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Shanghai Community International School

China, Shanghai

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 146,000 - 324,500
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1800
Type Co-educational
Opened 1996
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Mandarin, English, French, Spanish, Korean, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, German, Italian, Hindi
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, High School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School founded in 1996 and operating three campuses in Shanghai: Hongqiao Early Childhood (ages 2–6), Hongqiao Main (Grades 2–12) and Pudong (Nursery–Grade 12). SCIS offers the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. The school's tuition is all‑inclusive (examples: school-issued MacBook for Grades 6–12; bus service; school lunches for full-day students are included). Campuses include facilities such as 25m, 6-lane pools, a 700-seat auditorium and a 10,000 sq ft Black Box theatre. SCIS publishes average class-size ranges (Early Childhood 14–18, Lower School 18–20, Upper School 20–22) and highlights language learning (English instruction with Mandarin, EAL, French, Spanish, Korean and Dutch curricular provision and additional extracurricular languages). SCIS also notes recent recognition as an Apple Distinguished School. All points above are taken from the SCIS website.

The Essentials

Shanghai Community International School has 1,800 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
SCIS operates three campuses in Shanghai: two in Hongqiao (Hongqiao Early Childhood Education campus at 2212 Hongqiao Road and the Hongqiao Main Campus at 1161 Hongqiao Road, both in Changning/Gubei) and a Pudong campus in Zhoupu (198 Hengqiao Road). The Hongqiao ECE campus is a short walk from Longxi Road metro (Line 10) and the Hongqiao Main Campus is about a 5‑minute walk from Yili Road metro (Line 10); the Pudong campus is roughly a 10‑minute walk from Fanrong metro (Line 18) and is 20–25 minutes by car from several Pudong business/residential areas.

Stages
SCIS is a full IB continuum school serving Early Childhood through Grade 12. The Hongqiao ECE campus covers Nursery–Grade 1, the Hongqiao Main Campus covers Grades 2–12, and the Pudong campus runs Nursery–Grade 12.

Type
SCIS is a co‑educational, non‑profit international day school governed by a self‑perpetuating board and overseen by the International Schools Foundation; it does not operate boarding facilities. The school is authorized to deliver the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.

Additional learning support
SCIS maintains a systemwide Student Support team that includes qualified learning‑support teachers, EAL specialists, speech and language therapists, learning support assistants, school counselors and an educational psychologist. The school also runs the SCIS Academy for students who need a highly modified programme and collaborates with outside agencies when appropriate.

Country affiliation
SCIS is an independent international school based in China and is not affiliated with a particular national government or national curriculum; it follows the IB continuum and holds international accreditations.

Religious affiliation
SCIS does not have a religious affiliation; its publications describe the school as an international, secular learning community.

School day structure
The published/parent information indicates a typical school day runs roughly from about 08:00 to mid‑afternoon (around 15:00), with a mid‑day lunch and recess; specific start/end times vary by division and are published in the school calendar. The school also schedules occasional early‑release days (for example, buses departing around 13:20 on some early‑release days).

Bus service
SCIS provides a door‑to‑door school bus service as part of the programme (subject to availability); the transportation office lists separate coordinators for each campus and notes the service covers hundreds of residential compounds across multiple districts. Buses are supervised by trained monitors and the school gives route and pick‑up/drop‑off details to families before term starts; adding new routes can require local regulatory permitting.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
SCIS is a day school; no boarding is offered.

Uniform Requirement
Each student receives one start-up uniform at no charge; additional uniforms can be purchased at SCIS shops on each campus. Lower School (Nursery–Grade 5) wear navy trousers/shorts/skirts with a light-blue polo shirt; Upper School (Grades 6–8) wear tan/khaki shorts/trousers/skirts with a navy polo; Upper School (Grades 9–12) wear tan/khaki shorts/skirts/trousers or plaid skirts with a light-blue Oxford shirt. PE days use the PE uniform; SCIS Dragons Team members receive a team uniform, issued for the season; Spirit Days occur occasionally when the uniform is not required.

Food Options
Each campus has its own cafeteria and kitchen operated by Basil N Latte (BNL). Fresh meals are prepared onsite with rotating menus reflecting the community's cultural diversity. The weekly menu follows a pattern of 1 day beef, 1 day pork, 1 day seafood, and 2 days chicken, with dietary, vegetarian, and custom options available on request. The BNL Café opens daily on Hongqiao and Pudong campuses; Hongqiao hours are 7:15 AM–4:00 PM and Pudong hours are 7:15 AM–3:30 PM. School lunch is included on campus for full-day students.

