· updated monthly
The 20 schools China parents researched most this year, chosen from the 234 international schools in the country. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Hangzhou International School (HIS) is an IB World School founded in 2002 that serves Early Years through Grade 12 and reports a student body of over 1,020 children from more than 50 nationalities. HIS delivers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) and all Grades 11–12 work toward a WASC-accredited High School Diploma with the option of the IB Diploma. In 2022 the school moved to a new campus of over 50,000 square metres made up of two buildings (The Cocoon for ECE and The Lantern for the main campus); listed facilities include a Performing Arts Theatre, Black Box Theatre, “The Wave” swimming pool, three indoor gyms, outdoor courts and a FIFA-rated football pitch. HIS operates a daily Mandarin programme and a wide co-curricular programme (100+ CCAs) including regional activities such as West Lake MUN and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. (Information from HIS website.)
Shanghai Jincai High School International Division (JCID) was established in 2000 and is located at No. 26 Eshan Road in Pudong, close to Century Park; the international division is part of the larger Jincai High School campus. JCID operates a Chinese section (using the national curriculum) and an English section (using original US materials) and is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization; it offers the IPC in primary grades, the MYP (authorized 2006) and the IBDP (authorized 2015). The international division is reported on the school site as having about 400 students; the wider Jincai High School enrolment is given as about 2,100 students. JCID's site notes a Co-Principals and co-teaching model and identifies the school as a Base School for international promotion of Chinese (Hanban). For transport, the school publishes a paid school-home bus service with several route/price bands.
Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID) is the international section of Shanghai High School, founded in 1993 and providing education for Grades 1–12 across multiple campuses (Xuhui/Puxi plus Pudong/Zhangjiang, Lingang and Hongkou campuses). SHSID operates a US-based primary curriculum and offers AP courses, the IB Diploma and international A-level options; it is authorized for IB, AP and A-level examinations and is a TOEFL test centre. The Xuhui (Puxi) campus address is 989 Baise Road (north gate) with a south gate at 400 Shangzhong Road in Xuhui District, and the school reports roughly 3,500 students, an average class size of about 18 and a reported 1:5 teacher–student ratio. SHSID also runs STEAM/innovation programmes and a broad world‑languages programme (French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Korean among options) alongside music, drama and visual‑arts provision. (All details from the school website.)
Shanghai American School (SAS) is a non-profit PreK–12 school with two campuses in Shanghai: Pudong (1600 Lingbai Road) and Puxi (258 Jinfeng Road). The school was founded in 1912 and serves children from early childhood through high school. Early years at SAS use a Reggio Emilia–inspired approach; at high school SAS offers both Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as pathways. The school highlights programs such as robotics alongside sports and performing arts, and provides an optional bus service for families. SAS is led by Head of School James Nelligan. (All facts below are taken from the SAS website.)
Guangzhou Huamei International School was founded on June 19, 1993 and is located on Huamei Road in the Tianhe education core area. The campus covers about 160,000 m² at the foot of Phoenix Mountain and describes itself as a full-time boarding international school serving kindergarten through high school; the website highlights bilingual programmes and a range of international pathways (AP, A-Level, Canadian OSSD and IB-related offerings at kindergarten). The school publishes a student population figure of about 5,100 and lists on-campus services including daily school-bus pickup/drop-off and on-site medical provision. Distinctive features cited on the site include the school's “forest” campus and an English IB integrated kindergarten class; the site also describes STEM, sports and international exchange activity across year groups. (All items above are taken from the school website.)
Tsinghua International School (THIS) is the international division of Tsinghua University High School on the Tsinghua Fuzhong campus in Haidian District, Beijing. Founded in 2009, THIS uses an American-based curriculum informed by US Common Core and AERO standards; the high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Chinese language and culture study is required for all students. The school shares sports and other facilities with Tsinghua Fuzhong and lists computer labs and a STEAM laboratory among its resources. Primary, middle and high sections teach primarily in English while providing separate Chinese classes for native and non-native speakers. THIS runs an extensive extracurricular programme (more than 50 clubs listed) including performing arts, debate teams and ISAC athletics. Distinctive practices include primary “Spartan families” and project-based, inquiry-led learning across grades. Admissions are for foreign passport holders and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan permanent residents.
Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School (SSBS) is a private bilingual school in Minhang District, Shanghai, established in 2012. It serves students from Grade 1 through Grade 12. In the lower grades (1–9), SSBS delivers the national compulsory education curriculum with bilingual instruction in mathematics, science, physics, chemistry and biology, and offers a range of elective courses to develop student interests. In the upper grades (10–12), the high school program centers on Chinese core courses taught in Chinese, such as Chinese, Politics, History and Geography. It also adds international-style electives, including Sino-US integrated courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses under the College Board, with more than 30 AP subjects available (including Capstone). The school's guiding philosophy is “global education with the Chinese core,” emphasizing national identity, international perspective, innovation, collaboration and social responsibility.
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) is an independent, non-profit international school offering IB programmes from Early Years through Grade 12; the school was founded in 1994. The campus covers about 99,000 m² and includes sports facilities (indoor pool, three full-size gyms, a FIFA‑approved football field and the ‘Tiger L'Air' sports dome) plus three libraries and multiple arts and technology studios. WAB runs the WABX co-curricular programme with several hundred club, language, service and sporting options and includes student-led activities such as Model UN, a student magazine (Inkblot), and robotics teams. The school's language instruction is in English and it offers curricular language programmes in Chinese, French and Spanish, with several home‑language programs available. Note: the campus latitude/longitude below was taken from public mapping sources because WAB's website does not publish coordinates.
Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS) opened on 3 September 1996 and provides a continuous K–12 pathway for expatriate children aged 2–18; the school reports a community of about 1,400 students. The campus is listed at 301 Zhujian Road, Minhang District, Shanghai. SSIS follows a blended curriculum pathway that includes the Singapore curriculum at lower levels, Cambridge IGCSE in middle secondary, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (with IBDP and IBCP authorisations noted in the school history). The school describes a bilingual approach (English + Chinese); its Chinese Language & Culture Programme provides banded classes (Advanced / Standard / Foundation) and the preschool programme indicates a roughly 70% English / 30% Chinese instruction ratio. SSIS also highlights a curriculum-integrated golf programme and an on-campus Aquatic Centre.
Welcome to The British School of Guangzhou. For over 21 years, we have been a trusted name in international education, known for strong academic results and a warm, welcoming community. Families choose BSG for our proven track record, experienced teachers, and the confidence we build in every student. We educate students aged 1 to 18 from more than 50 nationalities, creating a diverse and globally minded environment. As part of Nord Anglia Education, a family of over 80 leading schools worldwide, we offer high standards, global expertise, and respected accreditations including the Council of International Schools. Our South Lake campus, just 25 minutes from the city centre, provides a calm and inspiring setting with green spaces and lake views where students can focus and thrive. Academic excellence sits at the heart of BSG. We follow the English National Curriculum from Early Years through IGCSE to A Levels, supported by personalised teaching that helps each student reach their full potential. Our 2025 results reflect this strength, with 62% A* to A at A Level and a 100% pass rate, alongside excellent IGCSE outcomes. Our graduates move on to leading universities worldwide. What truly sets BSG apart is our people. Our teachers are highly qualified, internationally experienced, and deeply committed to each child’s success. Above all, BSG is a community. We support families from the moment they arrive, ensuring every child feels known, valued, and ready to thrive.
Deutsche Schule Shanghai (DSS) operates two Eurocampuses in Shanghai: the Hongqiao campus in the western Qingpu district and the Yangpu campus in the north‑east of the city. The school accepts children from 18 months through secondary graduation and offers the full range of German school certificates including the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA). DSS runs kindergarten groups, primary classes and a Sekundarstufe with G8 gymnasialen Bildungsweg; the school publishes a single annual tuition schedule and separate conditions for DaF/DaZ language support and optional services such as the school bus. Cohorts are organised in class groups with a stated maximum class size of 24 in the Sekundarstufe; overall enrolment is around 1,100 children and young people across both sites. Admissions information, registration fees, deposit and the current annual tuition rates are published in the school's payment conditions. For campus contact details and admission steps see the school's admissions pages.
Shenzhen College of International Education (SCIE) is an international four‑year high school founded in 2003 and now located at a purpose‑built Antuoshan (Antuo Hill) campus in Futian. SCIE delivers Cambridge IGCSE in the first two years (G1–G2) and A‑level (with an AP pathway option) in the final two years (A1–A2). The Antuoshan campus (opened in 2020) includes teaching blocks, science laboratories, an arts theatre and dedicated arts spaces, sports facilities and boarding houses; the school also publishes extensive university admissions results for graduating cohorts. Admissions and course information, subject lists (including Chinese, English, French, Japanese and Spanish), and current tuition figures are published on the school website.
