Shenzhen American International School is the natural starting point for families relocating to Shenzhen who want an American style education rather than a British or single IB route. Established in 2005 with the approval of the Ministry of Education and the Guangdong provincial authorities, SAIS serves the children of foreign nationals from pre kindergarten to Grade 12 on a campus in the Nanshan District. For parents weighing it up, the questions are usually how the American programme is structured, whether it leads toward Advanced Placement or a broader diploma, and where the school sits on cost, and that is what this profile addresses.
Shenzhen American International School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Inquiry led American style programme aligned to United States standards, with Advanced Placement (AP) in the senior school and an IB influenced approach in the lower grades; Chinese language study throughout |
| Stages | pre kindergarten to Grade 12 (roughly ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 2005, approved by the Ministry of Education and the Guangdong provincial authorities |
| Accreditation | Accredited by Cognia. Confirm any further programme authorisation directly with the school |
| Fee band | Upper mid to premium for the Shenzhen market |
| Campus area | Nanshan District, west Shenzhen |
Curriculum and academics
Shenzhen American International School follows the structure of an American school, with a pre kindergarten to Grade 12 pathway aligned to United States standards and accredited by Cognia. In the senior grades the academic spine is Advanced Placement, the college level courses that let strong students sit recognised examinations and signal readiness to universities, particularly in North America. The lower school leans on an inquiry led approach with elements influenced by the IB Primary Years thinking, so younger children learn through structured investigation rather than rote work.
Chinese language sits alongside the core programme throughout the school, drawing on the national curriculum standards, which suits families who want their children to leave Shenzhen with real Mandarin rather than a token introduction. Mathematics is taught with reference to the Singapore approach in parts of the school, a common choice among American international schools that want a stronger early numeracy base.
The honest way to judge the fit is to look at where your child is heading. An AP heavy senior school favours students who want to go deep in a handful of subjects and apply to universities that read AP scores closely, whereas a full IB Diploma keeps a broader spread of subjects compulsory to the end. Ask SAIS for recent AP participation, the range of courses on offer and its university destinations rather than relying on the American label alone.
Not sure American or IB fits your child?
Answer a few questions about your child and budget and our School Finder will shortlist Shenzhen schools that match, across curricula and fee bands.
Shenzhen American International School fees
Shenzhen American International School sits in the upper mid to premium band for the city. Our Shenzhen international school fees guide explains how the local market is tiered, and as an established American programme with Cognia accreditation, SAIS lands among the more expensive options, with tuition rising as students move into the senior grades. The headline tuition is only part of the cost, so read the published schedule in full before you set a budget.
Alongside tuition, budget for a one off registration or application fee, a refundable deposit, and optional extras such as the school bus and meals. Advanced Placement examination entries are usually charged separately in the final years, and fees tend to rise year on year, so plan for increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate.
To see where that leaves you against the rest of the city, our fees guide groups Shenzhen schools into broad tiers, and the established international names such as those in our best IB schools in Shenzhen guide cluster at a similar level. Ask whether sibling discounts or corporate billing apply, since employers often meet part of the cost for relocating staff.
Admissions
The academic year starts in late summer and the main intake follows that calendar, with places offered across the year where they exist. As an international school in mainland China, SAIS admits foreign passport holders and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in line with the rules for schools serving the children of foreign nationals, so confirm your family's eligibility early.
The process combines an application with school reports and an age appropriate assessment, which the school uses to understand a child's level rather than to rank applicants. The lower grades tend to be the busiest entry points, so apply ahead of your move where you can and discuss the right grade with admissions if your child is arriving mid stage.
It is worth gathering recent school reports, any standardised test results and a record of the curriculum your child has followed, and being candid about additional learning needs so the school can tell you honestly whether it can support them. Register your interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed, and ask how the waiting list is prioritised if a place is not immediately available.
Location and who goes there
The school is in the Nanshan District in the west of Shenzhen, the part of the city where most international families settle and where the longest established expatriate housing sits around Shekou and Houhai. Nanshan is the centre of Shenzhen's technology industry, so many SAIS families are connected to multinational employers, and the American programme draws in particular on families with ties to North America who want a familiar route through school.
Most international families in this part of the city live within a short commute of Nanshan and Shekou, where daily life is geared toward expatriates and where school bus routes and the metro make the journey manageable. The Shenzhen Bay crossing and the nearby land borders make weekend trips toward Hong Kong straightforward, which matters to families who keep ties across the border.
To see how Shenzhen American International School compares with the other schools nearby and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Shenzhen city hub and work outward by curriculum and budget.
Shenzhen American International School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Shenzhen American International 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 the school we would value your account of the American programme, the Advanced Placement provision, teaching and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Shenzhen American International School follow?
Shenzhen American International School teaches an inquiry led American style programme from pre kindergarten to Grade 12, aligned to United States standards with Advanced Placement courses in the senior school and an IB influenced approach in the lower grades, alongside Chinese language study.
How much are Shenzhen American International School fees?
Shenzhen American International School sits in the upper mid to premium band for the city. Budget for annual tuition that rises into the senior grades, plus a registration fee, a deposit and optional bus and meal costs, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is Shenzhen American International School accredited?
Yes. SAIS is accredited by Cognia, the United States based accrediting body. It was established in 2005 with the approval of the Ministry of Education and the Guangdong provincial authorities to serve the children of foreign nationals.
When do Shenzhen American International School applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August start of the academic year, with places offered across the year where they exist. Apply ahead of your move and confirm eligibility, as the school admits foreign passport holders and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Where is Shenzhen American International School?
SAIS is in the Nanshan District in the west of Shenzhen, the city's longest established hub for international families, near the established expatriate housing around Shekou and Houhai.