Governance and Ownership
SCIS is a non-profit educational day school. It is governed by a self-perpetuating board of directors and overseen by the International Schools Foundation. It does not receive government or private funding and does not participate in fundraising; the SCIS program is funded through student tuition and fees.
Fees

Annual tuition at Shanghai Community International School ranges from RMB 146,000 to RMB 324,500 for 2026/27.

Tuition (annual and per-semester by campus & year group)
- SCIS Hongqiao Campuses:
- Nursery / Pre-school (half-day): RMB 151,250 per year; RMB 80,625 per semester.
- Nursery / PS / PK (full-day): RMB 199,000 per year; RMB 104,500 per semester.
- Kindergarten – Grade 5: RMB 293,500 per year; RMB 151,750 per semester.
- Grade 6 – 12: RMB 324,500 per year; RMB 167,250 per semester.

- SCIS Pudong Campus:
- Nursery / Pre-school (half-day): RMB 146,000 per year; RMB 78,000 per semester.
- Nursery / PS / PK (full-day): RMB 192,000 per year; RMB 101,000 per semester.
- Kindergarten – Grade 5: RMB 276,750 per year; RMB 143,375 per semester.
- Grade 6 – 12: RMB 308,500 per year; RMB 159,250 per semester.

Application and one-time / recurring mandatory fees
- Application fee: RMB 2,750 (non-refundable; valid for up to one academic year).
- Capital fee: RMB 22,500 one-time on first admission (non-refundable); RMB 5,000 annually for returning students (non-refundable).
- Seat guarantee deposit: RMB 20,000 (payable on acceptance; applicable to first semester or annual fee; subject to forfeiture in many withdrawal scenarios).
- English as an Additional Language (EAL) fee: RMB 15,000 one-time where EAL placement is required (non-refundable unless assessment shows placement is not required).
- Exam costs (external exams such as SAT, ACT, IB) are the parents' responsibility.

What the tuition covers / exclusions
- All-inclusive tuition covers general class costs, books, library, technology, one set of school uniform, on-campus full-day lunch, school bus (subject to availability), school-sponsored after-school activities, compulsory school trips, and a MacBook for Grades 6–12. Extra uniform sets, daily off-campus meals/snacks, and supplementary student support services are not included.

Billing schedule, deadlines, discounts and payment terms
- Annual payment deadline: all tuition/fees must be paid in full by June 1.
- Semester payment deadlines: first semester due by June 1; second semester due by November 1.
- Early-payment discounts on annual tuition: up to 5% (specific deadline dates and discount levels apply). Enrollment is secured only after payment of the annual/semester tuition in full or the seat guarantee deposit. Fees must be paid before the student begins school.

Payment methods
- Bank transfer (RMB or USD), check (RMB or USD), RMB cash at campus (USD cash not accepted), major credit/debit cards (payer pays transaction fees), and Alipay (with instructions for proof of payment). Wire-transfer recipients and Alipay instructions are provided by the school. Payer is responsible for any bank or card transaction charges.

Boarding
- SCIS operates as a non‑boarding day school; boarding fees are not applicable.

Refund policy highlights
- Re-enrollment withdrawal by posted deadlines: full tuition refunded inclusive of seat deposit.
- Withdrawal before first semester start (by July 31): tuition refunded excluding the seat guarantee deposit (RMB 20,000); later withdrawals before start may incur forfeiture of double the seat deposit.
- No refunds once a semester has begun; entrance and supplementary program fees are non-refundable. Refund processing occurs after last day of attendance and return of school materials.
Academics

