YK Pao School is one of Shanghai's most established bilingual schools, founded in 2007 as a not for profit institution in memory of the shipping magnate Sir Yue-Kong Pao. It is a bilingual school serving a Year 1 to 12 community of more than a thousand pupils, integrating the Chinese national curriculum with international teaching that leads to the IGCSE and the IB Diploma. To see where it sits among the city's other options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Chinese national curriculum integrated with international curricula, leading to the IGCSE and the IB Diploma |
| Stages | Year 1 to Year 12, primary through senior school |
| Founded | 2007, in memory of Sir Yue-Kong Pao |
| Accreditation | Not for profit private bilingual school; IB authorised for the Diploma |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for Shanghai |
| Campus area | Primary in the city centre, Middle School in Hongqiao, High School in Songjiang |
Curriculum and academics
YK Pao School is a genuine bilingual school rather than an English medium international school, designed to develop pupils who are fluent and academically strong in both Mandarin and English. The programme integrates elements of the Chinese national curriculum with international curricula across Years 1 to 12, building towards the IGCSE in the middle years and the IB Diploma in the senior school. The school describes a whole person education that develops the emotional, social, physical and intellectual sides of each child.
That dual language rigour, paired with an internationally recognised Diploma, is the school's central proposition for families who want their children rooted in Chinese language and culture while keeping global university options open. For a wider view of how it sits against the city's foreign passport and bilingual options, read our guide to the cost of schooling in Shanghai, and ask the school for its recent Diploma results and university destinations.
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YK Pao School fees
YK Pao School sits in the mid to upper part of the Shanghai market. Our Shanghai international school fees guide sets out the city's bands, and an established bilingual school of this kind typically sits below the very top foreign passport schools but well above community schools, with the senior boarding years the most expensive stage. As a not for profit the school reinvests in its programme, but it still sets and resets its own schedule each year, so confirm the current figures directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit and optional boarding, bus and meals at the senior school. Take the School Finder quiz to see where YK Pao fits against your budget, and put it against alternatives on our compare tool before you decide.
Admissions
The school year starts in late August or early September, and YK Pao runs a main intake then with an admissions process built around assessment. The school looks at academic readiness in both languages alongside prior records, reflecting its bilingual model, and places at this established school are competitive.
Apply early, especially for entry points into the primary years and the senior school, and prepare academic records and any required language assessments. Confirm eligibility and the assessment format directly with the school.
Location and who goes there
YK Pao School operates across the city by stage. The Primary School sits in the city centre, the Middle School is on the Hongqiao campus on the western side, and the High School for Years 9 to 12 is in Songjiang district, where it offers UK and US style boarding alongside day places. That spread means commute and boarding are real factors in choosing the school, depending on your child's stage and where you live.
The community is primarily made up of Chinese national families who want a dual language education with an international pathway, alongside some returning and overseas students. For families comparing a bilingual route with a foreign passport international school, the deciding factors are usually language balance, the boarding option and progression. To compare the full range of options, return to the Shanghai city hub.
YK Pao School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for YK Pao 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 YK Pao School we would value your account of admissions, the bilingual programme, the boarding experience 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 YK Pao School fees?
YK Pao School sits in Shanghai's mid to upper fee band, with the senior boarding years the most expensive stage. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit and optional boarding, bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule directly as it is reset each year.
What curriculum does YK Pao School follow?
YK Pao School runs a Year 1 to 12 bilingual programme that integrates the Chinese national curriculum with international curricula, culminating in the IGCSE and the IB Diploma, taught in both Mandarin and English.
Does YK Pao School offer boarding?
Yes. The High School for Years 9 to 12 is in Songjiang district and offers UK and US style boarding alongside day places, while the Primary School sits in the city centre and the Middle School on the Hongqiao campus.
When do YK Pao School applications open?
The school year starts in late August or early September and YK Pao runs a main intake then with admissions built around assessment. Apply early, as places at this established bilingual school are competitive.
Who can attend YK Pao School?
As a bilingual school it primarily serves Chinese national families seeking a dual language education with an international pathway, alongside some returning and overseas students. Confirm eligibility directly with the school.
