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QSI International School of Shenzhen

China, Shenzhen

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 138,300 - 226,800
Ages 2 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2001
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Mandarin, Spanish
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

QSI International School of Shenzhen was established in 2001 as a non-profit, English-medium day school and serves expatriate families in Shenzhen across three nearby campuses. The school operates a Preschool & Lower Elementary campus (ages 2–7), a Main campus for middle grades (ages 8–13), and a Secondary campus for ages 14–18; AP courses and the IB Diploma are offered at the secondary level. QSI uses a Mastery Learning approach and explicitly teaches its Success Orientations (e.g., Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Kindness) across grades. Preschool and lower-elementary class sizes are given as 16 for 2-year-olds and about 18–20 for 3–7 year-old classes. Facilities described on campus pages include libraries, science labs, music and art spaces, indoor gym space and outdoor play areas. An optional, local school-bus service (with English-speaking bus monitors) is available; routes and fees are handled separately by the school.

No. 8, Taizi Road, Shekou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China

The Essentials

QSI International School of Shenzhen has instruction in English.

Location
QSI Shenzhen is located in the Shekou area of Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with campuses clustered near Tai Zi Road / Bitao Center and the Fenghua Theatre (Shekou). The campuses are accessible from nearby metro stations serving the Sea World / Shekou area and are in a mixed residential and commercial neighbourhood popular with expatriate families.

Stages
The school operates three campuses divided by age: Preschool & Lower Elementary (ages 2–7), Main Campus / Middle School (ages 8–13), and Secondary Campus (ages 14–18). Each campus has its own facilities and administration.

Type
QSI Shenzhen is a non-profit, co-educational day school that serves expatriate families; it does not offer boarding. The school follows the QSI / American-based approach and is part of the Quality Schools International group.

Additional learning support
The school provides dedicated learning-support staff (including two learning support teachers and paraprofessionals in younger classes), a full‑time counselor on each campus, and an Intensive English (IE) programme for early learners who need extra English instruction. QSI's network also works with regional learning‑support coordinators when additional assessment or planning is required.

Country affiliation
The school is an independent international school and part of the QSI group (an international network); it is not affiliated with a particular national government. QSI schools hold international accreditations (QSI Shenzhen is accredited by the Middle States Association).

Religious affiliation
QSI Shenzhen is secular and has no religious affiliation; its programme and materials present a non‑religious, international curriculum.

School day structure
Classes generally begin at 8:30 AM. At the Secondary Campus the school follows an alternating block schedule with classes starting at 8:30 AM and ending at about 4:00 PM, with a morning break, an afternoon break and a 45‑minute lunch; younger divisions typically finish earlier (check admissions for exact division times).

Bus service
QSI Shenzhen offers an optional school bus service run in partnership with a local transport company; bus service is not included in tuition and routes are arranged based on demand. Each bus has an English‑speaking QSI bus monitor, seat belts are required, and some routes include a late bus for after‑school activities. Families can contact the school's transportation office for route details and costs.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a day school with no boarding facilities.

Food Options
Lunch is provided by a licensed canteen with an FDA Grade A central kitchen; students may bring lunch from home or participate in the hot lunch program. Meals include two proteins, two side dishes, one carbohydrate, one soup, and fruit or a dessert, with Western and local options; Korean, Chinese and vegetarian boxed lunches are available, and drinking water is provided and tested monthly.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a nonprofit, independently owned and operated institution. It is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges.
Fees

Annual tuition at QSI International School of Shenzhen ranges from RMB 138,300 to RMB 226,800 for 2026/27.

Application fees and deposits
- One-time, non-refundable registration/application fee: RMB 2,100 per child.
- Non-refundable tuition deposit (placement fee) due within 10 working days of an acceptance offer: RMB 25,200; this amount is applied to school fees but is forfeited if the student does not enroll.

Tuition fees by year group (published third-party figures)
- The school's public pages do not publish a full numeric tuition table. A third‑party fee listing for the 2025/2026 academic year shows example annual tuition totals by grade (given in RMB): Nursery/Kindergarten ages 2–4: RMB 138,300; Kindergarten 3 and Grades 1–12: RMB 226,800 (variations by specific grade noted in the source). These figures are from an independent fees aggregator and are provided here as published by that third party.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Discounts are offered for full-term payments made on or before the term due dates, with an additional discount available if the full annual payment is completed on or before 1 October. If first-term payment is missed but the full year is paid by 1 October, a maximum discount may still apply.
- Payments must be made on or before the published due dates; students with outstanding fees may be withheld from classes, evaluations, official records, or communications until accounts are settled.

