The Beijing school context

Beijing's international schools are restricted to children with foreign passports. The expat sector is concentrated in Shunyi (north-east, embassy and diplomatic) and Chaoyang (central, business). Capacity is moderate after the post-2020 expat outflow but quality has held strong at the top tier. Most Tier 1 schools have IB World School authorisation.

The 2026 top 10

1

Western Academy of Beijing (WAB)

IBLido / Lai Guang YingRMB 280K to 350K3-18

The benchmark IB school in Beijing. PYP through DP. Outstanding academic outcomes, strong global university pipeline. Distinctive sustainability and outdoor-education programmes. The default Tier 1 IB choice.

2

International School of Beijing (ISB)

American + IBShunyiRMB 280K to 360KPre-K-12

The flagship American school in China. AP and IB Diploma. Strong US university pipeline. Outstanding facilities. Shunyi location with strong diplomatic and corporate-family catchment.

3

Dulwich College Beijing

British + IBDaxingRMB 270K to 340K2-18

UK Dulwich heritage. A-Level and IB Diploma. Strong UK university pipeline. Modern campus with excellent facilities. Daxing location with school-bus catchment from central Beijing.

4

British School of Beijing (BSB)

British + IBSanlitun & ShunyiRMB 250K to 320K3-18

Nord Anglia BSB. Two campuses across Beijing. Strong A-Level and IB Diploma outcomes. Sanlitun campus serves central residents; Shunyi serves the diplomatic catchment.

5

Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS)

Bilingual + IBHonglingjinRMB 240K to 310K3-18

Bilingual Chinese-English IB programme. Strong for families committed to Mandarin alongside English-language secondary work. Established expat-family community.

6

Daystar Academy

Bilingual + IBShunyiRMB 200K to 280K2-18

Bilingual Chinese-English programme with IB Diploma. Strong cohort balance. Particularly good for families wanting genuine Chinese-language depth alongside English.

7

Lycée Français International Charles de Gaulle

FrenchLiangmaqiaoRMB 140K to 220KMaternelle-Terminale

French Lycée serving Beijing's francophone community. French Baccalauréat. Materially lower fees than British or American competition.

8

Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking

GermanShunyiRMB 180K to 260KK-13

German Embassy School. German Abitur curriculum. Smaller cohort. Strong for German-speaking families.

9

Beijing City International School (BCIS)

IBCBD areaRMB 240K to 310K3-18

Pure IB World School in central Beijing. Smaller cohort than WAB or ISB but with focused academic culture. Particularly good for families committed to central Beijing residence.

10

Keystone Academy

Bilingual + IBShunyiRMB 280K to 340KK-12

Bilingual boarding-and-day school. IB Diploma with strong Chinese-language emphasis. Selective admissions. Particularly good for families wanting boarding option alongside Beijing residency.

Neighbourhoods

  • Shunyi: ISB, BSB Shunyi, Daystar, Keystone, German School. The diplomatic and corporate-relocation hub.
  • Sanlitun / Liangmaqiao: BSB Sanlitun, Lycée Français. Central, embassy-adjacent.
  • Lido / Lai Guang Ying: WAB. North-eastern Beijing, leafy.
  • Daxing: Dulwich College Beijing. Southern Beijing, newer campus.
  • CBD / Chaoyang: BCIS. Central business district adjacent.

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