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Cheongna Dalton School

South Korea, Seoul

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ₩28,092,463 - 31,592,463
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1560
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2011
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages English
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Cheongna Dalton School (CDS) is an international, coeducational school in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon, with tuition published for Pre-K through Grade 12. CDS opened on September 1, 2011. The school’s program is built on the Dalton Plan, including its “House, Assignment and Laboratory” structure. Facilities described in admissions information include Dalton Hall (an auditorium), a gym, a swimming pool, a turf soccer field, an equestrian field and dormitory facilities. The course catalog materials reference Advanced Placement (AP) coursework (for example, AP English Language and Composition).

344, Cheomdandong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon (22742)

The Essentials

Cheongna Dalton School has 1,560 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
Cheongna Dalton School is located at 344 Cheomdandong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea. It sits in the Cheongna area within the Incheon Free Economic Zone and serves both Korean families and expatriate residents. The campus is about 25 minutes east of Incheon International Airport and is near the Cheongna International City subway station.

Stages
CDS offers Preschool through Grade 12 (Pre-K to 12). It is organised into the First Program (Elementary), Middle School, and High School on a single campus.

Type
CDS is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational school that operates as both a day and boarding school for students from Pre-K through Grade 12. Boarding is available to middle and high school students.

Additional learning support
Counseling services are offered; Korean language instruction is provided for certain grades; the High School offers AP courses and college counseling.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation; CDS follows an American curriculum.

Religious affiliation
CDS is secular with no religious affiliation.

School day structure
School day starts at 8:00. Kindergarten to Grade 4 finish at 15:40; Grades 5 to 12 finish at 16:00. The school provides lunches.

Bus service
A school bus service is available.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Cheongna Dalton School offers a dormitory as part of its Residential Care Program. The dormitory has separate Boys' and Girls' facilities with dedicated supervisors, and each student has their own room. Residential staff supervise evening study halls and a range of activities to support independent living and social development.

Uniform Requirement
The school uses a uniform policy. In the Middle School, the uniform consists of long-sleeve black shirts, long black pants, a long black skirt with stockings as an optional alternative for girls, and black shoes.

House System
The school uses a house system with four houses: Condors, Eagles, Raptors, and Ravens.

Governance and Ownership
Cheongna Dalton School is established by a domestic corporation in Korea and operates as a private, not-for-profit international school offering day and boarding options. The founder is Bongduk Lee.
Fees

Annual tuition at Cheongna Dalton School ranges from KRW 28,092,463 to KRW 31,592,463 for 2026/27.

Application fee

- One-time application fee: KRW 300,000. This fee is payable at application and is non‑refundable as part of the admissions steps.

Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts; currency components shown where published)

- Pre‑Kindergarten (Pre‑K): KRW 18,000,000 per year.

- Elementary (approximately Kindergarten / Grades 1–5): KRW 18,030,000 per year plus a USD component of USD 6,000 per year (tuition is expressed as a KRW portion plus a USD portion).

- Lower Secondary (approximately Grades 6–8): KRW 19,780,000 per year plus a USD component of USD 6,000 per year.

- Upper Secondary (approximately Grades 9–12): KRW 21,330,000 per year plus a USD component of USD 6,000 per year.

- Examples of full annual totals (KRW converted totals published for the 2025/2026 academic year):
- Kindergarten / lower primary total (example): ~KRW 28,342,448 per year (this figure reflects the combined KRW and converted USD portions as published for that academic year).
- Middle school combined total (example): ~KRW 30,142,448 per year.
- Secondary combined total (example): ~KRW 31,842,448 per year.

One‑time and annual additional fees

- Capital (admission/development) fee: KRW 4,000,000 one‑time (payable at entry).

- Technology fee: KRW 200,000 per year.

- Boarding fee (where boarding is applicable): KRW 11,000,000 per year (boarding is offered).

- Sibling discount: A younger‑sibling discount is published (example: a 30% discount on the younger sibling's tuition as listed by third‑party fee summaries).

Billing schedule and payment terms (available information)

- Tuition is published as two components (a KRW portion and a USD portion) and the school's published fees and third‑party fee summaries present combined annual totals that reflect both currency components. Families are expected to satisfy both currency components of published tuition.

- The school requires payment of the application fee at application (wire/transfer is the instructed method for the application fee). Specific published deadlines, installment dates, or term‑by‑term billing amounts were not located in the publicly available fee summaries queried.

Other costs or typical additional charges

- Known, published additional charges include the capital fee and technology fee listed above. Other common school costs—such as uniform, transport/bus fees, lunches, optional extracurricular activity fees or sports trip charges—were not found as itemized published amounts in the fee summaries reviewed. Parents should anticipate that such charges may exist but specific amounts were not located in the available fee publications.

Refund information

- Admissions paperwork referenced in application guidance includes a required "Refund Policy Agreement" form as part of the admissions documentation. A detailed, published refund schedule (exact refundable amounts by withdrawal date or prorated refund table) was not present in the fee summaries and public pages consulted. The application fee is described in admissions guidance as non‑refundable.

Fee payment options (methods reported in available sources)

- The published application instructions indicate payment of the application fee by wire/bank transfer. No authoritative public listing of all accepted payment channels (for example: full school policy on bank transfer, credit card acceptance, online gateway, or local direct debit) was found in the fee summaries reviewed.
Academics

Cheongna Dalton School teaches American Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
Cheongna Dalton School teaches an American curriculum in English, implemented through the Dalton Plan (House, Assignment, Laboratory), and is accredited by WASC, with a boarding program available for middle and high school students. The school serves Pre-K through 12, organized into the First Program (Elementary), Middle School (Grades 4–8), and High School (Grades 9–12). Korean language study is required for Korean nationals in the lower grades, while middle- and high-school students study world languages such as Spanish or Chinese; Korea-path students complete about 102 hours of Korean history and Korean language study to access Korean universities. AP coursework is offered, including AP English Language and Composition, with counseling services to support college placement. Daily schedules follow the Dalton Plan's House, Lab, and Silent Sustained Reading, and the school emphasizes the 6Cs—Character, Curiosity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Community.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Cheongna Dalton School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a PBIS and Restorative Justice framework and conducts a school climate survey to assess safety, inclusivity, and teacher–student relationships.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
There is no publicly disclosed information confirming a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) program or specialist SEN staff at Cheongna Dalton School; publicly available materials reference general counseling and language support but do not describe a dedicated SEN unit.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available, with English as a Second Language provided and language support referenced in public directories.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported via wellbeing-oriented practices such as a school climate survey to monitor the environment and safeguarding measures.

Safeguarding
Cheongna Dalton School has a Child Safeguarding Team and has implemented safeguarding measures including a Campus Entry Form and a Visitor Code of Conduct.
Parent Experience

History
Cheongna Dalton School opened to students on September 1, 2011, as the first foreign school established by a domestic corporation. It offers an American curriculum based on the Dalton Plan in an English-only setting. The 46,200 square meter campus in Cheongna includes dormitories to support a boarding program for middle and high school students. The school was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2012 for a six-year term. The school shares the Dalton philosophy with the Dalton School in New York.

Community
CDS has a Student Council and a four-house system (Condors, Eagles, Raptors, Ravens). Students participate in clubs such as Fencing, Horseback Riding, and Film Club, and publish the CDS Yearbook and the CDS Monthly Newsletter. The Dalton Hall auditorium hosts performances and events, and the school runs the Dalton Cup competition across sports, arts, and academics. DalMUN, a student-led conference, has been held at CDS since 2015, and We Run Cheongna is a campus-wide 5K event that involves students, families, and staff.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
There is no publicly documented formal PTA at Cheongna Dalton School. Parent involvement is described through onboarding and ongoing communications, including New Parent Orientation and FP community materials. Clubs and service activities are described as part of the CDS community under 'Clubs/Societies' such as Arts and Creative and Community and Service. DalMUN, a student-led conference since 2015, and We Run Cheongna are examples of large community events involving families and staff. Publications and parent portals provide ongoing information about school life and family involvement.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Cheongna Dalton School sits on a purpose-built campus of about 46,200 square meters in Cheongna, Incheon. The campus includes two libraries and several science laboratories, and all classrooms are networked with computers. Dalton Hall is the main auditorium used for performances and events, with music facilities including orchestral and choir rooms and soundproof practice spaces. Athletic facilities include a gymnasium, a heated swimming pool, a turf soccer field, an equestrian course, a tennis court, and a dance room; there are on-site dormitories for boarding students. The school's program is built on the Dalton Plan, integrating academics, arts, and athletics within this campus.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Cheongna Dalton School offers structured opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom through Lab Time and after-school Labs. Students select Mon/Wed and Tue/Thu Lab options, with Lab choices including robotics, 3D design, culinary arts, music production, theatre, journalism, and other projects. The After School Program (ASP) runs from 3:50–4:50 pm Monday through Thursday and 2:45–3:45 pm on Fridays, providing additional academic and enrichment activities. Beginning in 7th grade, students can participate in Robotics, Math, Debate, Model UN, and athletics as part of the school's extracurricular offerings, and the school participates in the Dalton Cup, a multi-subject competition that includes sports, music, reading, writing, and math. There is also a Mathletes program as part of the middle school after-school options.

Arts & Creative
Arts and performing arts are a focus through after-school music-related labs and private music lessons offered as part of the ASP. The program also supports drama, film, and other arts-based activities, with the middle and high school orchestra contributing to musical development. Students can participate in film and theatre-related clubs as part of the after-school offerings. These arts experiences are complemented by opportunities tied to the annual Dalton Cup-style activities and school events.

Cultural & Language
World language study is integrated into the CDS program, with world language classes offered and languages such as Spanish or Chinese available to middle and high school students. The school also supports cultural awareness through activities and broader models of international engagement, including Model UN events hosted by CDS. In addition, the Cheongna Dalton School Model UN program provides students with opportunities to engage in international diplomacy simulations.

Social & Hobbies
A range of clubs and informal interest groups operates beyond the classroom. For younger students, clubs such as Fencing, Horseback Riding, and Film Club are part of after-school offerings, alongside traditional athletic activities like basketball, soccer, and swimming. The school emphasizes student-led activities and clubs, with opportunities to participate in school publications and student-led initiatives. These options support peer-to-peer collaboration and personal interests in a social context.

Community & Service
The school includes service-learning projects and community-oriented opportunities as part of its extracurricular framework. These activities are designed to develop compassion and civic responsibility, aligning with the school's emphasis on service and community engagement. Ongoing service and outreach programs complement classroom learning and provide real-world contexts for student involvement.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership roles are available through the Student Council and related student-government activities, reflecting the school's emphasis on student voice and responsibility. The school also supports leadership development through extracurricular programs such as Model UN and debate, which foster public speaking, collaboration, and organizational skills. Additionally, events like the DalMUN conference at CDS provide structured opportunities for leadership and diplomacy among students.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The athletics program includes a range of fall sports such as cross country, girls and boys soccer, volleyball, and badminton, with additional offerings in table tennis and swimming, all supported by a formal athletic department. Competitive and recreational sports are integrated with PE and wellness objectives to promote physical health and teamwork. The program also includes opportunities for performance and arts events that contribute to well-being through creative expression and community participation.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction. Korean language study is part of the curriculum, particularly for students with Korean nationality. World Language offerings include Spanish and Chinese for middle and high school. English as a Second Language support is available for non-native English speakers.

Bilingual Teaching
The school does not offer bilingual education for core subjects; English is the primary language of instruction. Korean language study is provided as a separate program, primarily for students of Korean nationality. World Language courses in middle and high school include Spanish and Chinese. There is no indication of a structured bilingual program that teaches core subjects in two languages.

Immersion Programs
There are no formal language immersion programs reported. The instruction language is English. Korean language study is offered as a separate program, with Spanish and Chinese available as world languages for middle and high school.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Step 1 — Eligibility check and initial inquiry. To enroll at Cheongna Dalton School, the student must meet a key eligibility condition: at least one parent must hold a foreign passport, or the student must have been out of Korea for at least 1,095 days at the time of enrollment. This requirement shapes eligibility before you begin formal steps, so families should confirm whether they meet the condition before proceeding. It is helpful to have clarity on grade level and start date so admissions can guide next steps.

2. Step 2 — Submit application and first‑year fee information. Submit the application form along with the required documents for your child. An application fee is charged (publicly listed as 300,000 KRW). First‑year, one‑time charges include a capital fee of 4,000,000 KRW and a technology fee of 200,000 KRW, in addition to the annual tuition which varies by grade. Total first‑year costs are typically presented as a combined figure and are cited by third‑party fee references as around the 32,642,448 KRW range for a first year. Plan for these upfront costs when budgeting for the year.

3. Step 3 — Admissions testing or documents by grade level. For elementary applicants, the process is document‑centric and involves an interview. Middle and high school applicants must complete Math and English entrance tests. Public sources also note that Korean language coursework may be required for students with Korean nationality or background in grades 1–8, depending on the specifics of enrollment. Prepare accordingly for your child's grade level.

4. Step 4 — Admissions decision and notification. Following the assessment of materials and tests (where applicable), the school provides an admissions decision to the family. If admitted, families receive enrollment instructions and proceed with the next steps provided by the admissions team to finalize enrollment. While timelines can vary, decisions are communicated as part of the standard admissions workflow.

5. Step 5 — Enrollment, confirmations, and start of the program. After an offer is accepted, families complete the enrollment process as directed by the school, and students prepare to begin the program in the indicated year. This typically includes agreeing to any terms of enrollment and submitting any required documents or deposits as instructed by admissions.

6. Step 6 — Practical considerations and language of instruction. Cheongna Dalton School operates as an English‑language, American‑curriculum environment. Families should plan for the language of instruction, support needs, and any language support or orientation that may be offered as part of the transition into CDS.

Scholarships
Cheongna Dalton School does not publish scholarship or financial‑aid policies in publicly available sources. There is no CDS‑specific, publicly documented need‑based or merit‑based scholarship program described for Korea. By contrast, the Dalton network in the United States offers need‑based financial aid at its own schools, which is separate from Cheongna Dalton School. Families considering aid should inquire directly with admissions for the latest guidance on any potential assistance options or levies, and note that funds and policies may differ from those of other Dalton campuses.
School Events
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