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QSI International School of Chengdu

China, Chengdu

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 200
Type Co-educational
Opened 2002
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (DP)
Taught languages German, French, Arabic, Mandarin
Typical class size 5
Strengths STEM, Languages, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

QSI International School of Chengdu is an independent, coeducational day school serving students from preschool through grade 12. It offers an American curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) as pathways, and the school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 2008. The campus comprises two buildings connected by a private walkway in the American Garden area of southern Chengdu, with facilities including two libraries, three science laboratories, IT laboratories, a gymnasium, an auditorium, music rooms, art studios, and outdoor play and sport facilities. The school emphasizes Mastery Learning and an Empower program to support social-emotional growth, and offers a strong after-school program with activities such as Model United Nations (MUN) and Week Without Walls, as well as clubs in photography, drama, sports, and more. English is the language of instruction, and German, French and Chinese are taught as subjects. The school serves students from a diverse international community, reflecting its global orientation.

The Essentials

QSI International School of Chengdu has 200 pupils, typical class sizes of 5, instruction in English.

Location
The QSI International School of Chengdu is located at 188 Nan 3 Duan, 3rd Ring Road South, American Garden, Chengdu 610041, China. The campus sits in southern Chengdu, just off the Third Ring Road in the American Garden complex, and comprises two buildings. The address places the school in a residential/expat-friendly area convenient for families.

Stages
The school serves students from preschool through secondary (prekindergarten to grade 12). It explicitly states preschool through secondary programs and uses the term secondary to describe the upper grades.

Type
QSI Chengdu is a co-educational, day international school. It operates as a co-educational, non-boarding school providing education for preschool through secondary levels.

Additional learning support
QSI Chengdu uses a Mastery Learning approach to education and offers an Empower program focused on social-emotional development. The school provides time and assistance to help students progress, and a University Counselor is available as part of Student Services.

Country affiliation
The school offers an American curriculum and is accredited by the Middle States Association, reflecting United States educational alignment.

Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation is not stated; the school presents itself as secular.

School day structure
The secondary day runs from 8:00 to 15:30, with eight periods. Break is from 9:45 to 9:55, lunch is 12:15 to 13:05, and the schedule includes Periods One through Eight plus EP/EA components.

Bus service
A bus/van service is available for an additional fee. Arrangements must be made with the office before a student may ride the bus. All riders must wear a seatbelt, and a bus monitor is on board.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is prepared on site by Aden Food Services. The weekly menu features both local and Western dishes, with special meals provided during holidays; students may bring lunch from home. Water dispensers are located throughout the campus, and there are two on-site cafeterias for daily meals and snacks.

Governance and Ownership
QSI International School of Chengdu is part of Quality Schools International (QSI), a nonprofit organization that operates a global network of international schools. The QSI network is governed by central leadership in addition to regional supervisors who provide guidance to designated schools, and the network comprises dozens of QSI schools worldwide. The Chengdu campus is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA) as part of the system-wide accreditation of QSI schools.
Fees
Application and registration fees
- One-time non-refundable application / registration fee: RMB 2,089.

Tuition fees (per year and per term)
- The school does not publish a public, grade-by-grade tuition schedule on its admissions materials; the complete per-year / per-term tuition schedule is provided directly by the school's admissions/finance office.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Optional services and some charges (for example, bus service) are invoiced separately from basic tuition and may be payable either by term or by year. The school issues invoices for tuition and optional services; late or unpaid accounts are handled according to the school's financial procedures.

Boarding fees
- QSI International School of Chengdu is a day school and does not charge boarding fees because boarding is not offered.

Other costs and common additional fees
- School bus: an additional fee applies for students who use school transportation; the bus fee is charged separately from tuition and may be billed per term or per year.
- Lunch: daily cafeteria meals are charged; published daily meal prices in the admissions FAQ are RMB 25– RMB 31 per day (depending on age/meal plan). Parents can add funds to a student lunch account; payment for lunch may be made via the school's local payment channels (WeChat or cash is used for meal payments).
- Textbooks, supplies and online learning materials are listed in school materials as items families should expect; some textbooks/supplies may be included in tuition while others can be charged separately.
- After-school activities, special elective courses, summer programs and certain field trips may carry separate charges; these are billed as applicable.

Refund and withdrawal information
- Families must provide written notice of withdrawal to the school in advance. The Parent & Student Handbook requires parents to inform the school office in writing when withdrawing a student and requests at least two weeks' notice to allow administrative processing; outstanding financial obligations must be cleared before records are released. Specific tuition refund amounts or percentages (if any) are set out in the school's formal fee policy or invoice terms provided to enrolling families.

Fee payment options
- Fees and optional charges are payable to the school's local accounts; the school's materials and the U.S. government fact sheet note that payments are handled in local currency (RMB) to the school's local bank account, while U.S. government-dependent billing arrangements (when applicable) may permit USD payment through U.S. channels. For day-to-day cafeteria purchases, parents may use the school's meal-account top-up options (WeChat or cash). Payment via bank transfer and local electronic payment channels is used; card acceptance for larger invoices is determined by the school's finance office.

Notes on what is and is not publicly available
- The school's public admissions materials (handbook and FAQ) publish details for meal pricing, bus billing method (term or year) and withdrawal procedure, but they do not publish a public per-grade, per-term tuition table in the materials available online; the full, grade-level tuition schedule is issued directly by the admissions/finance office to families.
Academics

QSI International School of Chengdu teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (DP) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
QSI Chengdu provides preschool through secondary programs taught in English, with a focus on developing 21st‑century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, leadership, and digital literacy. The curriculum follows a mastery‑learning approach with clear objectives and planned reteaching, and progress is demonstrated through projects, investigations, and other assessments. Elementary programming covers core subjects—reading, writing, mathematics, science, and cultural studies—along with arts, library, music, physical education, technology, and Languages Other Than English. Secondary offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the AP Capstone diploma, and also provides the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), with IB core elements including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay, with the option to pursue the full diploma or individual IB courses. In terms of year structure, Secondary I & II align with US grades 9–10 (Years 10–11 in GB), preparing students to enter the IB DP for the final years of secondary education. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Empower is the curriculum Quality Schools International implements at QSI Chengdu to cover social-emotional learning (SEL) and child protection. Empower provides guidance on students' social and emotional needs and ensures they feel safe, with SEL embedded in daily teaching. The program uses Success Orientations, including Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Concern For Others, Kindness and Politeness, Aesthetic Appreciation, Group Interaction, and Independent Endeavor, to develop social skills and positive character traits. A dedicated on-site Counselor supports students through counseling and post-secondary planning as part of Student Services. The Empower framework and counseling together aim to create a safe, supportive environment for all students.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) program or specialist SEN provision. Public materials describe a safe, supportive environment and the Empower SEL framework, and a Counselor is available to support students through Student Services. An Administrative Team listing confirms a Counselor is on staff, and language offerings indicate multiple staff roles but not a defined SEN department. There is no explicit SEN department or facility described in public pages. Consequently, explicit SEN provisions or specialist SEN staff are not described in the publicly available information.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The public information indicates English is the primary language of instruction, with all homeroom teachers described as native English speakers. German, French, and Chinese language teachers are also employed, indicating multilingual support within the faculty. Languages Other Than English are listed as part of the elementary program, showing language offerings beyond English. A dedicated EAL (English as an Additional Language) program is not described in publicly available pages. Overall, there is no explicit EAL program detailed beyond these language offerings and staff.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is addressed through the Empower SEL program, which teaches students to understand and manage emotions and social interactions and emphasizes safety. The University Counselor provides ongoing counseling and post-secondary planning, supporting students' emotional and academic needs. A full-time School Nurse contributes to students' overall wellbeing by addressing health concerns and emergencies. Empower and counseling together support students' mental wellbeing and sense of safety within the school community.

Safeguarding
Health and Safety materials describe a safeguarding framework, including QSI's Child Protection Statement and established procedural guidelines to ensure the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors. The campus is a closed environment with on-site security to protect students, and there are formal drop-off and pick-up guidelines to manage student safety. A full-time nurse attends to health concerns and keeps health records up to date. These measures collectively establish safeguarding practices aimed at protecting students during the school day.
Parent Experience

History
QSI International School of Chengdu is part of Quality Schools International (QSI), a non-profit educational organization. QSI's origins trace to Sanaa International School, founded in 1971 in Yemen, and the QSI organization was launched in 1991. The Chengdu campus opened in 2002, joining a global network of QSI schools. Since 2008, QSI Chengdu has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, reflecting ongoing quality assurance.