Wellington College International Shanghai opened in August 2014 and is located in the Qiantan / New Bund area of Pudong, next to the Huangpu River and close to the Oriental Sports Center and the metro (Oriental Sports Center station). The College serves children aged 2–18 and offers a bilingual model with English as the official language of instruction and Mandarin taught throughout the school. The campus is described on the school site as the largest in the greater downtown area of Shanghai and includes extensive sports and arts facilities, two pools and a 400m running track. The school publishes its yearly tuition schedule on the website (2025–26 fees shown) and a prospectus with class-size details (Pre‑Nursery/Nursery 20; Reception and Years 1–6 typically 22; Years 7+ typically 22) and enrolment of 1,600+ pupils. If you'd like the campus latitude/longitude, I can look this up on Google Maps (the school website gives the postal address but does not list coordinates).
Concordia International School Shanghai opened in 1998 and is a co-educational day school serving Preschool through High School students in the Jinqiao area of Pudong. The school follows an American-style curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings and membership in Global Online Academy; it also highlights a multi-level Mandarin program from preschool to grade 12. The single-campus site in Jinqiao reports energy-saving campus systems (including geothermal heating/cooling) and provides optional bus transport and school lunch options. Concordia publishes tuition by grade band (tuition listed in RMB) and reports PS–12 enrollments in its school profile. The Head of School is Dr. Eric Semler.
Olive Tree International Academy (杭州橄榄树学校) is a 1–12 full-time school in Linping District, Hangzhou, founded in 2017. The school states it combines China's national curriculum with IB programmes in the lower years and offers AP and A‑Level pathways in the senior years; it also lists boarding accommodation (two student apartment buildings, from Year 1 onward) and gives the school address as 新城路136号. The site gives semester fees (小学: ¥60,000/学期;初中: ¥75,000/学期;高中: ¥90,000/学期) which correspond to the yearly range shown above when doubled.
The King's School Shenzhen (Qianhai campus) opened for the first cohort in late October 2022 and is sited in Shenzhen's Qianhai Shenzhen–Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. The school operates a 12-year Cambridge-based programme (including A-levels for senior students) and runs a separate King's kindergarten that uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The campus was planned as a full boarding prep/senior school (boarding capacity cited by the school) and includes specialist rooms, sports provision and a dormitory building; it also runs robotics and drone/technology activity programmes and UK exchange links with the Canterbury school. The school's published recruitment/launch materials state an initial planned intake of about 200 students across 13 classes in its first year. All items above are taken from the school's official website.
The International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) was established in 2002 and is located at 11 Longyuan Road in Nanshan District; the school moved to its current campus on the south side of Tanglang Mountain in 2016 (campus area ~15,000 sqm). ISNS offers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP and DP) and also operates under New Brunswick (Canada) accreditation so students in senior years may earn a New Brunswick diploma alongside IB options. The early years programme covers ages 2–5 and the Diploma Programme is described for students aged 16–19. The campus lists indoor and outdoor sports facilities, art studios and two libraries, and the school publishes its annual tuition schedule (K3–K5 to G11–G12) on the website. ISNS runs an optional school-bus service with multiple routes across Shenzhen.
Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) — Bao'an Campus serves students from preschool through Grade 12 and was established with approval in May 2005. The Bao'an campus is located in the Hangcheng area of Bao'an District and occupies over 20,000 square metres with three main buildings: an academic block, dormitories and a dining hall. The campus offers multiple upper‑secondary pathways (IB DP, AP, Cambridge A‑Level and HKDSE) and preschool programs (including IB‑PYP and Montessori approaches on SAIS pages). The school provides an on‑site boarding programme for students, campus dining (meals for boarders included in boarding fee), SEN support, ESL/EAL support, college counselling, after‑school activities and school bus services for day students. Annual tuition (2025–26 fee policy) ranges from RMB 138,000 to RMB 298,000; other published fees include an application fee, an enrollment deposit and boarding/meals charges. (All items above are taken from SAIS Bao'an pages and the SAIS Bao'an 2025–26 fee policy published on the school site.)
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 234 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 1,108 students · based on the 128 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 15.6 students · based on the 90 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 182 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in RMB.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
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