doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
S

Shanghai Livingston American School

China, Shanghai

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 133,825 - 221,823
Ages 2 - 17 years
Pupil numbers 480
Type Co-educational
Opened 2003
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages Mandarin, Japanese, French, Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Elementary, High School
Introduction

Shanghai Livingston American School (SLAS) opened its original campus on August 26, 2003 and moved to its current Ganxi Road site in Changning District in January 2005. SLAS follows an American curriculum that aligns with California public-school standards and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the high school program. The school publishes age cutoffs from Nursery (age 2) through Grade 12 and provides a door-to-door school bus service for Shanghai addresses (with published semester rates). SLAS also lists a community-service programme and foreign-language classes (students have taken French, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese), and the school highlights school libraries and arts/music offerings as regular parts of its programme. All facts above are taken from the school website.

www.laschina.org

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Shanghai Livingston American School has 480 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location
SLAS is in Changning District at 580 Ganxi Road, a central area with many international residents; the campus was chosen for its proximity to expatriate neighbourhoods. Public transport and taxis are commonly used to reach the school; the school provides a door-to-door bus service for students (see Transportation).

Stages
The school runs an Early Years program and Primary (elementary) years, plus Middle School and High School (Grades 9–12), with year-group pages and handbooks for each division. Admissions and placement testing determine entry level for newcomers.

Type
SLAS is a co-educational international school following an American-style curriculum and is WASC-accredited. It operates as a day school (no public boarding provision is listed).

Additional learning support
The school runs English Language Development (ELD/ESL) programmes for students who are acquiring English, with placement testing and regular assessment; primary years also have a Learning Support/Resource class for targeted literacy support. For specifics about support plans or specialist services, contact the Guidance/Learning Support team.

Country affiliation
SLAS operates as an American international school (American curriculum orientation) rather than being affiliated with a national government or church.

Religious affiliation
The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; its mission and core values present a secular international school profile.

School day structure
The website presents division-specific handbooks and calendars but does not publish a single, clearly listed daily start/end time for all students; start and finish times (and break/lunch arrangements) are normally set by division and are provided in student handbooks or on admission. Please check the relevant student handbook or ask Admissions for the exact times for your child's year group.

Bus service
SLAS operates a door-to-door school bus service for students living in Shanghai; the school publishes semester fees (e.g., RMB 9,000 within 15 km; RMB 9,300 over 15 km), a list of numbered routes and the bus office contact. The school notes it is not obliged to offer service outside existing routes, and parents register via the school's bus registration form. For route-specific enquiries contact the Transport office.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Shanghai Livingston American School ranges from RMB 133,825 to RMB 221,823 for 2026/27.

Application fee

- Application Fee: RMB 2,200 (non‑refundable).

Tuition fees (2025–2026) — annual and per‑term (school year organized in three trimesters)

Note: SLAS charges tuition as annual amounts; all fees are payable in advance for each term. The school calendar shows the academic year divided into three trimesters; therefore the per‑term figures below are the annual fee divided by three. Annual and per‑term figures are shown in RMB.

- Nursery / Pre‑School / Pre‑Kindergarten
- Annual: RMB 133,825
- Per term (133,825 ÷ 3): RMB 44,608.33.

- Kindergarten
- Annual: RMB 163,350
- Per term (163,350 ÷ 3): RMB 54,450.00.

- Elementary School (Grade 1–5)
- Annual: RMB 202,860
- Per term (202,860 ÷ 3): RMB 67,620.00.

- Middle School (Grade 6–8)
- Annual: RMB 214,990
- Per term (214,990 ÷ 3): RMB 71,663.33.

- High School (Grade 9–12)
- Annual: RMB 221,823
- Per term (221,823 ÷ 3): RMB 73,941.00.

Required supplemental and recurring fees

- Capital Fee (one‑time, mandatory per child): RMB 8,000. Refund only if written withdrawal is received before the first day of classes; no refund once the semester has begun.

- Technology Fee (annual, Grades K–12): RMB 2,000 per child.

- School Bus (door‑to‑door) — charged per semester:
- Within 15 km: RMB 9,000 per student per semester.
- Over 15 km: RMB 9,300 per student per semester.

- School Lunch (prepaid daily): RMB 35 per day (covers lunch and snacks as described by the school).

- Other miscellaneous charges may apply (examples listed by the school include SAT testing fees, MAP testing fees, uniforms for performances/activities and house T‑shirts). Some miscellaneous items are specifically listed as non‑refundable in the school refund policy.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- All fees are to be paid in advance for each term. Any new student enrolling mid‑semester must pay in full for the current month upon enrollment. All fees must be paid on or before the first day of term; students may not attend if fees are unpaid. SLAS reserves the right to change fees without prior notice.

Boarding fees

- Boarding: SLAS operates as a day school; no boarding program or boarding fees are listed. Tuition is presented as "full day" and transportation services are provided by the school.

Other costs and uniform

- School Uniform: A uniform policy and downloadable uniform catalogue are provided; the school indicates parents are responsible for purchasing required uniform pieces. The website provides a uniform catalogue and dress code but does not list fixed uniform prices on the public page. Uniform items and performance/activity‑specific uniform pieces are referenced.

- Additional likely costs (examples identified by the school): extracurricular activity fees, performance uniforms, testing fees (MAP/SAT), textbooks or replacement costs for lost/damaged items, and any charges related to extracurricular trips or house events. Some of these items are explicitly non‑refundable if incurred.

Refund information (key points)

- Tuition refunds:
- Withdrawals made in writing by August 1 (before Fall semester) or December 1 (before Spring semester) are eligible for a 100% tuition refund.
- Written notification received after those dates but before the beginning of classes: 90% tuition refund.
- No refund for the currently enrolled semester once classes begin, except in limited circumstances (e.g., if the school requests a student to leave for behavior/academic reasons the Committee may approve a prorated refund). The student's issued fapiao for refunded tuition must be returned to the school.

- Capital fee refund: only if withdrawal is received in writing before the first day of classes; no refund once the semester begins.

- Transportation refund: written notification two (2) weeks prior to the start of the semester is required for a refund; no refund once the semester has begun. Lunch refunds require one (1) week's written notice and will be prorated. Certain fees (Registration Fee, Seat Guarantee Fee, MAPS Testing Fee and similar) are specifically listed as non‑refundable. Outstanding financial obligations are deducted from any refund.

Fee payment options and bank details

- Accepted payment methods: bank transfer, RMB or USD check, or cash. If paying by bank transfer, forward a copy of the bank remittance with the student's name and grade. If paying in USD, the exchange rate is calculated at the current bank exchange rate used by the school. All fees must be paid on or before the first day of term.

- School bank account information (as provided for payments in RMB or USD):
- Bank Name: Fubon Bank Shanghai Hong Qiao Sub‑Branch.
- RMB Account Number: 50100001100004085.
- USD Account Number: 50100001200004087.
- SWIFT: FSBCCNSH.
- Payment remark: Student's English name and grade level.

If you require these figures presented in another currency, or need them formatted differently for a database, the numeric values above are the school's published amounts in RMB for the 2025–2026 school year.
Academics

Shanghai Livingston American School teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 2 to 17.

Curriculum
Shanghai Livingston American School follows an American-style curriculum from Early Years through Grade 12 and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The Early Years Program emphasizes inquiry, discovery and social‑emotional foundations, while Primary (Pre‑K–Grade 5) focuses on reading, writing, science and Common Core–aligned mathematics (Go Math/HMH).
Middle School (Grades 6–8) continues the four core areas (English language arts, math, science, social studies) and adds electives and interdisciplinary units to prepare students for secondary study.
High School (Grades 9–12) is organized as a U.S. college‑preparatory program offering core subjects, world languages, arts, technology and PE, with Advanced Placement (AP) course options (for example AP Calculus, AP Psychology, AP World History) and support for AP/SAT/ACT testing.
SLAS issues formal high‑school credentials — the LAS Diploma (27 credits) and an Advanced Studies Diploma (30 credits) — and operates as an official ACT test site; transcripts and AP experience are used for university admission.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Check whether your child meets the school's age/grade cut‑off before you apply. SLAS publishes grade cut‑off dates for each school year (for example the Age Requirement table for 2025–2026 lists exact birth‑date ranges for Nursery through Grade 12); use that table to confirm the correct grade and to avoid later re‑placement. If your child has not completed a full year in a grade by the fall entrance date, SLAS may require re‑enrollment in the same grade.

