Beijing City International School vs International School of Beijing

	B Beijing City International School Beijing, China	I International School of Beijing Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 244,000 - 343,500	Fees / year RMB 150,900 - 356,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,275	Pupils 1,809
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 1980
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Main campus: No. 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022. The Early Childhood Center is nearby at No. 11 Dongbai Street (both in the Shuangjing / Baiziwan area close to the CBD). The site is inside Chaoyang District with good road links to central Chaoyang residential compounds and public transport; the school's contact page lists both campus addresses and phone numbers.	Location ISB's campus is in the Tianzhu / Capital Paradise area of Shunyi District at No. 10 An Hua Street, northeast Beijing — a neighbourhood that hosts several international schools and expatriate residential compounds. The campus is primarily accessed by car or taxi (Didi); event and visitor guidance refers people to the North Gate and notes limited on‑campus parking. It is roughly 25–35 km from central Beijing depending on route and traffic, so many families plan commute times around peak hours.
Stages	Stages BCIS is divided into an Early Childhood Center/Courtyard Kindergarten (Toddler–Kindergarten), an Elementary School (Grade 1–5) and a Secondary School (Grade 6–12). The admissions page and school sections show age/grade guidance and entry cut-off dates by academic year.	Stages ISB serves Early Years through Grade 12 and is organised into Early Years, Elementary, Middle and High School divisions (EY2–Grade 12). Placement and age guidelines are set out in the school's admissions/placement information.
School type	School type BCIS is a non-profit, independent, co-educational day school (no boarding provision is listed). The school's materials describe it as an international school that admits both foreign and Chinese national students who reside in Beijing.	School type ISB is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school (no boarding). It is an IB World School offering programmes through high school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support BCIS runs a Student Support Services program that includes counselling, Learning Support (for learners across the ability range) and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support; specialists work with classroom teachers to provide targeted interventions. The school also publishes child-protection and wellbeing policies and describes coordinated support for social–emotional needs.	Additional learning support ISB runs Student Support services that include Learning Support and English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL) provision; the school publishes Learning Support and Language Support policies and assesses individual needs as part of admissions and ongoing support. For specifics about levels of provision or complex needs, the admissions or Student Support team should be contacted directly.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation BCIS is an international school with no single-country affiliation; it admits students of all nationalities and is registered with the Chaoyang District education authorities. The school's site and admissions material state its international intake and local registration.	Country affiliation ISB does not have an official national affiliation — it operates as an international school serving an expatriate and international community. It is authorised to deliver IB programmes.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public materials; its mission and programs are presented secularly on the official site.	Religious affiliation The school is non‑religious / nondenominational and does not have a faith affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure School hours vary slightly by campus but the school day typically runs in the morning to mid/late afternoon (most published timetables show starts around 08:10–08:30 and regular finishes in the 15:30–15:45 range). BCIS also operates an earlier finish on Wednesdays (afternoon departure times are earlier on that day) and offers after-school enrichment sessions.	School day structure A typical school day is reported to run roughly 08:20–15:20 (times can vary by division and year). ISB's academic year normally starts in early August and finishes in early–mid June; exact term dates and daily timetables are published on the school calendar each year.
Bus service details	Bus service details BCIS operates an in-house school bus service; parents request places via a transport application form and the school lists dedicated bus coordinators and contact details. A free shuttle runs between the Main Campus and the ECC during school days; regular and late buses operate in the afternoons. The school names its contracted provider (Hu Hang (Beijing) School Bus Operation Management Co. Ltd.), and notes safety features such as GPS tracking, professional drivers/attendants and vehicle air-purification systems.	Bus service details ISB coordinates an optional, contracted school-bus service for families; routes, door‑to‑door coverage and annual fees vary by distance and are arranged through the school or its transport contractor. Bus places are optional, subject to route availability, and require parent sign-up and payment — families should check the current routes, fees and sign-up process with ISB Admissions or Transport.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - A non‑refundable application fee applies. For applications to the 2025–2026 school year the published application fee is RMB 3,000. Tuition fees — annual (by year group) The school's published fee schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year lists annual tuition by age/grade. The following figures are the school-year (annual) tuition amounts quoted in RMB: - Toddler (Nursery 2): RMB 244,000 per year. - Kindergarten (younger kindergarten levels shown by some sources as Kindg 1 / Kindg 2): RMB 265,000 – RMB 285,000 per year (depending on kindergarten level). - Grades 1–5 (Elementary): RMB 298,000 per year. - Grades 6–8 (Lower/Middle secondary): RMB 321,500 per year. - Grades 9–10 (Upper secondary / IGCSE‑equivalent years): RMB 332,000 per year. - Grades 11–12 (IB Diploma / senior years): RMB 343,500 per year. (Third‑party compilations of BCIS fees for recent previous years show similar annual ranges and list the same fee categories; these are consistent with the 2025–2026 figures above. ) Per‑term figures (inference from annual amounts) - The school states that “school fees are payable in advance.” The publicly posted fee schedule gives annual fees; a per‑term amount is not published on the public fee page. If a family is invoiced on a two‑term / two‑semester basis, a simple division of the annual fee by two produces the following illustrative per‑term amounts (this is an arithmetical division of the published annual fee and not an official BCIS semester invoice): - Toddler: approx. RMB 122,000 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Grades 1–5: approx. RMB 149,000 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Grades 11–12: approx. RMB 171,750 per term (annual ÷ 2). - Note: this per‑term split is an inferred calculation based on the published annual fees because the public fees page states only that fees are payable in advance and does not display an official semester billing table. Families should expect invoices that reflect the school's chosen billing arrangement for the year. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's published statement indicates that school fees are payable in advance; fees include tuition, applicable administration fees for new students, and any bus service fees. Parents are advised that fees are reviewed regularly and to anticipate annual increases. - The application fee is explicitly described as non‑refundable. Boarding fees - BCIS operates as a day school; boarding facilities are not part of the school's provision. There is no published boarding fee because BCIS is a day school. Other costs and typical additional fees - New‑student / admission administration fee: several independent local school listings and parent guides cite a one‑time new‑student (enrolment) fee around RMB 15,000 for BCIS; this has been listed in recent school‑profile compilations. - Transportation (school bus): independent compilations show typical annual bus fees in the range of approximately RMB 17,600 to RMB 24,200 (actual amount depends on route/zone). - Uniforms: the school provides the first full school uniform set free to students in Toddler through Grade 10; families may order additional uniform items at cost through the school's uniform ordering system. - MacBook / device costs: BCIS requires students in Grades 4–12 to have a MacBook that meets the school's specified minimums; the school works with an authorized reseller to offer discounted education pricing and recommends AppleCare. Device purchase and any recommended extended warranty are additional family costs. - Lunch / meal charges: arrangements differ by campus; ECC lunch/snacks are included in the ECC tuition, while Main Campus students often use a pre‑paid pass for on‑campus meals—expect separate meal charges where noted. (School publications and school‑profile listings describe differing arrangements by campus.) - Extracurricular, trips, external examination fees and some optional activities (e.g., individual music tuition, certain overseas trips) are typically charged in addition to tuition where applicable. Independent school guides list these as common additional costs. Refund information - The application fee is non‑refundable. BCIS's public tuition page gives the high‑level statement that fees are payable in advance, but a detailed public refund schedule or a detailed withdrawal/tuition‑refund table is not shown on the publicly visible tuition page. Families should expect that some one‑time fees (application, administration) are treated as non‑refundable; specific refund percentages and notice periods for tuition withdrawals are not publicly itemized on the BCIS tuition page. Fee payment options - The school's public materials indicate fees are payable in advance and are invoiced by the school; typical payment methods used by international K‑12 schools in Beijing include local bank transfer (RMB), and international bank transfer (USD/RMB) as invoiced, and card payments where accepted by the school's billing platform. Parents frequently receive specific bank details and accepted payment methods on the invoice. The BCIS published pages do not display a single public list of accepted payment methods on the tuition summary page; families receive precise payment instructions on their invoice. Key practical notes for parents (factual summary) - Application fee: RMB 3,000 (non‑refundable). - Annual tuition: ranges by year group from about RMB 244,000 (Toddler) up to about RMB 343,500 (Grades 11–12) for the 2025–2026 school year, per published fee compilations. - First full uniform set is provided at no charge for Toddler–Grade 10; additional uniform items are payable by families. - Students in Grades 4–12 must meet the school's MacBook specification and typically purchase the device (discounted reseller option available). - BCIS is a day school; no boarding fees apply. (Where the public page gives only annual totals, per‑term amounts shown above were calculated by halving the published annual fee to illustrate how an equal two‑term split would look; that split is an arithmetic inference and not an official BCIS semester invoice. For billing‑cycle details, invoice breakdowns and precise additional fees for items such as buses, AppleCare or optional trips, consult the invoice you receive from the school.)	Fee details Application fees - Non-refundable Application Fee: RMB 2,800 (applies for the academic year of application only). One-time and prepayment fees - One-time Entry Tuition Fee (new students): RMB 15,000. Due at the same time as Tuition Fees. - Non-refundable Tuition Prepayment Fee: RMB 30,000 required to secure a place; this prepayment is applied against the annual tuition. Due dates: re-enrolling students on or before March 20, 2025; newly enrolled students within 7 calendar days of the invoice date. Tuition fees (annual) by year group - Early Years (EY2) Half Day: RMB 150,900. - Early Years (EY2) Full Day: RMB 245,900. - Early Years (EY3): RMB 246,900. - Early Years (EY4): RMB 249,900. - Kindergarten (KG): RMB 292,300. - Grade 1: RMB 297,500. - Grade 2: RMB 299,900. - Grades 3–5: RMB 303,900. - Grades 6–8: RMB 322,900. - Grades 9–10: RMB 345,000. - Grades 11–12: RMB 356,000. Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual tuition invoices: re-enrolling students due on or before June 1, 2025; newly enrolled students due within 20 calendar days of the invoice date. - Installment plans (available on a needs basis and subject to conditions): Two-Installment Plan — payments due June 1 and October 1, 2025; Four-Installment Plan — payments due June 1, August 1, September 1, and October 1, 2025. Application to use an installment plan must be submitted by May 20, 2025. A late payment surcharge of 2% per month, compounded monthly, applies to overdue fees. - Pro-rated fees for late entry are applied by quarter (minimum one quarter charged): Quarter 1 = 100%; Quarter 2 = 75%; Quarter 3 = 50%; Quarter 4 = 25% of annual fees. Boarding - ISB operates as a day school; no boarding fees are published for ISB. Other costs - Annual optional bus/transportation: RMB 16,500 to RMB 26,800 depending on distance (2025–2026). The Transportation Fee applies only to students who register for the service. - The publicly posted schedule does not list set amounts for uniforms, daily lunch, specific co-curricular or instrument hire fees; such ancillary charges may be invoiced separately. Refund information - Application Fee and Tuition Prepayment Fee are NOT refundable. Tuition refund deadlines: full-year tuition (less the non-refundable Tuition Prepayment Fee) refundable if withdrawal is received on or before July 1, 2025; tuition for the second semester refundable if withdrawal is received on or before November 1, 2025. Entry Tuition Fee refundable only if withdrawal is received by July 1, 2025 for Semester 1 starters or by November 1, 2025 for Semester 2 starters. Transportation refunds follow a short-window scale; fapiao must be returned for refunds. Fee payment options - Payments must be made by bank transfer (invoices are issued in RMB only). No cash payments are accepted. USD payments are converted to RMB at the Bank of China middle rate at time of receipt; all bank charges are the payer's responsibility. Bank details are printed on invoices and are available from the Business Office.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school provides one full school uniform set to students from Toddler to Grade 10. The uniform can be ordered online. For the 2025-2026 school year, the uniform order period begins August 10, 2025; new users register an account, log in with their Student or Staff ID, and follow the steps to place the order. The first full uniform set is free.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school provides healthy, balanced, high-quality meals and snacks. ECC campus catering times include breakfast 8:00-8:30, morning snack 10:00-11:00, lunch 12:00-12:50, and afternoon snack 14:00-15:00. Main Campus snack and lunch times are ES 10:30 and 12:30; SS 11:15. Contact emails are BCIS.ECC@zhongrongyx.com (ECC), BCIS.Maincampus@zhongrongyx.com (Main Campus), and foodservice@bcis.cn.	Food options There is an on-campus cafeteria for the Elementary and Middle/High School divisions.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership BCIS is a non-profit private school. It is governed by a Board of Trustees under a Head of School responsible system, with two committees: the Education & Development Committee and the Finance & Operations Committee. The Board Chair is Mr. He Lantian. Board Members include Mr. Tan Wee Seng, Ms. Liu Peng, Mr. Gou Yiqun, and Mr. Yang Jinfang.	Governance and ownership ISB is a non-profit school governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees elected and nominated by the parent community.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details BCIS delivers the International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years Programme in Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle Years Programme in Grades 6–10, and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12; the school is authorised for PYP, MYP and DP. The Early Childhood Center (toddlers to kindergarten) uses a play‑based, inquiry‑led pedagogy aligned with the PYP transdisciplinary framework to prepare children for Grade 1. In Elementary the PYP drives learning across mathematics, language, personal/social/emotional development, science, social studies, visual arts, music and physical education, with EAL and Chinese language support. The MYP (Grades 6–10) continues inquiry‑based learning and includes arts (drama, music, visual art), individuals & societies, language & literature (English/Chinese), language acquisition (English/Chinese/Spanish), mathematics, physical & health education, sciences and design. In Grades 11–12 students may follow the IB Diploma (six DP subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) or a personalised IDEATE pathway/BCIS Diploma that can combine IB courses, in‑person IDEATE courses and online dual‑enrolment/university‑credit options.	Curriculum details ISB delivers an International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from Early Years through Grade 12: Primary follows the PYP, Middle School follows the MYP (typically Grades 6–10), and Grades 11–12 offer the IB Diploma Programme. High school students may pursue the full IB Diploma in Grades 11–12 or take individual IB courses alongside ISB's own High School Diploma; graduation requires a minimum of 24 credits. ISB's High School Diploma is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is recognized by China's NCCT. In Grades 9–10 students follow a broad academic program (English, mathematics, sciences, individuals & societies, world languages/EAL, PE) with room for electives to prepare for DP pathway decisions. Across all stages the school integrates Chinese language learning, STEAM, arts, service learning and extensive co‑curricular options, and the high school offers a Pathways program allowing combinations of DP and non‑DP courses with microcredentials/Impact Certificate opportunities.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning BCIS describes social and emotional learning as part of its Student Support and school learning models: counsellors deliver guidance lessons (social skills, mindfulness, conflict resolution, digital citizenship), participate in homeroom/advisory programmes, and collaborate with teachers and families to support students' wellbeing. The Secondary School page explicitly states the school “prioritiz[es] social and emotional learning” within its learning model. The counselling team also runs whole‑school and year‑level wellbeing initiatives and parent workshops to support transitions and resilience. These provisions are described on the school's Student Support Services and counselling pages.	Social & emotional learning ISB describes an EY–12 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programme built around five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Cultural Competence, Nurturing Relationships and Purposeful Action. SEL is delivered through classroom integration, Elementary morning meetings and a Middle/High School mentoring programme, and is intended to be embedded across subjects rather than taught as a separate ‘detour' from academics. The school references research and uses Tripod's 7Cs framework to guide teacher practice and care for students. ISB explicitly values student voice, partnerships with families, resilience and emotional safety as part of its SEL approach. These details are published on ISB's curriculum SEL philosophy page.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) BCIS states that its Learning Support (LS) programme is core to Student Support and combines guidance counsellors and LS teachers to support a wide range of student needs, including students with learning difficulties and students who are highly capable. The website explains LS works collaboratively with classroom teachers to create personalised interventions across the learning continuum. The school does not publish a detailed list of specific medical or diagnosable SEN categories it will or will not support, nor does it present itself as a specialist SEN institution on its public pages. For details or eligibility for particular needs families are directed to contact admissions or Student Support.	Special educational needs (SEN) ISB's Student Support Services state the school enrolls students with mild, moderate and intensive learning needs and lists learning support teachers, EAL teachers, instructional assistants, a school psychologist, speech-language pathologists and an on-site private occupational therapist as part of the support team. The school describes targeted, evidence-based interventions, a comprehensive referral process, curriculum modification where necessary, and a Life Centered Education (LCE) class for students with intellectual disabilities in grades K–8 staffed by special education teachers and instructional assistants. ISB's FAQ and admissions guidance note that admission of students requiring support depends on available space and the school's ability to provide necessary resources. The Student Support pages also state that fees may apply for intensive-class tuition or a 1:1 teaching assistant. ISB's Student Support Services page provides these details.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language BCIS states it operates a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme: specialist EAL teachers work alongside homeroom and subject teachers to provide structured, personalised EAL support across the curriculum. The Admissions pages also note English is the language of instruction and applicants may need to provide standard English test reports as part of admissions screening. The school therefore documents both in‑class EAL provision and expectations about English proficiency for admission.	English as an additional language ISB provides EAL support from Kindergarten through Grade 10 and, in High School, offers fully credited EAL courses aligned with Common Core ELA standards for reading, writing, listening, speaking and language. The high‑school EAL model is described as subject-specific and designed to foster independence, academic vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing skills; students exit EAL when multiple measures indicate a high level of English proficiency. EAL and classroom teachers collaborate to make grade-level curriculum accessible, and proficiency is assessed with multiple data points (for example WIDA and MAP are mentioned). These provisions are described in ISB's Student Support / High School course guide pages.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing BCIS describes a professional counselling team that provides confidential one‑to‑one and small‑group counselling, supports homeroom/advisory programmes, runs parent workshops, and designs interventions in collaboration with teachers and families. The school's counselling communications note specific wellbeing activities (e.g., Wellness Wednesdays, screen‑free wellness days) and ongoing contact with families during periods of remote learning. These services are presented as part of the Student Support/Counselling provision on the school site.	Mental wellbeing ISB's Counseling Department states it provides developmentally appropriate, student-centred counselling through classroom lessons, small groups and individual work, and that counselors lead SEL and health initiatives in each school section. Counselors also offer workshops, parent education, mediation and stress-management support, and they form part of the school's Crisis Response Team; the school notes that families may be referred to external services when more in-depth therapeutic support is required. The Student Support Services page frames these counselling services as part of a wider network (including SLPs and a school psychologist) that aims to promote students' social-emotional development. These counselling and student-support descriptions are published on ISB's curriculum and student support pages.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding BCIS publishes a formal Child Protection Policy (approved December 2016, reviewed May 2023) that sets out aims, reporting procedures, staff training requirements, student keeping‑safe lessons, and responsibilities for preventing and responding to abuse and neglect. The Student Support Services page links to the Child Protection/Safeguarding documents and to related policies (Code of Conduct; Positive Relationships and Wellbeing; Digital Citizenship). The Child Protection Policy explicitly requires mandatory staff training, age‑appropriate student safety lessons, and established communication/flow‑chart procedures for disclosures.	Safeguarding ISB publishes a Child Safeguarding Handbook and describes a safeguarding system that includes rigorous staff recruitment and vetting, criminal-background checks, an employee Code of Conduct, annual safeguarding training for staff and contractors, and policies for identifying and responding to children in need of protection. The school links its safeguarding work with its SEL curriculum and describes access and campus‑use guidelines for parents and visitors. ISB's safeguarding pages also reference external accreditation feedback (an independent accreditor's 2023 comment) and provide downloadable child-protection information. These safeguarding measures and policies are set out on ISB's Safeguarding page.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview BCIS operates across multiple Beijing campuses: the Early Childhood Center, Courtyard Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Secondary School. The Main Campus is located at 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The Early Childhood Center notes that the school has state-of-the-art facilities. There are libraries at the ECC, Elementary School, and Secondary School campuses designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for reading, research and lifelong learning. The libraries and other on-site spaces support learning across age groups.	Facilities overview ISB is a fully accredited non-profit private school in Beijing serving students from Early Years through Grade 12. The campus spans 32 acres and includes Library Media Centers, two Performing Arts Centers, and two purpose-built sports domes. The campus features a 665-seat sports stadium and dedicated spaces for arts, science, and language learning. ISB serves around 1,800 students with a 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities BCIS provides a gym, a soccer field, a swimming pool, and a fitness room as on-site facilities. These spaces are available to the BCIS community, with opening hours posted and access subject to school events.	Sports facilities ISB has two purpose-built sports domes and a 665-seat sports stadium. These facilities support a broad athletics program as part of ISB's cocurricular offerings.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Three BCIS libraries—one at the Early Childhood Center, one at the Elementary School, and one at the Secondary School—are designed to create a pleasant and safe environment for teaching and learning. The libraries support reading, research and lifelong learning, with teacher librarians collaborating with teachers to integrate information literacy into the curriculum. Parents are welcome to check out books from the libraries; resources support personal, social, and emotional development. The libraries function as flexible resource centers for staff, students, parents and the wider BCIS community.	Academic facilities ISB operates one of the region's leading international school Chinese language programs from Early Years to Grade 12. In Elementary School, ISB offers a Dual Language Program to develop proficiency in speaking and writing in two languages and cultures. ISB has its own Chinese Language and Culture Center and offers Chinese language accelerator programs. ISB offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (full diploma) and the ISB Pathways Program, and runs a 1:1 MacBook laptop program. World Languages include Chinese, French & Spanish.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities BCIS offers Enrichment Activities across Athletic, Arts & Culture and Academic categories, including Swimming, Aeromodelling, Start Up, Model United Nations, Robot Maker, Orchestra, Brain Bee and many others. Week Without Walls provides off-campus learning experiences each year for Elementary and Secondary students. BCIS supports Athletics through a dedicated program, including the BCIS Water Warriors Swim Team for Grades 2–12.	Extra curricular facilities ISB offers more than 200 cocurricular programs. Co-curricular offerings include Athletics, Performing Arts, Activities, Aquatics, and Clubs and Service Groups.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History BCIS opened in 2005, initially enrolling fewer than 60 students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 and expanding its secondary provision in the years that followed. The school is operated as a non-profit and is a member institution of YueCheng Education. In August 2014 BCIS opened a purpose-built Early Childhood Center, and that facility later received LEED recognition. As the school has grown it has undertaken multi-year strategic planning processes to guide its development.	History ISB traces its origins to a small diplomatic school in Beijing in the 1970s and was formally established in 1980; the early institution grew out of schools run by several embassies (including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and New Zealand). ISB operates as a non-profit and is overseen by a 12-member Board of Trustees responsible for governance, finances, and appointing the Head of School. Over time the school moved from temporary diplomatic sites to a purpose-built campus in Shunyi and expanded its facilities and programmes through the 1990s and 2000s.
Community	Community The BCIS community brings together international and local families, faculty, staff and alumni who participate in campus-wide events such as International Day, the Winter Bazaar and the Roundabout Book Fair. Student-led projects and extracurricular programs — including entrepreneurial challenges and sustainability activities run by student groups (for example, Eco Warriors) — involve family volunteers and local partners. The school posts regular news and calendar items and encourages parent participation through workshops, community events and school-hosted social gatherings.	Community The ISB community includes students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni from many nationalities and is active year-round with school-wide cultural and social events. Regular community highlights include an annual International Day (a cultural parade and family-run country booths) and a large Spring Fair that draws thousands of visitors. Families and staff also connect through speaker series, performances, athletics and volunteer-organized activities that aim to build relationships across the school.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Membership in the BCIS PTA is automatic for parents, teachers and members of the school community; the PTA is organized as a non-profit body that aims to support the school's international character and community cohesion. The PTA helps plan and run specific events such as International Day, the Roundabout Book Fair, Spring in the City and the Winter Carnival/Bazaar. Fundraising is managed by the PTA and it operates a Grant Program through which Student Council, classes, individual students, teachers or management can apply for project support. The PTA also runs weekly language classes for members and hosts clubs and activities such as arts & crafts sessions and book clubs; many PTA activities rely on volunteers from the parent body. The PTA constitution (2010) and contact details for the PTA president and secretary are published on the school site.	Parent teacher association ISB's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a volunteer-led organisation whose membership is open to all parents and faculty and which supports new-family orientation and community-building. The PTA organises major community fundraisers such as the Spring Fair and helps coordinate International Day booths and the cultural parade. Beyond those flagship events, the PTA runs movie nights, dance programs, visiting-author talks and a parent speaker series, and it posts volunteer opportunities through the school portal. The Booster Club—run by parent volunteers—focuses on school spirit and hands-on support for athletics, performing arts and academic co-curriculars (team parents, concessions, spirit items, receptions, etc.). Contact details and sign-up information for PTA and Booster Club activities are available on the ISB website.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school teaches in English. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). IDEATE is BCIS's high school pathway for Grades 9–12, with in‑person courses in IB (MYP or DP), optional IDEATE courses for Grades 11–12, online dual enrollment with Arizona State University and Savannah College of Art and Design, and online options via Global Online Academy and Virtual High School; university guidance supports the pathway.	Academic & intellectual ISB is a non-profit international school in Beijing that serves students from Early Years through Grade 12. It has a four-decade history (established 1980) and a student body of around 1,800. The faculty-to-student ratio is about 1:8. The campus features include two performing arts centers, a dedicated sports dome, and a broad range of co-curricular offerings (200+ activities). The school emphasizes challenging and joyful learning, with a focus on literacy and STEAM, and it aims to develop students who are globally minded and socially responsible.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative ISB offers a range of performing arts, visual arts, theater, and music programs as part of its co-curricular and curricular activities. The school supports student creativity through its arts facilities and performance opportunities across the Middle and High School years.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language ISB provides a Dual Language Program (English and Chinese) from Early Years through Grade 5, designed to help students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural, with equity of English and Chinese language and culture and ongoing literacy in both languages. World languages offered include Chinese, French, and Spanish, with program structures in Middle and High School supporting language study across grades.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Co-curricular activities at ISB exceed 200 options, including clubs, arts, athletics, and service groups, providing students with opportunities to explore interests, build friendships, and develop new skills outside the classroom.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service ISB emphasizes real-world learning and service as part of its core focus on purpose and compassion. Students engage in service opportunities and community projects as part of their learning experience.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional ISB features leadership and professional development elements through its co-curricular programs, alumni engagement, and pathways that help students develop skills for college and beyond.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school prioritizes social-emotional learning and relationship-building as part of creating a healthy school community. It maintains a strong emphasis on student well-being and a supportive learning environment.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The school teaches in English. It is an International Baccalaureate World School that implements the Chinese national curriculum as part of its program.	Language provision ISB provides English-language instruction from Early Years through Grade 12. English Language Arts is a core subject, and EAL supports language development for students who need additional English support. World Languages include Chinese, French, and Spanish, with progression paths in Middle School (Foundation and Intermediate levels) and High School offerings such as Chinese, French & Spanish, and IB Self-Taught A. The Dual Language program also provides bilingual English-Chinese experiences.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching ISB offers a Dual Language Program in English and Chinese. The program aims for students to become bilingual, bi-literate, and bicultural. Learning occurs in English and Chinese with emphasis on reading, writing, and communication in both languages. The program uses ISB's curriculum as the core and promotes equity between English and Chinese language and culture.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2026, the BCIS website explicitly records one school-level award won by the school itself: - China School Awards — "Enterprise and Employability" (winner, March 10, 2023). The BCIS news item describes that BCIS was selected as the winner of the Enterprise & Employability award in the China School Awards (organized by the British Chambers of Commerce); the prize recognises a school's work to develop students' employability and enterprise skills and was presented to the school. Note: I searched the school website for other items described as awards given to the school in the same five‑year window; other recognitions on the site (for example, project prizes or competition awards) refer to student teams or individual students and so were not included because you asked only for awards granted to the school as an institution.	Awards Awards and formal recognitions to the school itself on ISB's website in the past five years (items are those explicitly shown on ISB's site; I have excluded awards given to individual students or student groups): - International SOS Foundation — Duty of Care Award (awarded to ISB). Date reported on ISB site: November 6, 2024. One-line significance: an external recognition for organisational practices in health, safety and welfare of staff and community. - Hurun Education — named ISB the #1 International School in China (2025). Date reported on ISB site: August 20, 2025. One-line significance: a national ranking/recognition published by Hurun and presented on ISB's site as a formal honour to the school. - Forbes China — Forbes China International Schools Annual Selection (2025): ISB listed as #1 International High School in Beijing and #2 among international high schools in China. Date reported on ISB site: August 20, 2025. One-line significance: a national ranking published by Forbes China and presented on ISB's site as recognition of the school's standing. - Chinese Language Festival — Outstanding Participation Award (Mainland China region). Date reported on ISB site: June 17, 2021. One-line significance: an event-level award given to ISB as a school for its collective participation and entries in a regional Chinese-language festival. Notes: - All items above are taken from content published on ISB's official website or ISB's official blog (links and publication dates are given in the cited pages). If you'd like, I can pull the exact ISB pages into a single PDF or give the direct page links for each citation (or check for any additional formal recognitions listed elsewhere on the site).
Accreditations	Accreditations 1) International Baccalaureate (IB) — BCIS is a fully authorized IB World School delivering the PYP, MYP and DP. This means the school has completed the IB authorization process and is approved to teach IB programmes, which involves regular review of curriculum and teaching against IB standards and practices. 2) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — BCIS states it is accredited by WASC. WASC accreditation indicates the school has met an external set of quality standards for governance, teaching and learning, and undergoes periodic review by WASC teams. 3) Council of International Schools (CIS) — BCIS states it is accredited by CIS. CIS accreditation is an international school-quality process that assesses the school's programme, leadership, resources and student support and is renewed through cyclical evaluation. 4) Approval by the Education Committee of Chaoyang District, Beijing — the school's website notes BCIS is approved/registered with the local education authority, which is the basis for its ability to enroll both international and Chinese-national students and indicates local regulatory recognition. 5) Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) membership — BCIS's news item and admissions announcement list the school as a member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, a membership that supports alternative, competency‑based transcript practices and signals the school's participation in that network. (Listed on the school website as a membership/recognition rather than a traditional accreditation.) 6) LEED Gold (Early Childhood Center facilities) — BCIS notes its Early Childhood Center holds LEED Gold certification for the building. This is a third‑party, industry certification of the ECC campus' environmental and building‑performance standards rather than an academic accreditation.	Accreditations International School of Beijing — accreditations (as listed on ISB's website): - New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) — a U.S.-based regional accreditor that evaluates whole-school quality and governance; NEASC accreditation supports recognition of the ISB high-school diploma internationally. - Council of International Schools (CIS) — an international accrediting body that assesses school-wide standards (including teaching, leadership, safeguarding and facilities) and emphasizes continuous school improvement. - National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT) — a PRC education authority recognition cited by ISB; it is the Chinese body referenced on ISB's site in relation to curriculum/textbook and official status in China. - International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) — ISB is authorized by the IBO to deliver the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11–12; that authorization permits ISB students to undertake the IB Diploma recognized by universities worldwide.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Familiarize yourself with BCIS and schedule a campus tour. The school's Admissions Policy encourages families to tour the campus before applying so you can assess fit with BCIS's mission and educational approach; the school will not consider an application complete until a campus tour has been completed. Parents should plan the tour well ahead of key application windows and bring questions about curriculum, language support and campus logistics. 2. Check age and grade eligibility before applying. BCIS publishes age-by-August-31 cutoffs for each incoming school year (for example, the policy lists the dates used to determine appropriate grades for 2025–2026 and 2026–2027), so confirm your child's placement against those dates before you submit an application. If a child's previous school calendar differs from BCIS, expect BCIS to place the child in the grade they are currently studying or have just completed unless exceptional circumstances are agreed by principals. 3. Begin the online application (OpenApply) and pay the application fee. BCIS requires an online application via the link on its Admissions pages; for the 2025–2026 intake the non-refundable application fee is stated as RMB 3,000. Parents should complete the online form carefully, keep a record of the submission, and be prepared to follow up with admissions by phone or email to confirm seat availability if applying late or relocating to Beijing. 4. Prepare and upload required supporting documents specific to the child's level. For Early Childhood and Elementary: passports or hukou (depending on nationality), recent school/assessment reports (if available), one BCIS recommendation form (if the child is currently in a program or school), the completed Student Medical Form and vaccination records, and — for kindergarten entrants — a recent health check-up form. For Secondary (Grades 6–11): passports or hukou, school reports for the past two academic years, two BCIS recommendation forms (homeroom & English recommended), a student essay in the online application, medical and vaccination records, and, if applicable, standard English test reports (TOEFL, IELTS, SSAT, Duolingo, MAP, etc.). Make sure teacher recommendation forms are completed in English and have the referee email them directly to admissions as instructed. 5. Expect assessment and interview stages once your application is complete. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews (BCIS interviews students and often parents separately); for Secondary applicants BCIS assesses English language skills and may request formal English test results before or during this stage. If parents do not speak English they may bring an interpreter to the parental interview; bring copies of transcripts, examples of student work, and any other evidence that supports your child's academic and extracurricular profile. 6. Understand how offers, placement and rolling admissions work. BCIS uses a rolling admissions approach: after the first round, applications continue to be considered while seats remain available in each grade. The school evaluates fit holistically (academic history, English proficiency, interests, and current cohort balance) and placement is finalized after interviews and any required testing; parents should check seat availability with Admissions before investing in travel or making firm relocation plans. 7. Be aware of key fees and payment expectations associated with admission. BCIS states that school fees (tuition, applicable administration fees for new students, and bus fees) are payable in advance and that fees are reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees. The website confirms the application fee (RMB 3,000) and notes fees for the 2025–2026 school year; independent fee aggregators list annual tuition ranges (example figures published by external sources for 2025–2026: approximately RMB 244,000–343,500 depending on grade) and show common one-time items such as a new-student administration fee and transport costs — but these numbers should be confirmed directly with Admissions because the BCIS fees page provides policy and a year label while the school's detailed amounts are periodically updated. Parents should ask Admissions for the current fee schedule, deposit, payment deadlines, and refund policy before accepting an offer. 8. Complete enrollment requirements after an offer is accepted. BCIS requires completed medical forms and vaccination records before enrollment and will provide instructions on any final administrative steps (contracts, tuition payment, bus registration, uniform ordering). Keep copies of passports/visa pages or hukou for school records, confirm start date and grade placement in writing, and maintain regular contact with the Admissions office for any outstanding items. Contact details for Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary admissions are published on the BCIS site and are useful to have on hand.	Admissions 1. Start the online application and create an account: Begin by clicking the school's Apply Now link (the application is managed through ISB's online application portal). When you create your account and submit the online application you will be assigned a dedicated Admissions Officer who will be your main contact through the process. Parents should review ISB's School Age Placement Guide first so they understand which grade the child will be considered for before submitting materials. 2. Speak with your Admissions Officer and check required documents: Before or immediately after you submit the application, schedule a call or email exchange with your assigned Admissions Officer to confirm which documents are required for your child (transcripts, passport/visa documentation, proof of residency or visa status where applicable). For high school applicants note that original sealed transcripts will be required on arrival to finalize course scheduling and to confirm credits-to-graduation. Keep scanned copies ready (translated if necessary) so you can upload them promptly when asked. 3. Request confidential school recommendation form(s): In the application platform there is a section to provide teacher names, school names and email addresses so ISB can send Confidential School Recommendation Forms to current/previous teachers. Inform the nominated teachers to expect an email from ISB and to complete the recommendation promptly — missing or late recommendations slow the admissions review. This step is required for most applicants and is used together with transcripts and assessments during the committee review. 4. Pay the application fee and any entry fee invoiced: After submitting the online application you will receive an invoice; ISB's non-refundable application fee for the academic year is RMB 2,800 and (for new students in the 2025–2026 year) there is also a one-time entry tuition fee (listed on the Tuition & Fees page). These payments must be completed to move the application forward — keep proof of payment for your records. If your employer will be paying fees, mention that to the Admissions Officer early so the finance/agreements process can be coordinated. 5. Language testing and placement assessments: ISB arranges English language proficiency testing for non-native English speakers and Chinese testing for applicants to the Dual Language Program; these assessments are used for placement and to determine EAL support needs. Expect the Admissions Officer to schedule tests or to request recent assessment results; additional academic assessments may be requested by the Admissions Committee in order to ensure an appropriate placement. Families should be ready to provide past assessment reports and to allow time for any ISB-administered tests. 6. Family Introduction Meeting and committee decision: The final step before a decision is a Family Introduction Meeting (on campus or virtually via Microsoft Teams) with your Admissions Officer or a member of the team — this meeting gives the school context about the student and family. Once ISB has the completed application, recommendations, testing/assessments and the family meeting, the Admissions Committee typically completes its review approximately two weeks from the date the application is fully complete; the Committee may request extra documentation or assessments if needed. If admitted, the Admissions Office will issue offer details and invoicing; if a place is not immediately available the application may be placed in the school's wait pool in accordance with ISB admissions policies. Additional practical points parents should be aware of: ISB uses priority categories and visa/documentation rules (for example, Chinese nationals permanently resident in mainland China are not eligible under current regulations), so you should confirm your family's priority status with Admissions early. Sibling status, returning families and strong English proficiency can affect priority within categories; if you are applying for a start in August aim to complete steps early in the admissions cycle and, for sibling priority in some cases, complete the application by March 15 of the intended year of entry. Always keep originals (sealed transcripts) for arrival and be prepared for placement differences when moving between systems.
