Shanghai Community International School, known as SCIS, is one of the city's longest established international schools, founded in 1996 as a non profit day school. It is authorised as an IB World School and teaches the full IB continuum across campuses in the Hongqiao area and in Pudong, for students from the age of 2 through 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 | IB World School: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes |
| Stages | Early years to Grade 12, ages 2 to 18 |
| Founded | 1996; a non profit school |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges; authorised by the IB |
| Fee band | Upper to premium for Shanghai |
| Campuses | Hongqiao (west) and Pudong (east) |
Curriculum and academics
SCIS runs the full International Baccalaureate continuum, which is unusual even among IB schools. The youngest children begin in the Primary Years Programme, an inquiry led approach that runs through the elementary years, the Middle Years Programme carries the framework into the lower secondary school, and senior students complete the Diploma Programme in their final two years. Because the same philosophy threads through every stage, a child can move up the school without switching educational systems.
As a non profit, SCIS reinvests in teaching, facilities and a broad co curriculum rather than returning a surplus, and it has held accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For a wider view of how it sits against the city's other established international schools, browse our editorial guide to the leading international and American schools in Shanghai, and ask the school for its recent Diploma results and university destinations.
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Shanghai Community International School fees
SCIS sits in the upper to premium part 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 an established IB continuum school like SCIS sits toward the upper portion of the range, with the Diploma years the most expensive stage. The school sets its own schedule per campus and resets it each year, so confirm the current figures directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a capital or facilities levy and optional bus and meals. Model the full annual figure with our fee calculator, and put SCIS against alternatives on our compare tool before you decide.
Admissions
The school year starts in August, and SCIS runs a main August intake with rolling admissions through the year where places allow. The school asks for prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment, and as a school for the children of foreign nationals its eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency.
Families apply to a specific campus rather than to the school as a whole, so popular year groups can carry waiting lists. Apply early, 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
SCIS spans both sides of the Huangpu river. The Hongqiao campus serves families in the west of the city, near the established expatriate compounds of Minhang and Hongqiao, while the Pudong campus serves the east, including the Jinqiao and Century Park areas. An early childhood campus sits alongside for the youngest children, and families generally choose whichever campus is nearest home.
As a long running community school, SCIS draws a wide international mix rather than a single dominant nationality. To weigh it against the other established schools in the city, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Shanghai Community International School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Shanghai Community International School. 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 Hongqiao or Pudong campus we would value your account of admissions, the IB programmes, teaching 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 Community International School fees?
SCIS sits in Shanghai's upper to premium fee band, with the Diploma years the most expensive stage. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule for the campus you are applying to.
What curriculum does Shanghai Community International School follow?
SCIS is an IB World School running the full IB continuum, the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, for students aged 2 to 18, and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Where are the Shanghai Community International School campuses?
SCIS runs campuses in the Hongqiao area on the western side of the city and in Pudong on the eastern side, with an early childhood campus alongside. Families usually choose the campus closest to where they live.
When do Shanghai Community International School applications open?
The school year starts in August and SCIS runs a main August intake with rolling admissions where places allow. Apply early for popular year groups and confirm space on your preferred campus.
Is Shanghai Community International School a good school?
SCIS is one of Shanghai's longest established international schools, a non profit IB World School accredited by WASC. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent IB Diploma results, curriculum fit and a campus visit.
