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Concordia International School Shanghai

China, Shanghai

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 243,000 - 320,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1200
Type Co-educational
Opened 1998
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), SEN focussed, Bespoke Curriculum, IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme)
Taught languages Mandarin, English, Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Community and Service, Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Concordia International School Shanghai opened in 1998 and is a co-educational day school serving Preschool through High School students in the Jinqiao area of Pudong. The school follows an American-style curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings and membership in Global Online Academy; it also highlights a multi-level Mandarin program from preschool to grade 12. The single-campus site in Jinqiao reports energy-saving campus systems (including geothermal heating/cooling) and provides optional bus transport and school lunch options. Concordia publishes tuition by grade band (tuition listed in RMB) and reports PS–12 enrollments in its school profile. The Head of School is Dr. Eric Semler.

999 Mingyue Rd, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201203

The Essentials

Concordia International School Shanghai has 1,200 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
Concordia International School Shanghai is located in the Jinqiao (Biyun) neighbourhood of Pudong, Shanghai; the visitor entrance is at 345 Huangyang Road and the school's mailing address is 999 Mingyue Road (postcode 201206). The campus sits in an international residential and commercial area with nearby metro and bus links (Taierzhuang Road / Line 9 is a short walk) and is reachable from both Pudong and Puxi.

Stages
The school serves students aged about 3 to 18 and is organised into Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School and High School divisions (Preschool through Grade 12).

Type
Concordia is a co‑educational day school delivering an American‑style curriculum; it does not offer boarding. The school operates as an international school for students holding foreign passports.

Additional learning support
Concordia runs a Learning Support (LS) programme with LS specialists who work with classroom teachers to design interventions and accommodations. The programme supports a limited number of students with mild to some moderate learning needs through referral, in‑class support, and targeted interventions.

Country affiliation
The school is approved by the Ministry of Education of China and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission but is not an official national school of another country; it provides an American‑style education for expatriate families.

Religious affiliation
Concordia was founded in the tradition of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and holds related school accreditation; it identifies as a Christian/Lutheran‑affiliated international school.

School day structure
Typical school start times reported are about 8:00 AM for Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle School and about 8:30 AM for High School, with a usual school day finishing in the mid‑afternoon (around 3:20 PM). Specific schedules (for example exam blocks or early‑release days) are published on the school calendar and can vary by week or division.

Bus service
Concordia offers optional paid bus transportation with morning, afternoon and late/activity routes; routes cover much of Pudong and some areas of Puxi. Families who pay for daily bus service may also use activity buses for no additional charge on participating ECA/athletics days. The bus service is run as a school‑arranged transport option and the fee is separate from tuition.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a co-educational day school; boarding is not offered.

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required for all students from Kindergarten through Grade 12, with PE uniforms for Grades 5-12. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students do not wear the uniform; uniforms can be purchased through the school, and size charts and price lists are available.

Food Options
Food service is provided by Aramark, a global food service company. EC, ES, and MS/HS lunch menus are published for Concordia students.

Governance and Ownership
The Concordia Board governs Concordia International School Shanghai. The Board establishes the mission and sets policies, and entrusts the educational program and business matters to the administration, faculty, and staff.
Fees

Annual tuition at Concordia International School Shanghai ranges from RMB 243,000 to RMB 320,000 for 2026/27.

Application fee
- Application fee: RMB 2,500 (non‑refundable).

One‑time/new‑student fees
- Capital (placement) fee: RMB 25,000 (one‑time, billed on acceptance; non‑refundable).
- One‑time ELL support fee (where applicable, K–12): RMB 20,000.
- Grade 6–12: families must provide a recent Apple laptop for student use (school specifies minimum model/specs).

Tuition (per student) — full year and semester options
- Preschool / Pre‑Kindergarten: Full year RMB 243,000 — Semester payment option RMB 124,000 per semester.
- Kindergarten – Grade 5: Full year RMB 305,000 — Semester payment option RMB 155,000 per semester.
- Grade 6 – Grade 8: Full year RMB 312,500 — Semester payment option RMB 158,750 per semester.
- Grade 9 – Grade 12: Full year RMB 320,000 — Semester payment option RMB 162,500 per semester.

Other recurring / optional costs
- Bus transportation (optional, per student): RMB 22,000 per year.
- School lunch (optional): ranges by division — approx. RMB 27–40 per day depending on grade.
- Uniforms (K–12): approximate RMB 1,000 per year for Grades 1–12; Preschool/Pre‑K do not require the standard uniform.
- Educational travel and some grade‑specific costs: variable and billed separately.

Boarding
- Not applicable. Concordia operates as a co‑educational day school; no boarding program or boarding fees listed.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Two payment options: single full‑year payment (once per year) or two instalments (semester payments). Specific invoice dates and due‑date instructions are issued by the school. Payment in RMB is standard; USD payments use a school set exchange rate updated on the first day of each month.

Refunds
- No detailed public refund schedule is provided on the school's published tuition/fees pages; one‑time acceptance and capital fees are listed as non‑refundable. For any refund or withdrawal terms, the school's billing/finance office handles individual cases.

Accepted payment methods and banking details
- Accepted methods: cash, check (U.S. checks accepted for tuition/fees), wire transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay for some payments. School provides RMB and USD bank account details for transfers. Important: include student name on remittance to ensure correct credit.
Academics

Concordia International School Shanghai teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), SEN focussed, Bespoke Curriculum, IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Concordia delivers an American-style continuum from Preschool through Grade 12: the Early Childhood program (Preschool–K) is Reggio Emilia–inspired and integrates literacy, math, science, social-emotional learning and the arts with Mandarin and English-language support. The Elementary School (Grades 1–5) follows U.S. standards—Common Core for math and literacy, NGSS for science, C3 for social studies—and uses resources such as Bridges in Mathematics alongside daily Mandarin and balanced literacy instruction. Middle School (Grades 6–8) follows an American curriculum with an international focus; students study nine subject areas each year: Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies, Physical Education, World Language, STEM, RSB and the Fine Arts. High School (Grades 9–12) requires a U.S.-style core (English, social studies, science, math, world language, fine arts, health, PE and spirituality) and offers Advanced Placement courses, Applied Learning pathways and Global Online Academy options; students meet defined credit-based graduation requirements to earn a Concordia high school diploma. Across all divisions the school embeds STEM, applied-learning, service, counseling and learning-support programs alongside extracurriculars and specialist arts instruction.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Concordia describes a P–12 counselling and guidance programme that delivers social–emotional learning through classroom, small-group and individual sessions, and trains Student Ambassadors to welcome and support new students. The Early Childhood/Kindergarten guidance programme uses the Second Step curriculum for explicit SEL instruction (skills for learning, empathy, emotion management and problem solving). The high school has also recently revised its advisory programme to emphasise SEL at the grade‑level advisory level. Counselors work with teachers and parents to support transitions and adjustment, and confidentiality is stated as a priority in counselling.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Concordia publishes a Learning Support Program (LSP) that is delivered by Learning Support (LS) Specialists who co‑plan with classroom teachers and provide interventions, accommodations and monitoring. The LSP states the school can support a limited number of students with mild and some moderate learning needs and uses a referral process for admission and exit. The school describes collaborative planning between LS Specialists, classroom teachers and parents as the primary model of support. Concordia does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; its published materials indicate mainstream inclusion with targeted support for qualifying students.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Concordia publishes an English Language Learning (ELL) programme that uses WIDA assessment for identification, employs ELL Specialists to provide language scaffolds and co‑teaching, and offers English Language Development (ELD) courses for middle and high school students. The ELL page explains exit criteria (WIDA scores, classroom tasks and academic progress) and emphasises home‑school partnership and ongoing monitoring.

Mental Wellbeing
Concordia's published support for student mental wellbeing is delivered through its P–12 counselling team, which runs whole‑school, small‑group and individual work and operates a Care and Concern team to monitor social and academic adjustment. The School Health & Safety page notes on‑site registered nurses and explicitly states counselling staff provide support for emotional and stress‑related difficulties. The school has published a Middle School Wellness programme addressing six dimensions of wellness (spiritual, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and emotional).

Safeguarding
Concordia's website indicates child safeguarding is part of its counselling and staff training work: the counselling team runs a Care and Concern group and the school has hosted professional events that included sessions on child safeguarding, reporting protocols and staff training. The School Health & Safety page also refers to emotional health and the role of counselling staff in supporting students. However, the school does not publish a standalone child‑protection policy document accessible from its public website pages that we could locate; a formal, dedicated child protection policy is not publicly disclosed on the site.
Parent Experience

History
A group of U.S. individuals—backed by multinational corporations, American expatriates, U.S. foreign-service personnel and the People's Republic of China—began planning the school in 1997. Educators from Hong Kong International School were sent to Pudong and Concordia opened in September 1998. The school began under Head of School Dr. Allan Schmidt with 22 students and 14 staff. Concordia was founded in the tradition of LCMS schools, maintains formal connections with sister schools (Hong Kong International School and Concordia International School Hanoi), and operates independently in China rather than as part of other Concordia groups.

Community
Concordia's community is internationally diverse, with families representing more than 30 nationalities. Parents and staff engage through an active Parent Support Organization and regular school communications; typical community occasions organized or supported by parents include Back-to-School events, an International Festival and an annual Christmas Bazaar. The school also highlights student-led service and applied-learning projects—most recently the student social enterprise Xiaohusai, which earned external recognition—showing community engagement extends beyond on-campus events.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
All parents of enrolled students are automatically members of Concordia's Parent Support Organization (PSO). The PSO provides leadership opportunities (PSO Board positions) and plans major community events such as the Back-to-School Bash, International Festival and the Christmas Bazaar. It coordinates volunteer-run committees and sales—examples include Used Book Sales, Treat Sales and Used Uniform Sales—that both build community and raise funds. The volunteer-run Phoenix Shop, created by five parents in 2006, operates on campus to sell Concordia spirit wear and is staffed by parent volunteers during lunch and after school. The school runs parent meetings, Parent Connect sessions and parenting workshops (with recent meetings held via Teams), giving parents ways to connect, volunteer and access resources. The PSO also raises funds to support yearly activities and the PSO Program Grant that funds school projects and programs.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Concordia campus is purpose-built and environmentally sustainable, designed to support learning, play, and artistic development. The campus uses geothermal heating and cooling, reducing energy costs and environmental impact, and rooftop space is used for horticultural education. Spaces are available for High School, Middle School, and Elementary School students to use during and after school for training and play. The Phoenix Center houses maker labs, a drama room, and a gym to support hands-on learning and physical development. The Rittmann Center for the Fine Arts includes a 300-seat theater, music rehearsal rooms, studios for 2D/3D art and photography, and a gallery; the center is being redeveloped starting June 2025 to add a swimming pool and other modern spaces. The FIFA-certified soccer pitch on campus supports training and competition.

Sports Facilities
The Phoenix Center includes a gym for indoor physical education and activities. The FIFA-certified soccer pitch on campus provides an international-standard venue for training and matches. Outdoor spaces on campus support training and competition across divisions. Concordia joined the Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC) to expand opportunities for regional athletic competition.

Academic Facilities
Maker labs are available in the Phoenix Center for hands-on learning, along with a drama room and a gym. The Rittmann Center for the Fine Arts contains a 300-seat theater, music rehearsal rooms, and multiple art studios and a gallery. The campus provides a STEM room for science, technology, engineering, and math learning, and a culinary art lab to support applied learning. Redevelopment of the Rittmann Center began in June 2025 to add a swimming pool and modern spaces for arts and activities.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Concordia's Extracurricular Program includes activities, sports, and clubs that run parallel to the curriculum. Extracurricular activities are organized into Exploration, Fine Arts, Literacy, Service & Leadership, Sports & Movement, and STEM. The program offers 60 EC Extracurriculars for Early Childhood, 250 for Elementary School, 140 for Middle School, and 160 for High School. The Concordia Theatre program provides two high school productions and one middle school production each year, with an elementary musical produced annually. The school also participates in competitions such as the ASDAN International STEM Challenges.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Concordia International School Shanghai uses an American‑style curriculum that blends core subjects with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Applied Learning experiences. The high school program parallels U.S. standards and includes English, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, World Language, Fine Arts, Health, Physical Education, and Spirituality, with an AP Curriculum and Applied Learning opportunities. The school has a strong STEM program, including a school‑wide robotics initiative and recognition for STEM achievements. English is the primary language of instruction, and Mandarin is taught across grades with daily Mandarin lessons and two pathways in Mandarin study.

Arts & Creative
Fine Arts offerings include Visual Arts, Music, Choir, and Theatre. Fine Arts are integrated into the curriculum and supported as part of the overall student experience.

Cultural & Language
Mandarin is offered from Preschool through Grade 12, with two pathways: Chinese Language & Literature and Mandarin as a Foreign Language. Elementary students have daily Mandarin lessons, with a program that emphasizes language immersion, culture, and literacy. The Mandarin program fosters cultural awareness, identity, and critical thinking through language study.

Social & Hobbies
Concordia supports a broad range of extracurricular activities across academics, arts, and sports. National History Day (NHD), CISSMUN, and VEX Robotics are among the activities that engage students and build collaborative skills. Students also participate in APAC Championships and other interscholastic competitions.

Community & Service
Xiaohusai is a student‑run social enterprise that sources fair‑trade tea from Yunnan farmers to fund scholarships and education initiatives. Xiaohusai earned the International School Award 2025 for its community impact. The school emphasizes service via projects such as gifts for migrant children and educational partnerships abroad.

Leadership & Professional
The AP Curriculum is complemented by Applied Learning courses that extend beyond AP content and support leadership and professional skill development. College counseling offers guidance and preparation for university admissions. Student‑led initiatives, including Xiaohusai, provide hands‑on leadership, entrepreneurship, and teamwork opportunities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellness is integrated through the Middle School Wellness program, which addresses six dimensions of wellness: spiritual, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and emotional. The curriculum includes Health and Physical Education as core components. Sports, fitness, and mindfulness opportunities are emphasized through the extracurricular and athletic programs.
Languages

Language Provision
Mandarin is taught as part of the curriculum through a Mandarin Program. An English Language Learning (ELL) Program provides individualized language support across all divisions to help students access the curriculum. ELL includes English Language Development (ELD) courses in Middle School and High School. The curriculum is an American-style program aligned across Early Childhood through High School.
Reputation

Awards
(Only items explicitly shown on the school website and awarded to the school or a school division; dates are the dates shown on the site.)

• ITEEA STEM School of Excellence, ITEEA 2024–25 — Concordia reports it was named an ITEEA 2024–25 STEM School of Excellence (the only K–12 school in Asia to receive the recognition); this is a program-level recognition from the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association that highlights the school's integrative STEM program work. (Jan 16, 2025).

• China International School Innovative Competitiveness Top 50 (KingLead Research) — Concordia reports being ranked No. 2 in the national Top 50 (category: schools for children of foreign personnel) and No. 1 in Shanghai in KingLead's list; this is a national-level innovation competitiveness ranking reported by the school. (Newsroom post dated Mar 4, 2024).

• Shortlisted / Top 10 (World's Best Schools Prizes) — the school reports being shortlisted as a Top 10 school in the "Supporting Healthy Lives" category of the World's Best Schools Prizes (T4 Education / World's Best Schools); the site describes this as a Top 10 shortlist for the school's wellness work. (Page referencing shortlist dated Aug 15, 2024).

• Education Insights — Top 10 Most Valuable Schools in Asia (2023) — Concordia's website states the school was featured in Education Insights' list of the Top 10 Most Valuable Schools in Asia for 2023 and includes a school media interview reference; this is a third-party recognition noted on the school site. (Listed on the school homepage/newsfeed).

• Newsweek / Education Insight coverage (Leading International Schools, 2023) — the school's homepage/newsfeed references being named in Newsweek Education Insight's coverage of leading international schools in 2023; the site presents this as a media recognition included in the school's public recognitions.

• KingLead China International Kindergarten Ranking — Early Childhood division ranked 2nd nationwide (KingLead China International Kindergarten Ranking Top 30) — the school reports its Early Childhood division ranked No. 2 in China and No. 1 in Shanghai in the KingLead kindergarten ranking. (Newsroom post dated Jun 21, 2025).

Notes:
- I excluded awards and recognitions that the school's site attributes specifically to individual students or student groups rather than to the school as an institution (for example the site's item about a student-run social enterprise winning the International School Award names the enterprise/students as the recipient; per your instruction that is not to be included).
- All items above were taken from the Concordia International School Shanghai website (English and Chinese pages on the concordiashanghai.org domain). If you'd like, I can expand any entry with the exact site paragraph or provide direct links to the specific news posts or pages cited above.

