Shanghai Livingston American 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

SLAS teaches a United States curriculum aligned to California public school standards from the nursery years to Grade 12, with Advanced Placement courses in the high school. Teaching is in English, and the school was founded in 2001 by a former United States congressman, Robert Livingston, giving it more than two decades of history in the city. Graduates leave with an American high school diploma and the Advanced Placement results that many universities recognise.

For families weighing the American route, our guide to the American curriculum explains how the diploma and Advanced Placement lead to university, and our Shanghai city guide maps how SLAS sits among the city's American and international schools.

SLAS suits families who want a recognised American education at fees below the largest flagship campuses, in a central and accessible part of Shanghai. It draws a mix of nationalities and appeals to families who value a mid sized school with an established track record.

Shanghai Livingston American School fees

SLAS publishes its tuition, and it sits in the middle band for Shanghai. For 2025/26 annual tuition ran from about RMB 133,825 in the nursery and pre school years, through RMB 202,860 in the elementary school and RMB 214,990 in the middle school, up to about RMB 221,823 in the high school. The figures rise through the divisions rather than in a single jump.

On top of tuition there is an application fee, and optional charges for the bus and lunch. For the wider picture, our guide to international school fees in Shanghai divides the market into bands, and you can line up the senior figures in our Shanghai secondary fees breakdown. Confirm current figures with the school before you budget.

• Application fee: a non refundable charge of about RMB 2,200.
• Bus service: an optional charge of around RMB 9,000 per semester within the closer zone.
• Lunch: an optional prepaid meal charge billed per day.
• Annual tuition: billed per year and rising through the divisions.

Admissions

The main intake follows the August start of the school year, with applications accepted through the year where places exist. Families apply with the application fee, then submit school records and supporting documents, and the school assesses each pupil for the right grade placement. Places in popular year groups can fill, so early enquiries help.

Families relocating partway through the year should contact the admissions office directly about availability outside the main transition years, and ask about the bus routes if transport matters to the household.

Location and who goes there

The campus is in the Changning district in the west of central Shanghai, an accessible part of the city that is home to many international families and well connected by metro. The central location keeps commutes manageable for families in the western districts, and places the school near the services and housing that expatriate households use.

The community is international and mixed, built around families who want an American education with an established history in the city. Many families comparing SLAS also look at the larger American campuses, so our Shanghai city guide shows how the options compare on fee band and stage.

Reviews

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