Our Students' Success Stories

When Ivan’s family relocated to Latvia, he faced an ambitious challenge: complete two grades in a single academic year while preparing for admission to competitive U.S. universities. He already spoke English, but not yet at the academic level required for university admissions essays, SAT preparation, and advanced coursework.

Ivan chose SHKOLA’s self-study format, which allowed him to move at an accelerated pace while still receiving support from teachers and his Student Success Advisor. That flexibility made it possible to adapt to a new country, maintain academic progress, and prepare intensively for university applications at the same time.

Results:

• SAT score: 1437 / 1600
• Admission offer from Brown University (Ivy League)
• Admission offer from Pennsylvania State University
• Admission offer from University of Colorado Boulder

Ivan successfully completed both 11th and 12th grade in one year while studying through SHKOLA’s accredited online program.

When Vyacheslav’s family moved to Thailand, he needed a 12th year of schooling to qualify for local universities — something the Russian curriculum doesn’t provide. The path forward required a recognized international diploma, earned on a realistic timeline.

SHKOLA’s program allowed him to graduate ahead of schedule with a diploma accepted by universities abroad.

Results:

• Graduated ahead of schedule
• Admitted to Stamford International University in Bangkok without additional entrance exams
• GPA: 3.6

Maria joined SHKOLA in 10th grade with a B2 level of English. She wanted access to strong universities abroad without giving up her primary school — a combination many students assume they have to choose between.

The Second Diploma program made it possible to earn a U.S. high school diploma in parallel and prepare for international admissions at the same time.

Results:

• 9 offers from universities across the U.S. and Europe, including Marquette University
• Combined scholarship offers totaling $509,825

Dmitry was dismissed from another online school for refusing to take the Russian state exams. He was certain his future lay abroad and saw no point in preparing for tests he would never use. He needed a school that supported that decision and offered a recognized international diploma.

At SHKOLA he enrolled in the accelerated Second Diploma track.

Results:

• IELTS: 8 out of 9
• Offers from Western University (Canada), University of Alberta, and Drexel University

David’s family traveled frequently, which made in-person schooling impossible. He had learned English as a child, but without consistent practice the fluency had faded.

SHKOLA’s full-time program helped him rebuild confidence in the language and study from anywhere in the world.

Results:

• IELTS: 8 out of 9
• Multiple university offers
• Admitted to Emirates Aviation University — one of the top 20 universities in the UAE

When Kuzma joined SHKOLA, his English was at B1 and he was uncomfortable speaking. His family had moved to Italy, and admission to a European university required a 12th year of schooling — two years more than the Russian system provides.

In one year, he brought his English to a confident C1 and finished 11th and 12th grade in parallel.

Results:

• English: B1 → C1 in one year
• 11th and 12th grade finished ahead of schedule
• IELTS: 6.5
• Diploma average: 93.5
• Admitted to King’s College London, International Relations
• Prepared and delivered a talk in English at a UN Human Rights Conference in Vienna

Stepan lives in the Moscow region and plans to study abroad. Rather than leaving his school, he enrolled in SHKOLA in parallel to earn a U.S. high school diploma and strengthen his international applications.

The Second Diploma program delivered exactly what he needed: an additional accredited diploma without walking away from his current school.

Results:

• SAT: 1140
• IELTS: 7.0
• Offer from Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands

Asema is a first-year university student in Istanbul. She needed to prepare for a biophysics exam in English covering a specific set of topics — and she had only a month and a half to do it.

One-on-one tutoring let her focus on exactly those topics within a tight timeline.

Results:

• 1.5 months of preparation
• 12 lessons (three per week)
• Exam passed with the top grade

Teacher: MS Kardy — technical subjects and biology; completing a master’s degree in advanced experimental and computational biosciences.

Alexey came to SHKOLA with a clear target: pass IELTS. His English was at B1–B2, his grammar had gaps, and he had already worked with several tutors without making real progress.

He needed a structured program, not another round of unconnected lessons.

