Concordia International School Shanghai is an American international school in Shanghai, opened in 1998 in the Jinqiao expatriate community in the Pudong New Area. A coeducational day school for students from preschool to high school, it teaches an American curriculum with Advanced Placement courses in the upper grades. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and on fees it sits in the city's premium tier.
Concordia International School Shanghai at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the high school |
| Stages | Preschool to high school (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); National Lutheran School Accreditation |
| Fee band | Premium for Shanghai |
| Campus area | Jinqiao, Pudong New Area |
Curriculum and academics
Concordia follows a standards based American curriculum from preschool through the elementary and middle school years. In the high school, students take a broad slate of Advanced Placement courses, the college level examinations recognised by universities in the United States and increasingly elsewhere, alongside the school's own diploma requirements. English is the language of instruction, with Chinese and Spanish offered as additional languages.
The school traces its accreditation to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and to the National Lutheran School Accreditation, reflecting its founding heritage, and it pairs academics with well developed sport, fine arts and service programmes. To see how it sits against the other American programmes in the city, read our best American schools in Shanghai guide. Ask the school directly for its most recent AP results and university destinations.
Budgeting the full cost of a place?
Our fee calculator adds registration, deposits, capital levies and transport to the headline tuition so you see the real annual cost before you apply.
Concordia International School Shanghai fees
Concordia is a premium tier school. Our Shanghai international school fees guide places the premium band at roughly RMB 280,000 to 360,000 a year, about USD 39,000 to 50,000, and names Concordia among that group alongside the other established Anglophone internationals. Tuition rises through the school, with the high school at the upper end.
Beyond tuition, budget for the additional costs premium schools carry: a registration fee, a refundable deposit, and optional bus and lunch charges. Currency matters too, since some families are paid in foreign currency while fees are set in renminbi, so model the full annual figure with our fee calculator before you commit.
Admissions
The academic year begins in early August, and the main intake aligns with it, with rolling admission where places allow. As a school for children of foreign nationals, Concordia admits students who hold a foreign passport, in keeping with Chinese regulations, so confirm eligibility and the supporting documents before applying. Admission considers prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment.
Popular year groups, particularly in the early grades and at the start of high school, can carry waiting lists, so apply early and ask the admissions team about current availability for your child's grade and the specific entry requirements.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Jinqiao, a long established international community in the Pudong New Area on the east side of Shanghai, on a site of about ten acres designed around the needs of a school running from age three to eighteen. Jinqiao is one of the city's main expatriate enclaves, with international housing compounds, supermarkets and services that have grown up around the schools there, which keeps commutes short for many families.
The community is internationally mixed, with a strong presence of North American and other foreign passport families working in Shanghai's multinational and manufacturing sectors. To weigh Concordia against the other premium and American schools in the city, including fees and where families live, start with the Shanghai city hub.
Concordia International School Shanghai reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Concordia International School Shanghai. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the school we would value your account of admissions, teaching, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Concordia International School Shanghai fees?
Concordia sits in Shanghai's premium band, which our city fees guide puts at roughly RMB 280,000 to 360,000 a year, or about USD 39,000 to 50,000. Add registration, a deposit and optional bus costs, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
What curriculum does Concordia International School Shanghai follow?
Concordia teaches an American curriculum from preschool to high school, with Advanced Placement courses in the upper grades. English is the language of instruction, with Chinese and Spanish offered as additional languages.
Is Concordia International School Shanghai a good school?
Concordia is an established American international school accredited by WASC, with a long record of college placement in the United States and beyond. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent outcomes, the curriculum fit and a campus visit.
Who can enrol at Concordia International School Shanghai?
As a school for children of foreign nationals, Concordia admits students who hold a foreign passport, in line with Chinese regulations. Families should check eligibility and the documents required before applying.
When do Concordia International School Shanghai applications open?
The school year begins in August, and the main intake aligns with it, with rolling entry where places allow. Popular year groups can carry waiting lists, so apply early and ask about availability for your child's grade.
