How many American schools in Shenzhen
Shenzhen has around 5 schools delivering a full American curriculum from kindergarten through to Grade 12 in 2026. The established centre of the market is Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) in Shekou, founded in 2002 and serving the corporate American expatriate community in southern China. The other foreign-passport-only American providers are QSI International School of Shenzhen and the US High School Diploma stream at Shekou International School. BASIS International School Shenzhen runs a BASIS-branded American curriculum in a bilingual setting accepting mainland Chinese passport holders, and the International School of Sino-Canada in Pingshan runs an Ontario plus AP pathway often included with the American grouping.
Cohort sizes vary noticeably across the American market in Shenzhen. SAIS runs the largest single high school by candidate numbers with around 250 pupils across grades 9 to 12 and an annual senior cohort of around 60 students. QSI Shenzhen runs a smaller high school of around 130 pupils across the four grades. BASIS International Shenzhen runs a more bilingual stream with around 180 pupils in the upper school, including a substantial mainland Chinese passport segment. The Shekou International School American Section is a smaller within-school stream of around 45 pupils per grade level. Total American curriculum capacity in Shenzhen is now around 650 pupils at high school.
The Shenzhen American curriculum market has held steady over the last decade after rapid growth from 2008 to 2018. The Sino-US tariff environment from 2018 onwards and the 2020 to 2022 border closures during the pandemic reduced the American corporate expatriate population in Shenzhen by around 30 per cent, with knock-on effects on enrolment at SAIS and the Shekou International American Section. Numbers have recovered partially since 2023 but remain below the 2018 peak. BASIS Shenzhen has been the strongest growth story, doubling its upper school cohort between 2020 and 2025 on the strength of mainland Chinese passport demand for an AP-heavy pathway into US universities.
Fees and the AP pathway
American curriculum tuition in Shenzhen groups into two tiers. The Sino-Canadian and bilingual American providers run CNY 210,000 to CNY 260,000 a year for grades 9 to 12. The foreign-passport-only American schools sit at CNY 270,000 to CNY 310,000 a year for high school. The top tier is Shenzhen American International School at CNY 305,000 to CNY 320,000 a year for grades 9 to 12. Capital and registration fees of CNY 25,000 to CNY 45,000 are typically charged on first entry. School lunch, buses, uniform, AP exam fees and yearbook typically add CNY 30,000 to CNY 50,000 a year on top.
The Advanced Placement pathway is the meaningful differentiator. SAIS offers 18 AP courses across the high school, allowing seniors to graduate with 8 to 12 AP credits which translates well into US tier 1 university admissions. BASIS International Shenzhen runs an even heavier AP requirement (every senior takes a minimum of 6 AP courses to graduate) which is one of the heaviest AP loads anywhere globally. QSI Shenzhen offers around 12 AP courses with a more selective approach. The International School of Sino-Canada delivers AP alongside the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, giving graduates two recognised credentials. Our Shenzhen fees guide models the AP exam fee load over four years.
Choosing the right American school in Shenzhen?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Shenzhen American schools based on your child's grade, your passport status, your AP intensity tolerance and your home area.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers an identifiable American curriculum pathway.
Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) in Shekou is the established American curriculum centre in southern China, founded in 2002. American Common Core curriculum K-12 with 18 AP courses at high school. Strong placement into tier 1 US universities including consistent annual offers from Carnegie Mellon, NYU, UCLA, USC and the Ivy League. Accredited by WASC and the China-US Council on International Schools.
QSI International School of Shenzhen in Nanshan is part of the Quality Schools International network with a smaller and more selective high school than SAIS. American mastery-based curriculum K-12, 12 AP courses. Particularly strong on liberal arts college placement in the US north-east.
BASIS International School Shenzhen in Longgang runs the BASIS American curriculum in a bilingual Chinese-English setting accepting mainland Chinese passport holders. The most AP-heavy American school in Shenzhen with a minimum 6 AP graduation requirement. Strong placement into US engineering and science programmes.
International School of Sino-Canada (ISSC) in Pingshan runs the Ontario Secondary School Diploma plus AP courses in a bilingual setting. Dual credential approach gives graduates flexibility for both US and Canadian universities. Newest of the major American grouping (opened in 2014).
