Daystar Academy is a bilingual school in Beijing, founded in 2002 and built around genuinely dual language learning rather than English with some Chinese added on. It teaches an infused curriculum that draws on both the Chinese national standards and the United States Common Core, organised within the International Baccalaureate philosophy. Its English strand follows a recognisable American curriculum reference in Common Core, which is what places it among the city's North American leaning options, while the Chinese strand uses Ministry of Education materials.
Daystar Academy at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Infused bilingual curriculum: Chinese national standards and US Common Core within the IB framework |
| Stages | Early years to lower secondary, ages 3 to 15 |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Approach | True bilingual, English and Chinese taught with equal weight |
| Size | Around 600 students |
| Languages | English and Chinese, roughly balanced by stage |
Curriculum and academics
Daystar runs an infused bilingual curriculum. Chinese classes follow the national curriculum using official Ministry of Education textbooks, while English classes follow the United States Common Core standards, and the International Baccalaureate framework connects the two. In the early grades the balance leans toward Chinese, at roughly sixty per cent Chinese to forty per cent English in kindergarten to grade two, shifting as pupils move up. The aim is mastery in both languages rather than fluency in one and exposure to the other.
Targeted language support runs in both directions: the Fish LEAP programme helps pupils who are new to English, and the Yu Yue programme strengthens Chinese for international students, so families arriving from very different starting points can still enter the bilingual model. To see how this approach compares with the city's American leaning schools, read our best American schools in Beijing guide, and ask the school how the language balance is handled at your child's entry grade.
Comparing bilingual and international routes?
Put Daystar beside up to two other Beijing schools on curriculum, stages and fee band.
Daystar Academy fees
Daystar is a bilingual school rather than a top of market international, so it does not sit at the very top of Beijing's premium band. Our Beijing international school fees guide sets out the full range of city tiers, with a mid tier around RMB 200,000 to 280,000 a year and a premium tier above that. We do not publish a single quoted figure for Daystar here because bilingual schools price differently by stage, so treat the guide's bands as illustrative and confirm the current schedule directly with the school.
Whatever the headline tuition, budget for the usual extras of registration, a deposit and optional bus and meal charges. Model the full annual figure with our fee calculator so you are comparing like with like across your shortlist.
Admissions
The academic year begins in August and the main intake aligns with it, with places filled where they remain through the year. Daystar's bilingual model means admission looks at language background as well as prior schooling, and the Fish LEAP and Yu Yue support programmes exist precisely so that pupils who are strong in only one of the two languages can still join. Expect an age appropriate assessment and a conversation about how your child will be supported into dual language learning.
With a roll of around six hundred, the school is smaller than the city's largest internationals, so individual year groups can fill, particularly at the main early years entry points. Apply early and ask the admissions team about the language profile of your child's prospective class.
Location and who goes there
Daystar operates in Beijing with provision spread across its campuses serving early years through lower secondary, including a site in the Beigao area of the Chaoyang district. Chaoyang and the districts to the north east hold much of the city's international and bilingual schooling, which keeps the school accessible to both expatriate and Chinese families who want a dual language education.
The community is a genuine mix of international and local families, which is unusual and is central to the bilingual model working in practice. To weigh Daystar against other Beijing options, start with the Beijing city hub, or compare it with the Canadian International School of Beijing and Beijing World Youth Academy.
Daystar Academy reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Daystar Academy. 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 Daystar Academy fees?
Daystar is a bilingual school that prices by stage rather than as a top of market international, so we do not quote a single figure here. Our Beijing fees guide sets out the city's tiers, with a mid tier around RMB 200,000 to 280,000 a year. Treat the bands as illustrative and confirm the current schedule with the school.
What curriculum does Daystar Academy follow?
Daystar runs an infused bilingual curriculum that combines the Chinese national standards and the United States Common Core within the International Baccalaureate framework, teaching English and Chinese with equal weight.
What ages does Daystar Academy teach?
The school teaches children from age three in early years through to age fifteen in lower secondary, with around six hundred students across its campuses.
Is Daystar Academy a bilingual school?
Yes. Daystar is a genuinely bilingual school where English and Chinese are taught with equal care, and it runs the Fish LEAP and Yu Yue programmes to support pupils who arrive strong in only one of the two languages.
When do Daystar Academy applications open?
The school year begins in August and the main intake aligns with it, with places filled where they remain. Apply early and ask about the language profile of your child's prospective class.
