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Shu Ren International School

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Mandarin, English
Fees $29,348 - 30,950
Ages 2 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 185
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, English
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction

Shu Ren International School is a private international school in the United States serving ages 2-11, offering a blended IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and American curriculum. The program provides full Mandarin immersion for Early Childhood (ages 2-5) and Elementary (Kindergarten-Grade 5). It centers on the PYP's concept-based inquiry cycle, cultivating knowledge, skills, and dispositions for lifelong learning as students ask meaningful questions, make cross-subject connections, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Social-emotional development is embedded through the Responsive Classroom approach, Zones of Regulation, and PSPE, supporting wellbeing and global citizenship. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure every child is seen and supported. Aftercare runs 3:00-6:00 PM on preschool, TK, and elementary campuses, and enrichment is offered in both Mandarin and English. The Shu Ren Experience extends learning beyond the classroom with arts and athletics, language and cultural enrichment, and Mandarin-immersion Vacation Camps. Co-curricular programs broaden opportunities.

2125 Jefferson Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States

The Essentials

Shu Ren International School has 185 pupils, instruction in Mandarin, English.

Location

Berkeley, California, United States. 2125 Jefferson Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703.

Stages

Early Childhood (Ages 2-5) and Elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 5).

Type

Private international school.

Country affiliation

United States

School day structure

Extended Day and Extracurricular Programs available; Summer School offered.

Fees

Annual tuition at Shu Ren International School ranges from USD 29,348 to USD 30,950 for 2026/27.

Applicable academic year: 2025/2026.

Application fee
- One-time application fee: USD 100 (charged at application). The application fee is non-refundable.

Tuition fees — annual and per-term equivalent (by year group / grade)
- Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual tuition USD 29,348 — Per-term equivalent (annual ÷ 3) USD 9,782.67.
- Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual tuition USD 29,348 — Per-term equivalent USD 9,782.67.
- Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual tuition USD 29,348 — Per-term equivalent USD 9,782.67.
- Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual tuition USD 30,923 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,307.67.
- Grade 1 (age 6): Annual tuition USD 30,950 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.
- Grade 2 (age 7): Annual tuition USD 30,950 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.
- Grade 3 (age 8): Annual tuition USD 30,950 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.
- Grade 4 (age 9): Annual tuition USD 30,950 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.
- Grade 5 (age 10): Annual tuition USD 30,950 — Per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.
- (If applicable) Grade 6 listing appears in published fee summaries with annual tuition USD 30,950 — per-term equivalent USD 10,316.67.

- Note on first-year total: for a new enrollee the first-year total commonly shown includes the one-time application charge; an example published total for a 2-year-old's first year is USD 29,448 (annual tuition plus the one-time application fee).

What the tuition covers
- Published tuition descriptions indicate the annual tuition covers classroom materials, access to learning technology, and enriching field trips and related program elements.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Published fees are presented as annual amounts. No publicly posted per-term billing schedule, specific installment plans, or late-payment penalties were found in the available fee summaries. Families should expect the school to bill on an annual basis or to offer school-managed payment arrangements; the published figures above are the annual amounts.

Sibling discounts and financial assistance
- Sibling discount: a USD 2,000 tuition-credit is offered for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled. Financial assistance is offered for Kindergarten through Grade 5 applicants (details handled through admissions/financial-aid processes).

Boarding fees
- Shu Ren operates as a day school for ages 2–12; there is no boarding program and therefore no boarding fees.

Other costs or fees
- Optional / additional charges that may apply: optional hot-lunch orders, extended-day or aftercare program fees, extracurricular activity fees, occasional field-trip fees if outside regular programming, and any optional services selected by the family. Published material identifies lunch service and extended care as available options. Uniforms are listed as not required.

Refund information
- The application fee is charged as a one-time fee and is reported as non-refundable. A publicly posted, detailed tuition-refund or withdrawal refund schedule was not available in the fee summaries consulted.

Fee payment options
- No explicit, publicly posted list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, check) was found in the published fee summaries. The school uses a parent/admissions portal for account management; billing and specific accepted-payment methods are administered through the school's billing office and parent portal.

Limitations and brief note on missing details
- The figures above are the published annual tuition amounts and the one-time application fee reported in the 2025/2026 fee summaries. A per-term billing breakdown, explicit billing calendar, detailed payment terms, a full tuition-refund/withdrawal schedule, and a public list of accepted payment methods were not provided in the publicly available fee material consulted. Per-term numbers shown above are per-term equivalents (annual ÷ 3) calculated for convenience because only annual amounts were published.
Academics

Shu Ren International School teaches IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 2 to 11.

Curriculum

Blends the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with full Mandarin immersion for Early Childhood (ages 2–5) and Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5). The program centers on the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and uses a concept-based inquiry cycle to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions for lifelong learning. Students are encouraged to ask meaningful questions, make connections across subjects, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Social-emotional learning is embedded in the curriculum, with the Responsive Classroom approach, Zones of Regulation, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education (PSPE) supporting wellbeing and global citizenship. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure every child is seen and supported. .

Student Teacher Ratio

Small class sizes support individualized attention.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school nurtures the whole person and emphasizes social-emotional growth through curiosity, creativity, and compassion. Learners are prepared to act as global citizens and to contribute their voices within a community where every voice matters.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school uses a two-way Mandarin–English immersion model in which Mandarin is the language of instruction and English is used alongside to support bilingual fluency.

Mental Wellbeing

The school focuses on the development of the whole child, nurturing social-emotional growth alongside academics. It emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and compassionate engagement as part of a globally minded education.

Safeguarding

The school has an Anti-Discrimination Policy.

Admissions

Admissions

1. Connect with Us. Fill out our short Inquiry Form so we can get to know your family and start the conversation. The inquiry begins the admissions process and helps us understand your child's needs. Our admissions team will respond with next steps and available options, and you'll be invited to take the next step in person. Take the first step by connecting with Shu Ren to learn more about our Mandarin immersion program and community.
2. Come Visit. Join us for a personal tour—step into our classrooms, meet our caring teachers, and feel the warmth of our community. The visit provides an in-person look at the learning environment and the people who guide your child's day. You can ask questions and observe how our program operates in practice.
3. Start your Application. When you feel ready, we'll send you a personalized link to start your application. The admissions team is available to answer questions and offer support along the way. The application process begins once you access the personalized link and submit the required information.
4. Join Our Community. Enroll at Shu Ren and step into a global community where your child can grow, thrive, and discover their unique superpower. Enrollment marks the culmination of the admissions journey and the start of your child's Shu Ren experience.

Scholarships

Sibling Tuition: We offer a $2000 tuition discount credit for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled at Shu Ren. Financial Assistance: If you're applying for Kindergarten through 5th grade and need financial support, connect with our Admissions Team to learn about available assistance.

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