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High school exchange program in Mexico
Discover Mexico from the inside, living with a host family and attending a local high school for a short term, a semester or a year.
Live like a local in the heart of Latin America
Student exchange program to Mexico
Mexico is an overwhelming mix of colours, flavours and smiles. You will gain insight into Mexican customs, while improving your Spanish and discovering a warm, welcoming, ancient culture.
The cradle of Olmec, Maya, Toltec and Aztec civilisations, today Mexico is a melting pot of Indigenous and Spanish cultures and has a lot to offer: a rich cultural heritage, varied landscapes - think dream-like beaches, rainforests, deserts and impressive mountain ranges - and over thirty UNESCO World Heritage sites.
A mosaic of different realities
Día de los muertos
Anytime is a good time to wear traditional clothes and have a fiesta with family and friends... including those who are no longer with us! On this emblematic day, Mexicans bring flowers, gifts and food to the tombs of their dear ones, dancing and eating together in a festive atmosphere.
What's high school like in Mexico?
Beyond the classroom
In addition to traditional academic subjects, Mexican schools encourage the personal and social development of students through sports, artistic, and cultural activities. Make the most of it to discover new interests and gain new perspectives!
Uniform
Similar to Australia, uniforms are worn by most Mexican high school students. Wearing their school's colours is a source of pride for local students, and contributes to promoting equality. Can you picture yourself in your Mexican school uniform?
¡Viva México!
Mexican patriotism is woven into many settings, including education. Learning about Mexican history, culture, values and beliefs will be a 360-degree experience and will help you feel a sense of belonging amongst your peers.
Involvement
Mexican high schools - especially private ones - offer a wide range of programs and opportunities for involvement, including generic, technical or vocational programs, and many extra-curricular activities.
Discover Mexico from the inside during your exchange experience
Live the dream – trust WEP and prepare to be amazed.
On a Flex program to Mexico, you will be placed in the beautiful State of Yucatán, in south-east Mexico. This area, one of the safest in Mexico, is known for its tropical beaches, vibrant colonial cities and ancient Mayan ruins. Ready to be blown away?
Flex programs offer a very similar experience to Classic programs, with placement in a host family and enrolment in a local school. However, host families receive a payment or subsidy, and tuition fees are usually charged by the host school.
Flex programs are not registered and supervised by our Regulating Authorities in Australia, as they do not meet the requirement of a volunteer host family and a volunteer host school applying to Classic Exchange programs. However, WEP requires the same level of screening and quality of placements from the overseas partner organisations, and program rules and expectations of our students are the same.
Volunteer host families (possible allowance included in the program fee)
Private school (tuition included in the program fee)
Placement in the Yucatán Peninsula
Short-term, semester or year programs available
Your host family during your exchange year
Gain a second family – they can’t wait to welcome you into their lives!
Here is why:
Mexicans are known to value politeness, respect for the elders, loyalty, hospitality and generosity. Mexican families are very open to sharing their daily life, traditions and customs - including their mouth-watering cuisine! You will fill like a member of the family from the get go.
It is not unusual for a Mexican household to include extended family: not only parents and children, but also grandparents, or uncles, aunties and cousins living under the same roof or in close proximity. Be prepared for cheerful, lively family reunions!
Your host family will be at your side throughout your exchange, to help you integrate and offer support as needed. Let yourself be guided by their carefree, warm ways, you're part of the family now!
Your school in Mexico
Find out more about your school experience in Mexico
The Mexican education system
The education system in Mexico is divided into three cycles: educación primaria (from 6 to 12 years old), secundaria, (12 to 15 years old) and upper secondary school, preparatoria (15 to 18 years old).
Spending time in a Mexican school will give you the incredible opportunity to discover a new educational phylosophy that highlights the pillars of equality and sharing. The advantage? You may get to finish your daily classes at the beach or out in the nature!
The Mexican education system
Subjects in Mexico
Subjects in Mexican schools vary according to each school's specific stream. Usually, all secondary school students take the same core subjects, including Spanish, mathematics, science.
During the last year of preparatoria, students can focus on a specific area of interest, for example physical and natural science (chemistry, physics, biology...) or social sciences (business and economics, phylosphy, law...), allowing students to nurture their interests.