Results:

• 4 months of intensive preparation
• IELTS: 6.5 out of 9 (B2)

Teacher: MS Stacey — TEFL and TESOL certified, C2-level English.

Zlata joined SHKOLA at A1–A2 with two goals: pass the OGE English exam and raise her overall English level for further study.

Preparation unfolded steadily over two years, building grammar and exam skills in parallel.

Results:

• OGE English: 66 out of 68
• According to her school principal, the highest score in the Predgorny District of Stavropol Krai

Teacher: MS Zahra (non-native speaker).

Arslan joined SHKOLA in June 2024 with his younger brother Insaf. The goal was to raise their English over the summer and gain admission to an English-language school. Both boys started at A1–A2.

They were consistently engaged in lessons, which allowed the program to move at a high pace.

Results:

• 2.5 months of preparation
• Admitted to UniSchool International School

Teachers: started with MS Zahra (bilingual), then continued with native speaker MR. Zaher Shah.

Insaf joined SHKOLA in June 2024 alongside his older brother Arslan. The target was the same: prepare intensively over the summer and gain admission to an English-language school. He started at A1–A2.

In lessons he stayed engaged and kept pace with the program’s intensity.

Results:

• 2.5 months of preparation
• Admitted to UniSchool International School

Teacher: MR. Emmanuel (native speaker).

Layan is a 10th grader preparing to study at a university abroad. Her target is fluency and confident written communication.

Lessons focused on three priority areas: grammar, writing, and pronunciation.

Results:

• English: B1 → B2+ in 6 months
• Notable progress in grammar, writing, and pronunciation

Teacher: MS Lana (native speaker).

Maxim attended a Russian school and decided not to take the 9th-grade OGE exam, choosing international education instead. His English was modest, and he needed to adapt quickly to studying in English.

Three months of focused one-on-one work made that transition possible.

Results:

• English: A2 → B1–B2 in 3 months
• Admitted to a U.S. school
• GPA: 91 out of 100

Milana attends a school in Poland. When she joined SHKOLA her English was at A1: she had a decent vocabulary but struggled to apply it, and her grammar was weak.

A year of consistent work changed that — lessons now run almost entirely in English.

Results:

• English: A1 → B1+ in one year
• 95% of lesson time in English
• Reads texts of medium complexity with strong comprehension
• Clear, accurate pronunciation

Teacher: MS Victoria (bilingual).

Georgiy had previously studied in Latvian and had a mid-range level of English. With his family planning a move to the U.S., he needed to get ready for a U.S. school — and be confident speaking — in six months.

Alongside English, he studied Science and Math to ease the academic transition. His mother, Yulia, also took lessons at SHKOLA to feel comfortable in the U.S.

Results:

• Studied from April to August (six months)
• English level: B2
• Admitted to and attending a U.S. school
• Additional subject preparation in Science and Math

Teacher: MS Stacey (native speaker).

Roman came to SHKOLA at roughly B1–B2. His goal: tighten his grammar, build out school-level vocabulary, and get ready to apply to an international university.

Results:

• 4 months of lessons
• Confident B2 level
• Fluent speaking, solid grammar, and academic vocabulary

Teacher: MS Diana.

Elizaveta has been part of an American education program since 2nd grade. In parallel, she was preparing for admission to a Russian university — which meant juggling SHKOLA, preparatory courses, and one-on-one tutoring all at once.

She built her own schedule: SHKOLA on Wednesdays and Fridays, preparatory courses every day, plus a private tutor. The flexibility made it possible to cover all the material she needed for the Russian university entrance exams without dropping anything.

In April 2025, Elizaveta received a High School Diploma from Forest Trail Academy (Boca Raton, Florida) — her U.S. high school credential.

Results:

• High School Diploma from Forest Trail Academy (April 2025)
• $2,000 grant from John Cabot University in Rome
• 40% tuition discount at a university in Athens
• Admitted to and enrolled at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation — Public Relations in Politics & Business program (taught in English)
• Pursuing two educational tracks simultaneously