Boarding fees
- QSI Shenzhen is a non-profit day school (no boarding program); therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs and recurring charges
- Capital Fund Fee: a separate fee to support facilities and school development is charged (purpose described by the school).
- Bus/transportation and school lunch programs are optional and billed separately (bus routes/costs managed via the school's transport arrangements).
- Uniforms: the school does not require full daily uniforms; a P.E. uniform is provided/required where applicable (uniform policy noted by third-party listings).

Refund information
- The registration/application fee and the placement deposit are explicitly non-refundable; the deposit is forfeited if the student does not enroll. No other public refund policy for tuition or other fees is published on the school's public pages.

Fee payment options
- The school lists payment methods as RMB bank transfer or cash. Credit-card payment is not listed on the publicly posted payment instructions. For invoicing, fapiao, and accounting matters the school provides finance office contacts.

Note: the school's public pages provide policy and procedural details but do not publish a full, grade-by-grade numeric fee schedule; the numeric tuition figures above are taken from a third‑party aggregator that cites the school's fees for 2025/2026. Where the school states specific fee items or policies, the school's pages are cited.
Academics

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

Curriculum
QSI Shenzhen delivers an American‑based, mastery‑learning program in English with core classes in reading, writing, mathematics, cultural studies and science, supplemented by specialist courses (art, music, PE, technology, foreign languages) and character “Success Orientations.” Preschool and Lower Elementary (ages 2–7) use research‑based early‑years materials (Splash into Pre‑K for preschool) and a play‑based integrated 5‑year‑old program; 6–7‑year‑olds follow a full program including math, reading/language arts, science, cultural studies, art, music, computers and PE. The Main Campus (ages 8–13) aligns many courses with U.S. Common Core standards, provides an Intensive English program for learners of English, and offers technology, PE, art/music and foreign language instruction (Chinese and introductory Spanish). The Secondary Campus (ages 14–18) is a college‑preparatory program offering a QSI Academic Diploma, an Academic Diploma with Honors (which requires at least two AP courses), and the option to pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Sec III–IV; students can earn the IB Diploma in addition to the QSI diploma. Advanced study options include year‑long, a‑la‑carte Advanced Placement (AP) courses across humanities, math, science, languages and arts (with external exams in May), which are offered for qualified students (encouraged in Secondary I–II) and can complement IB preparation.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
QSI Shenzhen teaches character education through its Success Orientations (e.g., Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Concern for Others) and states this is introduced throughout classrooms and the school. The school also says it has a full-time school counselor at each campus who provides character education, friendship groups, and social & emotional support. These elements are presented as part of the school's whole-child approach to learning. Specific curricula, lesson plans, or measurable SEL outcomes are not published on the school website.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school's website states it employs two learning support teachers, a regional learning support coordinator, and paraprofessionals in early years classes to support individual student needs. QSI Shenzhen presents these staff as providing additional support to students but does not list a catalogue of specific diagnoses or types of special educational needs it can support. The website does not describe the school as a specialist SEN institution; it presents these roles within a mainstream international school model. Detailed policies, formal referral pathways, or scope/limits of SEN provision are not published on the site.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
QSI Shenzhen publishes an Intensive English (IE) Program for students beginning in the 6-year-old class, with students in the IE Program attending IE classes during daily Reading/Writing time. The school also states many teachers hold additional certifications to teach English Language Learners and that the overall program is an English-immersion, American-based curriculum. The website does not provide detailed EAL entry-level criteria, individual withdrawal or push-in/pull-out models, or numbers of EAL staff.

Mental Wellbeing
The school states that each campus has a full-time counselor who provides social and emotional support, friendship groups, and character education, and secondary counselors also provide college counselling. QSI Shenzhen's materials present these counseling services as part of student support but do not publish a detailed mental-health policy, clinical referral procedures, or descriptions of in-school therapy services. The site also highlights community and parent involvement (e.g., Parent Support Group) as part of student well‑being activities.

Safeguarding
QSI Shenzhen publishes a Safeguarding and Child Protection statement that names child protection as a school priority and says the school implements school-based safeguarding policies, regular onsite training, and safe recruitment practices. The statement also says the school educates students and adults on safeguarding and works with international agencies to review and apply best-practice standards. The website provides this formal commitment but does not publish a full safeguarding policy document or detailed reporting procedures on the public pages linked.
Parent Experience

History
QSI International School of Shenzhen was established in 2001 as a non-profit, co-educational day school serving students from early childhood through secondary graduation. It operates as an independently owned and operated school within the Quality Schools International (QSI) organization; QSI's origins trace to Sanaa International School founded in 1971. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and serves largely expatriate families in the Shenzhen area. Leadership is provided by a campus director and senior staff who oversee the three campuses and academic programs.

