Hsinchu American School vs Yoder International Academy
Hsinchu American School and Yoder International Academy are both in Taipei, about 37 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes, and Hsinchu American School also offers Advanced Placement (AP). Published annual fees are NT$44,850 - 54,050 at Hsinchu American School and NT$230 - 74,520 at Yoder International Academy, which puts Hsinchu American School roughly 32% higher. Hsinchu American School takes pupils from 6 to 18, and Yoder International Academy from 11 to 18. Hsinchu American School is the larger school, with around 200 pupils to Yoder International Academy's 100. Both keep typical class sizes around 18.
Hsinchu American School is located on Chung Hua University campus in Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan. The campus address is No. 707, Sec. 2, Wufu Road, Hsinchu City 300110, and the school describes itself as situated on the Chung Hua University campus. Campus hours are 08:00–16:20, with front gate hours of 07:30–09:00 and 14:50–16:30 for arrivals and departures.
Location
Yoder International Academy is located at 225 Changchun 1st Street, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 32065. The campus is in Zhongli, Taoyuan; the site lists the full address but does not publish nearby landmarks or transport details.
Stages
Stages
HAS offers education from Grade 1 through Grade 12, described as a college-preparatory international school. This range positions HAS as a full-sided PK-12 program, with a stated focus on preparing students for tertiary study in English-language programs.
Stages
School Profile indicates Grade Level: 6th–12th, and the school was Established in August 2019. This places the program as a combined middle/high school offering.
School type
School type
HAS is a private international day school. Official materials identify HAS as co-educational and licensed by Taiwan's Ministry of Education and Hsinchu Education Bureau, with registration and an American connection through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The campus is on Chung Hua University grounds in Hsinchu.
School type
School type: The school operates as a private international/experimental education institution serving grades 6–12. The site does not explicitly state the gender policy, but external listings describe it as co-educational.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The HAS website does not publish a formal SEN policy; however, HAS provides an Academic Advising program for grades 6–12 to support students' academic planning and college preparation, with regular monthly meetings. Families seeking detailed SEN provisions should contact the school for current offerings.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support: The admissions listings indicate ELL support and Learning support, and note Native English teachers as part of the staff. More detailed SEN provisions are not shown publicly on the site.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
HAS is affiliated with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and is licensed by the Taiwan Ministry of Education and the Hsinchu Education Bureau. This reflects its American-inspired curriculum within Taiwan's international-school framework.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation: Taiwan. The school is accredited domestically by the Taoyuan City Ministry of Education and also lists international accreditation/membership (Cognia).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
There is no religious affiliation listed for Hsinchu American School on its public materials.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation: Not stated on the school's pages.
School day structure
School day structure
School/ campus hours run from 08:00 to 16:20 each day, with a front-gate entry window from 07:30–09:00 and a late-afternoon gate window from 14:50–16:30. Details about daily break and lunch schedules are not specified in the public pages; families should consult the calendar for grade-specific timing.
School day structure
School day: Start around 8:00 a.m. and end around 4:15 p.m. (as listed in the admissions materials). Lunch/break details are not specified on the site.
Bus service details
Bus service details
HAS provides a school transportation service with door-to-door options across various districts in Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County, offering about ten designated routes. There are also shuttle arrangements from Hsinchu High-Speed Rail Station to campus. To enroll or inquire, contact Mr. Eric Huang at +886-3-520-3211, ext. 620.
Bus service details
School bus service: Yes, bus transportation is available as an extra service. It is listed as an additional fee item separate from tuition, and routes/provider details are not specified on the site.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Hsinchu American School (HAS) – Fee overview for the 2025-2026 academic year (current as of January 2026). All figures are in NT$. Tuition is charged per semester, with annual equivalents shown where appropriate. The school also lists several mandatory annual fees and new-student charges. HAS publishes a downloadable 2025-2026 Tuition and Fees document for detailed breakdowns.
Fee details
Here is a detailed, fee-focused profile for Yoder International Academy (Taoyuan City, Taiwan) based on the school's publicly posted information as of the current published material. The school operates on a two-semester academic year, and tuition is charged per semester. The information below reflects the latest figures available on the school's site and is applicable to students in Grades 6–12.
Application and admission fees - Application fee: NT$1,000 is due at the time of applying. - Three-day in-class tryout: a separate fee applies (the exact amount is not published on the admissions page). - Tuition (admission): NT$162,000 per semester. The school notes there are two semesters in an academic year. - Other fees (not part of tuition): Fees for items such as school bus, lunch, books and materials, uniform, winter and summer camps, and after-school programs are not included in the tuition and will be charged based on a student's needs.
Tuition by term and by year group - Grade levels accommodated: Gr. 6–12. The published tuition applies to all eligible grades in this range and there is no grade-based tuition differentiation specified on the admissions page. - Per semester tuition: NT$162,000. - Per academic year (two semesters): NT$324,000 (NT$162,000 per semester × 2). - Note: The school's published text states “The tuition is NT$162,000 each semester. There are two semesters in an academic year,” with no separate tiered fees by grade published.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The school uses a two-semester structure, with tuition published per semester. This implies two billing cycles per academic year corresponding to the two semesters. The exact due dates for each semester are not published on the admissions page. - Payment is required to complete registration, at the time of tuition payment during enrollment. Refunds, if any, follow the Taoyuan City Department of Education policy (see refund information).
Boarding information - Boarding options: Not listed as a service on the admissions page. There is no publicly posted boarding program or boarding fees on the site. Based on the available pages, boarding is not offered.
Other costs or fees (including uniform, etc.) - Items not included in tuition: School bus, lunch, books and materials, uniform, winter and summer camps, and after-school programs. These are charged based on a student's needs and are separate from the per-semester tuition.
Refund information - Refund policy: If a tuition refund is required, the refund policy as set by the Taoyuan City Department of Education will be applied. The site does not publish its own refund amounts or timelines beyond this DoE-based policy.
Fee payment options - Payment methods: The school does not publicly publish accepted payment methods (for example, credit card or bank transfer) on the admissions page. The site lists an online application form and general admissions steps but does not specify how tuition payments are to be made. For payment specifics, the school's contact information is provided (phone, address, email) but no explicit payment method is published on the site. Address for contact: Taoyuan Taoyuan City, 225 Changchun 1st Street, Zhongli District; Tel: +886-3452-3566; Email: yia-info@yoder.tyc.edu.tw.
Notes: - All figures are in NT$ (New Taiwan dollars). - The posted material carries a 2025 copyright note, and there is no separate, published 2026-fee schedule on the English admissions page. The two-semester structure and per-semester tuition are current; please consider the above as the latest publicly posted information.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Hsinchu American School (HAS) offers a US-based, college-preparatory curriculum for grades 1–12 and is licensed by Taiwan's MOE and Hsinchu Education Bureau, registered with the American Institute in Taiwan, with six-year WASC accreditation terms in 2015 and 2021. The program uses a rotating A/B day block schedule with up to eight credits (eight courses) per year, and AP courses are scheduled within this rotating block system. HAS runs an AP preparatory program starting in Grade 6, and AP courses are offered within the American-based framework (AP offerings have included courses such as Calculus AB/BC, Biology, Computer Science A, Physics C/Physics 2, Psychology, and economics/history; AP is open-enrollment). Graduation requires a University Transfer Degree (26 credits) distributed across English, Science, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Humanities/Arts, Physical Education, and Electives, with multiple AP options across these disciplines (e.g., AP English Literature, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP World History, AP US Government & Politics, AP Micro/Macro Economics, AP Studio Art, AP Computer Science). The Elementary program emphasizes caring, homeroom-based oversight aligned to HAS standards and school-wide learner goals, with AP readiness beginning in Grade 6 as part of the overall curriculum that aims to prepare students for university-bound study.
Curriculum details
Yoder International Academy serves students in grades 6–12 (middle and high school) in Taoyuan City. The curriculum blends US Common Core State Standards (CCSS) with the University of California A-G requirements, and includes Taiwan Chinese and mathematics courses within YIA's theme-based program. The program is student-centered, enabling students to tailor study directions and explore career paths as part of a broader college-preparatory approach. The school offers College Board and ETS products, including PSAT, SAT, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as well as English assessments such as TOEFL ITP and TOEFL Junior, and serves as an official IELTS testing center in Taoyuan City. YIA holds accreditation from Taoyuan City's Department of Education and Cognia, and uses the College Board code 694006 for reporting; it is the only institution in Taoyuan authorized to administer PSAT, SAT, and AP exams.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Apply & Schedule Entrance Exam: To begin, fill out and submit the online HAS application form. Once the application is received, HAS will arrange admission testing and notify you by email or phone about the next steps. If your initial application is not admitted, HAS notes a re-application option that allows applicants to re-apply three months after the previous application date. Placement decisions at this stage depend on the entrance exam results, the interview, and the applicant's accompanying records.
2. Entrance Fee: After submitting the application, you must pay an Entrance Exam Fee of NT$5,000 by bank transfer. The school's Financial Department will email payment instructions after receiving the application, and the admissions office will reserve an exam slot once payment is confirmed. The entrance exam fee is non-refundable, and the fee covers testing, credit evaluation, and/or interview as part of the admissions process.
3. Exam & Interview: English and Math tests are administered prior to admission, followed by an interview with the Principal. Admission is contingent on the exam and interview outcomes, as well as a review of placement factors such as years of schooling and age. Testing, interviews, and review of pertinent records are used to determine the proper placement for new students.
4. Decision: The Principal makes admissions decisions, offering or rejecting admission accordingly. Applicants who cannot be enrolled due to space in a particular grade are placed on a waiting list. This decision step determines whether the student will be offered a place or moved to the waitlist.
5. Acceptance: If admitted, HAS sends an acceptance letter by email with further admission instructions and payment information. Accepted applicants must submit the required documents (previous English transcripts for the last two years, copies of passports, immunizations for Grades 1–6, and a 1-inch photo). Enrollment details specify that capital and registration fees must be paid within two weeks of acceptance, and seats are allocated on a first-come basis with no seat reserved until payment is received. The acceptance process also notes that applications expire if these fees are not paid within the two-week window.
6. Try-Out (if offered): After completing the entrance exam and interview, some students may be offered a five-day try-out period. The try-out fee is NT$10,000, which will apply to tuition in the same semester if the student officially enrolls. The try-out fee is nonrefundable for unenrolled students, and there are no transportation provisions during the try-out period.
Admissions
1. Admissions Process Step 1: Begin with the online application. The school directs interested families to complete the online application form available on their site and notes that the ideal candidates are in Grades 6–12. It's the first formal step in the process and is used to initiate contact with an admission officer. After you submit the form, expect a follow-up from the admissions team to learn more about the applicant(s).
Step 2: An admissions officer will contact the parent. A member of the admissions team will reach out to gather additional information about the applicant(s), including background and goals. This outreach helps the school assess fit and outline the next steps in the process. Parents should be prepared to share any requested details or documents during this outreach.
Step 3: Schedule a one-on-one campus tour. The next step is to arrange a personal tour of the campus, giving families a chance to see facilities and ask questions about programs. The tour is framed as a key opportunity to understand day-to-day life at YIA. Families should plan a time that fits their schedule and come prepared with questions.
Step 4: Schedule a three-day tryout (fee applies). The admissions process includes a mandatory three-day in-class tryout, and there is a fee associated with this component. In parallel, applicants should be aware of an application fee due at the time of applying and of the tuition structure. The three-day tryout and related fees are part of the path to eligibility for admission.
Step 5: Submit all required documents. After completing the tour and tryout steps, families must submit all documents required for the application to proceed. The site emphasizes that the documents are essential for the review process. It's advisable to prepare a complete packet to avoid delays.
Step 6: Review the student application. The school reviews the submitted materials to assess fit, academics, and readiness for the program. This review step follows the document submission and typically precedes a final decision. Families should be aware that the review outcome may depend on the completeness and clarity of the submitted materials.
Step 7: Admission granted; finish registration and pay tuition. If admitted, families finalize enrollment by completing registration and paying the tuition. The site notes that tuition payments are part of the registration completion. It's important to review the fee schedule (see Step 4 for details on the three-day tryout fee and the application fee) and to understand the semester structure and tuition timing.
Step 8: Welcome to YODER FAMILY! Upon completion of registration and payment, students join the YIA community. The school frames this as the formal welcome into the “YODER FAMILY.” Families should be prepared for any orientation or onboarding communications that follow enrollment.
Fees (embedded in the admissions steps): The admissions page lists the following: an application fee of NT$1,000 due at application time, a three-day in-class tryout with an associated fee, and tuition of NT$162,000 per semester (two semesters per academic year). Other fees (bus, lunch, books, materials, uniform, camps, after-school programs) are not included in tuition and are charged based on need. The refund policy is set by Taoyuan City's Department of Education.
Scholarships
Scholarships
3) Scholarships: HAS does not publish information about scholarships or financial aid on its official admissions or tuition pages. The Tuition & Fees page lists mandatory fees and optional extras but does not include a scholarships or financial-aid section. For families seeking scholarship options, the school's published pages do not provide details, and you may need to contact the Admissions Office directly for current offerings.
Scholarships
3. Scholarships The school's published admissions materials do not indicate the availability of school-sponsored scholarships or merit aid. The Admissions page provides fee details (application fee, three-day tryout fee, tuition, and other fees) but does not list scholarship options. Note that there is at least one publicly disclosed case of a YIA student being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is an external scholarship program and not a school-sponsored scholarship. If you are seeking financial aid or scholarships, you should contact the admissions office for the latest guidance.
Waitlist
Waitlist
2) Waitlist/Pool: HAS states that if there is no space available in a grade level, applicants will be placed on a waiting list. When space becomes available, students may be offered enrollment, but seats are not reserved in advance. The school's enrollment terms indicate that acceptance follows a first-come basis for seat availability, and there is a two-week window to pay capital and registration fees after acceptance; otherwise, the application may expire.
Waitlist
2. Waitlist/Pool The official Yoder International Academy site does not publish information about a waitlist or pool system. There is no explicit waitlist or enrollment pool described in the Admissions page or related admissions materials that are publicly visible. For a definitive answer, families should contact the admissions office directly to inquire about current seat availability and any waitlist procedures.