Shanghai Community International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
SCIS is an IB Continuum World School delivering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) as a single, seamless pathway for students aged 2–18. Early Childhood (Nursery–Kindergarten) and Lower School (Nursery/Grade 1–5) follow the PYP with a play‑based, inquiry approach and published program guides that set subject expectations. The MYP covers Grades 6–10, emphasizing interdisciplinary, “learning by doing” connections between subjects. In Grades 11–12 most students undertake the IB Diploma Programme (externally assessed by the IBO) and SCIS also awards a High School Diploma on graduation. The full taught curriculum includes English language arts, Mandarin and English as an Additional Language (EAL), mathematics, science, social studies, visual and performing arts, physical education, technology, plus student support, language learning and university counselling resources.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SCIS states that social-emotional development is an explicit focus of its student support services and that school counselors work with students, teachers, and parents to create a balanced, supportive school environment. Counselors run transition supports (including a buddy system), team-building activities and classroom lessons that promote health, social and emotional development. The website says counseling is intended as short-term, developmentally appropriate support and that counselors will help families find external services in Shanghai when longer-term help is needed. The Student Support section lists school counselors as part of the system alongside learning support and EAL staff. This information is published on the SCIS Student Support and School Counseling pages.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
SCIS publishes a Learning Support section that describes an inclusive approach using Universal Design for Learning and a dedicated SCIS Academy for students who need highly modified curriculum and instruction. The site lists learning-support staff (learning support coordinators/teachers), a speech and language pathologist and a systemwide educational psychologist, and says the school may collaborate with outside agencies when appropriate. The school's materials describe providing accommodations and structured support but do not list a definitive catalogue of specific medical or diagnostic conditions it will or will not accept. SCIS's web pages present these services within a mainstream international school setting rather than describing SCIS as a specialist SEN institution. All of the above is drawn from the school's Learning Support and Student Support pages.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
SCIS publishes an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme that provides instruction in vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing and assesses incoming students to determine EAL levels and placement. The site says EAL classes are required for students whose oral and written English are not sufficient to function in academic subjects and that provision can include MYP English Language Acquisition and EAL resource classes. Lower School EAL is aligned with WIDA English Language Development Standards and the PYP; Upper School EAL focuses first on immediate school-language needs then broader academic skills. The school lists its EAL specialists by name and campus on the EAL page. These details are on SCIS's EAL page.

Mental Wellbeing
SCIS states that the emotional wellbeing of children is vital to learning and that counselors provide short-term support for issues such as peer problems, transitions, study skills, family conflict and crisis/grief response. The school describes an integrated team (counselors, learning-support teachers, psychologists, speech therapists) that identifies and assists students facing academic, social or emotional challenges and says it will help families access longer-term services in Shanghai when needed. A school news article from the Director of Student Support also describes the systemwide approach to inclusion and that SCIS provides short-term counseling, resources and accommodations for students with a range of needs. These statements are published on the School Counseling, Student Support pages and SCIS news.

Safeguarding
SCIS publishes a Child Safeguarding Policy whose mission is to support and advocate for students' physical, emotional and mental wellbeing through partnership with home, school and community. The safeguarding page sets out belief statements, requires annual child protection training for all adults regularly on campus, and describes safe-recruiting practices including enhanced background checks for staff and substitutes. The site frames safeguarding as an ongoing, proactive responsibility and provides the policy text and links on its Child Safeguarding page. This information is taken directly from the school's published safeguarding pages.
Parent Experience

History
Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) was established in 1996 as one of the first international schools in Shanghai. It began as a single campus in the Changning district with seven teachers and fewer than 50 students, and has since expanded to three campuses serving more than 1,500 students. The school was founded to provide an internationally minded, community-centered education and has developed incrementally since its opening. SCIS is overseen by a Board of Directors appointed under the bylaws of the school's Deed of Foundation.

Community
SCIS describes itself as a diverse, multicultural community — in recent years the school has reported students from more than 65 countries speaking over 45 languages. Community life includes regular, school‑wide and campus events that bring families together, such as the annual Winter Carnival, International Food Fair and campus cultural festivals, plus city‑based learning experiences like guided City Walks. The school also runs many after‑school activities and extended China trips that connect classroom learning with the city and region.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
SCIS's parent organization is the Parents and Friends Association (PAFA), founded in May 1996; all SCIS parents are members and are invited to participate. PAFA meets regularly with school leadership to coordinate parent involvement, communicate community needs, raise funds, and support activities that sit outside the regular curriculum. The association organizes and supports major community events — for example, PAFA coordinates the International Food Fair at Hongqiao and has led cultural festivals at the Pudong campus — and maintains a roster of parent clubs (from Mahjong to Hoopers) that provide social and volunteer opportunities. PAFA publishes its mission, vision and goals on the school site and lists campus PAFA contacts and committee members for parents who want to get involved. The association's activities are a primary way families contribute time, resources and cultural programming to the wider SCIS community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates three purpose-built campuses in Shanghai with flexible learning spaces: Hongqiao Early Childhood Campus, Hongqiao Main Campus, and Pudong Campus. The Hongqiao Early Childhood Campus offers developmentally appropriate spaces and indoor and outdoor play areas. Hongqiao Main Campus has dedicated learning spaces and well-resourced libraries and learning resources. Pudong Campus provides learning spaces for collaborative and individual study and a multi-purpose indoor performance space. World-class facilities include a centralized state-of-the-art indoor air filtration system across all campuses, 6-lane 25-meter swimming pools, two-story 700-seat auditoriums, a 10,000-square-foot Black Box theatre, an Art Gallery, rock climbing walls, indoor basketball courts, strength and conditioning weight rooms, a full health clinic staffed by nurses from WorldPath clinic, smart boards, dance halls, art studios, all-weather outdoor soccer pitches, outdoor jungle gym playgrounds, an indoor fun center, science and computer labs, and an audio-visual media lab.