Community
The QSI Shenzhen community is made up of a multinational expatriate parent body, teaching staff recruited from English-speaking countries, and students across three campuses. The school posts an events calendar and runs regular school activities and cultural programs (for example, Dragon TV and student exchange information sessions are listed on the school events pages). After-school activities and language-support programs are part of the weekly routine, and the school promotes character-oriented Success Orientations across classes.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
QSI Shenzhen's Parent Support Group (PSG) is the school's parent-teacher association; all faculty, administration and parents of enrolled students are automatically members. The PSG is run by volunteer coordinators and a coordinating team that organizes campus and language coordinators to help communicate across the school's multiple campuses. Typical PSG activities include fundraising for non-curricular student programs, organizing community events, and providing volunteer opportunities across campuses. PSG meetings are open to all parents and are usually held after the monthly “Coffee with the Director” sessions; the PSG also maintains bulletin boards on each campus and distributes updates through the school e-newsletter. Parents can contact the PSG or volunteer via the school office or the PSG contact email listed on the school site.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
QSI Shenzhen operates three campuses: PLE for ages 2-7, Main Campus for ages 8-13, and Secondary Campus for ages 14-18. The school is a non-profit, co-educational day school established in 2001. The PLE Campus features 22 classrooms, a library, a computer lab, a music room, a cafeteria, an art room, a rooftop covered gym, a small covered playground, and a large outdoor playground, with 24-hour security and a full-time nurse. The Main Campus has an indoor gym and full access to outdoor facilities, an extensive library, and technology-enabled spaces; DragonTV and yearbook/film animation projects are part of its program. The Secondary Campus is located at Building B Fenghua Theater, No. 49 Gongyuan Rd, Shekou, and includes 31 classrooms, an art studio, a library, three computer labs, a drama room, a music room, five science labs, a full-size double gym, a fitness room, and a full-size track and a soccer pitch; the library is open until 6:00 PM and there is 24-hour security. All campuses provide English-language instruction; Intensive English supports students (PLE) and the Main Campus; the curriculum is viewable and AP/IB options exist in the secondary program. The Intensive English program is offered at PLE. The Main Campus provides an Intensive English program. Curriculum is available for review at curriculum.qsi.org. AP and IB options are offered in the secondary program.

Sports Facilities
The PLE Campus has a rooftop covered gym. The Main Campus has an indoor gym and full access to outdoor facilities. The Secondary Campus has a full-size double gym, a fitness room, and a full-size track and soccer pitch. The Secondary Campus participates in athletics through the Pearl River Delta Conference and ACAMIS; sports include badminton, cross-country running, golf, soccer, table tennis, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Academic Facilities
PLE Campus includes a library and a computer lab; over 22 full-time English-speaking teachers, including a librarian. PLE class sizes range from 16 to 20 students for 3- to 7-year-olds, with the 2-year-old class capped at 16. Main Campus has an extensive library and a technology-focused environment; Intensive English supports reading and writing; mainstream literacy courses are aligned with CCSS. Secondary Campus features 31 classrooms, an art studio, a library, three computer labs, a drama room, a music room, and five science labs; facilities include a dedicated arts and athletics space and secure hours for the library. AP and IB options are available in the secondary program, with pathways including the Academic Diploma, Academic Diploma with Honors, and the IB Diploma Programme. The curriculum is aligned with CCSS for core subjects and is viewable online.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-school activities are offered twice a week after school by professional providers. Main Campus includes DragonTV and yearbook production and film animation projects as part of its technology program. Extracurricular activities include drama, Model United Nations, debate, DragonTV, National Junior Honor Society, Math Olympiads, and more. ACAMIS Arts and Cultural Events occur across China, and ACE events provide additional opportunities for competitions and festivals.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for secondary students.

Arts & Creative
The school provides Art, Music, and Physical Education as specialist courses and electives. The secondary campus has dedicated spaces for art and drama including an art studio, drama room, and music room, along with a library. The curriculum includes Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer Technology, and foreign languages.

Cultural & Language
The school uses English Language Immersion with an American-based curriculum. An Intensive English (IE) program is available for students starting in the 6 year-old class, with IE classes integrated into Reading and Writing time daily. The school offers a range of foreign languages.

Social & Hobbies
The school offers after-school activities and sports programs. The athletic program includes soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, touch rugby, and cross-country.

