The Shanghai IB landscape
Shanghai's premium international schools deliver IB Diploma at consistently strong levels. SAS runs both AP and IB; Dulwich Shanghai is IB Continuum; Concordia and BISS Puxi run IB alongside other pathways. Cohort sizes are large enough to support broad subject choice. Foreign passport regulations apply (Chinese passport-holders are restricted to bilingual Chinese internationals).
The 2026 top 6 IB schools in Shanghai
Shanghai American School (SAS)
Premier American international school in Shanghai with strong IB Diploma alongside AP. Three-year IB average around 36 points. Strong faculty depth. Strong destinations across the US, UK, China and Asia. The default first choice for IB-committed Shanghai families.
Dulwich College Shanghai
British heritage school operating as full IB Continuum from PYP. Three-year average around 36 points. Strong cohort outcomes. Particularly suited to families wanting British school heritage with IB-only pathway.
Concordia International School Shanghai
American Christian-foundation school with IB Diploma alongside AP. Strong faculty across STEM. Smaller cohort than SAS. Best for American Christian families wanting IB option.
BISS Puxi (British International School Shanghai - Puxi campus)
British heritage school with strong dual A-Level/IB pathway. IB cohort is smaller than A-Level but well-staffed. Particularly worth considering for British-curriculum families wanting IB optionality.
YCIS Shanghai (Yew Chung) - premium tier
Bilingual English-Mandarin IB Continuum school. Premium tier campuses (Hongqiao, Pudong) deliver strong IB outcomes. Particularly suited to families wanting Mandarin proficiency alongside English-medium IB.
SCIS (Shanghai Community International School)
Long-established community-foundation IB school. Multiple campuses. Smaller cohort sizes than the major premium schools. Cohort outcomes solid. Worth considering for families seeking IB at upper-mid rather than premium fees.
What didn't make the list
Several Shanghai schools offer IB Diploma but with cohort averages below 32 or insufficient post-pandemic outcomes data. Bilingual Chinese internationals are excluded from this list. see our separate guidance for Chinese passport-holding families.
The post-pandemic context
Shanghai's IB cohort sizes contracted 20-35% during 2020-2023 as expat families departed. Recovery has been gradual. Premium schools generally have available IB Diploma places at most ages in 2026, with shorter waitlists than pre-pandemic. For families relocating to Shanghai in 2026, premium IB pathway placement is more accessible than it has been in over a decade.
Fee context
Premium IB places in Shanghai cost RMB 320,000-360,000 per year (USD 44,500-50,000). Upper-mid IB schools come in at RMB 200,000-280,000. See our full Shanghai school fees report.