Vermont High Schools See Fewer International Students Amid Visa Delays and Federal Screening Requirements, St. Johnsbury Academy Impacted

Vermont counted 1,438 international students across all education levels in September 2026, down 169, or 10%, from September 2025. The declines have reached private high schools that rely on international boarders as part of their enrollment.

St. Johnsbury Academy enrolled 100 international students in 2026. They made up 11% of its total enrollment and 75% of its boarding students. The academy had 185 international students in 2024, a drop of 85.

Other schools report similar contractions. Burr & Burton Academy in Manchester has 35 international students this year, down from a historical level of about 70. The group now accounts for 6% of enrollment, compared with roughly 10% historically.

At The Putney School, international students make up 14% of enrollment, versus a historical average of approximately 20%, Head of School Danny O’Brien said. Visa delays and new federal screening requirements have added to families’ concerns.

Visa processing problems and shifting rules cloud school decisions

Sharon Howell, headmaster of the academy, said a pause in student-visa processing during the 2025–26 school year kept at least eight admitted students from enrolling. Similar problems continued in 2026.

Families are weighing more than the application process. Howell said changing federal policies have made it harder for them to decide whether to send students to U.S. schools.

The Trump administration temporarily halted student-visa interviews in May 2025. Interviews resumed approximately one month later, with applicants required to make their social-media accounts public for government vetting. Appointments have remained difficult to obtain.

The U.S. Department of State reported that visas issued to international students across K-12, higher education, vocational and cultural-exchange programs fell 35% in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024. The decline covers more than high schools, but reflects a wider squeeze on students seeking U.S. study visas.

A separate policy announced by the Department of Homeland Security in summer 2026 would cap international students’ admission at no more than four years. That would replace admission for the duration of an academic program. René Driscoll, Burr & Burton’s director of international admissions, said families worry the policy could restrict how long students may remain in the country.

The enrollment decline also reflects broader changes. Post-pandemic shifts in international demand for U.S. education have contributed alongside federal immigration-policy changes.

Fewer boarders reach beyond enrollment totals

Vermont’s historic private academies often serve as de facto public high schools for nearby communities. International and other boarding students also help support their educational programs financially.

A smaller international population changes the composition of campuses that have long recruited students globally. Schools also feel the effects in their cultural environment and campus diversity.

At The Putney School, the reduced enrollment has brought short-term budgetary pressure, O’Brien said. The school had been planning for that possibility.