2. Complete the official application form and collect required documents. SLAS requires a completed, signed application form plus a completed medical form and vaccination record, recent academic records (varies by division), a sealed recommendation letter (teacher for elementary; administrator for middle/high), two passport photos, and photocopies of student and parents' passports and visas. The school states incomplete application forms or missing documents will delay or prevent consideration, so assemble everything before submission.

3. Pay the non‑refundable application fee and submit the file. The application fee is RMB 2,200 and must be paid and received before the Admissions Committee will evaluate the application; SLAS will not refund this fee whether or not the student is accepted. The application pages and bank information on the website give instructions for bank transfer and for emailing completed files to the Admissions Office. If you plan to pay by transfer, include the student's English name and grade as the transfer remark to help the office match the payment.

4. Expect assessment or testing where required. SLAS may require admissions testing for any applicant; when campus testing is not possible the family is responsible for arranging impartial testing at the student's present school. ESL/ELD testing is commonly administered for grades 1–8 and will determine placement in the regular program, the school's ELD program, or advise seeking intensive English elsewhere until passing. Tests are not shared in advance and the school controls how results are released.

5. Provide confidential references if requested and keep contact details current. The school may require confidential letters of reference prior to a final decision; it is the family's responsibility to ensure reference forms are returned in a timely and sealed/confidential manner. SLAS will contact families by phone, fax or email for testing or additional information, so make sure the Admissions Office has accurate contact details.

6. Admissions review, priority and rolling decisions. SLAS operates rolling admissions and reviews complete application files throughout the year; however final placements are governed by Board policy that establishes admission priority categories and wait‑list standing (a student's position can change if higher‑priority applicants apply). If a grade is full, qualified applicants may be placed on a wait list or otherwise handled according to the school's priority policy. For status checks or timeline questions contact the Admissions Office directly.

7. If offered a place, follow the written acceptance steps and pay required fees to confirm enrollment. Official acceptance letters include start dates and class assignments; families must complete the enrollment/fee steps by the deadlines in that letter. Required one‑time and annual fees (capital fee, technology fee, annual tuition by grade) are detailed on the Tuition Fees page — note that some fees (for example the capital fee) are refundable only before term start and others are non‑refundable. Keep copies of any payment receipts or fapiao required for refunds.

8. Arrange ancillary services and confirm start‑of‑term logistics. If you need bus service, school lunch, or other services, add them during enrollment — the site lists bus semester costs and the daily lunch charge. SLAS requires that term fees be paid on or before the first day of term and states students may not attend if fees are unpaid. If you need special arrangements (late arrival, testing accommodations), notify Admissions in advance.

Scholarships
SLAS operates a scholarship and financial awards program intended to help bridge the gap between full tuition costs and what a family can pay. The school states it awards scholarships for a range of areas including academic achievement, community service, artistic and musical ability, English language excellence, and athletics, and that decisions consider both the student's abilities and the family's financial need. The Financial Awards page describes a flexible payment plan and an active awards program but does not publish standard award amounts or a public application form; families interested in financial assistance should contact the Admissions or Finance Office to request the application process, deadlines, documentation required (income/need documentation, supporting materials), and timelines. SLAS recommends discussing financial aid options with Admissions so the school can explain available awards and required steps.

Waitlist
SLAS uses rolling admissions and maintains wait lists governed by the school's Board policy and its priority system. The website states that admission is subject to a priority order set by the Board and that a student's position on wait lists can change if applicants with higher priority apply; SLAS also references seat guarantees (a seat‑guarantee fee is listed as non‑refundable in the refund policy). The school does not publish a public, detailed ranking of priority categories on the site; for specifics (how priority is assigned, whether siblings, staff or returning students receive priority, or how seat guarantees work in practice) the Admissions Office should be contacted directly. If a grade is full, qualified applicants will be placed on the wait list and offered enrollment as spaces become available under the established priority rules.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in China View all schools in Shanghai View all schools in China American curriculum schools in China Open days & tours in Shanghai What is the American curriculum? View all schools Search all schools
doris
linked-in-logo facebook-logo instagram-logo
About
Parent Guide
Transparency Charter
Privacy Notice Terms of Use Cookies Notice Cookie Preferences
© 2026 doris Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved.