Shanghai Hong Qiao International School

At a glance

Where a detail is not officially published we mark it clearly rather than guess. Always confirm current figures with the school.

Curriculum and academics

HQIS offers an English medium programme from the early years to Grade 12, blending two well known approaches. In the early and primary years it runs the IB Primary Years Programme, an inquiry led framework, while an emergent, play and inquiry approach guides the youngest children. Our Shanghai city guide shows how this sits among the other established campuses in the city.

From middle school into the senior years the school follows American curriculum standards and offers Advanced Placement courses, with personalised college and careers counselling to support applications to universities in the United States and elsewhere. For families weighing the American route, our guide to the American curriculum explains how AP and a United States style transcript lead to university.

Founded in 1997, HQIS is one of the longer established international schools in Shanghai and describes itself as a community focused, family oriented school. Because it spans the full age range on a single journey, families should ask how the move from the IB PYP into the American secondary pathway is handled and how AP options are timetabled.

Shanghai Hong Qiao International School fees

HQIS publishes its tuition, and it sits in the premium band for Shanghai. For 2026/27 annual tuition was listed in a range of about RMB 173,500 to RMB 260,000 depending on the year group. The school notes that the first year of enrolment costs more, around RMB 190,500 in the entry example, because one time joining charges are added on top of tuition.

A non refundable application fee of RMB 2,000 is required for the application to be processed, and families should budget for the first year joining charges as well as any optional services. For the wider picture our guide to international school fees in Shanghai divides the market into bands, and our Shanghai primary fees breakdown lines up the early and primary years. Confirm current figures with the school.

• Annual tuition: about RMB 173,500 to RMB 260,000 for 2026/27 depending on year group.
• First year charges: one time joining charges lift the first year, around RMB 190,500 in the entry example.
• Application fee: a non refundable fee of RMB 2,000 to process the application.
• Optional services: transport and activities are billed separately.

Admissions

The main intake follows the August start of the school year, with rolling admissions through the year where places exist. Families apply with the application fee, submit school reports and take part in an age appropriate assessment, and the school welcomes children from about 18 months in its early years provision.

Relocating families should contact the admissions office directly about mid year availability and about the move from the IB PYP into the American secondary pathway, so they understand how their child would progress through the school.

Location and who goes there

HQIS serves the international community of Shanghai and has run since 1997, giving it a settled, established feel and a broad mix of nationalities across the year groups. As with any Shanghai campus, families should check the daily commute from their chosen neighbourhood before they apply.

The community is international and family oriented, drawn by the combination of an inquiry led primary and an American secondary with AP. Many families comparing HQIS also look at the larger IB and American campuses, so our Shanghai city guide shows how the options compare on curriculum, stage and fee band.

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions