Shanghai American School, known as SAS, is an American international school in Shanghai and the oldest international school in China, founded in 1912. It runs two campuses, in Pudong and Puxi, and is also the city's largest international school, with around 2,700 students from pre kindergarten to Grade 12. SAS teaches a US standards based curriculum with Advanced Placement and offers the IB Diploma in the high school.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | US standards based curriculum with College Board AP, AP Capstone, and the IB Diploma in high school |
| Stages | Pre kindergarten to Grade 12, ages 3 to 18, on both campuses |
| Founded | 1912; China's oldest international school |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges (since 1988) and the Council of International Schools |
| Fee band | Premium for Shanghai, at the top of the band |
| Campuses | Pudong (east) and Puxi (west) |
Curriculum and academics
SAS runs a US standards based core curriculum and is unusual in offering both IB Diploma and College Board Advanced Placement pathways in the high school, having introduced the IB programme in 2000 alongside AP and the AP Capstone programme. That dual offer lets older students choose the route that best fits their strengths and their university plans, whether in the United States or beyond. The school has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1988.
With two large campuses and almost 2,700 students, SAS has the scale for a deep co curriculum in sport, arts and service. To see how it sits against the city's other IB and American options, read our best IB schools in Shanghai guide and browse every IB school in Shanghai in our city hub, and ask the school for its recent IB and AP results and university destinations.
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Shanghai American School fees
SAS 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. The school does not publish a single fixed figure here, so confirm the current schedule directly, as fee tables change each year.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a deposit, a capital or facilities levy and optional bus and meals, and remember that families paid in foreign currency carry exchange risk against renminbi fees. Model the full annual figure with our fee calculator and put SAS against alternatives on our compare tool.
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 a specific campus, Pudong or Puxi, rather than to the school as a whole, with prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment. As a school for children of foreign nationals, eligibility follows Chinese regulations.
Demand is high across both campuses, so popular year groups carry waiting lists and early application matters, especially for the high school. Confirm which 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 two campuses sit on opposite sides of the Huangpu river. The Pudong campus is on the eastern side, near the Jinqiao and Kangqiao expatriate communities, while the Puxi campus is on the western side, serving families in Minhang, Hongqiao and the wider west of the city. Each campus draws from the residential compounds nearest it, so location is usually the deciding factor for families weighing the two.
As China's oldest international school, SAS has a large, established American led community alongside a wide international mix. To weigh SAS against the other premium schools in the city, including fees and where families live, start with the Shanghai city hub.
Shanghai American School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Shanghai American School. 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 either the Pudong or Puxi campus we would value your account of admissions, teaching, the IB and AP 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 fees?
SAS sits at the top of the city's premium band, around RMB 280,000 to 360,000 a year, with the high school the most expensive stage. Add a registration fee, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule, which is set per campus.
What curriculum does Shanghai American School follow?
SAS teaches a US standards based curriculum and offers both College Board Advanced Placement, including AP Capstone, and the IB Diploma in the high school, so older students can choose the pathway that suits them.
How many campuses does Shanghai American School have?
SAS has two campuses, one in Pudong on the eastern side of the city and one in Puxi on the western side. Families apply to a specific campus, and both run pre kindergarten to Grade 12.
When do Shanghai American School applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August start of the US school year, with rolling admissions where places allow. Apply early, as both campuses carry waiting lists in popular year groups.
Is Shanghai American School a good school?
SAS is China's oldest and largest international school, WASC and CIS accredited, offering both AP and the IB Diploma. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent IB and AP results, curriculum fit and a campus visit.