Subjects in Mexico
Upper secondary school
Upper secondary school in Mexico consists of three years, structured as follows:
Primero de Preparatoria - first year (subjects are the same for all students)
Segundo de Preparatoria - second year (subjects are the same for all students)
Tercero de Preparatoria - third year (students choose their subjects and specialise in a field)
Students who have completed the Bachillerato stream, which prepares students for higher education, will obtaining a diploma called Certificado de Terminación de Estudios, also known as Bachillerato General.
Upper secondary school
Extra-curricular activities
In Mexico, extra-curricular activities play an important role in the life of a student. Both through school and independent clubs, students can play sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, rugby) or get involved in activities such as chess, music or cooking classes. You're bound to find something that tickles your fancy!
Free time is otherwise spent doing homework, revising schoolwork, or spending time with family.
Extra-curricular activities
The Mexican school calendar
The school year begins in late August and ends in early June, with two main holiday breaks around Christmas and Easter.
There are also several public holidays, including:
- New Year's: January 1st, celebrated with spectacular fireworks in many areas of Mexico
- Constitution Day: first Monday of February, with parades and celebrations throughout the country
- Benito Juarez Day: March 18th, to pay homage to Mexico's former president and national hero
- Easter Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, with interesting traditions to discover
- Labour Day: May 1st
- Mexican Independence Day: Sepember 16th, a good opportunity to see traditional dancing and parades
- Mexican Revolution Day: third Monday of November, a day to express national pride
- Christmas: December 25th, even though celebrations begin much earlier!
The Mexican school calendar
Grades in Mexico
In Mexico, academic grading is generally expressed in numbers on a scale from 0 to 10. 10 is the best score, 6 is the passing grade, and anything between 0 and 5 is considered a failing grade.
Grades in Mexico
Stories from students and parents who have been there
Here are the testimonials of families who have chosen WEP for their exchange experience.
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Going with WEP is best
Since 1988, a wide choice of destinations and comprehensive assistance before, during and after your overseas program. WEP is the ideal partner for your adventure.
We also get to choose who we travel with: our schools, host families and overseas partner organisations are carefully selected.
We offer a custom-made insurance policy, specifically designed for our participants, and we have a solid network behind us.
Emergency assistance, overseas and from Australia, is available 7 days out of 7, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Allowing all our participants to live their desired overseas experience is a mission, a challenge we're thrilled to accept.
FAQ
Your host family, local coordinator and your host organisation will provide you with support while you are overseas. WEP Australia will remain in contact with the host organisation and your parents to coordinate and support your experience. In case of an emergency, both you and your family will be able to call an emergency phone number that is answered 24/7.
You will be advised of your placement location, host family and host school as soon as feasible. This can range from a few months prior to departure, right up until departure, as a lot needs to happen behind the scenes before each student's placement process is complete and can be communicated to you with certainty. The placement process doesn't only include sourcing a suitable host family, but also finding availability at a local school, and completing all red tape (including, for example, lenghty criminal history checks in some countries). Prior to departure from Australia, all students will receive host family, host school and local coordinator details.
Independent travel is not permissible while on exchange. However, you will be able to travel with your host family, school, host organisation and other community groups such as sporting teams or scouts. Again, the foremost aim of the program is educational, and your priority for any holiday periods must be your host family, who will be investing a lot of time, energy and money into this experience - simply in return for your frienship and positive contribution to their household.
Generally speaking, overseas schools won't issue a diploma to exchange students who are only there for a short time and don't graduate at that school. You may however be provided with a honorary certificate, as well as a WEP certificate of completion, which however don't count towards credit or graduation in Australia.
Language experience is desirable, but not necessary, for most countries. However, some countries have mandatory language requirements. You'll find the specific requirements for each country listed on its page. Intensive language courses may, in some circumstances, meet language pre-requisites. WEP strongly recommends language preparation prior to departure as language knowledge is of enormous benefit in assisting you to quickly adapt to your new family, school and life.
Of course, there are English-speaking destinations available if you are not interested in learning another language.
No, it's the host families who choose the student they wish to invite into their home. Based on the documents you will submit as part of your WEP application, one lucky family will choose to open their home and hearts to you, which is why for all Exchange Classic programs, and many Flex programs as well, there is no avenue for students to choose a specific location.
It may be possible to live with an overseas family that you already know (excluding relatives of the student). However, the family will have to be screened and approved, prepared and supported by our partner organisation in the same manner as any other host family. School enrolment must also be available.
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