5 things to consider when picking a school for your kids in Shanghai

The school choices in Shanghai can be broken down into three categories: international schools, Chinese private schools (or ‘bilingual schools’) and local schools with an international division.

By law, international schools can only accept foreign passport holders. Not beholden to or overseen by China’s Ministry of Education, the pedagogy of these schools is often based on the educational systems and standards of a specific country – whether British, American, German, French or otherwise. Some have a more integrated approach, blending a few different curricular models. International schools typically have the highest tuition and the most international diversity. 

Chinese private schools offer a synthesis of Chinese and Western education, accepting both foreign nationals as well as Chinese nationals. Tuition is generally cheaper than international schools and will usually have a stronger Chinese language programme. These schools are privately run and not sponsored by the Government.

Your intended length of stay in China should inform your decision. Families with young children that are planning to return home quickly may aim for an international school that sticks to your native country’s curriculum. For Chinese nationals or those with older children, establishments teaching the International Baccalaureate and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education are a good option as they are both qualifications that can be used to apply to universities across the globe. Some schools offer bilingual learning environments; it’s best to ask about the number of hours they spend per week studying Mandarin and their approach. If learning Mandarin is a priority consider a fully bilingual school, such as YK Pao School, that emphasises instruction in both languages.

Budget dictates a lot when it comes to school choice, especially when international options can run upwards of 200,000RMB per year. If money’s no object, there are many benefits to be had by selecting an international school. Besides globally recognised curricula, which are easily transferrable from school to school worldwide, students get to grow up in a diverse, multicultural environment.

While bilingual Chinese private schools and local schools aren’t every family’s first pick, there are many reasons why they might be the right choice. Firstly, many are less expensive than international schools, which means they will be more affordable especially if you’re not here on a traditional expat package. Choosing a local school means kids will then be exposed to Chinese at a young age and in a more immersive environment, and going to a local institution also puts them on course for tertiary education in China.

If you are looking at international schools, one choice you’ll need to consider is the system of education. While there is a wide cut of options including German or French curriculum, the British and American educational systems predominate in Shanghai. On a fundamental level, they are difficult to compare because whereas schools in England follow a single national standard (the English National Curriculum), the United States has no such standardised system. They do, however, have accreditation bodies overseeing schools to ensure that certain standards are upheld and programmes have fundamentals in common. International schools following a US-based curriculum will choose one of these accreditation bodies. International schools following the English National Curriculum use the same standardised testing and criteria as schools in England, including assessing children on a year-byyear basis by key milestones.

In the British Early Years/Foundation Stage or American preschool years (ages three to five) through primary school, or elementary school in the US, there are many educational similarities between the two systems. It’s in secondary school (high school) where differences become clearer. US schools tend to have a more liberal approach than schools in the UK and maintain a year-byyear approach to learning through Grade 12. In contrast, in the British curriculum, students in Years 10 and 11 will study for GCSEs (or IGCSEs in international schools), which will allow them to apply for university. Year 11 is the final year of compulsory education, though many students will then go on to do two years of A-levels or the IB Diploma.

Application periods for primary and secondary schools in Shanghai vary by individual institution so it’s best to contact admissions directly to find out what the deadline is and whether there is space in the specific years of your child. Most schools begin finalising their classes by early March, and as such it’s generally recommended to apply by then.