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TEDA International School

China, Tianjin

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 225
Type Co-educational
Opened 1995
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Typical class size 15
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Leadership and Professional, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

The school is a government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian, coeducational day school established in 1995 to serve foreign nationalities residing in the TEDA area. In 2019 the school underwent a rebranding that new logo/colors reflect the area's port-and-sea connection.

No. 72, 3rd Avenue Teda Tianjin China 300457

The Essentials

TEDA International School has 225 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location

The school is located at No. 72, Third Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin, China 300457. It sits in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) in the Binhai district, a residential area with an expatriate population. The campus is in a residential section of TEDA, about ten minutes from Tanggu and about fifty minutes from central Tianjin by road.

Stages

The school serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. It is organized into Pre-Kindergarten, Primary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12).

Type

TEDA International School is a government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian, coeducational day school. It operates as the international division of TEDA International School within the Binhai-area public school system and is open to foreigners residing in TEDA.

Additional learning support

English language learners receive additional support from specially trained teachers. Students with mild learning and social-emotional needs receive support from specialized staff. High school language support is not available.

Country affiliation

There is no country-specific affiliation. The school is government-owned and part of the Binhai-area public school system in Tianjin, China.

Religious affiliation

The school is non-sectarian and has no religious affiliation.

School day structure

The school provides a full-day program for Pre-K through Grade 12. The divisions are Pre-Kindergarten; Primary K-5; Middle School; and High School. Start/end times are not published publicly and are communicated to families during the admissions process.

Bus service

A dedicated school bus service is not listed on the official pages. Transportation details should be confirmed with the admissions team.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements

The school is a day school; no boarding is provided.

Governance and Ownership

The school is government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian and coeducational. It was established in 1995 to serve foreign nationalities in the TEDA area and operates as the international division of TEDA International School within the Binhai-area public school system. It is governed by the Binhai Culture and Education Development Office and receives legal oversight and financial approval from the Superintendent of TEDA International School. The Headmaster leads the school; Administrative and Academic Leadership Teams handle decision-making; the Steering Committee, comprising parents, teachers, and a TEDA representative, oversees policy development and financial decisions. All programs are funded by tuition fees, with no subsidies from the local government.
Fees
Application fees
- Application / registration: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, new students).

Tuition fees (annual, by year group)
- FS1 (early years level): RMB 109,440 per year.
- KG1 / FS2 and KG2 / Year 1 through Grade 5: RMB 167,400 per year.
- Grade 6 and above (middle and high school grades): RMB 182,160 per year.

(Note: other publicly listed summaries show a different published breakdown for broad bands — Pre‑kindergarten RMB 63,000–98,000, Primary RMB 147,000 and Secondary RMB 160,000 — indicating that published annual totals can vary by source. )

Per‑term detail
- Tuition figures available in public listings are published as annual amounts; a term‑by‑term breakdown was not published in the fee listings consulted.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school operates on an August–June academic year. Annual tuition is quoted in the sources consulted. A published, itemized billing schedule (term due dates, installment deadlines, penalties for late payment) was not available in the public fee pages accessed.

Boarding fees
- TEDA International School is a day school; there are no boarding fees.

Other costs and typical additional fees
- Additional costs commonly reported by school directories and regional listings that may apply (amounts not published): school lunch / catering; school uniform; extracurricular activity fees; elective program or specialist class fees; technology requirements (laptop for older students) and occasional capital / building levies. Specific charges for these items were not published in the fee listings consulted.

Refund information
- No detailed public refund policy for tuition or registration charges was published in the fee pages and directory listings consulted. The registration/application charge is commonly treated as a one‑time administrative fee in directory entries.

Fee payment options
- Public fee listings reviewed do not specify the school's accepted payment channels (for example: bank transfer, credit card, online payment). The consulted sources quote annual tuition amounts but do not publish a complete list of accepted payment methods or merchant/payment surcharges.
Academics

TEDA International School teaches Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum

TEDA International School teaches in English and uses a U.S.-influenced, college-preparatory curriculum from Pre-K through Grade 12, with English-language learner support. Pre-Kindergarten uses HighScope, a play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and exposes students to Chinese, music, library, dance and fitness to develop language, social and cognitive skills. Primary K-5 focuses on growth in character and learning through a differentiated cross-curricular program that includes the arts, and implements the Virtues in Action program (VIVA) within a Positive Discipline framework. Middle School follows developmentally appropriate standards and benchmarks, with an emphasis on strong teacher expertise and relationships to prepare students for high school and beyond. High School offers a wide array of Advanced Placement courses and an American diploma, with electives in visual and performing arts, computer technology, social sciences and physical education. The school notes small class sizes and a global university pathway, with 12 AP courses and destinations such as Boston University, UCLA and the University of Toronto.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL is integrated through a social-emotional framework based on the Positive Discipline model, with English-language support and specialized staff for diverse learners.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

SEN support is provided by a learning support team for mild learning differences and by language support teachers to assist English learners; language support teachers work with regular classroom teachers to provide accommodations and ensure access to learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English language learners receive specialized support through an immersion-style program, with language support teachers working alongside regular teachers to develop academic English proficiency.

Mental Wellbeing

Guidance Counseling provides support for academic, social and emotional needs, including stress management and coping skills, and college/university planning.

Safeguarding

The school requires teachers to commit to child safeguarding and protection and to uphold the UN Rights of the Child.
Parent Experience

History

TEDA International School (TIS) is government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian, and coeducational, established in 1995 to serve the foreign nationalities residing in the TEDA area. The school was founded by the TEDA government and remains open to expatriate families living in TEDA. Since its founding, the school has operated under local governance as an English-medium international school. The campus comprises six modern buildings with facilities including classrooms, science labs, a library, ESOL spaces, a gymnasium, and a large cafeteria. The school is accredited by international bodies such as CIS and WASC, reflecting its adherence to global accreditation standards.

Community

TIS serves a diverse community of international and local resident students, supported by year-round athletics, visual and performing arts, and a range of clubs and activities. The school hosts cultural and community events such as the International Day lunch, the Winter festival and craft fair, and family-friendly activities like garage sales and schoolwide picnics. All parents and teachers participate in the Parents and Friends Association, which coordinates these events and fosters a welcoming school environment. Monthly meetings and regular communications keep families informed.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The PTA at TEDAIS is called the Parents and Friends Association (PFA). All parents of currently enrolled students and teachers are automatic members, and there is no separate signup or membership fee. The PFA organizes events such as the International Day lunch, the Winter festival and craft fair, the garage sale, and schoolwide family picnics. It coordinates volunteers and acts as a liaison between families and school administration. Monthly meetings bring parents and staff together to discuss events, needs, and opportunities to contribute. Parents can contact the PFA at pfa@tedais.org for information or to get involved.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

TEDA International School sits on a park-like campus in Tianjin's TEDA district. The campus comprises six modern, climate-controlled buildings that house general classrooms and specialised learning spaces. Academic facilities include science laboratories, computer laboratories, a library/media center, and ESOL classrooms. The school has a full-sized gymnasium and a large cafeteria. Outdoor spaces include a playground, a football field, and a running track.

Sports Facilities

The campus supports year‑round sport with a full-sized gymnasium, a football field, and a running track. The athletics program includes volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, swimming and track for Middle and High School, with primary students participating in local leagues. These facilities and programs enable interscholastic and intramural activity within the local ISCOT region and ACAMIS.

Academic Facilities

Academic facilities include science laboratories, computer laboratories, a library/media center, and ESOL classrooms, distributed across six climate-controlled buildings that house general classrooms. The library/media center supports research and reading, and ESOL classrooms provide language support for learners. The program is based on internationally recognized learning standards for overseas schools, with English language learners receiving targeted support to access the full curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Extracurricular opportunities include Fine and Performing Arts, Athletics, Service-Learning, and Week Without Walls, offering leadership development, community engagement, and experiential learning beyond the classroom.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

TEDA International School's high school program offers a wide array of Advanced Placement (AP) courses to prepare students for university study. The school supports student leadership and academic engagement through programs such as the National Honor Society (NHS) and Model United Nations (MUN). Service-learning is integrated through class projects and service clubs, including Guardian Angels, Shine Home, Roots n' Shoots, and NHS, which develop leadership and problem-solving skills. Electives include computer technology along with other subjects, and Week Without Walls extends learning beyond the classroom through experiential trips.

Arts & Creative

Fine and Performing Arts at TEDA International School includes Visual Arts and Music as core components. The Visual Arts program emphasizes creative expression, design thinking, and visual literacy, and notes that art can be a path to personal development and real-world skills; it also mentions that creative writing, music, dance and drama are part of a holistic arts education. Music instruction covers composing, performing, listening, and collaborative skills development. The arts program positions art as a meaningful, cross-curricular pursuit that supports communication and critical thinking.

