Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School vs Suzhou Singapore International School

	S Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School Shanghai, China	S Suzhou Singapore International School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 164,000	Fees / year RMB 130,000 - 300,000
Age range	Age range 15 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)	Curriculum Singapore Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 190	Pupils 1,400
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened —	Opened 1996
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School is located in Minhang District at No. 3233 Hongxin Road (near Caobao Lu / Caobao Road). The campus is in the Qibao area of Minhang and is commonly reached by local roads and taxis (about 10 minutes from Xingzhong Road in local listings).	Location The URL you gave (ssis.asia) is the website for Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS), not a Suzhou campus. SSIS's main campus is in Minhang District, Shanghai, with on-site directions and contact details on the site; it's reachable by road and is near established residential areas and transport links in southwestern Shanghai.
Stages	Stages The school is an upper-secondary/high school serving grades 10–12.	Stages SSIS runs a continuous K–12 programme from Preschool (Pre‑Nursery/Kindergarten) through Primary (Grade 1–6) to Senior School (Grade 7–12). Senior School includes Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE (Grades 9–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12).
School type	School type Co-educational; the school offers both day-school places and boarding options for its high‑school cohorts.	School type SSIS is a co-educational international day school (K–12). The school does not advertise boarding facilities on its main site pages.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Public-facing school listings and directories do not provide detailed descriptions of a specific SEN/learning‑support programme or named facilities. Parents should contact the admissions office to ask about assessments, individual education plans (IEPs), on-site specialists, or external referrals — admissions@qibaodwight.org. (Summary of what was found: directory and school summaries list curriculum and boarding/day options but do not publish a clear SEN policy or staff listing for additional‑needs support.)	Additional learning support SSIS publishes an English Language Acquisition (ELA) programme for Primary students to support learners needing additional English instruction; the school also describes personalised learning approaches and school-based support but specific SEN caseload or detailed specialist services are described in admissions/downloadable registration materials. For specific individual needs it's best to contact the school's admissions or learning-support team.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is a Sino–U.S. cooperative venture: it was established in partnership between Shanghai Qibao High School and the Dwight Schools (U.S.).	Country affiliation The school is named Shanghai Singapore International School and references Singaporean education influences in its curriculum, but it operates as an international school in China rather than being a government school of Singapore.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in the school's public descriptions or directory entries; the school is presented as a secular, international secondary school.	Religious affiliation SSIS does not list any religious affiliation on its public pages; it operates as a non-denominational international school.
School day structure	School day structure Published listings state a typical school day runs Monday–Friday, approximately 08:00–15:30, with the usual mid‑day lunch and break periods; families should confirm the current daily schedule with admissions as times can change.	School day structure The school's website describes standard K–12 timetabled days with breaks and a lunch period but does not publish a single fixed start/end time on the public overview pages; these times are typically provided to admitted families or in the registration pack. Contact admissions for exact daily timings for specific year groups.
Bus service details	Bus service details Public listings do not clearly state a school‑run bus network or specific route details. Parents relocating from overseas should contact admissions to ask whether the school operates a bus service, which routes are covered, the provider, costs, and how to register (admissions@qibaodwight.org).	Bus service details SSIS offers a regular school bus service for families; the site lists a transportation email and notes an annual transport fee (with distance-based rates quoted in the tuition page). For route details, pickup points and booking deadlines the school asks parents to contact the transportation office directly. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - The school does not publish a separate non‑refundable application fee in its public admissions notices; applications are submitted via the school admissions platform. Tuition fees (Grades 10–12) - Annual tuition: RMB 164,000 per year. - Per‑term/semester rate: RMB 82,000 per semester (two semesters per academic year). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is charged on a per‑semester basis (semester amounts shown above). Parents are billed by semester and required to settle fees before the term begins as part of enrollment/registration procedures. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Boarding (dormitory) fee: RMB 5,600 per year (RMB 2,800 per semester) for students who use the school's boarding service. Day‑student option is available and boarding is an additional charge. Other costs and typical additional fees - School meals: sample pricing noted in published school materials and third‑party school profiles — breakfast approx. RMB 15; lunch/dinner approx. RMB 25 per meal (meal plans billed separately). - Typical extra costs (not included in tuition): textbooks and learning materials, uniforms, optional trips and co‑curricular activity fees, local health/accident insurance, and transport (school bus) if used. Specific amounts for uniforms, transport and some miscellaneous items are not publicly itemized in the school's general admissions summaries. Refund information - Refunds for tuition/fees are handled in accordance with standard Shanghai school refund practices; district guidance for schools specifies refunds are calculated on a monthly basis (pro rata) with partial‑month rules applied (e.g., less than half‑month treated as half‑month). Exact refund mechanics and any administrative deductions are set by the school's published terms. Fee payment options - Common methods used by Shanghai schools include bank transfer/online bank payment and the school's online payment channels; some Shanghai schools also accept designated bank payment systems (for example ICBC online payment is commonly used by local schools). Parents should be prepared to use bank transfer/online payment channels; specific accepted methods and bank account details are provided by the school on billing notices and registration communications.	Fee details Application and Matriculation Fees - Application Fee: non-refundable, non-transferable — RMB 2,500. Payment is due within five working days of issuance. - Matriculation Fee: non-refundable, non-transferable — RMB 20,000. This fee cannot be applied to tuition. Tuition fees (annual and per-term amounts by year group) Note: the school offers either a single annual payment or termly (trimester) payments. Per-term figures below are calculated as the published annual fee divided by three (annual ÷ 3) to reflect the trimester payment option. This per-term breakdown is a calculated figure. - Toddler / Pre-N (Half Day) - Annual: RMB 130,000. - Approx. per term (annual ÷ 3): RMB 43,333. - Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten 2 - Annual: RMB 200,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 66,667. - Primary School (Grade 1 to Grade 6) - Annual: RMB 260,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 86,667. - Senior School (Grade 7 to Grade 8) - Annual: RMB 280,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 93,333. - Senior School (Grade 9 to Grade 10) - Annual: RMB 290,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 96,667. - Senior School (Grade 11 to Grade 12) - Annual: RMB 300,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 100,000. Optional / additional fees and typical ranges - English Language Acquisition (ELA) Programme (Grade 1–6 only): RMB 25,000 per academic year (payment required in full before service starts). - Transportation (regular school bus) per academic year: - Below 5 km: RMB 18,500 per year. - 5 km and above: RMB 20,000 per year. - The transportation fee must be paid in full before the school commencement date; refunds for transportation are pro‑rata per school day less a RMB 400 handling fee. - Paid After‑School Programmes (ASP): most ASPs are complimentary, but paid ASP sessions (8-week session) typically range RMB 1,400–3,800. Paid ASPs must be paid in full before the session; refund rules depend on timing and minimum enrolment. - External examination/test fees (IGCSE, IB, AP, SAT, HSK, Cambridge English, etc.) are not included in the tuition and will be charged separately when applicable. Daily school lunch is included in the tuition. - Uniforms: uniforms are ordered through the school's approved vendor; specific item prices are set by the vendor. The school offers an early‑re‑enrolment complimentary uniform credit for eligible returning students. The on‑site Sabres Store allows try‑ons. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequency options: - Annual (one-time payment), or - Termly (trimester) payments. - Application Fee and Matriculation Fee: timing requirements — Application Fee due within five working days of issuance; Matriculation Fee payment after offer is normally required within five working days. - Late payment charge: RMB 300 per day applied to overdue tuition fees for up to 7 days; after this period the school may suspend the student, withhold reports/transcripts, or offer the place to applicants on the waitlist. Refund and withdrawal terms - Withdrawal notice: parents must submit written notice to the divisional principal at least 30 days before the student's last day of school; otherwise days will be counted as absence and may affect refunds. - Late Withdrawal Notice Surcharge: if less than 30 days' notice is given, 10% of the annual tuition fee is deemed payable in lieu of notice. - Full‑term non-attendance: if a student does not attend any school days in a term, that term's tuition will be refunded in full. Partial attendance: if the student attends any day in a term, the full term's tuition is payable and non‑refundable. Annual payment discounts will be forfeited if the student withdraws mid‑year. - Optional services refund examples: - Transportation: pro‑rata refund per school day (1/180 of annual fee) less RMB 400 handling fee. - ELA Programme: fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable. - Paid ASPs: full refund if withdrawn before the ASP start; no refunds once the ASP has started (unless minimum numbers not met). - Matriculation fee and other specified non‑tuition fees are non‑refundable. Refunds are processed after the student's last day; overseas transaction fees for refunds are borne by parents and refunds are made to the original payer. A VAT e‑fapiao (tax receipt) will be issued upon payment confirmation. Boarding - No boarding fees are listed; the fees schedule and enrolment materials describe day services and optional transport but do not include boarding provisions. (No boarding programme/boarding fees are published.) Discounts and concessions - Sibling discount: 10% discount on the total annual tuition fee for families enrolling two or more siblings. - Corporate discount: 10% discount on the total annual tuition fee for companies enrolling and paying for five or more children of their employees. - Note: sibling and corporate discounts cannot be applied to the same student. Accepted currencies and payment methods - Accepted currencies: RMB and USD for payments. - Payment methods accepted: - Point‑of‑Sale (POS): credit or debit cards (local UnionPay cards accepted for RMB payments). - Bank transfer: payment to the school's designated bank account; email proof of payment with student full name and class to invoice@ssis.asia. The exchange rate for overseas remittances is based on the central parity rate set by the People's Bank of China on the first working day of each month; any exchange differences are borne by parents. Other practical notes on fees - Tuition covers textbooks/library use, online resources, basic stationery, school‑sponsored CCAs/complimentary ASP offerings, compulsory Shanghai learning trips (within the city), technology fees, and daily lunch for students. External exam fees, optional off‑Shanghai trips, specialist fee‑based services, and certain optional programmes are charged separately. - VAT e‑fapiao will be issued after payment; you may request specific details (student name, period of study) to be added to the fapiao. If you need any of the numeric figures presented above in another currency or as exact instalment amounts calculated to a specific rounding convention, indicate which currency and rounding you prefer and I will compute them directly.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school offers boarding as part of its program; it is a three-year, full-time bilingual boarding school for grades 10–12.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement SSIS has a formal school uniform. Shanghai Xinxinle Dress Co., Ltd is the uniform vendor since March 2019, and uniforms are ordered online with home delivery in about one week. The Sabres Store on campus offers fitting and purchase, with hours 08:00–09:00 and 11:40–14:00; contact sabrestore@ssis.asia or +86 21 6221 9288 ext. 7487.
Food options	Food options —	Food options Food is sourced from Mahota Farm at Chongming Island and other licensed suppliers. An in-house purchasing department manages the process with no intermediaries and reviews suppliers and products regularly. The weekly menus include Chinese, Western, Japanese, South Korean and Southeast Asian dishes, with vegetarian options and accommodations for dietary restrictions; preschool meals are tailored, and Chinese festival foods are served.
House system	House system —	House system SSIS uses a House System with four houses: Ruby, Amber, Pearl and Sapphire. All students and staff are assigned to a house and remain in the same house throughout their SSIS journey, with younger siblings able to join the same house. The system supports a range of activities and competitions, and house points determine a yearly House Championship.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is a joint venture between Qibao High School and Dwight School New York.	Governance and ownership SSIS was founded and invested by Prime Group International.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Shanghai Qibao Dwight operates a three‑year high school (Grades 10–12) that integrates the Chinese national curriculum core with international programme options. Grade 10 functions as a bridging/pre‑IB year with IGCSE preparation—particularly IGCSE English and IGCSE Mathematics—and foundation/online summer work. In Years 11–12 students can follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or pursue Cambridge A‑Level/Cambridge routes, and the school also provides access to Dwight Global/AP online courses. Domestic (Shanghai‑registered) students continue to study the Chinese national subjects—Chinese language, history, politics and geography—and must pass those assessments to qualify for the Shanghai graduation certificate. Depending on programme choices and assessments, graduates may receive the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School diploma and, where applicable, a Dwight (American) diploma and the IB Diploma.	Curriculum details SSIS's Preschool (Early Years) is bilingual, aligns with Singapore's Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework and is organised around seven learning areas (Aesthetics; Discovery of the World; English literacy; Chinese; Motor skills; Numeracy; Social and emotional development). Primary School follows a Singapore‑based curriculum drawing on Singapore Math and Science with Cambridge Primary English and a three‑track Chinese Language and Culture programme (Basic, Singapore system‑based, Advanced integrating Singapore and Shanghai curricula). Senior School is divided into three stages: Grades 7–8 follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (CLSP) to prepare for IGCSE; Grades 9–10 take Cambridge IGCSE with four compulsory subjects (English, Chinese, Mathematics, Science) plus up to six option subjects designed to enable the Cambridge ICE group award. Grades 11–12 study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); SSIS states that 100% of students undertake the IBDP, which comprises six subject groups and the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS). Across all stages the school supplements subject learning with STEAM, sports, arts and co‑curricular activities, Mandarin immersion and technology integration (ICT/Computer Science/Robotics), and uses ManageBac for home‑school communication and personalised learning records.
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 The school's published student materials indicate an emphasis on self-management and reflective skills in its programmes (for example, Grade 10 summer projects list “self management” among the skills emphasised). The library's Personal Journey Project asks students to reflect on feelings, transitions and challenges as part of their induction, which shows an element of structured social‑emotional learning in student tasks. Shanghai Qibao Dwight is also listed among schools participating in external caring/character initiatives, which aligns with SEL-related activity.	Social & emotional learning SSIS describes a whole-division wellbeing and pastoral care programme delivered through form time, wellbeing lessons and assemblies to develop students' social and emotional skills. Counsellors and form tutors lead the programme and the school reports structured pastoral activities such as character and leadership camps and house-based programmes. The Senior School also operates a Mentor Programme that assigns students a teacher mentor for regular guidance on academic and personal matters. The school links pastoral care directly with academic guidance, noting counsellors, form tutors and heads of houses as part of the support structure.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding SEN (types supported, specialist staff, or whether it is a specialist SEN institution).	Special educational needs (SEN) SSIS's Student Services page states the school provides Academic Learning Support including personalised learning plans, one‑to‑one and small‑group interventions, assistive technology, and examination accommodations for students with diagnosed learning needs. The school lists Learning Support staff on its faculty pages, indicating specialist staff are in place to deliver these services. The website does not list specific categories of SEN (for example, dyslexia or autism) that it will or will not support. The school's public pages do not describe SSIS as a specialist SEN institution, instead presenting learning support as part of its broader Student Services.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Shanghai Qibao Dwight's published information lists English as the language of instruction. However, the school does not publicly disclose specific details about dedicated EAL programmes, staffing, or levels of support for learners of additional languages.	English as an additional language SSIS publishes an English Language Acquisition (ELA) programme aimed at Grade 1–6 students who require additional English support, with dedicated ELA staff and integration of language support across the curriculum. The Student Services page describes ELA specialists working with classroom teachers and also references a Cambridge English programme for formal exam preparation. The ELA programme is offered as a year‑long, fee‑based option in the school's tuition schedule for primary grades. Contact details for ELA and student services are provided on the school site for families seeking placement or assessment.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing External coverage notes a formal wellbeing programme for faculty that includes one‑to‑one access to independent experts such as mental‑health counsellors, and reports that this provision was developed in response to pandemic pressures. For students, the school's published projects (for example, the Personal Journey Project) include reflective exercises about transition and emotions, indicating some curriculum‑embedded support for student wellbeing. The school's public materials do not, however, provide a detailed, single‑page description of dedicated on‑campus student mental‑health services or counselling team composition.	Mental wellbeing The school's counselling team provides individual and group counselling, crisis intervention, and social‑emotional support embedded into the curriculum and pastoral routines. SSIS publishes resources for wellbeing during school closures, including regular Student Wellness Surveys, digital pastoral curriculum content, and remote counselling by appointment. Counsellors are reachable via the published school contact email (counselling@ssis.asia) and the site highlights proactive outreach to students and families identified as needing extra support. These provisions are presented as part of the Student Services and Counselling function on the school website.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school's public library resources include a direct link to the QD Child Protection Policy and to the school handbook and policies, indicating a published child‑protection framework. Job postings and faculty role descriptions associated with the school also state that staff must undertake child‑protection training and understand the Child Protection Policy.	Safeguarding SSIS publishes a Child Protection Policy and states it has a Campus Safety Committee that conducts regular checks and enforces safety protocols to protect students' physical and emotional welfare. The school's Campus Safety Measures describe visitor procedures, ID/family card controls, and an Outdoor Activities Response Policy as part of its campus safety framework. The website provides a downloadable Child Protection Policy and directs enquiries to designated campus safety contacts. SSIS explicitly states a zero‑tolerance position on bullying, neglect and abuse and outlines procedures for responding to concerns.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School was established in 2014 as a joint venture between Shanghai Qibao High School and the Dwight Schools (New York), opening to students in the fall of 2014. The school was approved by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and registered with the relevant national authorities as an independently run Sino–U.S. cooperative high school. Governance is a collaborative arrangement between the two founding partners, with oversight shared to align Chinese and international educational requirements. The school is operated as a non-profit, coeducational boarding and day school serving grades 10–12.	History Suzhou Singapore International School (operating as Shanghai Singapore International School on its website) was founded and invested in by Prime Group International and opened with the approval of the Ministry of Education, PRC on 3 September 1996. The school began with 18 students and nine teachers and expanded over the following decades with additional campuses and programmes. SSIS obtained authorisations for the IB Middle Years Programme (2003), the IB Diploma Programme (2005), Cambridge IGCSE (2011) and the IB Career-related Programme (2014), and continued campus and facilities development through the 2010s. In 2025 the school lists WASC accreditation among its credentials.
Community	Community The Qibao Dwight community includes day students and boarders, a majority of Chinese nationals with a smaller number of international students, and teaching staff drawn from China and abroad. The campus hosts a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities connected to the broader Dwight network—examples publicly reported include international exchanges, concerts and choral events, service-learning expeditions, TEDxYouth, robotics competitions and folk or orchestral music ensembles. The school also runs regular admissions open days and campus experience events that bring parents and prospective students onto campus for presentations, tours and Q&A sessions. These activities are used both for learning opportunities and to build connections among students, staff and families.	Community The school serves an international student and family community and runs recurring community events that invite broad participation, such as the annual International Family Bazaar and preschool NatureFest. School-wide occasions including sports days and arts exhibitions bring students, staff and families together across grade levels. SSIS has also co‑organised external cultural events that engage the wider Singaporean and expatriate communities in Shanghai, for example Chingay@Shanghai.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's publicly posted family-engagement activities emphasize structured parent events rather than advertising a widely publicized, formal PTA on its public pages. Examples of parent-focused programming that appear in school announcements include scheduled “Friday Parent Visit” sessions (short information sessions, campus tours and Q&A) and larger Campus Experience/Open Day events for prospective families. The Grade 10 Personal Journey Project requires a recorded parent interview as part of new-student transition work, indicating organized parent involvement in specific student projects. These published items suggest parents participate in admissions activities, informational sessions and transition-support tasks; the school's public materials and event listings do not detail an elected PTA committee or its by-laws. For up‑to‑date information about parent groups, volunteering or how to join any parent committees, the school lists admissions contact details (for example: admissions@qibaodwight.org) and typically handles such arrangements through its admissions and community-relations channels.	Parent teacher association SSIS's parent organisation is called the Parent Support Group (PSG); an elected PSG Executive Committee organises volunteer efforts and events across the school. Regular PSG activities listed on the school site include Book Week, Santa's Workshop, Chinese New Year celebrations, International Friendship Day, a Teacher Appreciation lunch and contributions to the International Family Bazaar. The PSG also coordinates parent volunteers who support classroom activities and extracurricular events, and it arranges workshops for parents delivered by staff, parent volunteers and external providers on parenting and academic topics. The PSG uses a dedicated contact address (psg@ssis.asia) for parents who wish to volunteer or participate. Overall, the PSG frames its role as a platform for parent involvement and for enriching students' learning experiences through organised events and workshops.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual SSIS offers a Co-Curricular Programme (CCA) and an After School Programme (ASP). The CCA for Grades 1–6 develops leadership, social skills and interactions with teachers beyond academics. CCAs span sports (Floor Hockey, Gymnastics, Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Rock Climbing, Badminton), aesthetics (Dance, Creative Drama, Gu Zheng, Singing, Xylophone, Orchestra) and special-interest clubs (STEAM Club, Knitting Club, Lego Building Club, Origami, Scrapbooking). ASP runs three eight-week sessions for K1 to Grade 12; activities are organized by teachers and external vendors, with signups on the SchoolsBuddy platform.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The Aesthetics Programme provides opportunities in art, dance, drama and music. Visual arts are showcased in campus exhibitions and students may participate in external art competitions. The Performing Arts Programme covers music, drama and dance, with platforms such as musical productions, festival celebrations, International Family Days, student talent competitions, summer concerts and external performances. The Music Programme offers instrument study in small groups, with vocal work, theory and music appreciation; SSIS is an ABRSM exam centre and has a dedicated Performing Arts Centre with a 646-seat auditorium.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The school participates in cross-network learning with Dwight campuses worldwide, enabling cultural exchanges and global travel for students. Students have opportunities to visit Dwight campuses in New York, London, Seoul, Dubai, and Shanghai as part of exchanges. The Dwight network hosts the International Music Festival, a global collaboration that showcases student performers from multiple campuses.	Cultural & language The Chinese Language and Culture Programme combines the national Chinese and Singaporean curriculums. Chinese language classes are differentiated to accommodate diverse abilities: daily Advanced Chinese, Standard Chinese and Foundation Chinese; from Grade 9, students can study Chinese as Language and Literature, another language, or start Chinese as a new language during IGCSE and IB. An Immersive Chinese Culture Class covers traditional culture, poetry, calligraphy and geography. The programme provides platforms for student language expression, including the International Schools Chinese Debating Competition, the Footprint anthology, Chinese Culture Week and Sabres Broadcasting.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Athletic activities are part of student life, with cross-campus athletic training opportunities across the Dwight network. Basketball has been part of the athletics program; the American Principal previously coached the Boys Basketball team.	Social & hobbies Sports, aesthetics and clubs are integral to SSIS's holistic education, with opportunities outside the classroom. The school offers a broad range of clubs and after-school activities across athletics, arts and special-interest groups; signups occur on the SchoolsBuddy platform. The SSIS Weekend Programme provides paid activities by external vendors to develop skills and progress. Learning Outdoors offers farm-to-school experiences, excursions and camps to broaden horizons and connect learning to the real world.
Community & service	Community & service Service-learning projects are part of the program. Students participate in community service initiatives across the Dwight network.	Community & service SSIS is a Duke of Edinburgh International Award Centre; Senior School students aged 13 and above can pursue the DoE Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels with teacher mentors. The DoE sections include Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and, for Gold, a Residential Project. The programme emphasizes learning beyond the classroom, resilience, independence, goal setting and community involvement.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The school has a college counseling program led by an International Director of College Counseling.	Leadership & professional The DoE Award fosters leadership, independence and self-management through student-led learning with guided support. Sabres Broadcasting develops bilingual public speaking and media communication skills, offering opportunities to speak in English and Chinese and to participate in live broadcasts. SSIS provides additional avenues for student leadership through school events and projects showcased in SSIS publications and events.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school is an international boarding school open to all nationalities. Grades 10-12 are taught.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sports form a core part of SSIS's program, with facilities including four indoor basketball courts, three all-purpose soccer fields, a competition swimming pool, an athletic track, tennis courts and spaces for fitness and dance. The school runs specialized programs such as the SSIS Golf Programme and the SSIS Go Swim Programme. Learning Outdoors supports wellbeing through field trips, excursions and the farm-to-school project to connect physical activity with environmental awareness.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision The curriculum is Singapore-based and international, with Preschool and Primary taught to the Singapore Curriculum and then progression to IGCSE and IB Diploma Programmes. The Chinese Language Programme aggregates the national Chinese and Singapore curricula; from Grade 1, students are placed into Advanced Chinese, Standard Chinese, or Foundation Chinese; from Grade 9, Chinese can be studied as Language and Literature, as an additional Language, or as a new language within IGCSE and IB Diploma.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching SSIS uses a bilingual education model combining English instruction with Chinese language learning through a Cambridge English Programme and a Chinese Language Programme (CLASS Model).
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs The Chinese Language and Culture Programme includes an Immersive Chinese Culture Class, with a learning approach that blends language study with hands-on experiences. Platforms include the International Schools Chinese Debating Competition, the Footprint anthology, Chinese Culture Week, and Sabres Broadcasting.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards (Only school-level awards/recognitions explicitly reported on the SSIS website in the past five years are included below; I did not include student-level prizes or internal student awards.) - Listed in Forbes China: "Forbes China International School Annual Selection" — SSIS was named on Forbes China's 2025 annual list of international schools (post dated June 20, 2025). The school's news item presents this as an external selection/recognition of the school. - China League IB ranking (2024) — SSIS is reported to have secured 8th place in the 2024 China League IB Table (news post dated December 2, 2024). This is an external ranking placed to the school rather than to individual students. - School trophy for International Economics Olympiad (IEO) preliminary round — SSIS reports that all 23 students who took the IEO preliminary test on December 12, 2024 passed and that "the school was awarded a trophy" for that result (reported in the Senior School newsletter, posted February 26, 2025). The school-level trophy is described in the newsletter. Notes and limits: - I reviewed only information published on the SSIS website and included items where the school itself is the named recipient. External recognitions such as rankings and listings are presented as the school reports them on its site. - Items mentioned on the SSIS site that relate to student awards, internal prize ceremonies, or that describe the school as a "finalist" (for example the China Schools Awards 2022 finalist mention) were not counted as school "wins" here because the site either describes them as finalist status or attributes the award to students. Where helpful, I included exact post dates and source links (citations) so you can verify details directly.