Scholarships	Scholarships BCIS operates an active Scholarship Program targeted at Secondary students (Grades 9–12) and offers four scholarship streams: Future Leaders, APEX Innovators, Academic Scholarships (these are open to external and internal applicants depending on the scheme), and the Founder's Scholarship (for current BCIS students entering Grades 11–12). The school awards both 100% and 50% scholarships in these categories, and recipients must complete high school at BCIS and meet program requirements through to graduation. Scholarship aims, eligibility criteria and types are described in detail on BCIS's Scholarship Program page. Application mechanics and requirements: Each external scholarship category requires a 600–800 word essay (topic provided at time of application), names and contact details for two teacher referees who will complete recommendation forms in English, supporting documentary evidence or a portfolio (awards, past work, exam results, certificates, media, etc.), and shortlisted candidates must complete an interview with the BCIS Scholarship Committee (including a faculty expert where relevant). BCIS publishes clear documentary and interview requirements for each scholarship type (Future Leaders, APEX Innovators, Academic Scholarship), and scholarship awards are renewable annually subject to academic/progression and conduct criteria (annual reviews include academic reports, service, behavior and attendance). Timelines, notification and administration: Scholarship applications typically open on 1 February and external applications close on 21 June, with interviews held during March–May and notification by 31 May; the school may accept additional external applications until 1 August for families newly moving to Beijing. Parents should submit scholarship material through the BCIS online admissions system (OpenApply) and, for current BCIS students, follow the Secondary School Principal's directions for internal applications. If you are considering a scholarship application, confirm the current year's exact dates and submission process with Admissions because timelines and intake conditions are updated annually. Questions and next steps: For specific questions about scholarship eligibility, the application process or to request the scholarship application pack, contact BCIS Admissions (admissions@bcis.cn) or the Secondary School Principal (contacts are listed on the scholarship page). Because scholarship awards can significantly affect financial planning and place allocation, it's advisable to speak directly with Admissions before submitting both a general application and a scholarship application.	Scholarships ISB's public materials do not advertise a general, school-wide tuition scholarship or need-based financial-aid program on the Admissions or Tuition & Fees pages. The school does operate advancement-funded programs — for example, the Student Empowerment Fund (SEF) and the Annual Fund — which provide grants for student projects and for targeted program support, but these are project/initiative grants rather than tuition scholarships or bursaries. If you need information about any occasional donor-funded opportunities or specific support, contact the ISB Advancement or Admissions offices directly; Advancement runs the SEF (for student project grants) and the Annual Fund which supports programs and grants. Parents needing tuition-assistance options should discuss this directly with Admissions so the school can confirm whether any limited, case-specific arrangements exist.
Waitlist	Waitlist BCIS does not publish a separate, detailed ‘waiting-list' policy on its public Admissions pages; instead the school states it operates a rolling admissions process and reviews applications until seats are filled in each grade. The Admissions Policy and Application pages instruct parents to confirm seat availability with the Admissions Office (phone/email) before applying, which implies that when a grade is full the school manages new enquiries through the rolling process and direct communication rather than by posting a public waitlist procedure. Because BCIS does not spell out a formal waitlist or ranking procedure on the website, parents who are concerned about availability should contact Admissions to ask whether the school holds names on a waiting list or whether offers are made from a pool of shortlisted candidates (and if so, how candidates are prioritized). Third‑party school guides and community sources also report that BCIS is popular and can have limited places in some grades, so early application and direct follow-up with Admissions are recommended.	Waitlist ISB operates a wait pool (sometimes described as a wait pool rather than a formal ranked “waiting list”) for applicants who meet the school's admissions criteria but for whom no place is immediately available. A student can be placed in this wait pool after the Admissions Committee has reviewed the application; when places open they are offered according to ISB's Admissions Policies and priority categories. The FAQs note a specific practical point: siblings of enrolled students who have completed the application process prior to March 15 of the intended year of entry are given priority in times of limited places. If you are placed in the wait pool, stay in contact with your Admissions Officer and ensure the school has up-to-date documents and contact details so they can offer a place quickly if one becomes available.
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