Shanghai American School Puxi is the western of the two campuses run by Shanghai American School, known as SAS, the oldest international school in China. The school was founded in 1912, and the Puxi campus has run all of its divisions on its Minhang site since 1997. It teaches a US standards based curriculum with Advanced Placement and offers the IB Diploma in the high school, serving children from pre kindergarten to Grade 12. To see where it sits among the city's other options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | US standards based curriculum with College Board AP and the IB Diploma in high school |
| Stages | Pre kindergarten to Grade 12, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | SAS founded 1912; Puxi campus consolidated on its current site in 1997 |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools |
| Fee band | Premium for Shanghai, at the top of the band |
| Campus area | Jinfeng Road, Minhang district, western Shanghai |
Curriculum and academics
The Puxi campus follows the same US standards based programme as the wider school, taught in English. Younger children in the early years work in an inquiry led environment, the elementary and middle school build literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, and the high school opens out into two senior pathways. SAS is one of the few schools in the city to offer both College Board Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma, having added the IB programme in 2000 alongside its long established AP courses. That dual offer lets students pick the route that best fits their strengths, whether they are aiming for universities in the United States or further afield.
With the resources of a large, established institution behind it, the Puxi campus runs a broad co curriculum in sport, the arts and service learning. For a wider view of how it compares with the city's other American programmes, read our editorial guide to the best American schools in Shanghai, and ask the campus for its recent AP and IB results and university destinations before you decide.
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Shanghai American School Puxi fees
The Puxi campus sits at the top of the Shanghai market. Our Shanghai international school fees guide records the city's premium tier at roughly RMB 280,000 to 360,000 a year, and the largest American campuses sit toward the upper edge of that band, with the high school the most expensive stage. SAS does not publish a single fixed figure for the Puxi campus, so confirm the current schedule directly, as fee tables are reset each year.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a capital or facilities levy and optional bus and meals. Families paid in a foreign currency also carry exchange risk against renminbi fees, so model the full annual figure with our fee calculator rather than tuition alone.
Admissions
The American school year starts in August, and SAS runs a main August intake with rolling admissions through the year where places allow. Families apply to the Puxi campus specifically, rather than to the school as a whole, and the school asks for prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment. As a school for the children of foreign nationals, eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency.
Demand is steady, so popular year groups carry waiting lists and early application matters, especially for the high school. Confirm that the Puxi campus has space in your child's year group, and prepare passport and academic records ahead of your move.
Location and who goes there
The Puxi campus is on Jinfeng Road in the Minhang district, on the western side of the Huangpu river. It draws mainly from the residential areas of Minhang and Hongqiao and the wider west of the city, where many longer staying expatriate families live. Because SAS also runs a Pudong campus on the eastern side, location is usually the deciding factor for families weighing the two.
As part of China's oldest international school, the Puxi campus has a large, established American led community alongside a broad international mix. To weigh it against the other premium schools in the city, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Shanghai American School Puxi reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for the Shanghai American School Puxi campus. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the Puxi campus we would value your account of admissions, teaching, the AP and IB pathways 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 Shanghai American School Puxi fees?
The Puxi campus sits in Shanghai's premium fee tier, broadly RMB 280,000 to 360,000 a year depending on stage, with the high school the most expensive. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule directly.
What curriculum does Shanghai American School Puxi follow?
The Puxi campus teaches a US standards based curriculum and offers both College Board Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma in the high school, so older students can choose the pathway that suits their strengths and university plans.
Where is the Shanghai American School Puxi campus?
The Puxi campus is on Jinfeng Road in the Minhang district on the western side of the Huangpu river, serving families in Minhang, Hongqiao and the wider west of the city. The campus has run all divisions on this site since 1997.
When do Shanghai American School Puxi applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August start of the American school year, with rolling admissions where places allow. Popular year groups carry waiting lists, so apply early and confirm space on the Puxi campus specifically.
Is Shanghai American School Puxi a good school?
It is one of two campuses of China's oldest and largest international school, accredited by WASC and CIS and offering both AP and the IB Diploma. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent results, curriculum fit and a campus visit.