Accreditations
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — WASC is a US-based regional accrediting agency; the school states it completed its third seven-year WASC accreditation cycle in June 2022 (this confirms an ongoing formal review of school-wide quality and continuous improvement).

• National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) — NLSA is the accreditation commission for schools of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; Concordia notes NLSA accreditation as part of its faith-based school accreditation and continuous-improvement process.

• Approved by the People's Republic of China Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission — the school's about page states that it is approved by these local authorities to operate as an international school for children of foreign passport holders in Shanghai (this is a regulatory approval required to operate in China).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Check eligibility and required government documents. Before you begin the online application, confirm your family meets Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (SHMEC) eligibility categories and that you can provide the required government documents (passports, residence permits, work permit/employment verification, birth certificate, etc.). Concordia requires at least one parent to be resident in Shanghai while the child is enrolled; failure to maintain required documents can lead to dismissal and forfeiture of fees, so gather certified/translated copies now.

2. Start the online application (OpenApply) and pay the application fee. Eligible applicants must complete the school's online application portal (concordiashanghai.openapply.cn) and upload initial documents; after submission you will receive a customized checklist in your applicant account. The application fee is paid through that process (the site lists a non-refundable application fee); keep the payment receipt and note the portal account login for future checklist items.

3. Upload supporting academic records, recommendations and any learning-needs documentation. The admissions checklist asks for previous report cards, test results, and teacher recommendations; if your child has diagnosed learning needs or specialized schooling requirements, include full documentation and disclose these up front because admissions decisions are made case-by-case based on available support. Concordia states that failure to disclose a full history of learning needs can result in dismissal, so be thorough and contact Admissions to discuss any supports your child may require.

4. Prepare for interviews and assessments (if required). Depending on grade level and the initial application review, Concordia may request an interview and/or English-language and academic assessments (math, reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, etc.); Preschool/Pre-K have different language expectations than Kindergarten–Grade 12. If the grade has reached wait-pool status, the school notes that required assessments may be scheduled only when space becomes available, so ask Admissions about timing if you need a prompt assessment.

5. Receive the admissions decision and complete acceptance steps. The admissions committee evaluates academic/behavioral records, English proficiency, support needs and overall fit; the school will notify families of decisions by email. If you receive an offer, a non-refundable Capital Fee (listed on the tuition page) is billed upon acceptance and generally must be paid within the timeline provided in the offer to secure the place.

6. Complete enrollment paperwork, payments and operational arrangements. After acceptance, follow the Enrollment instructions (submit any outstanding SHMEC documents, arrange tuition payment in RMB or USD per the school's payment instructions, and be aware of one-time fees: ELL support fee where applicable, and laptop requirements for Grades 6–12). Also arrange optional services (bus, lunch, uniforms) and confirm start-of-term logistics; if you have questions about billing or currency conversion, contact the Business Office or Admissions directly.

Scholarships
Concordia's public website does not list a general family-facing scholarship or means-tested financial-aid program for incoming students. The site does show the Concordia Fund (a donor program that supports student/faculty enrichment projects) and describes employee tuition benefits for faculty children under specific employment arrangements, but it does not present an open scholarship application process or standard tuition-remission program for the general applicant pool. If you are seeking fee assistance, sponsored places, or employee-related tuition benefits, contact the Admissions or Human Resources offices directly to ask whether any limited-sponsored places, staff benefits, or special arrangements might apply in your case — contact details are provided on the school's contact page.

Waitlist
Concordia operates a wait pool system rather than an automatic long public waitlist for grades that have reached capacity. The school's Admissions/Requirements pages flag specific grade levels as being at “wait pool” status and state that, when capacity is reached, applicants are placed in the wait pool rather than being immediately assessed or placed. Priority consideration within the wait pool is not an automatic placement; Concordia lists priority factors used when choosing among wait-pool applicants: siblings currently enrolled or applying, returning students in good standing, stronger academic English proficiency, and students with prior attendance at U.S. or American international schools. The site also explicitly notes that if a requested grade is at wait-pool status and an applicant requires an assessment, the assessment will be scheduled only if and when space becomes available — so families on the wait pool should expect possible delays to assessment and placement and should keep Admissions informed of any changes in status.
School Events
The school has not added events
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