Compare International Schools in Xiamen, China

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 18 years

Fees RMB 143,280 - 197,280

Pupils 440

Type Co-educational

Xiamen International School (XIS) is an independent international day school established in 1997 in Xiamen, Fujian. It is the only IB Continuum School in Xiamen, offering school-wide Primary Years Programme (PK-5), Middle Years Programme (6-10), and Diploma Programme (11-12). The language of instruction is English, with English as an Additional Language support in some grades. The school serves expatriate children and children from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, providing a globally oriented, inquiry-based education. The campus is located in Jimei District and supports a wide range of academic and co-curricular programs. It emphasizes IB concepts, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding, with a diverse student body representing more than 40 nationalities and a faculty with broad international experience. The campus facilities include art studios, labs, a large library, an early childhood center, indoor swimming pool, gym, and sports fields. XIS maintains accreditation by WASC and membership in ACAMIS; it emphasizes bilingual IB Diploma outcomes and supports a global university pathway.

Location

Xiamen International School is located in the Jimei District of Xiamen, Fujian, PRC. The campus address is 262 Xinglinbei San Lu, Xinglin, Jimei District, Xiamen 361022. The 33,000-square-meter Pre-K to 12 campus opened in August 2002 and features facilities such as a library, science labs, arts spaces, and multiple sports amenities; it is about 25 minutes from central Xiamen City with convenient access to major roads. Most students access XIS by the school's own bus fleet.

Stages

XIS is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PK-5), Middle Years Programme (6-10), and Diploma Programme (11-12).

Type

Independent, not-for-profit, co-educational day school.

Additional learning support

Student support includes English as an Additional Language (EAL) for grades 1-9, dedicated EAL teachers in elementary and secondary, reading support in elementary, counseling services, college guidance, and an advisory program in middle and high school.

Country affiliation

No formal country affiliation.

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation.

School day structure

The 2025-2026 calendar shows the first day of school on August 12, 2025 and 184 instructional days; the school year runs August to June. The XIS school day begins at 8:30 AM; after-school activities run on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:30 PM, with shorter days on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Bus service

XIS operates a bus service with a modern fleet; most students travel to campus by bus, and transportation routes are coordinated by the Transportation Coordinator (email: wendylin@xischina.com.cn).

Application fees

- Registration fee (new students only): USD 300.

Tuition fees (published annual amounts by year group)

- Pre‑School (annual): USD 19,900.
- Kindergarten through Grade 5 (annual): USD 24,200.
- Grades 6 through 12 (annual): USD 27,400.

Per‑term breakdown

- The published fee schedule lists annual tuition amounts only; it does not include an official per‑term invoicing breakdown. The annual figures above are the school's published totals; any per‑term amounts shown below are calculated examples only, based on equal division of the published annual tuition into three equal terms (the school's published material does not specify term count or an official termly billing split). Use these inferred figures only as an illustrative conversion, not as an official invoice.
- Pre‑School (illustrative per term, if divided into 3 equal terms): USD 6,633.33.
- Kindergarten–Grade 5 (illustrative per term, if divided into 3 equal terms): USD 8,066.67.
- Grades 6–12 (illustrative per term, if divided into 3 equal terms): USD 9,133.33.

Other published fees and recurring charges

- Bus (annual): USD 1,200.
- Activity fee (annual): USD 800.
- Registration fee (new student, one‑time): USD 300.

Boarding

- Boarding is not applicable; the school is operated as a day school.

Other costs not itemized in the published tuition document

- The published tuition and fees document lists the items above and does not list separate charges for uniforms, textbooks, lunch, or incidental school‑shop purchases. Those items, if required, are not shown as specific line items in the published fee schedule.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Fees are published as annual amounts. The published fee notice specifies that all fees must be paid in US dollars and provides bank account details for USD deposits. No specific invoicing dates, installment dates, or standard termly billing schedule are published in the fee document.

Refund information

- No refund policy or refund terms are included in the published tuition and fees notice. The published fee document does not provide details about refunds.

Fee payment options and bank details (published payment instruction)

Curriculum

XIS follows the International Baccalaureate continuum with the Primary Years Programme for Pre-K to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. The language of instruction is English, with English as an Additional Language support for Grades 1–9 and a comprehensive language program including Mandarin and Korean. The curriculum is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary; Grade 10 students complete a Personal Project as part of the MYP, and the program emphasizes global perspectives and community engagement. In High School, students may pursue the IB Diploma or IB Courses alongside an XIS High School Diploma, with some language pathways enabling bilingual IB Diploma outcomes (e.g., Mandarin Language A and Korean Language and Literature A). The school offers multiple language pathways, including Mandarin, Korean, and additional languages for Grades 11–12, plus Spanish Ab Initio online via Pamoja. XIS is a WASC-accredited IB World School and the only IB Continuum School in Xiamen, with a track record of university placements and bilingual IB Diploma results.

Student Teacher Ratio

Not publicly disclosed.

Exam Results

Publicly published exam results are not detailed; however, XIS highlights university acceptances and bilingual IB Diploma outcomes, indicating strong progression to higher education.

Higher Education Progression

XIS graduates have attended universities worldwide; the school reports university acceptances during 2016–2021 and a history of placing students in reputable universities.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

XIS supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a robust wellbeing framework that includes counseling, college guidance, English as an Additional Language (EAL), reading support in the elementary school, and an advisory program in the middle and high schools. The elementary school has a dedicated counselor for Pre-K to Grade 5 who provides education, identification, and intervention strategies for social-emotional purposes to students, teachers, and families, supporting academic success and awareness of career opportunities. The secondary school counseling program serves Grades 6–12 by helping students acquire competencies in college and career planning and exploration, knowledge of self and others, and educational development through individual planning, advisory, individual counseling, and support services. Counselors work directly with students individually, in small groups, and within classrooms, and they collaborate with parents in the college planning and research process. An advisory program in the middle and high schools further supports student well-being, aligning with XIS's emphasis on social-emotional growth as part of IB-based learning.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

XIS publicly discloses English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and elementary reading support as part of its student support system, but does not publish details of a dedicated SEN department or a broader list of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provisions beyond EAL and reading support. EAL is provided with dedicated teachers in the Elementary School (one per grade 1–5) and a dedicated secondary course (grades 6–9) to support identified learners, with placement based on assessment of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The school describes multilingualism as a resource for learning and integrates EAL within its IB framework, collaborating with homeroom and specialist teachers to differentiate instruction. The lack of publicly disclosed information about a separate SEN center or broader SEN categories suggests that XIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution on its website. The counseling program also supports social-emotional needs as part of its holistic approach to student support.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

EAL at XIS is integrated into the school's support system and is framed around language development with consideration for students' language profiles. The school recognizes multilingualism as a fact, a right, and a resource for learning, and aims to support language development across diverse language backgrounds and needs. Placement in EAL programs depends on assessment of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills prior to enrollment to ensure students have the minimum English skills to be successful in a given grade level. Elementary School has a dedicated EAL teacher for each grade (1–5), who collaborates with homeroom and specialist teachers, while Secondary School provides a dedicated EAL course for Grades 6–9 to develop literacy and communication in social and academic contexts. The EAL philosophy and practice are embedded within the IB framework and emphasise language development as part of overall learning and identity.

Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is integrated into XIS's IB framework, with emphasis on social-emotional wellness as a core part of student development. The school explicitly states that social and emotional growth is as important as academic growth, and this is supported by elementary and secondary counseling services. Elementary School Counseling focuses on education, identification, and intervention strategies for social-emotional issues, supporting academic success and career awareness. Middle and High School Counseling addresses college and career planning, self-knowledge, and educational development through advisory and individual counseling, with direct student support in various formats. The mission and core values of XIS underscore balanced learning that attends to the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual aspects of students, reinforcing a holistic approach to wellbeing.

Safeguarding

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding or child protection policies on its website. Publicly available materials describe a Health Clinic with nurses and a Counseling program that supports student wellbeing, including contact details for the Health Clinic and the Secondary Counselor, which indicates availability of welfare services on campus. For example, the Health Clinic is staffed by nurses and reachable via the Health Clinic contact information, and Paula Zhou serves as the Secondary Counselor supporting student wellbeing and college guidance. If safeguarding specifics are required, contact through the published school channels (e.g., Health Clinic or Counseling staff).

Admissions

1. Inquire about XIS and gather information. Begin by using the Inquiry Form or contacting the Admissions Coordinator to learn about XIS programs, admissions requirements, and the overall process. XIS presents itself as an English-language international day school serving expatriate children and children from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and it uses IB program frameworks. The Admissions Coordinator is Ms.

2. Submit your application. When you're ready, submit the application through the APPLY link (OpenApply) to have your materials reviewed by the admissions team. The Admissions page confirms the APPLY option and directions for initial communication.

3. Review timelines and next steps. Applications for the current year are accepted up until the end of April of that school year, and applications for the coming school year open in December each year. After submitting, you can expect further communications from the admissions team as they review your materials.

4. Admissions communications and sign-off. The Head of School/Admissions processes are conducted through the Admissions Coordinator, with formal correspondence from Ms. Julia Su. Information about programs, timelines, and next steps is provided by the admissions team as part of the application flow.

5. Enrollment steps and initial fees (upon admission). If admitted, families proceed with enrollment and payment of a registration and tuition, per the school's fee schedule.

Scholarships

XIS does not publish any scholarship program.

Waitlist

There is no published waitlist or pool policy for XIS in their admissions materials.

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Chiway Bilingual School Xiamen

Instructs in Mandarin, English

Fees RMB 120,000 - 140,000

Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)

Chiway Repton School Xiamen offers a K-12 program blending Chinese and international education. Kindergarten integrates EYFS with the IB PYP and is pursuing authorization as a PYP Candidate School. Primary School combines the Chinese National Curriculum with the IB PYP in an English-immersion environment. The curriculum includes Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, AP, BTEC and a Bespoke Curriculum to support progression routes. Cambridge English System supports second-language learning alongside mother tongue teaching. ECAs, backed by a growth mentor, support academic planning, life-skills guidance, and family education consultations, with career planning introduced in middle school. The Maluan Bay campus in Xiamen's Jimei District was funded with 700 million RMB and features a Sinology Classroom, Library, Maker Room, Apple Labs, a Playground, Gym and a 26°C heated pool. The Repton School heritage informs a K-12 integrated education, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning and a global perspective. This approach reflects Chiway's philosophy of Chinese origins with global originality and future competence. The school emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and a culture of inquiry across subjects for students' worldwide opportunities.

Application fees

- No fixed, published non‑refundable application or registration fee amount is listed for Chiway Bilingual School (primary and middle divisions). The school's published fee notices state that any registration/agency (代办) fees collected at enrolment are settled on an actual‑cost basis rather than as a fixed published amount.

Tuition fees (by year group)

- Primary (小学部): RMB 120,000 per student, per academic year. Tuition for the primary division is charged on an annual basis (one‑time per academic year). The school does not publish a separate per‑term tuition figure because tuition is collected for the full academic year as a single charge.

- Middle / Junior (初中部): RMB 140,000 per student, per academic year. Tuition for the middle division is charged on an annual basis (one‑time per academic year). The school does not publish a separate per‑term tuition figure because tuition is collected for the full academic year as a single charge.

Boarding fees

- Boarding (where applicable): RMB 10,000 per student, per academic year for both primary and middle divisions. Boarding is provided in 4‑person rooms and the boarding fee is charged on an annual basis (one‑time per academic year).

Meals and daily food charges

- Meal charges for the bilingual primary/middle divisions are calculated and settled according to actual consumption. The published per‑day reference rates for the bilingual/primary listing include items such as two snacks (两点) RMB 15, breakfast RMB 15, lunch RMB 30, and dinner RMB 30; meal payment is handled on an as‑consumed / actual‑cost basis. For older year groups the school notes breakfast, lunch and dinner are chosen and charged according to actual consumption.

Other costs and miscellaneous fees

- Textbooks, stationery, social‑practice/activity fees, medical check fees, optional activity fees and cafeteria charges are collected as applicable and are charged according to actuals or on a voluntary basis. Uniforms and related uniform procurement and management are in place for the bilingual division; uniform charges (where applied) are collected according to the school's procurement/contract arrangements and are not published as a fixed, unified annual tuition component in the bilingual fee notice. Bed linen and other one‑off items are handled as separate charges where applicable (for early years / boarding items the school's notices show specific one‑off amounts in those divisions).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition and boarding fees for the bilingual primary and middle divisions are billed and collected on an academic‑year basis and are required to be paid as a one‑time annual charge (学费、住宿费均按学年一次性收取). Meal charges and other incidental fees are settled according to actual consumption and may be billed separately.

- The school's published fee notices indicate bank transfer (collection by transfer) as the standard payment method and provide a designated school bank account in the applicable division's fee notice (division‑specific account details appear in the corresponding fee announcement). No public statement is published that credit‑card payment is accepted.

Refund information and procedure

- Refund schedule for annual tuition and boarding charges (applies where fees were charged on an annual basis):
- Paid but student did not commence attendance: 90% of the annual tuition and boarding standard is refundable.
- Student attended less than one month: 80% refundable.
- Student attended more than one month up to one semester (including completion of one semester): 50% refundable.
- Student attended more than one semester: tuition and boarding fees are not refundable.

- Refund procedure: the parent/guardian must submit a written withdrawal/leave application to the class teacher; the class teacher and principal approve and forward the departure/clearance list to the finance office; the finance office calculates refund amounts and processes payment after required approvals. The school follows provincial rules for fee and refund implementation.

Fee payment options and practical notes on payment

- The school's official fee notices specify transfer (bank transfer) as the method for paying tuition and boarding; the school provides the designated account and bank details in the relevant division's fee announcement. Credit‑card payment is not listed in the school's published fee announcements for these divisions. Parents should use the designated bank transfer details provided in the fee notice for the student's division when making payment.

Summary (concise)

- Primary tuition: RMB 120,000 / year; boarding RMB 10,000 / year (4‑person rooms).
- Middle tuition: RMB 140,000 / year; boarding RMB 10,000 / year (4‑person rooms).
- Tuition and boarding are charged as a one‑time annual payment; meals and other incidental fees are charged and settled by actual consumption. Refund percentages and procedures are published and applied as the school's fee notices specify. Payments are collected by bank transfer to the school's designated account; no published credit‑card payment option appears in the bilingual fee notice.

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Compare International Schools in Xiamen, China

Location

Stages

Type

Additional learning support

Country affiliation

Religious affiliation

School day structure

Bus service

Boarding Arrangements

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Student Teacher Ratio

Exam Results

Higher Education Progression

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Admissions

Scholarships

Waitlist

Location

Stages

Boarding Arrangements

Food Options

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Admissions

Filters

Currency

Annual fees

Children's Ages

Curriculum offered

Brand

Preschool

Primary

Secondary

Pre-University

National Curriculums

Other Approaches

Language of instruction