Sports Facilities
The campuses feature 6-lane, 25-meter swimming pools. Indoor basketball courts are available across campuses. Rock climbing walls are provided. All-weather outdoor soccer pitches are available. Strength and conditioning weight rooms support athletic training. A full health clinic staffed by professional nurses from WorldPath clinic supports student well-being as part of athletic programs.

Academic Facilities
Hongqiao Main Campus has well-resourced libraries and a learning resources area. Classrooms across campuses are designed to be flexible and equipped with developmentally appropriate resources and technology. Science and computer labs are available for coursework across campuses. An audio-visual media lab supports digital learning, alongside art studios and other creative facilities. Smart boards and dedicated spaces for performing arts augment academic spaces and collaborative learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Performing arts spaces include two-story, 700-seat auditoria and a 10,000-square-foot Black Box theatre to support student performances. An Art Gallery, Art Studios, and Dance Halls enable visual and performing arts activities. The Indoor Fun Center and Outdoor Jungle Gym Playgrounds support recreational activities for younger students. Indoor basketball courts, rock climbing walls, and all-weather outdoor soccer pitches enable athletic clubs and activities. Flexible spaces such as science and computer labs and the audio-visual media lab support clubs in robotics, media, and technology.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
SCIS is an IB Continuum World School delivering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Early Childhood and Lower School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Upper School, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11–12. The school serves students from nursery through Grade 12 across three Shanghai campuses. School-wide Learner Outcomes guide student development, including Innovative Thinkers, within the IB framework. SCIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of ACAMIS and EARCOS; the community is diverse, with students from more than 65 countries and more than 45 languages spoken.

Arts & Creative
The arts program is robust and well-rounded, with teachers who are passionate about their subjects. It includes Performing Arts (Theatre and Music) and Visual Arts, including Film, where students learn the full creative process from observation through presentation. Theatre education emphasizes collaboration and autonomy as students engage as creators, designers, directors, and performers, while the music program exposes students to diverse musical styles. After-school arts activities are available to extend creative exploration.

Cultural & Language
The language of instruction is English, and Mandarin is a core part of the curriculum; mother-tongue instruction is supported through multiple programs. SCIS is a truly international school representing 60+ nationalities and supports mother-tongue language through Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish programs. Language & Literature courses are offered in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish. Language Acquisition is offered in English, Mandarin, French, and Spanish, with extra-curricular language acquisition programs including Finnish, Swedish, Danish, German, Italian, and Hindi.

Social & Hobbies
SCIS offers more than 80 sports, clubs, and arts options in its expansive after-school program. Starting in Kindergarten, students may choose from academic, artistic, athletic, and leisure activities, with examples including robotics and coding, art labs, orchestra, theatre, football, basketball, chess, cooking, and Mahjong. The program emphasizes teamwork and leadership through after-school activities, supported by faculty and external providers. After-school programs are available across Early Childhood, Lower School, and Upper School.

Community & Service
Global Citizenship is a focus, with opportunities to participate in community service projects and school trips to China. Service Learning is an active component of SCIS's program. China Culture is part of the student-life suite. School-wide initiatives include wellbeing, sustainability, and reducing barriers, with ongoing opportunities for community engagement.