Leadership & Professional
The school maintains a full-time school counselor at each campus who provides character education, friendship groups, and social-emotional support; the secondary campus counselor also provides college counseling.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school uses the Mastery Learning model to support student achievement and personal growth, guided by the 'Success for All' ethos. The athletic program and campus facilities support physical activity and wellbeing, with regular after-school activities and sports. The school day runs from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM with breaks and a 45-minute lunch.
Languages

Language Provision
The school uses English as the language of instruction. The Secondary Campus offers an English-language based, college-preparatory program with AP and IB options. Foreign language offerings include Chinese (Mandarin) and Spanish; Mandarin is taught as a foreign language. Intensive English supports non-native speakers to achieve academic English proficiency.

Immersion Programs
English Language Immersion – American Based Curriculum accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. Intensive English (IE) program provides targeted English language support for students starting in the 6-year-old class, with IE classes during Reading and Writing time daily. The staff recruited from native-English-speaking countries hold certifications in their core content areas.
Reputation

Awards
No school-level awards listed on the QSI International School of Shenzhen website for the five-year period from January 1, 2021 through January 1, 2026. I searched the school's public site (menus, About pages and news/events areas) and did not find any entries that identify awards given to the school (as opposed to awards or achievements by individual students). If you'd like, I can broaden the search beyond the school website (news, local press, QSI network pages) to look for any externally reported awards.

Accreditations
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) — QSI International School of Shenzhen is accredited by the Middle States Association; the school's website states it has held MSA accreditation since 2006. MSA accreditation is an external, U.S.-based school-accreditation process that indicates a school meets a set of internationally recognized standards for governance, curriculum, student services and continuous improvement; QSI Shenzhen also notes that Quality Schools International is working toward system‑wide accreditation through MSA, which would align improvement planning across all QSI schools.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Start the online application. Begin by completing the school's online application through the parent portal (portal.qsishenzhen.cn). After you submit the online form the Admissions Office will contact you to schedule an in-person Admissions appointment for document drop-off and testing; parents should book any campus tours in advance to ensure staff availability.

2. Prepare and bring required documents to the Admissions appointment. The school requires proof of the child's and parents' passports/visas, two years of school records (if applicable), immunization records, and two passport photos for each parent and the child; school records not in English must be officially translated. Failure to bring all items on the application checklist will delay processing, so download and follow the Application Checklist before your appointment.

3. Pay the application/registration fee at the appointment. A non-refundable application/registration fee (stated on the site as RMB 2,100) is due at the time of the Admissions appointment and is typically required in cash; keep the receipt as it is part of your application record. The Admissions Office will not proceed with document processing or testing until this fee is paid.

4. Admissions testing and initial placement. Students age 5+ will take the NWEA MAP computerized adaptive tests in Reading, Math, and Language Usage (all in English); students age 8+ also complete a written essay. MAP results are used for placement but are not the sole determinant—previous records and the Director of Instruction's evaluation also factor into final grade placement.

5. Interview with the Director of Instruction. After testing and document review you will be scheduled for an interview with the campus Director of Instruction; the Director makes the admission decision and places students (age and previously completed grade are primary considerations). Expect the school to place students according to age first, with some exceptions decided by the Director; secondary (high‑school) applicants must demonstrate the English level needed for success in the secondary program.

6. Decision timeline and deposit to hold a space. The Admissions Office aims to return a decision (accepted, denied, or waiting list) by email within one to two days after the interview if all documents were submitted. If accepted, parents must pay a non‑refundable tuition deposit (listed on the site as RMB 25,200) within 10 working days to secure the place; this deposit is applied to fees but forfeited if the student does not enroll.

7. Final invoicing, payments and start. Tuition invoices are issued after the child begins school; the school publishes a Capital Fund Fee and describes a discount policy for timely full‑term/annual payments. Payments are accepted by RMB bank transfer or cash; students may be restricted from class, and records withheld, if fees are not current—so confirm payment deadlines and invoicing procedures with the Finance Office.

Waitlist
QSI Shenzhen states that the Admissions outcome may be “accepted,” “denied,” or “waiting list,” and families are informed by email shortly after the Director of Instruction's interview. The website does not publish detailed rules for how the waiting list is ordered (for example, whether it is strictly by application date, placement testing results, or other criteria), so parents should ask Admissions directly about their child's position and expected timeline if a waiting‑list offer is issued. For up‑to‑date information about availability at a specific campus or age level, contact admissions@shenzhen.qsi.org or the Admissions Office phone numbers listed on the site.
School Events
The school has not added events
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