Education:
International Schools and Kindergarten in Shanghai
Introduction
More and more foreigners, coming to live in Shanghai without expatriate education allowances are opting to send their young children to local Chinese kindergartens. The benefits are paying greatly reduced charges (100-500usd a month full-time) and an opportunity for their children to learn Chinese and make Shanghaianese friends.
Scottish designer, Fiona Hewitt, said: "I wanted my daughter to really benefit from being here. But, because my Chinese language skills aren't great I opted for a local kindergarten that has a class taught half in English, half in Chinese. This means I can rely on the English teachers to tell me how my daughter is getting on, or contact me in an emergency.
"Now she is three - within a year she has learnt to speak Chinese pretty well. I am sure this will hold her in good stead for the rest of her life. She just wouldn't have had these opportunities at an English-speaking international school. I know the first 6-months were hard for her - especially getting used to the new style of cooking - but she loves it now.
"To be honest, it took a big leap of faith to get her started there in the first place but it has worked out so much better than we thought. Although, because of the huge differences in teaching approach at primary school level, I don't think we would send her to a Chinese school. I know lots of people who do though, and they don't have any problems."
Local kindergartens are often in spacious buildings with great on-site facilities. The class sizes are usually around 20-30 and teachers are supported by classroom helpers who keep the children clean, fed and watered.
Parents must register their children in person, bringing their passport, Chinese-issued health certificate and a vaccination certificate. For students in Grade 1 and above, selected local schools are open, but students must have an adequate base of Mandarin plus the required documentation.
English Instruction International Schools
| Addresses: The names in brackets are the districts |
British International School
(Puxi)
Primary School
111 Jinguang Road
Huacao Town
Minhang
Tel: +86 (0)21 5226 3211
Fax: +86 (0)21 5226 3212
Email
Website |
British International School (Puxi)
Secondary School
688 Jiyou Road
Huacao Town
Minhang
Tel: +86 (0)21 5226 3211
Fax: +86 (0)21 5226 3212
Email
Website
|
The British International School (Pudong)
600 Cambridge Forest Newtown
2729 Hunan Road
Pudong
Tel: +86 (21) 5812 7455
email
Website |
Concordia International School (Pudong)
999 Mingyue Road, Jingqiao Pudong
Tel: (86 21) 5899 0380
Fax: (86 21) 5899 1685
Email
Website |
The SMIC Private School (Pudong)
Elementary School Division (Grades 1-5)
No. 3, Lane 19, Qing Tong Road
Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203
Tel: (86 21) 5855 4588
Fax: (86 21) 5895 7828
Middle & High School Division (Grades 6-12)
169 Qing Tong Road
Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203
Tel: (86 21) 5855 4588
Fax: (86 21) 5855 7462
Email
Website |
Shanghai American School (SAS)
258 Jin Feng Lu
Zhudi Zhen Minhang District
Tel: (86 21) 6221 1445
Fax: (86 21) 6221 1269
Email
Website |
Singapore Shanghai International School
Minhang Campus
288 JidiLu
Minhang District
Tel: (86 21) 6221 9288
Fax: (86 21) 6221 9188
Xuhui Campus
1455 Huajing Lu
Xuhui District
Tel: (86 21) 6496 5550
Fax: (86 21) 6496 5072
Minhang Preschool Campus
1 Jiyu Lu
Minhang District
Tel: (86 21) 6296 6110
Fax:(86 21) 6296 1760
Email
Website |
Shanghai Community International Schools
Email
Website
Changning Campus - Preschool - Grade 6
261, Jiangsu Lu # 79
Tel: (86 21) 6252 3688
Fax:(86 21) 6212 2330
Hongqiao Campus - Preschool - Grade 8
1161 Hongqiao Lu, Gubei
Tel: (86 21) 6261 4338
Fax: (86 21) 6261 4639
Pudong Campus - Preschool - Grade 12
Emerald
800 Xiuyan Lu
Kangqiao
Tel: (86 21) 5812 9888
Fax: (86 21) 5812 9000
|
Hangzhou International School - Preschool - Grade 12
78 Dongxin Jie
Binjiang
Tel: (86 571) 8669 0045
Fax: (86 571) 8669 0044
Email
Website |
Yew Chung Shanghai International School
Hongquiao Campus
Hongqiao Campus:
11 Shui Cheng Road
Tel: 6242-3243
Fax: 6242-7331
Gubei Campus:
18 West Rong Hua Road, Gubei New Area
Tel: 6219-5910
Fax: 6219-0675
Seasons Villas Campus:
1983 Hua Mu Road, Pudong
Tel: 6856-7202
Fax: 6856-7344
Regency Park Campus:
1817 Hua Mu Road, Pudong
Tel: 5033-1900
Fax: 6856-5907
Email
Website |
Dulwich College Shanghai
* DCS Main Campus
Address: 222 Lan An Lu, Jin Qiao
Pudong
Tel: (86 21) 5899 9910
Fax: (86 21) 5899 9810
DUCKS
425 Lan An Lu, Jin Qiao
Pudong
Tel: (86 21) 5899 3785
Fax: (86 21) 5899 3751
Website |
Rainbow Bridge International School (RBIS)
2381 Hong Qiao Road (inside Shanghai Zoo)
Tel: (86 21) 6268 9773
Fax: (86 21) 6269 1294
Email
Website |
Livingston American School (Changning District)
580 Gan Xi Rd
Tel: (86 21) 6238 3511
Fax: (86 21) 5218 0390
Email
Website |
Xiehe Bilingual School International Stream
999 Hongquan Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6465 6090 ext. 3006
Email
Website |
Shanghai Rego International School (Minghang District)
Primary: 159 Diannan Road, 201100 Shanghai
Secondary: 189 Dongzha Road, 201100 Shanghai
Tel: (86 21) 5488 8320 or 5488 3431
Mobile: (86 21)13601950417
Fax: (86 21) 5488 5695 or 5488 5072
Website
|
Sino-Canada High School
Room 2101, 933 West Zongshan Rd
Tel: (86 21) 5111 3110
Email
Website |
Western International School of Shanghai (Qing Pu District)
555 Lian Min Road, Qing Pu District Shanghai, PRC 201702
Phone: +86-21-6976-6388
Mobile: +86-136-6189-8631
Fax: +86-21-6976-6833
Website
Email |
|
Non-English International Schools
| Addresses: |
L'Ecole Francaise de Shanghai Quing Pu and Pudong)
Campus Quing Pu
30, Lane 399, Zhu Guang Lu
Qing Pu District
Tel : 0086 21 39760555
Fax : 0086 21 39760577
Campus Pudong:
1555, Jufeng Lu Pu Dong District
Tel: 0086 21 68976589
Fax: 0086 21 68976576
Website |
Shanghai Japanese School (Hongqiao)
3185 Hongmei Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6401 2747
|
Shanghai German School (Puxi and Pudong)
Language of instruction is German
Kindergarten - Highschool with IB or German Abitur
|
|
|
Local Schools/Kindergarten
More and more foreigners, coming to live in Shanghai without expatriate education allowances are opting to send their young children to local Chinese kindergartens. The benefits are paying greatly reduced charges (100-500usd a month full-time) and an opportunity for their children to learn Chinese and make Shanghaianese friends.
"To be honest, it took a big leap of faith to get her started there in the first place but it has worked out so much better than we thought. Although, because of the huge differences in teaching approach at primary school level, I don't think we would send her to a Chinese school. I know lots of people who do though, and they don't have any problems."
Local kindergartens are often in spacious buildings with great on-site facilities. The class sizes are usually around 20-30 and teachers are supported by classroom helpers who keep the children clean, fed and watered.
Parents must register their children in person, bringing their passport, Chinese-issued health certificate and a vaccination certificate. For students in Grade 1 and above, selected local schools are open, but students must have an adequate base of Mandarin plus the required documentation.
| Addresses |
| International Division of No. 2 School of East Normal University
896 Zaoyang Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6245 1397
Email |
The International Division of Shanghai School
400 Shangzhong Lu
Tel:(86 21) 6455 1487 |
Xuhui Art Kindergarten
Ages 3 years and up
Two campuses:
75 Wuxing Lu
Wuxing Lu, Lane 270, No 5.
Tel: (86 21) 6473 9393
Tel:(86 21) 6474 4595 |
| Pudong New Area Oriental Kindergarten
Ages 3 and up
Shangcheng Lu
Lane 1028, No. 36
Tel:(86 21) 5081 0713 |
East China Normal University Kindergarten
Ages 0 - 6
3663 Zhongshan Bei Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6223 3391 |
|
Pre-School Education
With nannies (ayis) so easily available, day care and child care is not much of a concept in Shanghai. In this respect expats feel quite spoilt. Children can begin pre-school early, however, as young as 18 months. All the major international schools offer pre-school beginning at age four, but there are also pre-schools catering exclusivey to those under four.
| Info: Preschools |
| Age of child |
18 months to 6years |
| Time offered |
Half day and full day |
| Cost |
view schools' websites for latest info |
|
| Info: Playgroups |
| Children below 3 years old |
| Some Preschool programs offer this, as do expatriate associations |
| Cost varies, many are free or run as cooperatives. |
|
| Publications |
`Riding The Dragon'
by Kathleen Lau
Shanghai Book Traders, 2003
|
|
Expatriate Pre-School Choices
In addition to all the places listed below, all the English-language international schools listed above offer pre-school and kindergartens. With classmates from their own countries, speaking the same language and often living nearby - this can be a comforting way to get your child and you used to his or her new environment. It's also a good way to meet other parents.
Prices can be high (up to 1600usd a month) but the facilities are usually of a very good standard, as is the level of care. It is also worth remembering that children attending kindergartens belonging to the best schools also get first choice of moving up into the much sought after primary-level places when the time comes.
| Addresses |
Shanghai Utsukushigaoka Montessori Kindergarten (Minhang)
Lan 788 Hongxu
Tel: (86 21) 6405 6318/773
Email
Website |
Sunrise Montessori International Kindergarten
no 2, Lane9, Hengshan Rd
Tel: (86 21) 6466 5309
Fax:(86 21) 6437 1773
Email |
Fortune Kindergarten
Bilingual kindergarten for ages 2 - 6
Hongqiao Campus
2151 Lian Hua Lu Tel: (86 21) 5458 0508
Fax: (86 21) 5458 0598
Pudong Campus
1361 DongFang Lu
Tel: (86 21) 5875 1212
Fax: (86 21) 5458 0598
Longyang Campus
201 Dong Huan Long Lu
Tel: (86 21) 5039 8797
Fax: (86 21) 5039 8796
Email
Website |
KinderWorld International
Bilingual program for ages nine months through 6 years
Lujiazui Taolin Kindergarten (KidWorld)
Pudong Taolin Road
Lane 815, Blk 38 Lujiazui Garden
Tel: 6843 4038/9
Fax: 6835 4037
Email
Website |
Little Eton Bilingual Kindergarten
592 Wan Ping Rd (South) Xu Hui
Tel: (86 21) 6469 0445 and 6486 6755
Email
Website |
Tiny Tots International Pre-School and Kindergarten Ages 2 -5
43 Fuxing Xi Lu
Tel: 6431 3788
Shanghai Garden Campus
7888 Humin Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6480 9933
Fax: (86 21) 6480 8948
Email |
Rainbow Bridge International School (RBIS)
2381 Hong Qiao Road (inside Shanghai Zoo)
Tel: (86 21) 6268 9773
Fax: (86 21) 6269 1294
Email
Website |
Soong Ching Ling Kindergarten
Toddlers to age 6
English-Chinese instruction
3908 Hong Mei Lu
Tel: (86 21) 6242 9851/2881 ext. 25
Fax: (86 21) 6242 2881
Email |
IPP Longbai Kindergarten
2461, Hong Qiao Lu
Tel: 6268 8320 |
Stars and Stripes American Kindergarten
138 Yin Bin #3 Road
Hong Qiao Airport Area
Website |
Shanghai Victoria Wah Kwong Kindergarten
Hong Qiao Campus
81 Lane 3297, Hong Mei Rd
Tel: (86 21) 6405 6668
Fax: (86 21) 6405 5941
Xing Zhuang Campus
15 Lane 155. Bao Cheng Rd
Xin Zhuang
Tel: (86 21) 5415 2228
Fax: (86 21) 5415 0469 |
Dulwich College Kindergarten Shanghai (Ducks)
425 Lan An Lu, Jin Qiao
Pudong
Post code: 201206
Tel: (86 21) 5899-3785
Fax: (86 21) 5899-3751
Website |
|
|
Summer Schools and Camps
Most Shanghai expatriate families head for home over the summer holidays, but for those who remain in Shanghai, there are an increasing number of camps and summer school activities, from `fun camps' to athletics and special interests like computer camp. Watch the newsletters around May or contact the following schools and their Web Sites.
 |
Shanghai American School |
|
Concordia International School |
|
Shanghai Community Schools |
See Tourism and Sport Activities for other alternatives.