Leadership & Professional
University Counseling provides individualized guidance to help students plan their university pathways, beginning as early as Grade 9. Counselors offer workshops on essay writing, interview preparation, and admissions strategies, and BridgeU is used as the main online college and career guidance tool. Students participate in university fairs, campus visits, and admissions events to broaden their horizons.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
SCIS fosters a healthy emotional environment with a supportive school culture. World-class facilities across three campuses include 6-lane 25-meter pools, large multi-use auditoriums, a 10,000 square foot Black Box theatre, an art gallery, rock climbing walls, indoor basketball courts, and strength and conditioning spaces, along with a full health clinic staffed by professional nurses. Wellbeing is a focus through school-wide initiatives and community engagement programs.
Languages

Language Provision
The language of instruction is English. Mandarin is offered as an additional language with a daily, leveled program for beginners to experienced learners. Language Acquisition and Language & Literature cover multiple languages, including English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Korean, Dutch, and Japanese. Mother-tongue instruction is available in Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish.

Bilingual Teaching
The language of instruction is English. Mandarin is taught as an additional language across grade levels and is integrated into daily learning. Language Acquisition courses include English, Mandarin, French, and Spanish, while Language & Literature courses are offered in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish. Mother-tongue programs exist in Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish.
Reputation

Awards
Below are awards or formal recognitions reported on the SCIS website from the last five years (2021–2025). Each item is limited to recognitions given to the school or to school teams (not to individual students):

1) Apple Distinguished School (2024–2027) — SCIS was recognized by Apple as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2024–2027 term; this is a school-level designation that recognizes institutions using Apple technology to support schoolwide innovation in teaching and learning.

2) ACAMIS High School Math Olympiad — 1st place (ACAMIS, 2024) — The SCIS Hongqiao teams competed at the ACAMIS High School Math Olympiad in 2024, with one Hongqiao team finishing first overall; this is an inter-school competition result reported as a school achievement on SCIS's site.

3) ACAMIS High School Math Olympiad — 1st place (ACAMIS, 2025) — SCIS Hongqiao again reported a first-place finish at the ACAMIS Central Math Olympiad in 2025; the school's news post frames this as an institutional/team achievement.

4) ACAMIS Volleyball / SISAC results (2023) — SCIS reported multiple team-level achievements during the 2023 season: SCIS Pudong boys' varsity volleyball won their ACAMIS division (reported as a first-place team result), and Hongqiao teams claimed SISAC honours (e.g., Junior Varsity girls won the SISAC Western Division plaque). These are school/team-level athletic awards published by SCIS.

5) ACAMIS Volleyball — double Gold (ACAMIS Green Division Volleyball, 2025) — SCIS reported that both the Hongqiao Girls and Boys D1 volleyball teams won Gold at the ACAMIS Green Division Volleyball Tournament hosted at Hongqiao in October 2025; this is recorded on the school website as a campus/team achievement.

Notes and scope:
- I included only awards, recognitions or competition results that are explicitly reported on the SCIS website and that are presented there as awards to the school or its teams (not individual student prizes). Each named item above links to the SCIS page that documents it.
- The SCIS site also publishes many student-level awards and festival/contest results; per your instruction those are not listed here because they are individual or student-group recognitions rather than awards given to the school itself. Examples (film-festival prizes, individual IB high scores, etc.) appear on SCIS news pages but were excluded for that reason.

If you'd like, I can:
- Extract the exact SCIS news URLs and list them beside each award, or
- Expand the timeline to include earlier years (pre-2021), or
- Verify whether any of the athletic conference wins are recorded on the ACAMIS / SISAC websites (external confirmation).

Accreditations
1) International Baccalaureate (IB) — SCIS is authorized as an IB Continuum World School (PYP, MYP, DP). This means the school is approved by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to deliver the full IB continuum across its divisions; that authorization indicates the school meets IB standards for curriculum, assessment and school-wide IB practice.

2) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — SCIS is accredited by WASC. WASC accreditation is a regional-style external review that validates that the school meets internationally recognized standards for institutional quality, continuous improvement and that its secondary diplomas are broadly accepted by universities.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Review eligibility, age/grade guidelines and admissions checklist. Before you start an application, confirm your child's eligibility under the Shanghai categories (Type A/B/C) and the school's age/grade cut‑offs; SCIS publishes an Age/Grade guideline PDF showing exact birth‑date ranges for each grade and an Admissions Checklist that lists required government documents for each eligibility type. Parents should check whether they can submit some government documents later (for example, residence/work permits may be allowed within 60 days for families arriving from overseas) and note that documents not in English must be translated.

