Living
Primary & Secondary Schools
Shanghai’s international primary and secondary school community boasts programmes with increasingly elaborate facilities and various academic offerings. Many of the most popular have waiting lists, although some only apply to specific grades. Admissions departments are constantly updating these, so check back often to see if a certain school has space. Formal admissions interviews are rare.
Most do not require an entrance exam, unless the student’s maths or English skills seem shaky, in which case an assessment may be required. Otherwise, parents and students must fill out an application form, and provide previous school records, medical records, standardised test scores and sometimes a letter of recommendation.
Shanghai’s international schools have adopted the world’s most popular curricula so students can easily make the transition to another country’s school system. In recent years, the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has been gaining popularity with secondary schools thanks to its global appeal and recognition by top universities. American-based curricula are also popular, with students churning out Advanced Placement (AP) exams and often choosing US universities upon graduation. The English National Curriculum, which includes GCSE and A Levels, is offered at the British International School. For government-sponsored curricula, the Ecole Francaise, Deutsche Schule, and Japanese School (6406 8027) have all been established by their respective countries for citizens to receive an authentic national education while abroad.
A regular day at an international school runs from 08:00 to 15:00, or from 09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. Schools mainly break for major Chinese holidays as well as Christmas and the western New Year. Most expats can usually only afford the pricey tuition fees of primary and secondary school if their employers pay for them, which often happens. Fees escalate by grade, with grade 12 (year 13) the most expensive. The least expensive schools ask for around ¥60,000 per year, while the priciest charge more than ¥180,000 plus extra fees.
Most do not require an entrance exam, unless the student’s maths or English skills seem shaky, in which case an assessment may be required. Otherwise, parents and students must fill out an application form, and provide previous school records, medical records, standardised test scores and sometimes a letter of recommendation.
Shanghai’s international schools have adopted the world’s most popular curricula so students can easily make the transition to another country’s school system. In recent years, the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has been gaining popularity with secondary schools thanks to its global appeal and recognition by top universities. American-based curricula are also popular, with students churning out Advanced Placement (AP) exams and often choosing US universities upon graduation. The English National Curriculum, which includes GCSE and A Levels, is offered at the British International School. For government-sponsored curricula, the Ecole Francaise, Deutsche Schule, and Japanese School (6406 8027) have all been established by their respective countries for citizens to receive an authentic national education while abroad.
A regular day at an international school runs from 08:00 to 15:00, or from 09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. Schools mainly break for major Chinese holidays as well as Christmas and the western New Year. Most expats can usually only afford the pricey tuition fees of primary and secondary school if their employers pay for them, which often happens. Fees escalate by grade, with grade 12 (year 13) the most expensive. The least expensive schools ask for around ¥60,000 per year, while the priciest charge more than ¥180,000 plus extra fees.
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