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations - International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) — SSIS is authorised to deliver multiple IB programmes: the Middle Years Programme (MYP; authorised May 2003), the Diploma Programme (IBDP; authorised 2005), and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP; authorised 2014). Authorisation means the IBO has evaluated and approved SSIS to implement those specific IB curricula and related quality standards. - Cambridge International Examinations (Cambridge IGCSE) — SSIS received Cambridge authorisation in 2011 to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Cambridge authorisation indicates the school is approved to teach and assess Cambridge programmes and examinations. - Council of International Schools (CIS) — SSIS received full CIS accreditation (first noted in 2010) and has undergone CIS evaluation visits (including a documented accreditation visit/re-accreditation process). CIS accreditation is an external, ongoing quality-assurance process that evaluates a school's governance, curriculum, staffing, and student support against international standards. - National Centre for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT) — SSIS received full accreditation from NCCT in 2010. This is a China-based accreditation/approval indicating alignment with the national centre's curriculum and textbook standards (as reported by the school). - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — SSIS earned initial WASC accreditation on May 13, 2025. WASC is a U.S.-based regional accrediting commission; WASC accreditation indicates the school meets recognised standards in areas such as curriculum, leadership, teaching, and student wellbeing.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial inquiry and online application. Start by contacting the Admissions Office to request the current application form and any year-specific instructions; the school publishes an admissions contact (email and phone) for inquiries. Parents should confirm whether the intake they want (day student vs. boarder, Grade 10–12) has open places before completing the full application to avoid unnecessary fees and delays. For contact details and the school's admissions channel, see the school listing and directory information. 2. Submit required documents with the application. Families should be prepared to upload or deliver standard documents: student passport (or ID), copies of parents' passports/ID, recent academic transcripts (current year plus at least one previous year), and any school reports or recommendation letters. Non-native English speakers may be asked to provide an English-proficiency report (IELTS/TOEFL) and applicants are commonly asked for a personal essay (Edarabia cites a 300-word minimum as an example). Always check the admissions checklist from the school because exact document lists and minimum documentation may vary by year and by nationality. 3. Admissions office review and scheduling of assessment. Once an application is complete the Admissions Office or Committee will review the file and, if the student meets the basic entry requirements, schedule an entrance assessment; this is a standard next step. Parents should confirm how long the review typically takes and whether any outstanding items (e.g., translated transcripts or notarized documents) must be provided before an assessment is booked. If you need the school to vet visa timing, raise that at this stage so assessment and enrollment dates can align with visa processing. 4. Entrance assessment and interviews. The school's entrance process normally includes written assessments (English and mathematics) plus an oral interview or oral English component; for students applying to Grades 11–12 (IBDP) there is often an additional interview with the principal and/or the IB Diploma coordinator. Parents should prepare their child by confirming the assessment format, permitted reference materials, and whether the assessment can be taken remotely if travel is constrained. If your child has special educational needs or requires assessment accommodations, notify Admissions well in advance so arrangements can be considered. 5. Committee decision and offer. After assessment, the Admissions Committee reviews the full file and then issues a decision; one published summary indicates families may receive a decision within about a week after assessment, though timing can vary by season and grade. Parents should ask at application time for the school's current decision timeline and whether offers are conditional (for example, conditional on final grades or visa approval). If an offer is issued, clarify the deadline to accept the place and the amount and terms of any enrollment deposit or first payment—these financial deadlines are important and policies differ between schools and intake years. 6. Fees, billing and visa steps. Published fee summaries for Qibao Dwight list a tuition figure often cited at RMB 164,000 per year (with separate accommodation and meal charges shown in directory listings); families should confirm the current, official fee schedule with Admissions before accepting an offer. Ask the school for the full cost schedule (tuition, boarding, meals, uniforms, insurance, activity or exam fees), accepted payment methods, billing dates, and refund or withdrawal terms—these details are not consistently published on third-party directories. If your child requires a student visa, request the school's visa-letter process and timeline so you can start immigration paperwork without delay. 7. Enrollment, placement and arrival. After acceptance and payment, the school will confirm course placement, orientation dates and (for boarders) move-in procedures; expect placement or level-testing in some subjects if transcripts come from a different curriculum. Parents should also check immunization/health form requirements and whether the school needs original documents on arrival; boarding families should confirm dorm rules, parent communications and weekend/holiday arrangements. If anything in your child's academic record or health needs has changed since submission, update Admissions immediately to avoid surprises at registration.	Admissions 1. Create an OpenApply account. Parents must register at SSIS's OpenApply portal before they can submit an application or sign up for open days; this account is the school's primary channel for application notifications and next-step instructions, so use a reliable email address you check regularly. (Make the account at https://ssis-sh.openapply.cn and keep the login details safe.) 2. Complete and submit application documents via OpenApply. All required documents must be uploaded to OpenApply and any non-English/Chinese documents must be translated by an authorised translation company; bring original documents to the Admissions Office for verification on the day of the Admissions Assessment. Required paperwork varies by nationality—examples include the SSIS Registration Kit, signed Code of Conduct and Confidential School Recommendation (for Grade 1+), the child's birth certificate and vaccination record, the family's passport pages, and Shanghai residence/permit or property/tenancy proof—so check the list that applies to your family and prepare certified copies before applying. 3. Pay the application fee (and follow payment timing). After you submit documents, SSIS issues a proforma invoice; the non-refundable application fee (RMB 2,500 for AY2025/2026) must be paid at least five working days before the Admissions Assessment date using bank transfer or on-site card/cash as instructed by SSIS Finance. Keep proof of payment and email any bank-transfer receipts to the school when requested—missing payment deadlines can delay or invalidate your booking for an assessment. 4. Attend the Admissions Assessment. All applicants are required to complete an Admissions Assessment; SSIS Admissions will contact you with the assessment schedule and details once they have a complete application. After the assessment SSIS will notify you of the outcome. 5. Complete the application by paying the matriculation fee and confirming enrolment. If your child is offered a place you are asked to pay the non-refundable matriculation fee (RMB 20,000 for AY2025/2026) within five working days to secure the place; tuition choices (annual or termly) and optional services (school bus, ELA programme at RMB 25,000/yr for Grades 1–6, paid ASPs) are detailed in the Registration Pack and on the Tuition & Fees page. Read the Registration Pack's payment schedule, discount rules (10% sibling or corporate discount conditions), and refund and late-payment policies carefully—late-payment penalties and enrolment consequences are explicitly stated.
Scholarships	Scholarships Directory listings for Qibao Dwight list several named scholarships that appear to be awarded by the school, including a Chairman's Scholarship, Seven Virtues Honor Scholarship, Excellence in All Subjects Scholarship, Specialized Scholarship and Outstanding Freshman Scholarship. These names are cited in local school listings and directories; however, those sources do not publish the eligibility criteria, award amounts, application deadlines or whether awards are automatic (merit-based) versus application-based. If you are interested in scholarship opportunities, ask the Admissions Office for the school's current scholarship policy, including (1) which scholarships are available for incoming versus continuing students, (2) whether awards are renewable, (3) whether a separate scholarship application or additional assessments are required, and (4) typical award ranges and how scholarships interact with tuition billing. For the latest and binding scholarship details, request written policy or the scholarship application from Admissions.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Publicly available school listings and profiles for Shanghai Qibao Dwight do not publish a formal, detailed waitlist or “wait-pool” policy. Major local directory summaries and third-party admissions guides that cover the school (e.g., Jingkids, SmartShanghai, Edarabia) describe the application and assessment steps but do not provide an official waitlist protocol or statistics. Because many schools treat waitlists or wait pools as operational (and variable by year and grade), the most reliable approach is to ask Admissions directly whether they maintain a waitlist for the specific grade and intake you are applying to, and if so what the family must do to keep the application active (frequency of updates, deposit requirements, etc.). To confirm current practice and any expected timelines, contact the school's admissions email or phone before assuming a place on a waitlist.	Waitlist SSIS's published enrolment materials reference a waitlist: the Registration Pack and fee policy state that if a student is suspended or leaves for non-payment the school may “offer the student's seat to new applicants on the waitlist.” That language indicates SSIS maintains a pool of applicants it can draw on when places become available, but the website and Registration Pack do not publish a detailed public waitlist protocol (for example: ranking criteria, how long applicants remain on the list, or automatic expiry of a position). Therefore, if you want to know how the waitlist would apply to your child (how places are prioritised, expected waiting times, or whether acceptance requires immediate matriculation-fee payment), contact the Admissions Office directly (admission@ssis.asia / +86 21 6221 9288) for current practice and your applicant's position. Note: the statement about offering seats to waitlisted applicants appears in the school's refund/late-payment section and is the basis for the above summary; the rest is an informed inference because the school does not publish a full waitlist procedure.
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