Shekou International School American Section in Shekou runs the US High School Diploma stream alongside the IB Diploma within the same school. Pupils can switch between the two streams up to the end of Grade 10. Smaller cohort than SAIS with a strong sense of community in the Shekou expatriate enclave.
Where American curriculum families live
Shenzhen American curriculum families cluster around three main residential corridors. Shekou and Nanshan host the largest concentration of American expatriate families using SAIS and Shekou International, with most American family housing concentrated along the Shekou ferry corridor (the historic Shenzhen Bay American enclave). The Coastal City and Shekou Garden compounds dominate the housing stock. Houhai and the Window of the World district host most QSI Shenzhen families, with the gated villa compounds of Mont Orchid and the Houhai high-rise estates leading the market. Longgang and Pingshan in the east-north host most BASIS Shenzhen and ISSC families, with newer high-rise apartment estates along the Longgang Avenue corridor.
School commutes for American curriculum families are heavily influenced by traffic and the cross-border dynamic. Shekou to Nanshan typically runs 15 to 25 minutes in the morning peak. Around 20 per cent of SAIS pupils commute from Hong Kong through the Shenzhen Bay or Lok Ma Chau border crossings, with the morning border queue adding 30 to 60 minutes. The Longgang and Pingshan corridor school commutes are usually 30 to 45 minutes for families living outside Longgang. Our Shenzhen neighbourhoods guide walks through residential trade-offs.
Admissions and the application calendar
The Shenzhen American school year runs August to June following the standard US international school calendar. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened at most Shenzhen American schools between September and December 2025. Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry are the most competitive points. Grade 6 because middle school begins and most schools rebuild their cohorts at that point. Grade 9 because high school begins and the AP course choice locks in.
SAIS runs a December 15 priority application deadline with assessment days through January and offers in February. QSI Shenzhen runs rolling admissions with month-on-month entry where capacity exists. BASIS Shenzhen runs a competitive entrance exam in December for the bilingual upper school, weighted heavily towards maths and science. Mid-year transfers at primary and middle school are usually possible. High school transfers are difficult because AP course sequencing requires early commitment. The Shenzhen Education Bureau requires a foreign-passport copy and Chinese resident permit plus authenticated previous school records, allowing 4 to 6 weeks for paperwork on top of the school's own assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How many American schools are there in Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has around 5 schools delivering a full American curriculum from K-12 in 2026, including the established Shenzhen American International School, QSI International School of Shenzhen, BASIS International School Shenzhen and the International School of Sino-Canada. Shekou International School also delivers a US High School Diploma stream alongside the IB Diploma.
How much do American schools cost in Shenzhen?
American curriculum tuition in Shenzhen runs from CNY 210,000 a year at the Sino-Canadian and bilingual providers through to CNY 320,000 a year at Shenzhen American International. Most foreign-passport-only American schools sit between CNY 270,000 and CNY 310,000 a year for grades 9 to 12. Capital and registration fees of CNY 25,000 to CNY 45,000 are typically charged on first entry.
Do Shenzhen American schools offer AP courses?
Yes. Shenzhen American International School offers 18 Advanced Placement courses across the high school. QSI Shenzhen offers around 12 AP courses. BASIS International School Shenzhen runs the BASIS curriculum which mandates a minimum of 6 AP courses for every senior to graduate, the highest single-school AP load in Shenzhen. The International School of Sino-Canada offers AP courses in addition to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Are Shenzhen American schools open to mainland Chinese passport holders?
Foreign-passport-only American schools including Shenzhen American International School and QSI Shenzhen are restricted by Chinese law to children holding a foreign passport. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan passport holders are accepted. Mainland Chinese passport holders can attend the BASIS Shenzhen bilingual stream and a small number of Chinese-licensed American curriculum sixth forms in Pingshan and Longgang.
What US universities do Shenzhen American school graduates attend?
Shenzhen American International School graduates regularly attend tier 1 US universities including Carnegie Mellon, NYU, UCLA, USC, Berkeley and the Ivy League with consistent annual offers. BASIS Shenzhen places strongly into US engineering and science programmes including UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Purdue and Cornell. QSI Shenzhen places into a wide range of US universities including liberal arts colleges that suit smaller IB and AP cohorts.