Community
QSI Chengdu serves over 200 students from more than 25 nationalities, with preschool through secondary programs that emphasize 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy. The school community includes a Parent Support Group (PSG), a volunteer-based body that acts as a liaison between families and staff, helps with events, and supports fundraising. The PSG coordinates annual community and cultural events, including Fall Festival, Polar Express, Chinese New Year, International Day, Earth Day, and Read to Feed.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
PSG stands for Parent Support Group and is composed of parent volunteers who serve as communication liaisons between the school and the parent community. PSG members organize and decorate for school events, assist classroom educators, and promote fundraising. The PSG enables annual events and fundraisers such as Fall Festival, Polar Express, Chinese New Year, International Day, Earth Day, and Read to Feed. PSG activities strengthen family engagement with the school and support student learning by fostering collaboration with staff. The PSG is a central component of the QSI Chengdu community, described as the official parent organization that drives family involvement. Parents participate by volunteering for PSG events and activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school occupies two buildings just off the Third Ring Road in southern Chengdu. It provides 51 classrooms equipped with computers and smartboards, three computer laboratories, and more than 50 portable laptops. The library contains over 18,000 volumes and includes a dedicated Chinese collection along with a French library accessible to the community, supported by an automated system. Three science laboratories, two music rooms, two art studios, an auditorium, and two multipurpose rooms are available for academic and creative work. The campus features two full-size basketball/volleyball courts (one indoor and one outdoor), a seven-a-side turf soccer field, an outdoor playground with a rubberized surface and grass areas, and two cafeterias.

Sports Facilities
Two full-size basketball/volleyball courts (one indoor and one outdoor) and a seven-on-seven turf soccer field underpin the campus sports program. An outdoor playground with a rubberized surface, grass areas, and two cafeterias support recreation and daily meals.

Academic Facilities
Libraries and labs: a library with over 18,000 volumes plus a Chinese collection and a French library; three science laboratories and three computer laboratories. Technology resources include classrooms equipped with computers and smartboards and more than 50 portable laptops for student use.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Two music rooms and two art studios, along with an auditorium and two multipurpose rooms, provide spaces for performances and creative projects. These spaces support arts and performance activities that complement core academics.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
QSI Chengdu runs after-school activities (EPA) each quintile, organized and supervised by teachers. Examples include chess, soccer, board games, coding, baking, nature exploration, yoga, and reader's theater, with additional options rotated throughout the year. Secondary students participate in a broader range of extracurriculars and service-learning projects beyond academics. Week Without Walls and Model United Nations provide experiential learning opportunities that build leadership, teamwork, and global awareness.

Arts & Creative
Fine Arts are an established part of the program, with Music and Art offered at both elementary and secondary levels. Secondary Music emphasizes live performances, ensemble practice, and music theory, while elementary music focuses on singing, listening, and basic theory, with opportunities to learn instruments such as ukulele and participate in a band or orchestra. The Art program develops visual literacy and artistic processes, covering basic media techniques and art history.

Cultural & Language
Co-curricular activities include cultural exchanges through Week Without Walls, which offers cultural experiences and service-learning components; Model United Nations provides practice in diplomacy and international affairs. Roots and Shoots appears among ASA offerings, reflecting environmental and community-minded engagement; language offerings in the secondary program include French, Chinese, and German, with AP language options.

Social & Hobbies
After-School Activities (ASA) include Photography, Soccer, AP Prep, Dungeons and Dragons, Gaming, Music, Roots and Shoots, Creative Writing, English Tutoring, Basketball, Martial Arts, Korean, Mahjong, Rock Band, Drama, and Chess. These activities are teacher-run and rotate across the year to suit student interests.

Community & Service
Service learning is an important component of secondary life, with opportunities to volunteer within the school and Chengdu community. The National Honor Society elevates a school's commitment to scholarship, service, leadership, and character, and NHS chapters exist in many schools worldwide, including QSI Chengdu. The school also emphasizes student life activities that support community engagement.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership development is supported by student-led organizations such as the National Honor Society and Student Council. The school provides university counseling and career guidance, including information on college entrance requirements and SAT preparation, and hosts an annual career fair to connect students with professionals.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is integrated through physical education and athletics, with athletic teams that train and compete in local and regional competitions. Personal Health courses cover team sports, lifetime sports, in-depth sports, and wellness. After-school activities include soccer, basketball, martial arts, and other fitness options, and Week Without Walls features adventurous trips that promote physical activity, leadership, and teamwork.
Languages

Language Provision
All homeroom teachers are native English speakers, and German, French, and Chinese language teachers are also employed to support language learning. Chinese is taught as part of the regular curriculum, and preschool includes Chinese as a Special Class. Beyond English, languages offered in elementary include Chinese, French, and German for native speakers, with Languages Other Than English integrated into the program. Intensive English provides targeted language support for non-native speakers to access mainstream classes.
Reputation

Accreditations
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), commonly referred to as MSA-CESS. QSI Chengdu has been accredited by MSA since 2008. In April 2022, Quality Schools International and all existing QSI schools achieved system-wide accreditation through MSA, extending the accreditation to the entire QSI network. MSA accreditation is a recognized international standard, and MSA accreditation is widely acknowledged by universities as an indicator of program quality. The Chengdu campus' accreditation is presented as part of the school's ongoing commitment to meeting internationally recognized standards.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Step 1 — Express interest and start an application. The school accepts applications throughout the year, but there is typically limited space at the start of each school year; if a class becomes oversubscribed, you may be placed on a wait list until a seat becomes available or a new class is opened. To initiate enrollment, contact the admissions coordinator to obtain an application. The school teaches in English and admission is open to students who learn in English-language classrooms.

2. Step 2 — Application review and decision. After you submit the application, it is reviewed by the admissions team, and a decision is typically communicated within 1–3 working days. If there are extenuating circumstances or the child will require learning support, additional time may be needed to ensure appropriate accommodations are in place. English language considerations are part of the process, with Intensive English available to support fluency, and secondary students needing to be fluent to earn credits toward graduation.

3. Step 3 — English language assessment and planning for support. English fluency is not required for all grade levels, as Intensive English support is offered; secondary-level students will need fluency or near-fluency to earn graduation credits, and a pre-enrollment assessment can help determine the proper support plan. The school can evaluate a student prior to enrollment to guarantee appropriate English language assistance.

4. Step 4 — Schedule a visit or campus tour. Families can schedule a visit by submitting the Schedule A Visit form, which asks for the family's contact details, child(ren)'s names, ages, and genders, and the desired enrollment date and meeting time. The form requires the requester's information and preferred date/time, after which the office contacts families to arrange the visit. This initial contact is followed up by the admissions team to finalize a meeting or tour.

5. Step 5 — Placement and class assignment. The school's placement framework covers Preschool/Elementary (ages 3–10) with small class sizes and dedicated teachers, and Middle/Secondary structures with small classes and subject specialists. A grade-by-age mapping is provided to determine the appropriate class (e.g., 3-year-olds to Preschool, 5-year-olds to Kindergarten, etc.), and the secondary program offers Diploma pathways (AP and IB) with corresponding class structures.

6. Step 6 — Enrollment, start date, and practical details (waitlist if oversubscribed). Applications are accepted year-round, but space is limited at the start of the school year; oversubscribed classes may create a wait list.

7. Step 7 — Scholarships. The school offers financial scholarships to families in need. The scholarship process starts each March with an application, the Advisory Board reviews requests, and results are shared in April for the following school year. To express interest in a scholarship, families should engage with the admissions team to obtain the application.

Scholarships
Scholarships: QSI Chengdu offers financial scholarships to families in need. The scholarship process begins in March with an application, the Advisory Board reviews requests, and results are shared in April for the following school year. To pursue a scholarship, contact the admissions coordinator to obtain the scholarship application.

Waitlist
Waitlist/Pool: If a class becomes oversubscribed, you may be placed on a wait list until a seat becomes available or a new class is opened. Applications are accepted year-round, but space is typically limited at the start of the school year, which can lead to waitlisting as part of the enrollment process. The policy does not specify any ranking or priority order beyond the existence of the wait list.
School Events
The school has not added events
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