Cultural & Language

Model United Nations is offered as a student leadership activity, providing exposure to diplomacy and global affairs. Week Without Walls offers off-campus learning in Tianjin, across greater China and parts of East Asia, exposing students to regional culture and communities. National Honor Society is another leadership program within the school's clubs and activities. These programs support cultural understanding and international-mindedness through experiential learning.

Social & Hobbies

TEDA International School runs year-round interscholastic athletics including volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, swimming, and track. The program follows a no-cut approach to encourage participation and emphasizes teamwork, personal and collective goal setting. In addition to sports, students participate in service clubs such as Guardian Angels, Shine Home, Roots n' Shoots, and NHS that provide social engagement and community-building activities. Week Without Walls offers off-campus experiences that foster collaboration and social interaction.

Community & Service

Service-learning is a core component, with the school partnering with the TEDA Charity Association to support the local community. Students engage in class projects and service clubs that address ecological solutions, support for disabled community members, fundraisers, and drives to collect school supplies and clothing. Service clubs include Guardian Angels, Shine Home, Roots n' Shoots, and the National Honor Society, and school-wide events like the Walkathon raise funds for local charity needs. The program emphasizes leadership, service, and social responsibility across grade levels.

Leadership & Professional

Leadership development is provided through NHS and Model United Nations, with student leadership programs available. Service-learning projects cultivate leadership, problem-solving, and community engagement, while Week Without Walls emphasizes teamwork and service. AP courses and electives in computer technology and the arts contribute to college readiness and professional skills. The school integrates leadership and service as a core part of its educational approach.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Year-round athletics and sports participation promote physical health and teamwork. The school also emphasizes social-emotional learning through a Positive Discipline framework to support students' well-being. Counselor resources and online learning tips are available to support families and students in managing learning at home. Week Without Walls and service activities provide additional opportunities for outdoor activity, reflection, and wellness.
Languages

Language Provision

The school uses English as the language of instruction across all grades from age 2 years 9 months through Grade 12. English language learners receive additional support from specially trained teachers to access the curriculum and participate in class activities. No language support is available at the high school level, and there is no explicit listing of other language courses in the public program materials.
Reputation

Accreditations

The school is publicly listed as fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Welcome to TIS page states: “Fully accredited by both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).” CIS accreditation is an international quality assurance mark earned through an external peer-review process, signaling adherence to CIS's standards for international education. WASC accreditation indicates ongoing evaluation of the school's mission, programs, and outcomes by external peers and ongoing planning for school improvement.
Admissions

Admissions

Step 1 — Eligibility and fit: The school enrolls children from age 2 years 9 months through 18 years and requires a passport from outside Mainland China. Citizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are eligible for admission. Priority is given to returning students and to siblings of currently enrolled students. Understanding these eligibility rules helps families determine whether the school is a fit before preparing an application.

Step 2 — Admissions criteria: Admissions is selective and seeks an appropriate match between the student and the School. Decisions hinge on several factors, including the child's age and birthdate, developmental readiness, prior academic and social success, English language proficiency, confidential recommendation forms, admissions test scores, and family interview results. It also considers any specialized learning or developmental needs and the current grade level capacity.

Step 3 — Additional needs: Applicants with mild developmental, learning, emotional, or physical disabilities may be admitted based on available support and program capacity. Applicants who lack proficiency in English may be admitted based on grade level and available support, though no language support is available at the high school level. This helps families understand the school's inclusion approach and what supports might be available.

Step 4 — Application process: The admissions period is rolling; families may apply at any time. A complete application and admissions file are required before an offer of admission can be made. For admissions during the school year, start dates may vary by grade level and program needs. Students transferring during the school year must have maintained continuous enrollment at a school in another region or country for that school year.

Step 5 — Visit or inquiry: Families are invited to arrange a visit or ask questions. The admissions team can be contacted by email and by phone at +86-22-6622-6297 to schedule a tour, discuss individual learning needs, or clarify any part of the process.

Step 6 — Offer and enrollment: After the admissions file is complete, the school makes an admission decision and an offer of admission may be issued. Families then coordinate enrollment and any required start dates, noting that start dates can vary by grade and program needs.

Waitlist

The admissions information does not describe any waitlist or pooling system.
School Events
The school has not added events