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Best 10 International Schools in Shanghai

International Education in Shanghai

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If you’re planning on joining the ranks of Shanghai’s expats, then you’ll already know that it may not come cheap. China is one of the second most expensive countries in the world for international education. And after Beijing, Shanghai is the third most costly city on the planet for your little ones to go to school. But it’s not all bad news!

International schools in Shanghai come with a high price tag, but an equally high standard of education. Students from Chinese international schools, especially those in the big cities such as Shanghai, outperform those from other countries consistently.

Not only do they get better grades, they usually go on to attend world-renowned universities and enter the workforce as highly skilled professionals. No matter how you look at it, there is no denying the sky-high quality of education on offer.

Several of the top international schools in China (and in the world) are in Shanghai. Many of them are clustered in or close to the quiet residential district of Chianging, just west of the heart of the city. Shanghai is China’s biggest city and has a wide spread of districts, so you’ll be glad to know that school shuttles are commonly offered no matter where your chosen school is located.

Shanghai is also a global financial hub and home to countless major international companies. If you’re lucky enough to be hired by one of them, you might be offered a relocation package which will likely cover a chunk of the cost of international school fees. The amount varies depending on the company; it could be anywhere from 50% - 90% of the yearly cost.

Without a relocation package or a healthy salary to rely on, your international school options will unfortunately be much more limited.

The local school system has a similarly high standard of education, but some expats find it too strict for their children. Local schools in China have a reputation for putting a lot of pressure on students to perform well in exams.

As for the curricula on offer, you’ll find a broad mix to choose from in Shanghai. Chinese, American and British are the most common curricula in international schools, but you can also find French, German, Canadian and just about anything else if you so wish.

As you may expect, the high cost of Shanghai’s international schools means they come with world class facilities for your child to make the most of. From top notch sports facilities to extensive extra curricular activity programmes, their passions and interests will most definitely be nurtured along with their academic development.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Shanghai according to our users. However, there are another 35 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Shanghai based on your requirements.

Recommended Schools

Western International School of Shanghai

WISS is a prestigious international school located in the Western suburbs of Shanghai. WISS offers a unique, enriching, and balanced educational experience for students from all over the world, with a focus on Academic Excellence, Sports, Arts, and Community Service.
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元170,500
to: 元275,600
Reviews
(15 reviews)

Wellington College International Shanghai

Our vision is to inspire pupils to become intellectual, independent, individual and inclusive. We aim to prepare pupils for success during and beyond life at the College.
Curriculum
IB, British, International
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元273,000
to: 元365,000

Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong

We're the longest-running British school in China. For over 20 years, we’ve welcomed our students into a diverse international community, motivating them to achieve the best academic results and to attend the top universities in the world.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元242,403
to: 元334,835
Reviews
(5 reviews)

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi

BISS Puxi offers a personalised education which enables each child to achieve outstanding academic outcomes. As part of Nord Anglia Education, our school delivers robust UK curricula enhanced through collaborations with the world’s best – MIT, Juilliard and UNICEF.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元260,000
to: 元371,000

Best 10 International Schools in Shanghai

Out of a total of 45 International Schools in Shanghai.

Based on the aggregated preferences of our users in the last 30 days.

EtonHouse International School Suzhou

EtonHouse International School - Suzhou is a small school with a big heart. With class sizes of between 10-20 students, only one class per age group and a student to teacher ratio of 6:1, at EtonHouse your child will be much more than a number. Every student can make a difference, no matter how gifted or otherwise.
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元125,000
to: 元218,000

Shanghai Hong Qiao International School

We are an environmentally minded community of learners, dedicated to impacting positive change in Shanghai.
Curriculum
IB, American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
1 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元173,500
to: 元247,800
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Concordia International School Shanghai

Concordia International School Shanghai empowers students with a comprehensive and rigorous American education. The school thrives on its culturally diverse, international community and is recognized for its dedication to academic excellence, and for its vigorous activity programs in sports, the arts, service and cultural learning. Concordia's vibrant community founded on shared values creates the ideal foundation for the entire family’s success.
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元226,000
to: 元303,000
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong

We're the longest-running British school in China. For over 20 years, we’ve welcomed our students into a diverse international community, motivating them to achieve the best academic results and to attend the top universities in the world.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元242,403
to: 元334,835
Reviews
(5 reviews)

YK Pao School

A School for Tomorrow’s China.
An Education for Tomorrow's World.
YK Pao School is a pioneering international Chinese school. The school is a private non-profit institution founded in 2007, in memory of Sir Yue-Kong Pao, the renowned Chinese businessman and philanthropist. With around 1,600 students from China and overseas, the school offers a unique Year 1-12 educational programme that is based on the Chinese National Curriculum, draws where necessary on other curricula, and is designed to meet our school's needs and educational aspirations.
Since its inception, the school has adhered to three educational missions: developing the whole-person; passing on Chinese cultural traditions; and fostering an international perspective. Pao School's innovative education programme nurtures the emotional, social, physical and intellectual being and prepares students to become engaged and responsible global citizens of the 21st century.
Pao School is divided into Primary, Middle and High School. Both the Primary School (Years 1-5) and Middle School (Years 6-8) are located in Shanghai's Changning District, while the High School (Years 9-12) is located in Songjiang District and offers boarding.
Curriculum
IB, British, Chinese
Languages of instruction
English, Chinese
Ages
6 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元168,000
to: 元210,000

Deutsche Schule Shanghai

The German School Shanghai (DSS) is one of the largest overseas German schools in the world and has been awarded “Excellent German School Abroad” status by the German education authorities. The DSS delivers educational excellence for over 1,100 children and young people at its two locations. For children from kindergarten to secondary school, parents and school staff alike, the DSS is more than “just” an excellent school – it is a cultural hub where togetherness comes first.
Curriculum
German
Language of instruction
German
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元166,500
to: 元208,600

Britannica International School, Shanghai

As the only British owned, British managed and largely British staffed school in Shanghai, Britannica International School provides the ‘Best of British Education’. Located in the heart of the city, Britannica International School, Shanghai offers a full British curriculum, adapted and extended to meet the needs of international students. As a relatively small school we provide a personalised approach to teaching adapting our curriculum and student learning to meet the individual needs of each child. Britannica International School, Shanghai is located in Gubei, close to the downtown area, with nearby open spaces, and which is easily accessible with short journey times and bus routes for students.
Curriculum
Cambridge Assessment
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元225,040
to: 元318,160
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Shanghai Community International School

Welcome to Shanghai Community International School (SCIS), home to more than 1800 expatriate students who learn and develop in a rigorous and caring multicultural environment.
Established in 1996 as one of Shanghai’s first international schools, we are fully authorized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School, a world-class academic program aimed at rigorous critical thinking and global citizenship. SCIS has three campuses spread across Shanghai, including locations in Puxi and Pudong, and offers a seamless international program for students aged 2-18, and comprised of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).
SCIS is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and authorized as an IB Continuum World School. Additionally, SCIS is a member of the East Asia Regional Conference of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS).
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元131,000
to: 元293,000

Lucton School Shanghai

British Tradition ,Chinese Heart , International Minds
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
12 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元255,000
to: 元255,000

Shanghai French School

Our school is popular among families from different cultural background seeking a well-rounded education for their children while living abroad. This popularity can be attributed to several features that are the specificities of the French education abroad: its emphasis on plurilingualism, critical thinking, creativity, cultural immersion, and academic rigour. The French education system has a strong commitment to academic excellence, which has earned it a reputation for offering a unique and holistic approach to learning. This is well recognized by top world universities and higher education institutions that fully recognize the value of the French education system and its rigorous final exam, the French Baccalaureate. As an association of parents and non for profit organization, we offer state of the art facilities and learning environment for one of the most affordable curriculum among international schools in Shanghai. We organize montly Open Houses during which families can visit us.
Curriculum
American, French, European
Languages of instruction
English, Chinese, French
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: 元112,785
to: 元191,625
Reviews
(1 review)

Find the Best International School in Shanghai FOR YOU!

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