Upper Arlington Schools is committed to ensuring that our students leave Upper Arlington prepared for life in this increasingly global society. Among other benefits, international travel has been shown to help students improve empathy for other life experiences, develop improved self-reliance and practice their problem-solving skills. The option of worldwide travel is one of many steps our district is taking to ensure our students remain on the cutting edge of 21st-century education. 

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

 —Maya Angelou

Through collaboration with EF Education First, International Field Studies and other partners, our students will have the opportunity to apply their classroom experiences to the real world on a global scale by traveling abroad with their teachers. Upper Arlington Schools is committed to providing teachers and their students with travel opportunities to the world’s most educational destinations, strengthened by the opportunity to earn high school or college credit based on their tour and grade level.

Upper Arlington Schools is offering several international educational travel opportunities in 2025 for students who will be in grades 6 through 12 during the 2024-2025 school year. Through these experiences, students will have the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills in areas such as global language, STEM, leadership, history and culture. By taking part in these experiences, students will be given the chance to step outside their comfort zone, experience a new culture, and see the world from a different perspective. We will be hosting a parent information night on March 13, 2024, to discuss the EF options. 

• Scottish Exchange with Mr. Chandler — Scottish students travel to UA in October 2024, and American students travel there during spring break 2025; open to grades 11 and 12
• Peru with Ms. Ettefagh — spring break 2025; open to grades 9-12
• Germany with Mrs. Fischer & Mrs. Charlton — June 2025; open to grades 6-8
• Andros Science Field Experience with Mr. Orloff — June 2025; open to grades 9-11
• Global Leadership Summit: London and Dublin with Mrs. Ballheim — July 2025; open to grades 9-11
• Discover South Africa with Ms. Fleming and Mrs. Benton — June 2025; open to grades 6-11
• Iceland with Ms. Sutherin —spring break 2025; open to grades 5-8
• Symphony Orchestra Tour of Europe — summer 2025; open to orchestra students in grades 9-11