2. Create an account and complete the online application. SCIS requires all applications to be submitted through its online portal (OpenApply); when you complete the online form you will create an account and follow the portal prompts to enter family and student details. Make sure you fill in the student's current school history fully — SCIS asks for recent school reports and (for older students) transcripts — because the Admissions Committee uses these documents in its evaluation.

3. Upload supporting documents required for your application. The school's checklist specifies items such as passport copies for student and parents, birth certificate, immunization records, current and prior school reports (usually the most recent year plus up to three prior years), recommendation letter(s), standardized assessment or English‑proficiency results if available (WIDA or NWEA MAP preferred), and any learning‑support documentation (IEP, psychological report) if applicable. If you are applying from another Shanghai international school, the checklist notes that a certificate of enrollment plus complete academic reports may be accepted in place of a letter of recommendation; also note which government documents are required for your application category.

4. Pay the application fee and complete the application. SCIS marks an application as complete only after the required supporting documents have been uploaded and the application fee has been paid through the portal or as instructed. The website lists an application fee amount (RMB 2,750) and the Admissions Checklist PDF lists RMB 2,500; because those two pages disagree, confirm the current application fee with the admissions office before payment to avoid underpayment.

5. Assessment, interview and Admissions Committee review. Once your application is complete, SCIS's Admissions Committee reviews each file; the process can include age‑appropriate assessments, interviews (virtual or on‑campus), and formal English‑language proficiency testing on arrival if applicable. Decisions are based on a combination of international mindedness, English proficiency, academic history, and the student's social/emotional and behavioral background; if learning support needs are declared, the committee will consider whether SCIS can meet those needs. Parents should prepare original or certified copies of academic reports and any learning‑support records to speed verification if requested.

6. Offer, seat guarantee and payment to secure enrollment. If a place is offered, enrollment is only secure after payment of either the full tuition (annual or semester) or the seat guarantee deposit. For 2025–2026 the published seat guarantee deposit is RMB 20,000; new‑student capital and other one‑time fees (for example a first‑year Capital Fee listed on the site) are payable on admission. Note the school's payment deadlines (annual/semester deadlines and early‑payment discount dates) and the refund/withdrawal rules — e.g., refunds vary depending on when the school is notified in writing and seat guarantee deposits are non‑refundable under specified conditions. Parents should keep proof of wire transfers and follow the school's instructions for emailing remittance receipts.

7. Timing and rounds / rolling admissions. SCIS runs application rounds with posted deadlines and also operates rolling admissions; the Apply page lists specific round deadlines and notes that after the stated rounds decisions move to rolling and capacity‑based offers. Because SCIS reports operating near or at full capacity in many divisions, applying early in a round (and completing the application) improves the chance that the Admissions Committee can consider the application before capacity is reached. If you have timing constraints (arrival dates, visa processing), tell the admissions office when you submit the application.

Scholarships
SCIS operates an International Scholars Program (announced in a school news posting) that offers a limited number of merit‑ and need‑based scholarships for prospective students in certain grades. The 2024–25 announcement describes six scholarship streams (for example: IB Diploma Scholarship, Academic Excellence, Leaders of Tomorrow, Renaissance (arts), International‑Mindedness, and Self‑Motivated Learner), available to applicants roughly in Grades 5–11 depending on the specific award. Scholarship awards were described in the announcement as covering between 25% and 75% of annual tuition and could be renewable for up to four years subject to annual review; applicants were instructed to submit a separate SCIS scholarship application and required documents and, if shortlisted, were invited to interview. Because scholarship offerings, quotas, eligibility details and deadlines can change year to year, contact the Admissions office or check the SCIS website for the current scholarship application form, deadlines and selection criteria before applying.

Waitlist
SCIS does not publish a separate, detailed public policy labeled “waitlist” on the admissions pages, but the school explicitly states that offers are made on a rolling and capacity basis and refers to a “wait‑pool” when describing what happens if a seat guarantee is not paid by the due date. The Admissions Checklist and other admissions pages say SCIS operates on a rolling basis and that offers are subject to space availability, and the Tuition & Fees page explains that when a seat guarantee deadline passes the seat may be offered to students in the wait‑pool or new applicants. In practice this means that if space is full your completed application will be held and considered as openings arise; there is no separate public “position number” or published waitlist procedure, so parents who want clarity about their application status should contact admissions directly (admissions@scis-china.org) to ask whether the candidate is in an active wait pool and what documentation or timing would change their status.
School Events
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