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Most Beijing expat families choose day schools, so boarding here tends to suit older students, families outside the city, or parents who want the structure of a residential senior school. Start with our international schools in Beijing directory for the wider day-school picture, then look at the boarding options below. Each admits by application, and boarding places and minimum ages change, so confirm current provision directly.
We have listed only schools we could confirm run a real boarding programme. We have not ranked them or attached ratings, because the right choice depends on your child's age, the boarding model, weekly or full, and the school's academic pathway.
The shortlist
Keystone Academy
Keystone Academy in Shunyi is a 12-year through school with the most developed boarding programme in Beijing. Boarding is optional in grades 7 and 8 and required for all students in grades 9 to 12, built into an immersive Chinese and English bilingual model that becomes English dominant in the senior school. For families who want full senior boarding with a strong bilingual academic identity, Keystone is the clearest fit; its published 2025 fee including boarding was around RMB 412,500 a year, which families should confirm as current.
NAS Beijing
NAS Beijing in Shunyi is a bilingual day-and-boarding school for ages 6 to 18 offering both 5-day and 7-day boarding options. That flexibility, weekly boarding during the school week with weekends at home, or full boarding, suits families who want some residential structure without committing to full-time boarding. Its 2025-26 tuition was published in the region of RMB 138,000 to 298,000; confirm the boarding supplement separately.
International School of Beijing
The International School of Beijing, an English-medium school on a large Shunyi campus, offers boarding for high school from Grade 9 and above. For families relocating to or based outside Beijing who want their teenager in an established American-style school, ISB's senior boarding is a route to a day-school academic programme with residential provision. Confirm current places and ages with admissions.
How we chose
We included only Beijing schools we could confirm publish a genuine boarding programme, whether optional, weekly or full, and we noted the boarding model for each rather than ranking them. The right choice depends on your child's age and independence, whether you want weekly or full boarding, and the school's curriculum. Boarding capacity is limited in Beijing and minimum ages apply, so apply early and confirm the current model directly.
Shortlist Beijing schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Beijing shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Boarding adds a significant supplement to tuition, sometimes folded into a single all-in figure as at Keystone and sometimes charged separately. Because these numbers move each year, we keep current tuition in our guide to international school fees in Beijing; always confirm the exact boarding fee, deposits and what is included with the school before applying.
To compare options, use the school finder, browse the Beijing directory, or read the related shortlists for sixth form and university preparation in Beijing.
Common questions
Keystone Academy offers boarding that is optional in grades 7 and 8 and mandatory in grades 9 to 12. NAS Beijing offers 5-day and 7-day boarding for ages 6 to 18, and the International School of Beijing offers boarding for high school from grade 9. All are in Shunyi. Confirm current places and ages with each school.
No. Most Beijing expat families choose day schools, and boarding is offered by only a small number of schools, mainly for older students. It tends to suit teenagers, families based outside the city, or parents who want a residential senior school structure.
Weekly, or 5-day, boarding means a student lives at school during the week and returns home at weekends, which suits families within travelling distance. Full, or 7-day, boarding means the student remains at school across weekends too. NAS Beijing publishes both options; confirm which a school offers.
Boarding adds a substantial amount to tuition, and schools either fold it into one all-in fee or charge it separately. Keystone's published 2025 figure including boarding was around RMB 412,500. Figures change annually, so confirm the current boarding fee with the school and see our Beijing fees guide for context.
It varies by school. Keystone allows optional boarding from grade 7 and requires it from grade 9, while ISB offers boarding from grade 9. NAS Beijing's day-and-boarding model spans ages 6 to 18. Check each school's minimum boarding age directly.