take our mission very seriously,” Strong said. “Our International program goes to great lengths in empowering our students to become compassionate global citizens, and by bringing students to our school who offer a unique perspective, we encourage cultural growth that brings people together.”

Strong said the trip to China was a great success for The Miami Valley School and the region. The school is interviewing Chinese students and their families in the coming months to begin the enrollment process at the school.